By Lauren McSherry

The Los Altos Hills City Council reviewed a staff report Feb. 3 on the proposal to revamp the land behind the former Bullis-Purissima Elementary School into a synthetic turf soccer field.

The proposal was submitted by Hills parents seeking to remedy the lack of soccer fields available to children enrolled in Los Altos and Los Altos Hills Region 43 of the American Youth Soccer Organization.

The estimated $1.5 million synthetic turf field at the Bullis site would be open to the public and could be used primarily \ by AYSO and the Mountain View-Los Altos Soccer Club. About 250 of the 1,500 boys and girls who play soccer through the two clubs live in the Hills.

The proposal, which might require a 20-year lease agreement, raises some concern because the field would need to be rented from the Los Altos School District. The relationship between the city and LASD remains strained as the two bodies are embroiled in a lawsuit over the current leasing of the site’s classrooms.

Despite the finding that the proposal lacks sufficient funding sources, councilmembers voiced support for a new field and noted that no other location exists that could accommodate a soccer field. The proposal requests a $400,000 investment from the city.

The council also discussed whether it might be better to install a natural turf field, which is less costly but requires significant irrigation.

AYSO would like to tap into the $319,000 in grant money held by the Parks and Recreation Department to construct the fields. It is unknown whether LASD could supply additional funds. Numerous groups providing recreational activities in the Hills have also inquired about the department’s grant money, which would ultimately need to be approved by the state.

“Before we decide which soccer field to build, shouldn’t we decide which project to fund?” Councilman Jean Mordo pointed out, citing Westwind Barn needs.