HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-21-2017 Item 8, NeumannCOUNCIL MEETING: ,� - 2.1-J Z
ITEM NO.: 13• _-- _-- _ FEB 21 2017
From: Tom Neumann
Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2017 11:26 AM
To: E-mail Council Website <emaiicouncilC&slocity.org>; Harmon, Heidi <hharmon@slocitv.org>; Pease, Andy
<apease_@)slocity.org>; Gomez, Aaron <agomez@slocity.org>; Rivoire, Dan <QRivoire@slocity.or&>; Christianson, Carlyn
<cchristianson @slocity.or>
Subject: No Night Hiking
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
Please consider the following regarding night hiking:
1. As cited in our city's Municipal code, Open Space is set aside primarily for conservation.
2. A secondary use is recreation, such as hiking.
3. Conservation includes the land, animals and plants of the Open Space.
4. Wildlife is very active at dusk and dawn; it's necessary for their survival.
5. Our General Plan & COSE support the preservation of wildlife corridors.
As our city has expanded, we have maintained our responsibility as stewards of the land and
wildlife. Please help our city continue in the direction of these environmental values and limit hiking
and other non-destructive recreational uses of our Open Space to the time after sunrise and one hour
before sunset. This would also help cut back on the frequent, expensive rescues and injuries that
mostly occur during non -daylight hours. Who shoulders this expense?
Wild animals need to be able to leave their homes to obtain food and water. To be forced into human
encounters would be unsafe for both the stressed animals and humans. We have moved into their
territory and have a moral responsibility to allow them to survive and live in what remains of their
habitats. Please do not endorse night hiking. Thank you for your consideration of this opportunity to
support our city's Open Space, wildlife, land, trees and other plants.
Thank you,
Tom and Ann Neumann
SLO.