Educational Forum on Artificial Turf Tomorrow! UPDATE Photos of trees to be removed

Please sign this petition if you want to halt public funds for use of artificial turf at Wildcat and Middle Fields.

Last night, at the Commission's Dog and Pony Show, a.k.a. the Commission Discussion Session, we were told that organic infill will cost $1.57 million with an annual maintenance to include adding an additional 1/4" organic infill. We also heard that humidity will be created from the cooling system needed to keep the cork infill moist. The SAB does not want organic infill because it floats away. They don't want to admit to flood waters that affect those fields. We are being set up for toxic rubber infill. The Environmental Sustainability Board issued this statement about artificial turf at the February 11, 2014 Commission Discussion Session. Video is here.

Coincidently, an Educational Forum on Artificial Turf in Mt. Lebanon will be held tomorrow evening in the Commission Chambers, starting at 7 PM. I believe Commissioners Fraasch and Bendel will be attending the forum.

EDUCATIONAL FORUM ON ARTIFICIAL TURF IN MT LEBANON
DID YOU KNOW THAT TOWNS/CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE CONSIDERING MORATORIUMS ON TURF UNTIL UNBIASED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IS AVAILABLE ON THE EXPOSURE OF ARTIFICIAL TURF ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH? 

Learn more about the impacts of artificially turfed fields when it comes to our children’s health, water run-off & heat island effects 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30th AT 7-8:30pm 

MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN THE CHAMBERS

For more information please email:  healthylebo@gmail.com
Mt Lebanon Commissioners voted 3-2 to spend $750,000 of taxpayer money to add artificially turfed fields along Cedar Blvd at Wildcat/Middle Fields near the entrance of Main Park.    

In May, a decision will be made about specific design options such as tire crumb rubber in-fill vs organic in-fill.
With such a long-term and expensive investment (over $2.5 million in 8 years),  our community needs to know more about these fields including the short and long-term effects of these materials on our children, coaches and residents nearby.

Educational Forum on Artificial Turf flyer

UPDATE April 29, 2014 9:31 PM Here is something to think about when attending this educational forum on artificial turf. When Phase II begins at Middle and Wildcat Fields, these trees will be removed for the additional parking spaces.

 Broken glass from, at least, the second motor vehicle collision in this location
(entrance to the Phase ll parking "space") in the past month

Keeping it Real 2014

Little did James Cannon III realize when he made his Keeping it Real - The truth behind artificial surfaces in Mt. Lebanon presentation to the Commission in 2012, that he would still be advocating for grass fields two years later. Jim is part of a larger group that has banded together opposing toxic turf.

Flyers are being distributed to neighboring streets by residents who believe the Mt. Lebanon Middle and Wildcat Fields Turf Project must stop. The reasons are plentiful:

• THIS IS A POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK
• THIS IS POOR ECONOMIC POLICY and a MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT
• GOVERNANCE BY THE COMMISSION IS QUESTIONABLE 
• MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS HAVE NOT BEEN CONSIDERED (all the while fundraising is already underway)
• THIS IS A RISK TO OUR ENVIRONMENT

I am including the link to the flyer which can be printed and distributed by all Lebo Citizens readers who believe the same.

Joan E. Gibson submitted an opinion piece to The Almanac  (Saved in Google Docs) this week, asking commissioners to further investigate the dangers of playing on artificial turf, citing the American Academy of Neurology and "the article in the most recent issue of American Family Physician Practice Guidelines (April 1, 2014) the article is entitled 'Evaluation and Management of Concussion in Athletes: Recommendations from the AAN.'”

According to the Turf Project Task Force Presentation timeline, Mt. Lebanon will advertise for bids on May 15, 2014. We have a very narrow window of opportunity to stop this before bids go out. 

What can you do?

MAKE YOUR CONCERNS KNOWN TO THE COMMISSIONERS!

