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Portola Valley may act on green initiatives

Two environmental initiatives that would restrict use of petroleum-based packaging materials in Portola Valley come before the Town Council at its Wednesday, April 11, meeting at the Historic Schoolhouse at 765 Portola Road. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.

The council could adopt "by reference" a 2011 San Mateo County ordinance that restricts food vendors from selling carryout food in containers made of polystyrene. Sometimes called "Styrofoam," this material cannot be recycled or re-used, nor does it biodegrade but instead finds its way on to roadsides and into waterways and the ocean, according to a staff report.

In adopting this ordinance by reference, the town joins a regional effort managed and enforced by the county. Communities already involved include Half Moon Bay, Burlingame, Foster City and San Carlos. Redwood City and Menlo Park are considering joining, the report said.

A related initiative before the council would support a regional ban in the works on single-use plastic bags at retail checkout counters and require customers who don't have their own reusable bags to pay for paper ones.

A majority on the Woodside Town Council indicated its support for this initiative in March.

Also on the agenda: direction to staff to proceed with a bid package for the $540,000 renovation project for Ford (baseball) Field.

The upgrades to the field include re-grading, new irrigation, dugouts, backstop, bleachers and batting cage, and upgraded paths. Construction is set to begin in mid-June.

Helping to pay for the project are Susan Ford Dorsey, who has given the town a $100,000 challenge grant, and the Little League, which is contributing $50,000 and may add $25,000 more, town staff said. The state has $230,000 available in reimbursement funds and the community at large would be asked to fill in the other $135,000.