Welcome to the parents page. We share information and activities that are of interest to families in the neighborhood. All parents - including those who rent homes, and those who own homes- in the neighborhood are welcome!
Important Update: The Kentfield Commons Board send a newsletter on September 3, 2024 indicating that it may "make an exception and use pesticides in the park and common areas" and spray a series of pesticides in our Pesticide Free Park and Common Areas to kill clover. See September 2024 Newsletter
This is unacceptable. We would like the board to: 1) Follow the Established Pesticide Policy to preserve our Pesticide Free Park. 2) Take Steps to ensure that HOA volunteers on the Board and Landscape Committee do not try to use pesticides in our pesticide free park in the future.
This is unacceptable. We would like the board to: 1) Follow the Established Pesticide Policy to preserve our Pesticide Free Park. 2) Take Steps to ensure that HOA volunteers on the Board and Landscape Committee do not try to use pesticides in our pesticide free park in the future.
An Open Letter to the Board members:
The Kentfield Commons Park and Common Areas have been designated as pesticide free areas since 2015. See Kentfield Commons Pesticide Free Park. This is the Established Policy:
Pesticide Policy for Park and Common Areas: In the interest of keeping the park accessible to everyone including children, the elderly, and other individuals who cannot be exposed to certain chemicals, the park and common areas are maintained without the use of registered pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. These chemicals are only used in emergency situations as a last resort.
The HOA should follow established policies because:
Pesticides are harmful to human health.
Pesticides are harmful to human health.
- There is a huge body of evidence on the relation between exposure to pesticides and elevated rate of chronic diseases such as different types of cancers, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson, Alzheimer, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), birth defects, and reproductive disorders. There is also circumstantial evidence on the association of exposure to pesticides with some other chronic diseases like respiratory problems, particularly asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, chronic nephropathies, autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematous and rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and aging. See National Library of Medicine: Pesticides and Human Chronic Diseases Evidence
- Children are especially vulnerable to pesticides. Children spend more time outdoors on grass and playing fields. Children frequently put their hands in their mouths, this increases exposure to pesticide ladened soils. Children breathe in more air than adults, inhaling almost 2 times as many pollutants. Children’s nervous, immune, digestive and other systems are still developing. Developing systems are less able to detoxify and excrete pollutants compared to adults. See EPA:Pesticides Impact on Children This can cause impaired brain functions, and childhood cancers. See Pesticides and Children
- Recent research suggests that even low levels of pesticide exposure can affect young children’s neurological and behavioral development. Evidence shows a link between pesticides and neonatal reflexes, psychomotor and mental development, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Implications include a need for improved risk assessment, greater education at all levels, more common use of integrated pest management, and continued policy and regulatory strategies to mitigate the effects of and the need for pesticides. See National Library of Medicine: Pesticide Exposure and Child Neurodevelopment
- Pesticide exposure during pregnancy might cause problems like miscarriage and birth defects. See CDC: Pesticides and Reproductive Health
- Pesticides damage the soil food web which is essential to a healthy ecosystem. Runoff carrying pesticides applied here pollute the San Francisco Bay. This degrades our water quality and kills local wildlife. See San Francisco Bay Keeper: Urban Runoff and SaveSFBay.org.
- New homebuyers seek Sustainable Landscaping that benefits both human and environmental health. Forbes. MLS:Sustainable Living: The Growing Preference for Eco-Friendly Homes in the Real Estate Market .
- Lawns comprised of only grass are outdated and environmentally harmful. There is a growing movement to replace them with native plants and other more biodiverse options. See The All American Lawn is Changing. Forbes: 7 Ways to Save the Planet one Lawn, Park, and Campus at a Time
- Clover lawns or clover + grass lawns are an easy, drought-tolerant, sustainable alternative to grass-only lawns. Clover is a nitrogen fixer that provides natural fertilizers to grass and is highly beneficial to the soil. Clover keeps lawns cool and green during the hot, dry summer months when grasses go brown. Clover is especially beneficial in a parks because it stays green and does not form brown spots when dogs urinate. See American Meadows: 9 Reasons to Plant a Clover Lawn and Martha Stewart: Cover Lawns
- The presences of dandelions, clover and other plants is not an Emergency Situation that warrants the use of pesticides. An example of an Emergency Situation that could warrant the use of pesticides is a yellow jacket infestation. In these cases, San Mateo County specialist use a very limited amount of pesticides to protect human health. See San Mateo County Mosquito and Vector Control.
