HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-21-2017 Item 17, OrthRECEIVED - --
COUNCIL MEETING: 3 -LI -/�
ITEM NO.: I �MAR 21 2017
From: Joel [
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2017 11:46 AM
To: E-mail Council Website <emaiicouncil siocit .or >
Cc: Connor < ; David Hamilton <
Subject: 3/21 Meeting Agenda Item 17 expanded open space hours
Dear City Council and Staff,
I am an avid mountain biker and hiker and urge you to expand hours of use for city open space during the
winter. My wife and I work in San Luis Obispo, own a home, and recreate here. We are also registered voters.
Unfortunately, childcare obligations make it impossible for me to attend tonight's meeting. I would, however,
like to express my views on Item 17.
Some reasons:
1) The original ban on evening riding was related to rescues on Bishop's Peak but according to
Councilperson Carlyn Christianson and media reports also based on a desire to allow wildlife some
quiet time. However, research does not suggest that evening use (which takes place all summer long)
on carefully designed trails has a negative impact on wildlife. [See: M. L. Reilly, M. W. Tobler, D. L.
Sonderegger, P. Beier "Spatial and temporal responses of wildlife to recreation activities in the San
Francisco Bay ecoregion," Biological Conservation 15 December 2016] Currently, winter evening
riding and hiking occurs at Montana de Oro (a state park open till 10 pm). That means the ban may
inadvertently actually be increasing disturbance because the most commonly seen animal during the evening
is the Common Poorwill which is frequent at Montana de Oro but less so on City open spaces. Frankly, I don't
think we know what the ideal use pattern for open space might be, but poorly researched and reactionary
closures may actually make problems they purportedly address worse.
2) Councilperson Christianson and media reports suggested that some neighbors also object to evening use.
First, those complaints should be separated from the Bishop's Peak issue. If indeed many neighbors near other
open spaces are complaining, then the Council might consider allowing entry and exit in the evenings through
non-residential areas such as Johnson Ranch, Perfumo Canyon Rd., and the Marsh Street entrance to Cerro
San Luis.
3) One of the axioms of environmental history (my field) is that when resource users descend into a downward
spiral of blaming other users, the actual nature that everyone theoretically wants to protect and restore often
gets forgotten and eventually suffers. The City of San Luis has an opportunity to embrace all users and
collectively look for solutions that not only preserve trails and wildlife but preserve the political coalition of
residents who's votes and taxes will continue to support a robust open space policy in the city.
Thank you for your time and attention on this issue,
Joel J. Orth
"Biking is politics by other means"