(June 25, 2015, updated 3:57 p.m. from 11:40 a.m.) -- LBREPORT.com has learned that at least three six appeals have been filed regarding a June 15 Parks & Recreation Commission vote (3-2) that recommended use of an artificial turf material composed of coconut husks, rice, and the like instead of acrylic coated crumb rubber recommended by Parks & Rec management for use on three soccer fields initially AND on soccer fields in parks citywide.

The appeals will effectively bring to the City Council the question of whether artificial turf will, in fact, produce the cost savings contended by Parks & Rec management...and whether the City can provide safe, level soccer fields with natural grass at competitive or otherwise acceptable costs.

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An appeal filed by veteran park protection advocate Ann Cantrell cites "heat, injury and health problems" with artificial turf" and states "I believe the appropriated funds could be used for natural grass, however, the Commission did not discuss this possibility." Ms. Cantrell has previously argued that safe and level soccer fields should be provided using natural grass and has argued that this ought to be feasible (including eliminating gopher holes) at competitive costs. (Appeal text below.)

An appeal filed by the El Dorado Park South Neighborhood Association alleges inconsistent information was provided at various community meetings, seeks CEQA review of lights, traffic, and noise issues and a factual presentation of various turf options to reflect both benefits and negatives of turf options and concern over fencing of the soccer fields. "We ask that...the Council [take up the issue] in an effort to arrive at a verifiable, safe, cost-effective, and ultimately fair decision that respects all participants in this discussion." (Appeal text below.)

El Dorado Audubon has filed and appeal in which it state its support for quality soccer fields.

[3:57 p.m. UPDATE: LBREPORT.com has learned that at least three other individual appeals were hand-delivered on June 24, and a fourth was emailed today, although we haven't seen their texts.]

Soccer field user groups, including AYSO 177 locally, have consistently urged safe and level fields without gopher holes and a jagged surface and on that basis have supported artificial turf. However, to date [to our knowledge] the soccer field user groups haven't expressed a preference for or opposition to any specific type of artificial material. During the June 15 Parks & Rec Commission meeting, one soccer field supporter agreed that grass fields, if properly maintained, would be optimal...while accepting management's position that grass isn't feasible on budget grounds.

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LBREPORT.com provides copies of the two appeal texts below:

Cantrell appeal text: I am appealing the decisions of the Parks and Recreation Commission on June 15, 2115 regarding the Artificial Turf Soccer Fields at Seaside, Admiral Kidd and El Dorado Park West; and the fencing and lighting at the El Dorado Park West soccer field.

CEQA has not been followed for these fields. There has been no environmental review of the safety of the chosen materials for the artificial turf. Staff was unable to tell the commission and the public anything about the coconut based fill other than it only lasts two to three years and it requires more water to cool.

There has been no review of the possible environmental results of enlarging the current field at El Dorado and adding lights and fencing to the project. An EIR needs to be done to evaluate the possible addition of noise and traffic with playing time increased.

The Commission and the City Attorney insists that artificial turf fields were mandated by the City Council in 2013. The minutes of the Budget Committee of Sept. 3, 2013 state: "$1,820,000 to Renovate and Repair Athletic Fields additional funding."

Then from the City Council Budget Hearing, Sept. 3 2013 minutes:

Vote: Approve recommendation to approve the Budget Oversight Committee recommendations of September 3, 2013, as amended, to provide for: [1] additional funding for soccer field renovations at three parks (Admiral Kidd , El Dorado, and Seaside) via the reallocation $200,000 taken from residential street paving, $100,000 taken from the technology and civic innovation fund, and $100,000 taken from the City Manager Proposed $3,257,000 Council directed projects fund.

In addition the grants applied for Seaside and Drake Park fields also do not mention artificial turf.

With the wording of these motions and grants stating only "Renovating and Repairing the three soccer fields," I believe the appropriated funds could be used for natural grass, however, the Commission did not discuss this possibility.

With the heat, injury and health problems now known to be connected with artificial turf, I am asking the council to overturn the Parks and Recreation Commission vote and reconsider its use.

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El Dorado Park South Neighborhood Ass'n Appeal: The El Dorado Park South Neighborhood Association is appealing the decision to install artificial turf soccer fields in Long Beach parks; specifically, regarding the installation of said artificial turf at El Dorado Park. However, our concerns are for all of the residences and parks of Long Beach.

Our specific reasons for appeal are as follows:

Concern for the health of today’s children and future generations to come.

• Inconsistent information being provided at the various community meetings.
• A determination of a CEQA review to assess the lights, traffic, and noise issues.
• The presenting of facts regarding the various turf options, with an effort to reflect both the benefits and the negatives of any of the turf options.
• The fencing of the soccer fields.

  We ask that this appeal be granted, and that the council take up this undertaking once again in an effort to arrive at a verifiable, safe, cost-effective, and ultimately fair decision that respects all participants in this discussion...

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In budget votes in Sept. 2013 and Sept. 2014, the Council [under the previous and now current Council majorities (absent Supernaw)] enacted annual City Hall budgets that assumed cost savings -- based on Parks & Rec management's contention -- that cost savings would result if artificial turf were installed at three locations. (Management chose El Dorado Park West, Admiral Kidd Park and Seaside Park.) Soccer field users, including AYSO 177 locally, supported the action on grounds the city's current grass soccer fields contained gopher holes and/or weren't well maintained, resulting in injuries for soccer players.

LBREPORT.com's review of audio from Sept. 2013 and 2014 Council budget discussions indicates that Councilmembers voiced support for cost savings and better maintained, soccer fields to meet user demand and basically accepted Parks & Rec management's asserted cost savings without serious question.

The issue reached the Parks & Recreation Commission since the Council's budget vote didn't specify what type of artificial material to use. Following the Council budget vote, public concerns grew over the potential use of "crumb rubber" (waste/recycled tire scraps.) A number of residents voiced health concerns and raised other user issues, including excessive field heat from crumb rubber [an issue that recently arose in the Women's World Cup in Canada.]

In an item agendized for the June 15 Parks & Rec Commission meeting, Parks & Rec management recommended using crumb rubber coated with some type of acrylic material, which it said was cooler than uncoated crumb rubber and could "mitigate" health concerns. Management offered the Commission a list of various types of materials from which it could choose, including GeoFill/GeoTurf (a natural material composed of coconut husks, rice, etc.) Management indicated that GeoFill/GeoTurf would produce sizable cost savings over natural grass...but estimated it would cost roughly $50,000 more per field than acrylic coated crumb rubber. After hearing public testimony, the Parks & Recreation Commission voted 3-2 to choose the natural GeoFill/GeoTurf "coconut husk" material.

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As to appeals of Parks & Recreation Commission actions, Section 904 of the City Charter states: "The City Council shall by ordinance establish a procedure for appeal to the City Council of Commission actions relating to City sponsored programs, services and facilities. By two-thirds (2/3) vote, the City Council shall have the power on any such appeal to affirm, modify or overrule the decision of the Commission."

Developing.

Update: Following our initial publication of this story, we clarified that the Parks & Rec Commission action is to recommend to the City Manager the type of material to be used.