- Dandelions and clover outcompete grass when the soil is depleted. The HOA can improve the turf areas by aerating, applying compost, and then over-seeding. This should be done EVERY YEAR. This will help restore a healthy biodiverse mix of clover, grass, and other plants. The City of Redwood City applies composts and over- seeds City Parks on a regular basis. The soil in our park and common areas have not been reconditioned with compost for many years.
- The HOA could Install California Native Sod in Common Areas where there is little foot traffic. Theses grasses stay green and survive on very little water. See DeltaBlueGrassCompany Native Sod California Native Lawn Options.
- There are many resources for managing Pesticide Free Parks. See Beyond Pesticides: Sustainable Lawn and Landscape Management.
REQUESTS:
1) Follow the established policies to preserve our Pesticide Free Park. Pesticides stay in the soil for years. A "Pesticide Free Park" that is sprayed with Pesticides every few years is no longer a Pesticide Free Park. The evidence is clear. If the HOA sprays pesticides in the Park and Common Areas at this point, it is willfully harming its members and the other residents that live here. (Individual homeowners can continue decide if they want to use pesticides on their own private property.)
2) Post information on the HOA's website to help everyone understand how the HOA is required to operate. Require that all HOA Volunteers read the Directors duties to understand what they can and cannot do.
3). Require that community volunteers read the Pesticide Free Parks policy and commit to sustainable, pesticide-free landscape management. Information and links on this website can be used as a resource.
4) Hire landscape providers who specialize in organic lawn care. Invest sustainable lawn care EVERY YEAR to keep the park both SAFE and ATTRACTIVE. Fix the irrigation. Improve the soil by applying compost, organic fertilizers, and amendments. Over-seed every year.
1) Follow the established policies to preserve our Pesticide Free Park. Pesticides stay in the soil for years. A "Pesticide Free Park" that is sprayed with Pesticides every few years is no longer a Pesticide Free Park. The evidence is clear. If the HOA sprays pesticides in the Park and Common Areas at this point, it is willfully harming its members and the other residents that live here. (Individual homeowners can continue decide if they want to use pesticides on their own private property.)
2) Post information on the HOA's website to help everyone understand how the HOA is required to operate. Require that all HOA Volunteers read the Directors duties to understand what they can and cannot do.
- Post all the State and Local laws the HOA is required to follow (as shown here) on the HOA's website.
- Post Kentfield Commons Pesticide Free Park information on the HOA's website.
- Post CA civil codes showing the procedures the board needs to follow in order to change HOA policies.
3). Require that community volunteers read the Pesticide Free Parks policy and commit to sustainable, pesticide-free landscape management. Information and links on this website can be used as a resource.
4) Hire landscape providers who specialize in organic lawn care. Invest sustainable lawn care EVERY YEAR to keep the park both SAFE and ATTRACTIVE. Fix the irrigation. Improve the soil by applying compost, organic fertilizers, and amendments. Over-seed every year.
5) Install signs in the park indicating that it is a Pesticide Free Park. This showcases our communities commitment to human health and environmental sustainability.
Note: Many families with young children are renting homes in the neighborhood. These families cannot attend HOA meetings and voice their concerns to the board, even though this is near and dear to their hearts. We'd like board-members to protect the health and safety of all of the children who live in our community. Thank you.
We follow this matter.
Board Members: Roberta Landers Steven Kirby Christa Enns
Vote/Agreement to Items 1,2,3,4,5:
Comments:
Management Please include this letter and print outs of the links provided here in the Board Packet as a record. Thank you.
We follow this matter.
Board Members: Roberta Landers Steven Kirby Christa Enns
Vote/Agreement to Items 1,2,3,4,5:
Comments:
Management Please include this letter and print outs of the links provided here in the Board Packet as a record. Thank you.
Kentfieldcommons.com is a privately owned website for parents living in Kentfield Commons. This site is managed by a small group of parent volunteers. This is website is not affiliated with the Kentfield Commons HOA. Members should visit the HOA's website and contact the association managers and board members for assistance with HOA related concerns.
