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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/16/2023 Item 7d, Hermann - Staff Agenda CorrespondenceCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Memorandum City of San Luis Obispo Council Agenda Correspondence DATE: May 16, 2023 TO: Mayor and Council FROM: Robert Hill, Sustainability & Natural Resources Official VIA: Derek Johnson, City Manager SUBJECT: Item # 7d – Righetti Hill Open Space Conservation Plan Staff received the following questions from a Council Member regarding the Righetti Hill Open Space Conservation Plan. The questions are below with staff’s response shown in italics: 1) Question: It is noted in the plan that there are 14 cultural resources that were found in the vicinity of the hill. What were those, and where were they found? The City relied on professional Cultural Resources Assessments for both the Orcutt Area Specific Plan and for the Righetti Hill Open Space Conservation Plan. These Cultural Resources Assessments are kept confidential in order to protect sensitive cultural resources and are exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act and the Freedom of Information Act. The knowledge of cultural resources that have been found in the vicinity is based on records research and prior studies. There were no cultural resources found within the Conservation Plan area, however. 2) Question: Is there anything we need to do to protect those resources, specifically? Yes. Although there were no cultural resources found within the Conservation Plan area, there is always the possibility that something could be inadvertently discovered given that there are other known resources in the vicinity. The Cultural Resources Assessment that was prepared precedent to the Righetti Hill Open Space Conservation Plan specifically recommended that personnel involved with any soil disturbing activity be enrolled in Worker Awareness training so that they have the ability to recognize and appropriately respond in the event of an unanticipated discovery. 3) Question: It is noted that there is only one special species plant found in the open space. Are there requirements or best practices around protecting that plant that we will be implementing? The one special status species that has been documented in the Conservation Plan Area is the Mouse-Gray dudleya (Dudleya abramsii, ssp. murina), which is a Item # 7d – Righetti Hill Open Space Conservation Plan Page 2 succulent plant that grows in rock crevices and outcrops, so it’s naturally well protected. Nonetheless, the City’s practice and best management practice, in general, for protection of rare plants is avoidance and ongoing monitoring. 4) Question: With regard to the trail going to the top of Righetti Hill, are there any safety, conservation, or liability reasons for the recommendation to make the trail “hiking only”? The new trail leading to the top of Righetti Hill is fairly narrow with steep drop offs in some locations, as well as a couple of areas with poor visibility. Safety is always a concern, although there is also a level of risk assumed by users whenever individuals enter City open space. Landowners and public agencies are generally immune from tort liability (if someone gets hurt or injured) through what are called “recreational use statutes” and “trail immunity”. The trail does not traverse any known special status or sensitive habitat areas that require special management or use restrictions.