HomeMy WebLinkAboutExtended Open Space Public Comment, Layous
Christian, Kevin
From:Sierra Layous <
Sent:Wednesday,
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:CSL pilot program
Dear SLO council,
First off, thank you for the time and effort you put into your positions on the council. I was listening to the meeting last
night, and was left feeling frustrated by the discussion about the pilot program for evening hours at Cerro San Luis. I just
wanted to voice my opinion as a SLO resident, mother to a one year old, and full time employee (8-5 m-f). The discussion
below may all be stuff you already know, but given the statements made by some community members at the meeting, I
feel like it needs to be stated. If you read no further, please at least take the following away from my email: I support the
pilot program winter hours for Cerro San Luis, and I hope you will base your decision on facts, science, and studies.
First, it seemed like a lot of people were advocating for the animals in the open space. I found it interesting that all of
these people were people who also happened to live near the open space. None of them seemed to have qualifications
or sources regarding California wildlife, nighttime activity, and effects of human interaction (day or night). I would hope
that your decision on that would be based on science, not because someone thinks "the animals need their rest". The
trails are open well past the 8:30 pm limit set in the pilot program in the peak of summer without any noticeable
increased detriment to the animals. Allowing people to access open space at any time (day or night) is going to be
detrimental to animals to some degree, period. No one is asking to close the open space to people during the day
because they see the huge value to people, and realize that people who appreciate nature will help preserve nature, a
net benefit to that wildlife. Some people (such as myself) do not have free time in the winter during daylight hours.
These are people who could enjoy that open space and advocate for it in the future. Will allowing winter access until
8:30pm really be a net detriment to the wildlife?
Second, I've heard a lot of talk about safety and rescues. I think some of this is confusion between Bishop's Peak and
Cerro San Luis. Bishop's Peak is much more technical, and has resulted in many rescues, but Bishop's Peak is not part of
the pilot program. Until a few years ago, the curfew was not enforced (I had no idea that there even was one). I am
guessing you have data on the rescues required and injuries sustained in that earlier time period on Cerro San Luis, and I
hope you will use that in making your decision.
Third, I heard some people complain about seeing lights on the hill. I really don't know what to say to that. I'm not quite
sure I understand what about seeing a flashlight on a hillside at say, 7pm, in a city is so offensive. I've seen flashlights on
silhouetted hillsides while watching beautiful sunsets, and the thoughts have never crossed my mind that my sunset was
ruined by a spot of light nor that I had more of a right to a spotless sunset than they do to a sunset hike. Again, the pilot
hours are until 8:30pm.
Fourth, I am not a mountain biker, but I sincerely hope you do not separate out hikers from mountain bikers. I heard one
commenter last night state how appalled she was at mountain bikers; the way she described them made me stop and
question if she was referring to motor bikes or something. There are always exceptions, but I have had largely positive
experiences sharing trails with mountain bikers. It is also my understanding that a lot of the trail work is done by
mountain bikers. I believe that they have as much of a right to the trail on Cerro San Luis as hikers.
Finally, I hope that you will consider the fact that it is a pilot program, meant to test the waters and see how things go.
It's not the final end-all be-all, and the program can be adjusted/rescinded/expanded based on how it goes. In all
honesty, I hope it will be expanded in the future. One of the main draws that has kept me in SLO (besides the year round
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outdoors weather) is the access to outdoor space within the city. It is unique and very special, and I sincerely believe
that allowing access to the open space in the winter evenings will help keep it that way.
Thank you for your time,
Sierra Layous
SLO resident
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