Edina Public Schools — Transcript
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Artificial Turf Field Installation with Crumb Rubber Infill
High School Additions and Renovations Contracts
Joint Powers Agreement with City of Edina for Countryside Elementary Sidewalk
Votes (3)
Approval of Contract with FieldTurf USA for Four Artificial Turf Athletic Fields
Dissent: No board members voted against the motion. However, extensive community opposition was voiced by nine public speakers, including concerns about health risks, financial liability, and the rush to decision. Board members acknowledged the weight and difficulty of the decision but proceeded based on scientific evidence rather than precautionary principle.
Moved by Unknown [Motion to approve contract with FieldTurf USA] · Seconded by Unknown [Second to motion]
Extensive public comment period with nine speakers raising health, safety, financial, and environmental concerns about crumb rubber infill. Community members cited FieldTurf lawsuits in California, Texas, and Ontario; lead content in products; pending federal EPA/CDC studies; and alternative infill options. Board members acknowledged the complexity and weight of the decision, noting the need for fields due to high school expansion taking offline existing grass fields. Administration presented chronology of decision-making from fall 2015 through present, emphasizing facilities committee and task force review. Board negotiated termination clause allowing cancellation of 2017 projects by April 30, 2017 pending federal study results. Discussion included warranty terms, maintenance requirements, and financial liability if federal agencies mandate removal.
Approval of Contracts with Krauss Anderson Construction for High School Additions and Renovations
Dissent: None recorded.
Moved by Unknown [Motion to approve contracts] · Seconded by Unknown [Second to motion]
Board approved contracts for remaining high school construction categories. Administration explained that three bid categories required additional review to verify specifications and product quality. One category (structural work 10/10A) involved rejecting a lower-priced alternate bid that did not meet specifications. Bleachers category (12C) required verification of product specifications. Final cleaning category was rejected and will be rebid, with no impact on project timeline as it occurs at project tail end. Discussion focused on ensuring lowest responsible bidder and proper specifications rather than lowest price.
Joint Powers Agreement with City of Edina for Countryside Elementary Sidewalk Extension
Dissent: None recorded. Board member expressed safety concerns but motion to table was approved unanimously, indicating agreement to defer decision pending further review.
Moved by Unknown [Motion to table] · Seconded by Unknown [Second to motion to table]
Board considered a joint powers agreement with the City of Edina to extend sidewalk access at Countryside Elementary during the city's Tracy Avenue infrastructure project. The proposal would eliminate stairs and provide handicapped-accessible sidewalk access. Board members raised significant safety concerns about the proposed crosswalk location on a steep hill without a stop sign, questioning whether the city's Transportation Commission had reviewed the plan. One board member requested verification of the city's review process and suggested alternative routing along the west side of the property to allow crossing at the Highlands intersection. Administration agreed to table the item and conduct further review with the city.
Notable Quotes (14)
These lawsuits raise a red flag and should concern you our elected officials who are entrusted with our safety and with our money... Field Turf had to reduce the amount of lead contained in their products... they had to pay about $500,000 in civil penalties.
The EPA and the consumer product safety commission have said the slate is clean there is no such thing as a study that shows crumb rubber is safe nor is there a study that says it's dangerous... the EPA could come out and say this tire infill has to be removed from all fields by [date].
I see no plausible argument as to why we cannot pause for eight months and wait for the federal study results... you have almost 500 of your constituents that have asked you to do so.
I'm here to ask why you are so insistent on moving forward with crumb rubber in full... doing anything because it's cheaper and because everyone else is doing it are not good enough reasons to expose my children to this junk.
Would I let my kids go crawl on a pile of tires in Edina? We would never have a pile of tires in Edina because we're educated people... what crumb rubber is in this case you're grinding it up and letting kids roll around on it—it's completely illogical to me.
It's odd to me why we can't wait... it's almost as if we've already signed a contract and already into a transaction that we can't get out of because it doesn't seem like we're really in a situation with the meeting of the minds.
The decision has to be made in my mind based on science rather than anecdote and the science has been clear based on all of the studies there is no study showing a link between crumb rubber and cancer.
I do feel a need to mention that the folks who have written and talked to us and stopped in support of these fields have not really had their voice heard but there is in fact tremendous support among the coaches and players and families that use these fields.
I do take some consolation with the fact that we're going to have an opportunity in the event the EPA actually comes to a resolution prior to April that we can move forward and not go forward on the west side campus.
I don't have evidence for a safer alternative... I also recognize that there's a need to continue to move forward to provide fields for students but that we will continue to study that.
There was another bidder that had a lower price but it was not the specified material... there was a reason it wasn't in the specifications it didn't meet what we were after.
I just have some serious safety concerns with kids coming across right there there's no stop sign and it's a hill... I don't think the Transportation Commission has reviewed that.
I would very much prefer a sidewalk on the west side so these kids are able to cross someplace away from that big hill.
We didn't touch anything it still will be accessible in the winter time we close it and we don't shovel the stairs but summertime you can use either access.
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
School board policy governing public comment, prohibiting negative comments about employees and board members
California law requiring warning labels on products containing chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects; FieldTurf and supplier charged in 2008 for violation
Four-field turf project contract with option to terminate 2017 projects by April 30, 2017 if new information warrants
Contracts for high school additions and renovations including structural work and bleacher installation
Proposed agreement for sidewalk extension at Countryside Elementary during Tracy Avenue city project (tabled pending review)
Coordinated federal effort to research safety of recycled tire crumb rubber, expected completion by end of 2016
State of California study on crumb rubber safety being conducted concurrently with federal research
Yale environmental chemistry study identifying over 90 chemicals in crumb rubber samples, with half never tested for human health effects