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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExtended Open Space Public Comment, ONeill Christian, Kevin From:KATHLEEN ONEILL < Sent:Wednesday, October To:E-mail Council Website Subject:Input for continued discussion of item #10 on 10/17/2017 agenda, extending hourly use of Cerro San Luis during non-daylight savings time Attachments:SLO City Council letter re hiking, 8-16-2016.docx; SLO CITY COUNCIL, LETTER TO REGARDING HIKING AT NIGHT, 10-18-2017.docx Please see attached two letters for your continued study. Please acknowledge receipt. -- KATHLEEN O'NEILL P.O. BOX 15255 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93406-5255 CELL: 805-550-5010 1 To: The Mayor and each City Council member of the city of San Luis Obispo From: Kathleen O’Neill Date: 10/18/2017 Dear Madame Mayor and City Council Members: I spoke before your council last night in support of a two‐year pilot program for the extended hourly use of the Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve when daylight savings time is not in effect. I did not present you with a written copy of my concerns; nor did I have enough time to finish. So I am presenting my written concerns to you now. While I presently reside in Pismo Beach, I have lived the majority of my life in the city of San Luis Obispo, my parents having bought our home in SLO on Bishop Peak in 1962. My entire 35‐ year career working in SLO County government service was in the city of SLO; so I was in SLO all day long before I retired. SLO remains the primary city where I shop. Contrary to what one speaker said last night, fellow hiker Sara Von Schwind who spoke both last night and also on 8/16/2016 lives in SLO. I have been hiking Cerro San Luis and Bishop Peak regularly for at least 40 years. With the exception of the last two winters when the City ordinance prohibited our evening hikes, I have hiked for the last 30 years with a group one night a week between 5:30pm and 8pm. Most of my friends work until 5pm and can’t get to the mountain until 5:30pm. We fellow hikers enjoy the natural beauty of SLO, love to exercise in the fresh air outdoors to stay physically fit, and relish our time together one night a week. We are all responsible, mature, professional adults with some but not all professions being veterinarians, teachers, microbiologists, nuclear engineer, chiropractor, postal worker, a retired health care administrator (myself), and a Cal Trans top manager. We have never needed any kind of rescue on any mountain, do not smoke or light fires that could cause a brush fire, and have never bothered neighbors or wildlife. We have been off off the mountains between 7:30pm and 8pm and thus create minimal impact on the nocturnal habits of the wildlife. We would like to continue hiking evenings year‐ round. I spoke before the council on 8/16/2016 asking that we be allowed to hike a little later during the winter. I submitted my letter to the council then; it is a matter of public record. So I will not repeat my main points from that time. However, I would like to make some new points. * First, the agenda item last night prior to the open space issue was a proposal from the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID). The very first photo they displayed was of SLO nestled among its magnificent surrounding mountains, which advertises SLO to tourists. They went on and showed several other photos that showcase the mountains. The TBID director stated that “TBID encourages outdoor activities for tourists and residents”. So, City Council, please do the same and encourage people to exercise outdoors; don’t put up barriers to physical fitness and the natural beauty around us. Our local mountains are not just to be looked at; they are to be climbed as they have been for eons. * Second, I believe that our request to extend hiking hours just a little bit is consistent with the City’s own mission statement and organizational values. Below listed are your own words for the city of SLO. MISSION STATEMENT OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO: WHO ARE WE? *A team that puts high value on each citizen it serves. *Providers of programs that meet the basic service needs of each citizen *Enhancers of the quality of life for the community as a whole. WHAT DO WE STAND FOR? *Service to the community – the best – at all times. *Respect – for each other and for those we serve. *Community involvement – the opportunity to participate in attaining the goals of the City. WHERE ARE WE GOING? *Planning and managing for levels of service consistent with the needs of the citizens. *Providing the residents of the City with accurate and timely information on issues which affect them, and encouraging the full utilization of City services. *Promoting the City as a regional trade, recreational, and tourist center and improving the quality of life for residents and visitors. ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO *We foster open and clear discussion that encourages the willingness to speak up and to listen, within a framework of respect and understanding. *We encourage effective working relationships within and between departments and the public to address issues and achieve valuable results. *We are open to change and willing to try new ways to fulfill the organization’s vision, mission, and goals more effectively. Last night it was decided to study the issue further and to continue discussion for some unknown later date. As you and staff continue data collection, I implore you to strongly consider the desires of your citizens who love to hike and bike and that you serve. We would certainly like to hike Cerro San Luis this winter. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Kathleen O’Neill PO Box 15255 San Luis Obispo, 93406‐5255 805‐550‐5010 koneill555@gmail.com 8/16/2016 Honorable Mayor and San Luis Obispo City Council Members: I am here today to ask for an amendment to the current City ordinance, which restricts access to local mountains after one hour after sunset. I have been a resident of San Luis County since the 1960s when my parents purchased a home on Fel‐ Mar Drive on the foothills of Bishop Peak. I have been hiking on Bishop Peak for most of my adult life. In 1990 I started hiking on either Bishop Peak or Cerro San Luis every Thursday evening with a couple of friends. This grew into an informal larger hiking group of friends who still to this day hike weekly on either or both of the two mountains, weather and time permitting. For me hiking with friends on these mountains is social, physical, and spiritual as we so much enjoy exercising together outdoors in the fresh air. Access to hiking the mountains in San Luis Obispo became very problematic last winter with the institution of a curfew on the mountain. Most of our hiking group works and do not get off work until 5pm. In the winter when it is dark at 5pm, it is physically impossible to hike up and down the mountain safely before the curfew. We have been accustomed to hiking all year round and in the winters use headlamps. We are typically off the mountains by 8pm. We all know the twists and turns of these mountains like the back of our hands. Walking with our headlamps never created any problems, and I have always found the city of SLO especially beautiful in the winter when we were up above it in the dark as it gleamed like jewels in a jewelry box below. We have always been respectful of neighbors near the mountains and have never caused anyone any problems. I have been a respected member of the San Luis community since the 1960s, graduated from Cal Poly in Mathematics, and served 35 years in an administrative capacity in San Luis Obispo County government, with my last 24 years as director of a department within the County Health Agency. I do understand the government process that you work within. I respectfully request that thoughtful consideration be given to persons such as myself and my hiking friends, who are responsible and respectful adults, that would allow us to hike year round. Perhaps some kind of training and permit process could be instituted so that we could continue to maintain our physical fitness during the winter months on our local trails. Another alternative would be to limit access on the local mountains to either 8pm or the one hour after sunset, whichever is later. San Luis City markets itself by its healthy outdoor lifestyle. Accommodating us hikers would support that goals. Thank you very much for considering our request. Sincerely, Kathleen O’Neill PO Box 15255 San Luis Obispo, CA 93406‐5255 805‐550‐5010 koneill555@gmail.com