HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/19/2021 Item 7a, Vujovich-LaBarre
Delgado, Adriana
From:Mila Vujovich-LaBarre <milavu@hotmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, October 19,
To:Council_All; Council_All; Hill, Robert; Purrington, Teresa; Webmaster
Subject:7A - Winter Evening Hours - Opposition
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To: San Luis Obispo City Council, Greg Hermann, Deputy City Manager, Robert Hill, Sustainability and Natural
Resources Official and Teresa Purrington, City Clerk
Re: October 19, 2021 Meeting
Public Hearing Agenda Item #7A - Open Space
Winter Evening Hours Of Use At Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve
Dear Honorable Mayor Stewart & Council Members -
Having recently hiked Cerro San Luis, I disagree that the night hours for the recreational use during the winter
months should be extended to 8:30 pm as described in “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo, California, adopting a Negative Declaration for Winter Evening Hours of Use at Cerro San Luis Natural
Reserve.”
I do not support this proposal out of concern for hikers, bikers, and the flora and fauna.
Currently, hikers have coexisted with bikers and the relationship is not a harmonious one. I do not think that
mountain bike riding should coexist on the same trails that are shared with walkers. The bikers damage the
trails due to the nature of trail riding. This leads to the need for more trail maintenance.
As many people know there are multiple other trails for mountain bikers throughout our County. The continued
sharing of the trails is dangerous especially in the darkness and with an increasing number of people wearing
air pods and recreating oblivious to their surroundings.
In regard to safety, crimes have been on the rise during the last few years in our City. We have an increased
population due to the new homes. There has not been an increased police force to care for increased crime in
the neighborhoods or crimes in the open space.
There have been two rapes recently on Cal Poly campus in areas where the victims were walking or hiking
alone. Having walked Cerro San Luis recently alone on a gorgeous Saturday during the day, I will not do that
again in the near future. It is the ideal place for a predator to attack a hiker of either gender. There were a few
sections that I did not see anyone else for 15-20 minutes.
All a predator needs to do is to not even go up the trail but to wait by the cars in the dark at the beginning of
the trailhead to assault someone. The problem with that is many people are not in a defensive mode when they
are at the conclusion of a wonderful workout.
The trails and the parking lots are perfect spots for both perpetrators and thieves. The lighting is insufficient at
night.
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In addition, Cerro San Luis is not well marked. A person can go up the trail and end up on the Lemon Grove
Loop which in essence takes one around the middle of the mountain, never ascending to the top. That loop is
exceptionally isolated.
Whether or not this program is approved, increased signage should be installed to avoid a resident or tourist
from taking a wrong turn.
This Council has remained vigilant about climate change and accepted a Climate Action Plan to benefit the
residents, wildlife, open space, air quality, and more.
To approve night hiking throughout the year to these extended hours would be duplicitous to those goals.
Please do not approve these extended hours for hikers. Please ban or limit the use of mountain biking on
these same trails. Please increase signage on the trail, at the trailhead, and at the parking lot to provide for the
safety of constituents.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mila Vujovich-La Barre
650 Skyline Drive
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
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