HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-15-2014 b1 ackerman.IU1._ 15 2014
Hill, Robert
From: Hill, Robert
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 9:22 AM
To: 'Brian Ackerman' AGENDA
Subject: RE: Laguna Lake Preservation CORRESPONDENCE
Date`? - I s- I Item #ALL_
Thanks for your email, Brian.
We will include it with other written public comments we've received for the City Council's consideration.
I appreciate your time and interest.
Kind regards,
Bob
Robert A. Hill
Natural Resources Manager
City of San Luis Obispo
Natural Resources Program
990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 -3249
E rhill@slocity.org
T 805.781.7211
slocity.org
From: Brian Ackerman [mailto:brian @brianackerman.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 8:47 AM
To: Hill, Robert
Subject: Laguna Lake Preservation
I'M
I am a San Luis Obispo resident, landscape architect and the president of the Central Coast Kitesurfing
Association, roughly made up of 40 full time members who live here locally and kite every chance we get at at
Oceano, Morro Bay, Cayucos, and San Simeon. We would love to see the lake full again, and would love a
small area of grass to launch off of. Windsurfing is not as popular as it used to be, and kiting has progressed
over the last 15 years where there are no longer any issue of safety. It is growing exponentially because of the
likes of Richard Branson, and other positive articles:
httn:/ /www.santacruzsentinel.com /news /ci 26140415 /haven- livinLston -lust -add- water- kitesurfina- allows- locals
httl2:Hkitesurfingarmada.com/
Most importantly is we are able to kitesurf in the most sensitive areas, where plover nesting occurs (water only)
and other sensitive flora /fauna regions without causing harm or adverse affects. I helped write the policy in
conjunction with State Rangers at ODSRV to maintain and promote the sport there.
The best attribute about Laguna Lake for kitesurfers, is that it blows every day it seems out there, and we have
not been able to use it for successfully because of the low rains. We can kite in as little as 2" of depth, but
prefer 6" to 6' depending on what types of riding we are doing. If you could imagine 2 -10 kites up in the air on
any given windy Sunday,as in the attached sample picture, some jumping 60+ through the air, the residents and
tourist would love the scenery, let alone the free advertising the lake would receive for people who go to
investigate and take pictures. When I kite adjacent to the Pismo Pier, I come in close, about 10' away, go
vertical like in an elevator, jump higher than the people standing on the pier, right next to them, I can have a
crowd of 100 people easily there snapping photos as I wave at them. I have been doing this for the last 10 years
and at 47, I hope to be doing it for the next 30 years.
Thought I would share this with you as another potential user group.
Good luck tonight.
Thanks,
Brian
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