At its July 17 Regular Meeting, the Beverly Hills City Council voted to reject an ordinance that would ban synthetic turf in residential front yards in the city. The decision goes against the recommendations of the Planning Commission, which recommended the city adopt the ordinance to advance environmental sustainability and preserve the garden character of residential neighborhoods. The ordinance was brought about after a new state law, Senate Bill 676, was passed restoring local authority to ban synthetic turf.
The ordinance, in addition to banning new synthetic turf in front yards, would have adopted a 15-year phase-out period for existing permitted front yard turf. It would not have banned synthetic turf in non-front yard areas, such as side, street side or rear yards. Current city regulations under the Beverly Hills Municipal Code require residential front yards to be landscaped primarily with live plants. However, in 2015, the city allowed synthetic turf in front yards as a water conservation measure during drought conditions.
Assistant Director of Community Development Masa Alkire presented several alternatives to synthetic turf in front yards, including the installation of various native and drought-tolerant plants, which can be adapted to several landscaping styles.
Melanie Taylor, president and CEO of the Synthetic Turf Council, spoke against the ordinance and presented several environmental benefits of synthetic turf, such as reducing the use of various chemicals like pesticides and herbicides.
Mayor Sharona Nazarian said she understands wanting to preserve the garden quality of Beverly Hills residential neighborhoods, but said that “Right now, it’s important that we use high-quality turf.”
“I do think it’s important to maintain that high quality, so code enforcement would be important,” said Nazarian, referring to existing synthetic turf regulations in the city.
Councilmember Craig Corman, who worked on the ordinance while serving on the Planning Commission, noted, “Artificial turf was originally banned in Beverly Hills in the front yard due to aesthetics, but is that really the concern now? We haven’t heard any complaints about the look of artificial turf in front yards.” He added, “The environmental health effects question is something of a mixed bag.”
Additionally, in his report on Closed Session items presented during the meeting, City Attorney Laurence Wiener announced Beverly Hills’ decision to intervene, along with the city of Los Angeles and several other cities, in litigation against unconstitutional activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The vote was 4-1 with Councilmember John Mirisch dissenting.
“While the city of Beverly Hills supports enforcement of the law, we stand against any unconstitutional immigration enforcement actions. We are deeply concerned by allegations that federal agents have targeted individuals based solely on race or ethnicity, conducted raids and arrests without probable cause, and used excessive force. As a diverse community including many immigrants, we join the motion to intervene,” stated Nazarian, representing the council’s decision.
Mirisch explained that while he supported the mayor’s statement, he voted against intervention, citing that the ACLU had “devolved into an antisemitic institution.”
During the Regular Meeting, the City Council also voted 4-1 to adopt the draft ordinance banning short-term rentals that was initially agreed upon at the July 1 Regular Meeting. Mirisch voted against adopting the ordinance.
