HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/16/2021 Item 12, Hall, L.
Wilbanks, Megan
From:LISA HALL <
To:Pease, Andy; E-mail Council Website
Subject:In support of continuation of winter access - 3/16/21 agenda
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Dear City Council,
Seeking consideration and community
A few years ago when the city decided to curtail open space use past sunset it temporarily brought an end to our group’s
longtime practice of hiking Cerro San Luis on winter evenings. We are law abiding citizens and did not want to face fines
or violate the law. Thankfully in late 2017 and early 2018 our group and other community minded central coast outdoor
enthusiasts wrote letters and attended city council meetings to seek a compromise. The SLO City Council chose to allow
a pilot program allowing limited evening access. We were and are so grateful.
Now the SLO city council is again meeting on Tuesday March 16, 2021 to discuss continued access. My hiking buddy who
has many responsibilities and demands on her limited time wrote this letter this weekend. I couldn't be more proud of
her. I am including her letter as it speaks so eloquently of our desire.
Thank you,
Lisa Hall
Santa Maria, CA resident who values hiking access on Cerro San Luis
"Dear City Council,
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I am writing you again to thank you for the pilot program for night hiking at Cerro San Luis during the winter months. I
would like to point out that there are many locations within our beautiful county to hike and enjoy nature during the
daylight hours. For a person like myself, I am not able to leave work during the day to hike and I am often working well
past 5 PM. Carving out one location of the many that we have for a small time frame to allow for a visit with nature is
not only imperative, it is essential for my health and well-being. During this time of extreme pressure and difficulty, a
simple connection with nature is what provides the one bit of calm to what seems like a challenging endless cycle of
stress. My personal days are filled with meeting after meeting and more screen time than I have ever had to endure in
my professional life. With this added screen time comes the challenge of finding moments of life balancing forces. I
agree with Lady Bird Johnson, a lifelong environmentalist, all Americans need access to nature. Surrounding yourself
with nature is a whole body sensory experience, sparks curiosity, and leads to conscious awareness of the earth which is
likely to lead to more earthfirst thinking.
A consistent newsworthy item is the decline of the physical and mental health of all people of all ages in the last
year. Our life expectancy has dropped a full year due to this pandemic and to add to this we are experiencing a
pandemic of depression as well. We have lost loved ones and been separated from loved ones with little ability to
develop coping strategies. Overeating, alcohol use and substance abuse are on the rise. These are real and sobering
thoughts. With these issues facing our community, having a small space that can be accessed without driving a car if you
live within town, to provide the opportunity for a healthy outing, is a reasonable ask in my opinion. We need to take a
moment and consider humanity at this time.
One thing I would like to point out is that this night hiking program is not being proposed for all open space but instead
one small area which is bounded by a freeway on one side. I understand the need for nocturnal animals to have their
ability to forage and I personally have seen them continuing to live within their habitat on Cerro San Luis during the pilot
program. The ability for people to be out there is only up to 8:30 PM so much of the night remains undisturbed by
human influence. I see the benefit not only in myself but those that are out there and experiencing the natural wonder
that we have in our backyard. Asking constituents to travel to other areas such as the National Forest to enjoy
night hiking does not seem to be consistent with the State goals to reduce the Vehicle Miles Traveled and
greenhouse gas emissions. Please consider keeping the night hiking program for the health and well-being of
your constituents that find stress relief, beauty, and physical benefit from enjoying the mountain. Lady Bird Johnson
said it best "Nature was my friend, sustenance, and teacher."
Sincerely,
Sara von Schwind
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