Residents urge PFAS purchasing policy; large pickleball delegation seeks more courts and amenities

Santa Clara — During the public-presentations portion of the meeting, residents raised two distinct non-agenda topics that drew sustained attention.

PFAS and public-health request: A resident (Adav Arvun) described personal family cancer experiences and said PFAS contamination is a local concern. He asked the City Council to consider adopting a municipal purchasing policy to avoid products containing PFAS and pointed to examples (San Francisco and Michigan) where governments have restricted such purchases. City staff acknowledged they heard the request and said staff would follow up; council cannot act on public presentations but received the message.

Pickleball community presentation: A large group of players and organizers (multiple speakers: Claudia Bridal, Oliver Cabarrus, Tom and others) detailed rapid growth in local pickleball participation, requested converting two Central Park tennis courts to six dedicated pickleball courts, and outlined 14 recommendations (permanent nets, expanded hours, improved surfacing, wind netting/sound absorption, seating and shade, clearer court numbering, restroom access, and resident-priority reservations). Speakers emphasized pickleball’s benefits for seniors, families and community connection, and presented data on reservation growth and participation. Council and staff acknowledged the requests and asked Parks and Recreation to follow up; the council heard the concerns as part of ongoing parks planning.