Santa Rosa is mulling a citywide ban on artificial turf as elected officials grapple with environmental and health concerns tied to known pollutants in the synthetic grass blades and turf base. California had for years quashed such local debates about artificial turf, but now is giving jurisdictions more flexibility to police the use of synthetic grass. California regulators also are raising concerns about potential adverse health impacts from athletes’ prolonged exposure to turf fields. The city’s Climate Action Subcommittee, a council group tasked with overseeing climate action work, recommended on Wednesday that staff move forward with a policy proposal to outlaw future use of turf on residential properties and city parks. … Long looked at as a way to limit expensive maintenance and conserve water in a drought-stricken state, California lawmakers in 2015 passed legislation prohibiting cities and counties from enacting or enforcing local bans on the installation of drought tolerant landscaping, including synthetic grass.