Important meetings this week:

• CRITICAL MEETING: The turf project is on the Planning Board Agenda for 4/22. This is the best opportunity to stop this project. Go to the Commission Chamber in the Municipal Building at 7:00 PM.
• Attend the Municipal informational meeting on 4/24 at the concession stand building at the fields on Cedar Blvd. at 6:00 PM and ASK QUESTIONS! (In case of inclement weather meet in the ice rink lobby.)
• Attend the Commission discussion meeting on 4/28 at 6:30 PM, and then the regular meeting at 8:00 in the Municipal Building. Plan to ASK QUESTIONS when they are permitted at the beginning of the 8:00 meeting! Sign up to speak near the Commission Chamber door. Bring friends and family. (Agendas to follow)
• Attend the Environmental Sustainability Board’s (ESB) Educational Forum on Artificial Turf on 4/30 at 7:00 PM in the Municipal Bldg. Get the real facts about artificial turf!
• Write to the Commissioners at commission@mtlebanon.org

MOST IMPORTANTLY – GET INVOLVED! The commission is putting your health and safety at potential risk with this project. You have VERY LITTLE time to tell them NO!

For more health and environment information, here are some useful links:

Commissioner Kelly Fraasch’s blog: www.kellyfraasch.com/blog

Lebo Citizens www.lebocitizens.com

Recorded public meetings including those of the Commission, Sports Advisory Board (SAB), Planning Board, Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB)and Parks Advisory Board (PAB) can be viewed at www.mtlebanon.org/index.aspx?NID=2151

Note: The hyperlink to James Cannon's presentation has been removed from this page.

Educational Forum on Artificial Turf infuriated the PIO

During the very intense Citizens Comments portion of Tuesday's Commission meeting, Environmental Sustainability Board representative, Maria Joseph announced the following Educational Forum on Artificial Turf and referenced this flyer which was available to residents.

Please look at the link to the flyer. I can't get it to format properly.

EDUCATIONAL FORUM ON ARTIFICIAL TURF IN MT LEBANON
DID YOU KNOW THAT TOWNS/CITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY ARE CONSIDERING MORATORIUMS ON TURF UNTIL UNBIASED SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IS AVAILABLE ON THE EXPOSURE OF ARTIFICIAL TURF ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH? 

Learn more about the impacts of artificially turfed fields when it comes to our children’s health, water run-off & heat island effects 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30th AT 7-8:30pm 

MUNICIPAL BUILDING IN THE CHAMBERS

For more information please email:  healthylebo@gmail.com
Mt Lebanon Commissioners voted 3-2 to spend $750,000 of taxpayer money to add artificially turfed fields along Cedar Blvd at Wildcat/Middle Fields near the entrance of Main Park.    

In May a decision will be made about specific design options such as tire crumb rubber in-fill vs organic in-fill.
With such a long-term and expensive investment (over $2.5 million in 8 years),  our community needs to know more about these fields including the short and long-term effects of these materials on our children, coaches and residents nearby.

It was observed by several residents at the meeting, that our PIO was livid that this educational forum is being held in the Commission Chambers without her knowledge.

Prior to the Commission meeting, David Donnellan reported during the Commission Discussion Session that this informational meeting is taking place on April 24, 2014.

I understand that the commissioners whose wards are affected were not contacted by Mr. Donnellan prior to the announcement of this informational meeting.

I spoke with David Donnellan after Tuesday's meeting and asked him when he will be posting the concept plans that he mentioned at the Sports Advisory Board meeting. He changed his mind and was not going to post them as he had indicated to the Sports Advisory Board. He felt that they were subject to change and was asking the PIO to set up a separate web page dedicated to the Mt. Lebanon Turf Project. David offered to share them with me after I asked if I should file a Right To Know. Here they are.

Turf Concept Plan
Turf Perspective

Tonight, the Environmental Sustainability Board will be meeting at 7:30 PM in the Municipal Meeting. Unfortunately, no agenda has been posted. We can thank the municipal staff for that one.