(FOLSOM, CA) — Folsom is about to get a lot more "golden" and not in a "Gold Rush" sort of way. Following a March 24 City Council meeting, officials are preparing the public for a future where the only thing greener than the city’s parks will be the envy of residents still allowed to water their backyards.
Under the looming shadow of Assembly Bill 1572, the city is being forced to pull the plug on potable water for "nonfunctional turf"— you know, that beautiful, lush grass on commercial and HOA properties that serves no purpose other than looking nice.
While Utility Director Marcus Yasutake tried to soften the blow by noting the law "doesn't technically ban turf," he admitted the alternative is a bit dry: "it just says you can't irrigate that with potable water.” In other words, the grass can stay, it just needs to exist without water.
Council members, clearly not so thrilled to be the face of this "unfunded" mandate, expressed concerns that Folsom is about to become a very crunchy place to walk.
(Mayor Justin Raithel: Mayor Justin Raithel discussing water mandates at Folsom City Council meeting. Credit, screenshot of Metro Cable 14 YouTube video.)
"That seems like we're going to have a lot of dead grass, right? Not in January, not February, not March, but come — come May, we're going to start getting calls. Right?" said Folsom Mayor Justin Raithel.
(Folsom Councilmember Sarah Aquino voicing frustration over state-mandated turf irrigation bans. Credit, screenshot of Metro Cable 14 YouTube video.)
The Council spent a significant portion of the meeting practicing their "don't blame us" faces, with District 3 Councilmember Sarah Aquino leading the charge against being the state's reluctant messenger. "My biggest frustration is we become the messenger for the state... otherwise people think it is us making these regulations. Right?" she said.
As the city prepares to update its municipal code in April, residents are encouraged to start appreciating the aesthetic appeal of "native plants" and the satisfying crunch of a once-manicured HOA median. After all, if you aren't playing sports on it or having a funeral over it, does it really need to be green?
Folsom City Hall Ai image by OpGov.news. Submit Folsom story tips and ideas to Sarah Denos at sarahkdenos@gmail.com
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