Artificial Turf

In a moved hailed by local sports officials, the Glendale City Council on Tuesday stepped up the schedule for installation of artificial turf on the soccer fields at the Glendale Sports Complex. "We are wildly in favor of it," said Doug Wallis, upper division coordinator for AYSO Region 88, which covers La Crescenta and Glendale. Originally slated for summer 2005, the artificial turf project has been moved up to winter 2004-05, a move that saves the city approximately $190,000, according to Koko Panossian, administrative analyst for the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.

Gary Moskowitz Glendale High School senior Rick Martin has been hearing rumors about artificial turf since he started playing football his freshman year. Glendale Unified Supt. Jim Brown, who has a sample of artificial turf in his office, has been encouraging the district for several years to consider installing the playing surface at Glendale High. But the school's football team, along with several other teams that share the field during the week, continues to play on a part-grass, part-dirt field that players and coaches say is somewhat dangerous, and refer to as a "mud bowl" after rain or water from sprinklers hits the field.

La Crescenta Story Did Not Relay Her Thoughts Your article on 7/1/05 did not relay my thoughts and concerns about the Glendale Unified School District's artificial turf projects, but sound bites seldom do the speaker justice. If the reader who was concerned enough to send me a note would like to hear the totality of what was said in the 15 - 20 minute discussion, the school board meeting of 6.27.05 is now in re-runs. However, it really doesn't matter what I said or didn't say because a committed group of community volunteers reached their goal!

To the handful of residents who thought they'd be able to keep artificial turf they installed in their front yards prior to the city solidifying its ban on fake grass last summer - think again. Some residents who installed the turf before August, when the City Council took a hard line against allowing the stuff in front yards, had hoped that they'd be grandfathered in under the ban. But city officials on Tuesday confirmed that any existing violators would have to restore their properties to comply with the law. The clarification came almost two months after Glendale began sending notices of violation to residents with faux turf in their front yards.

HAMLET NALBANDYAN I knew it was too good to be true, this silly idea of modernizing a school that's been in existence for 104 years. What was I thinking? Tonight, the Glendale Unified School District's Board of Education will decide whether or not Glendale High's Moyse Field will get artificial turf, which will replace the pile of dirt that's currently there. Sounds like a no-brainer to anyone who actually uses the facility, but apparently, the chances of the five-member board approving the project are pretty slim.

Since I have moved to Glendale, basketball courts have been taken out of parks “because they attract a criminal element,” denying their use to thousands of honest citizens, while X-rated newspapers are available throughout the city located on our streets, often free, for anyone, children included, to take. Now it's a criminal offense to have artificial turf in your front yard. Does anyone else think the priorities here are screwed up? Tom Campbell Glendale

Another apartment development that features ground-level retail is coming to downtown Glendale in the next few years as the project received final approval from the City Council on Tuesday. Council members unanimously approved the final design of an 84-unit development to be built on the northwest corner of California and Central avenues. It received initial approval from the council in January. The final design was almost identical to the initial proposal except for additional information about the building's lighting scheme and landscaping plan.

MONTROSE — David Wood’s artificial turf lawn isn’t going anywhere — at least for now. Following days of intense media attention and public support for Wood’s illegal artificial front lawn, City Council members have been notified that officials will put off enforcement until after the matter comes back to the dais for consideration, Councilman Ara Najarian said Thursday. “In light of the fact that council will look at it again, and there is a possibility that we may permit turf, we didn’t want to have him pull it out until there was a clear direction,” said Najarian, a vocal supporter of artificial turf.

ON THE AGENDA Here are some of the issues the City Council will discuss today: EXCAVATION COST HIKE The city has not increased fees for excavations and public right-of-way improvement permits since 1991. The costs associated with these permits have increased significantly and do not cover the expense of administering some programs. City staff has recommended replacing the $40 excavation fee and the $70 inspection charge with a $220 flat fee. Improvement permit application fees will increase from $12 to $60, and inspection for projects will increase from $32 an hour to $60 an hour.