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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExtended Open Space Public Comment, Krejsai JAN 0 9 2018 Christian, Kevin To: Hill, Robert Subject: RE: Night Hike & Bike Pilot Study: Request extension of public review period for IS/MND by at least 13 days From: Richard J. Krejsa [ Sent: Monday, January 8, 2018 4:56 PM To: Hill, Robert <rh lLaj cf pty oT> Cc: Harmon, Heidi <i:haerrac n s oo ty r >, mm iyrw si cit org; Rivoire, Dan <DRi oir Noe:p ,y c >; Gomez, Aaron < a g r xL(c slocity >; Pease, Andy < ,p2j,m Subject: Night Hike & Bike Pilot Study: Request extension of public review period for IS/MND by at least 13 days FROM: Richard J. Krejsa, PhD DATE: 8 January 2018 TO: Robert Hill, Natural Resources Manager; cc to SLO City Council SUBJECT: Night Hike & Bike Pilot Project: Request extension of public review period for IS/MND by at least 13 days Dear Bob. Before I get into the forest of details below, let me state that I had back surgery five months ago and it has been very physically difficult to respond fully to earlier Council meetings concerning your Night Hike & Bike Pilot Study and its MND. Now, however, in this New Year, I take issue with the fact that the review period for the Re -Circulation of the IS/MND was scheduled in a "required 30 -day public review period" that just happens to encompass several major religious and traditional holidays (i.e., Hanukkah: Dec 12-20; Los Posados Navidenas: 18 Dec; Winter Solstice: Dec 21; Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Dec 24-25; Kwanzaa, Dec 26- Jan 1; New Year's Day: Jan 1; Armenian Apostolic Church Christmas: Jan 6: and Eastern Orthodox Churches Christmas: Jan 7.). For me, we had family guests for almost two weeks. I suspect it also was a busy time for many other SLO City holiday celebrants interested in this issue. Certainly, it shortened the time allowed to respond in that "required 30 - day" period for Re -Circulation of the MND. Q.1. Since the new Pilot Program now has been re -scheduled to begin Nov 4, 2018, why was it necessary to schedule the MND Re -Circulation within such a tight window? The request for comments in the "Notice of Intent to Adopt Re -circulation of a Mitigated Negative Declaration" filed Dec 15 2017 with the County Clerk, also is very confusing. It states that "a written statement" or "email" should be submitted within the "required 30 -day public review period" to the Natural Resources Manager by 2:00 p.m., Jan 16, 2018. If the Council meeting is likely to be between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. that same day, it means your office will have only 4 or (maximum of) 5 hours to read, digest, summarize, copy, and distribute all the submitted comments to the Council members! Q.2. I worry: how can the Council be expected to read and digest all these comments, but also comprehend them in so short a time? If I recall correctly, the State, or Federal (?), regulations call for public review period with a "minimum of 30 days"; that's much different than a "required 30 -day" review period. (emphasis mine. rjk) To make things even more confusing, I just logged onto SLOCity's website to find out "How can I express my opinion on an upcoming Council agenda item?" and discovered that: "Citizens are encouraged to present written comments includin emails at least one day prior to the meeting. This provides the Council with a greater opportunitV to review and consider issues and or concerns expressed in written communications prior to a meeting. (emphasis mine. rjk) Precisely, that makes my point! Sanity demands that Council be given at least a day not only to read but also to comprehend the matter at hand. But, if you give the Council their due, then the interested ublie has beengiven only 29 days, NOT 30 days, to read, consider, and comment on the issues! Therefore, I hereby formally request that: the Natural ltesour e Mara ger extend the public review period by at least 13 more days in order to give the public more time to comment, and the City Council members more time to comprehend the content of incoming citizens' letters or emails written at least one day before the City Council meeting re -scheduled for January 30, 2018. Thank you, Bob RU. K.