The City Council reviewed and endorsed the Citizens Advisory Committee on Athletic Playing Fields recommendation for the conversion of Highlands Park Lower Athletic Field to a Synthetic Surface at their meeting on April 14, 2008. Following that action, the City Staff issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to environmental firms for the preparation of an Environmental Document.

On August 11, 2008, the City Council reviewed alternatives for the preparation of environmental analysis for the Highlands Park Lower Athletic Field Turf Replacement Project.The Council authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with Pacific Municipal Consultants (PMC) for environmental consulting services for the preparation of environmental documents in two Phases. Phase 1 was for the preparation of an Initial Study to be brought back to the City Council for determination of the appropriate environmental document for the project -a Mitigated Negative Declaration or an Environmental Impact Report.

At the City Council Meeting on Monday, January 12, 2009, the City Council will hear a report from the City’s Planning Division on the Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project (links provided below). Monday night’s Council review will also include a presentation by the EIR consultant (PMC) as well as their experts on health questions on grass and artificial surface fields. It is the Planning Manager’s recommendation to the City Council that they direct the Staff to proceed with the preparation of a Mitigated Negative Declaration for this proposed project.

A copy of Monday night’s Council Agenda was posted on the City Web Site and emailed out to the members of the City Council Agenda, News and Athletic Field Updates eNotify lists Thursday morning (over 1,200 people).

Residents interested in the discussion of the level of environmental review of the proposed conversion of Highlands Park Lower Athletic Field to a Synthetic Surface project are welcome to attend the Council meeting on January 12, 2009 or to watch it on the City’s Cable TV Channel (San Carlos Channel, Cable Channel 27 on Comcast), via the City’s Web Site or in our Archived and Indexed Council Video Archives after the meeting date.

-- Brian Moura, Assistant City Manager & Interim Parks and Recreation Director

City Council Staff Report - January 12, 2009

• Staff Report - January 12, 2009 - Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Turf Replacement Project

Attachments to the Staff Report:

Attachment #1:

• Memo - December 10, 2008 - Report to the City Council on the Analysis of Possible Lead and other Health and Other Safety Concerns Related to All-Weather Turf

Attachment #2: Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project (9 sections below)

• Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project - Part 1 of 9
• Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project - Part 2 of 9
• Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project - Part 3 of 9
• Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project - Part 4 of 9
• Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project - Part 5 of 9
• Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project - Part 6 of 9
• Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project - Part 7 of 9
• Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project - Part 8 of 9
• Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project - Part 9 of 9 (Appendix G 1-5)
• Draft Initial Study for the Highlands Park Lower Field Athletic Turf Replacement Project - Part 9 of 9 (Appendix G 6-8)