HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/17/2020 Item 11, Ciesinski
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Hill, Robert
Sent:Tuesday, November 17, 2020 6:20 PM
To:CityClerk
Subject:FW: Temporary Extension of Open Space Winter Evening Hours of Use
Hi Teresa and City Clerkâs Office,
This Council Correspondence came in late this afternoon.
Thank you,
Bob
From: Mary Ciesinski <
Sent: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 4:54 PM
To: Hill, Robert <rhill@slocity.org>
Subject: Re: Temporary Extension of Open Space Winter Evening Hours of Use
Good evening Bob -
We have a few concerns that we'd like to share out Re: OPEN SPACE EVENING HOURS OF USE PILOT PROGRAM
First, if the wildlife cam monitoring only began once the nighttime recreational use had already started, there's no way
to compare the results with a baseline - i.e., there's no way to compare before vs. after. Would cameras set up before
the pilot program began have recorded mule deer, mountain lions, or black bears, all of which we know are present in
the area but which may have been scared away by hikers and bikers at night? There's no way to tell.
Also, our understanding is that there is a lack of definitive science on the degree to which human activities at night affect
nocturnal animal behavior. However, in general, increased human activity in wildland areas at night is not seen as a good
thing by biologists and ecologists. Some species are highly adaptable to urban environments (raccoons, opossums,
skunks, various rodents, mule deer, mountain lions, black bears) but even most of these are nocturnal. It's possible that
some of them in the past, or today in non-urban environments, were/are more active during daylight hours, but in the
city they've changed their behavior to avoid human disturbance. Thus, if we're now cutting into their foraging time all
day long as well as into the evening, we may in fact be causing malnutrition, breeding failure, and eventual population
decline.
The other question that is unanswered by the staff report is how many people were caught violating the nighttime
permit requirement during the first two seasons. This would seem to be an important factor to consider in whether or
not the program should be extended for another year.
Thank you for your consideration of our concerns regarding this pilot program.
-Mary
Mary A. Ciesinski, Executive Director
ECOSLO - Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo
www.ECOSLO.org | Office: (805) 544-1777 | Cell: (805) 710-8021 | mary@ecoslo.org
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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Hill, Robert <rhill@slocity.org>
Date: Mon, Nov 9, 2020 at 8:42 AM
Subject: RE: Temporary Extension of Open Space Winter Evening Hours of Use
To:
Hi Mary,
It looks like the City Council Agenda was released early, and is now available here (item no. 11):
https://www.slocity.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=28433
Thanks,
Bob
From: Hill, Robert
Sent: Friday, November 6, 2020 9:40 AM
To:
Subject: Temporary Extension of Open Space Winter Evening Hours of Use
Hi Mary,
I am writing to let you know in advance that we have an upcoming City Council item on the agenda for
November 17, 2020 that would allow the Council to temporarily extend the pilot program for winter evening
hours of use at Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve for one additional season, with no other changes and all
programmatic elements and mitigation measures to continue. Council will also have the option to end the
program now, or direct staff to come back in 2021 for a more robust conversation about the future disposition
th
of the program. The Council Agenda Report will publish on Tuesday, November 10.
As one of our long-standing and valued partners, please let me know if you have questions, concerns, or wish
to speak further by phone.
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Thank you,
Bob
Robert Hill
Sustainability & Natural Resources Official
City Administration
Office of Sustainability
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3249
E rhill@slocity.org
T 805.781.7211
slocity.org
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