Petaluma Advances State Turf Irrigation Ban 6-1 as Parks Tax Wins Backing

Petaluma's City Council on Oct. 5, 2026, moved to stop sprinklers from watering decorative lawns at businesses, schools and HOA common areas. Members approved the first reading of a state-mandated ordinance 6-1 after Vice Mayor Alex DeCarli and Councilmember John Shribbs questioned why the city should regulate beyond education. The council also formally endorsed the county parks tax renewal on the November ballot, but an unanswered question about borrowing against it produced one abstention.

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• Turf irrigation ban passes first reading 6-1, phasing in from Jan. 1, 2027, through 2029.
• Council endorses parks tax renewal 6-0, DeCarli abstaining over an unresolved bonding question.
• Parks staff credit Measure M with just over $6M in city investment since 2019.
• Speedway owner seeks a five-year deal; vice mayor challenges two-year fairgrounds extensions.

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Turf Ban Advances Over Cost, Choice Objections

The basics: AB 1572, a state law prompted by the 2021-23 drought, bans irrigating "nonfunctional turf" with potable water. Nonfunctional turf is grass that serves a decorative rather than a recreational or functional purpose. The council approved first reading of amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 15.17 to carry it out.

Why it matters: State law requires public water systems to revise their rules by Jan. 1, 2027. Violations in non-drought times can bring civil penalties "of up to $1,000 per day per violation," the City Attorney said.

Where things stand: The ban phases in on three dates:

• Jan. 1, 2027: city properties, public schools and colleges.
• Jan. 1, 2028: commercial, industrial and institutional properties.
• Jan. 1, 2029: HOA common areas.

"The ban does not require landscape conversion or turf removal," said Lauren Lum, Environmental Services Analyst. Trees, health and safety uses, and non-potable water are exempt. Single-family homes and cemeteries are excluded.

Owners of more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated landscape must self-certify compliance to the State Water Board. That requirement begins June 30, 2030, for commercial properties and in 2031 for HOAs. The state has not yet published the form. The city plans to lead with education, a partnership with Daily Acts and its Mulch Madness conversion program.

The other side: Shribbs and DeCarli cited costs, fire risk, herbicide use, burdens on businesses, rate impacts and the city's charter authority. "So why, as a city, are we creating ordinances and rules and regulations," Shribbs asked. The City Attorney answered: "because the law is actually mandating that we do that." The attorney said home rule offers little basis to resist.

Staff had not calculated expected water savings. A rate study is planned for summer 2027. "I really think it should be people's choices what they do," said DeCarli.

Public commenter Nicholas Harris said ratepayers are funding a state mandate that pulls staff away from local priorities, and that green turf offers fire-prevention benefits. Public commenter Wayne Ekstrom asked why the city does not use reclaimed water for construction dust control if conservation is the goal.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Even supporters were candid about the burden. "It certainly is an unfunded mandate," said Councilmember Brian Barnacle, who made the motion. "Homeowners are not affected by this," said Councilmember Janice Cader Thompson, framing the ban as aimed at business parks. Councilmember Karen Nau pointed to City Hall's landscaping as a model. "I appreciate the staff's putting us in conformance with state law," said Mayor Kevin McDonnell.

The vote was For: 6 (Barnacle, Cader Thompson, Nau, Quint, Shribbs, McDonnell); Against: 1 (DeCarli); Absent: 0.

The groups most affected are commercial property owners, HOAs, schools and the city itself, which must stop potable irrigation of decorative turf first. Ratepayers will see any cost effects through the coming rate study.

What's next: Shribbs suggested barring plastic or artificial turf as a substitute. The mayor and attorney said that idea would need more research on state preemption. The ordinance cleared first reading ahead of the Jan. 1, 2027, state deadline.

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Parks Tax Gets a Victory Lap and a Caveat

Why it matters: Measure M, the 2019 one-eighth-cent county sales tax known as "Parks for All," is up for renewal on the November ballot as Measure H. Barnacle called it the city's fundamental parks revenue source.

Where things stand: Two-thirds of the tax goes to Sonoma County Regional Parks. The remaining third is split among nine cities by population, which yields Petaluma about $880,000 a year. "We've invested just over $6 million since 2019 using the Measure M leverage," said Drew Halter, Parks and Recreation Director.

