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Everett committee asks sponsor to draft ordinance to phase out artificial turf in favor of natural grass
Summary
Councilor Rogers proposed drafting an ordinance to replace artificial turf on city playing fields with natural grass or clover. The Legislative Affairs & Elections Committee voted to keep the item in committee while the sponsor works with the conservation agent and city solicitor on a draft for consideration in September.
Councilor Rogers outlined a proposal asking the city to move toward replacing artificial turf on municipal playing fields with natural grass or clover. "The goal here is to create some kind of ordinance or movement towards existing turf to be replaced with natural grass or clover, going forward on an as needed basis," Rogers said, listing safety and environmental reasons for the change.
Rogers told the committee that natural grass can reduce athlete injuries, contributes to cleaner air, absorbs stormwater and reduces flooding, and remains cooler than synthetic turf. He also raised concerns about the finite lifespan of turf and the presence of "synthetic materials such as harmful chemicals." Those technical claims were made on the record by Rogers but were not substantiated in the committee discussion with independent studies or cost estimates.
Several committee members said they needed a written draft to evaluate practical and fiscal implications. A member asked when the committee might see a proposal; June 24 was discussed as an upcoming meeting but members agreed a more likely timetable is to target the first legislative meeting in September for committee review so staff and advisers could prepare a formal draft.
The committee agreed to keep the item in committee and to invite conservation staff and the city solicitor to assist drafting. Committee members asked the sponsor to consult informally with the city solicitor, the conservation agent (Kate Anslinger, referenced by Councilor Rogers) and legislative staff before returning with a draft. The motion to retain the item in committee and request that the sponsor bring back a draft was made and seconded; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.
Next steps: the sponsor will work with the conservation agent and the city solicitor to produce a draft ordinance for the committee’s consideration at a subsequent meeting, targeted for the committee’s first legislative meeting in September.