Halter listed the projects that money has supported:

• Playground replacements and Lucchese turf.
• Pickleball and tennis courts, plus pool replastering.
• The Senior Center parking lot and Kenilworth Park planning.
• The skate park now under construction.
• The return of two aquatics facilities to city operation.
• Added maintenance staff and Fibar mulch in 27 parks.
• Smart irrigation controllers and a 300-acre grazing program.

"About $70 million has been spent since 2018," said Bert Whitaker, Director, Sonoma County Regional Parks, describing spending countywide.

Councilmembers asked about staffing, master plans for Lafferty Ranch and the fairgrounds, pickleball, and Kenilworth. Shribbs asked whether Measure M could fund a complete parks master plan. "We've started that master planning process now," Halter replied.

Members openly urged voters to back the renewal. "Voting against this is voting to basically defund our Parks Department by $1 million a year," said Barnacle.

The other side: Public commenter Susan Kirkspetter said the roughly 40 minutes of council questions sounded like campaign advocacy and that meetings need better management. Another commenter asked what would happen to newly hired parks staff if the measure fails.

The bonding wrinkle: When the formal endorsement came up as consent item 4, Harris raised a new question. Could revenue from the no-sunset measure be bonded, and would voters have to approve that debt? A bond would let the city borrow against future tax revenue. The City Attorney could not find an answer in the meeting materials. The mayor noted that a separate fire measure expressly authorizes bonding.

DeCarli floated tabling the item, then said, "I would be more comfortable with abstaining at this point." The attorney said that under council rules, "an abstention is counted as a yes vote." Barnacle split items 1-3 from item 4 and argued the answer would not change support: "I don't think it's a reason to withhold our support for this."

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Consent items 1-3, whose contents were not described at the meeting, passed For: 7, Against: 0. The Measure H resolution passed For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 1 (DeCarli). After the vote, the attorney reported that "the measure is silent on bondability" and said any bonding would require a council decision. "I would be willing to change my vote," DeCarli said, but the meeting had already adjourned.

Parks users and maintenance crews have the most riding on the renewal. The bonding question matters to fiscal watchdogs, because a permanent revenue stream could support long-term debt.

What's next: Voters decide in November. Whether to bond the revenue would remain a future council decision.

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Speedway Owner Wants Longer Fairgrounds Runway

Why it matters: Fairgrounds tenants face contract expirations in under three months. At the same time, the city is drafting a master plan that will decide the site's future.

Where things stand: Speedway owner Rick Faith said a two-year offer makes improvements hard to justify. He asked for at least a five-year agreement, said he felt left out of the master plan process and volunteered to serve on its committee.

DeCarli asked "why they're only being offered 2-year extensions" and whether tenants count as stakeholders in the plan. "We are negotiating based on council direction a 2-year extension," said Peggy Flynn, City Manager. Flynn said tenants have been invited into the master plan process. The City Attorney said the three-year terms and two-year extension are consistent with prior council direction on the fairgrounds transition.

Councilmember Frank Quint backed the track: "I personally would advocate for the racetrack in the master plan." Flynn later said the Healthy Democracy visions included the Speedway in at least two of three scenarios.

What's next: The mayor said Brown Act limits prevented action that night. He suggested a future agenda item and encouraged tenants to email the council.

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• Weed abatement: Council confirmed abatement costs 7-0. Of 691 properties noticed, 682 owners cleared vegetation themselves and only nine needed city abatement. About two parcels are now expected to go to the county for collection. Fire Marshal Amy Sieg said the program "is not a completely cost recovery program," after public commenter Chantelle Rogers questioned staff cost rates.
• Zoning rewrite: Rogers asked the city to slow a Planning Commission review she said spans 21 decision points. Barnacle said the review has become a three-part hearing so staff can research questions.
• Mobile home parks: Chris Parker said the governor signed four GSMOL-sponsored bills on Sept. 30, including AB 2596. Jennifer Boyle disputed a District 1 candidate's claim that park owners were excluded from the process.
• Animal shelter: A public commenter criticized rising shelter provider costs and a $300,000 budget gap and proposed alternatives, including contracting with Sonoma Humane.
• Recognitions: The mayor proclaimed October 2026 Domestic Violence Awareness Month, honoring the YWCA's 50th year, and Oct. 4-10 Fire Prevention Week, focused on lithium-ion battery safety. Members also noted the city's first Helen Putnam Award. Responding to calls for his removal, Shribbs said, "You call this wasting time. I call it doing my job."

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Looking ahead: Watch for a possible future agenda item on fairgrounds lease terms, the zoning code's continued hearings, the November parks measure vote and a water rate study planned for summer 2027.