HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/16/2018 Item 9, Dalbey
From:John Dalbey <
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Hill, Robert
Subject:No night hiking, please
Dear Council Members,
I'm against the proposal to allow night hiking on Cerro San Luis during winter.
In addition to the many good points that were raised during public comment at Oct 24 meeting I wanted to add a few
that weren’t mentioned.
1. The current proposal is inconsistent with the council’s own Vision Statement to "Protect, Restore, and Enhance
Greenbelt Natural Resources" described in Saving Special Places Forever adopted Feb 2017.
2. Since the pilot program was drafted, mountain lions have taken up residence in Irish Hills and were seen recently (Jan
7) near the cow pond on Bishop Peak. This is a very obvious example of why the open spaces should be closed to human
activity at night so the wildlife can hunt without encountering people.
3. We shouldn’t be accommodating law breakers. Councilman Rivoire’s assertion that "people are already doing it" is not
a good argument for permitting night hiking. People also walk dogs off-leash, drink alcohol, camp overnight, and commit
many other violations of open space regulations but we don't change the rules to facilitate these behaviors.
4. There are several alternatives for recreational pursuits. I'm an active outdoor person who has also had a professional
career for decades in this city and when winter comes I simply adapt my exercise regime to the reduced daylight. When
daylight savings time arrives it gets light earlier, so I often exercise before going to work. Or I exercise during lunch hour.
For cycling after dark the Poly Canyon loop, Stagecoach road, or Cuesta ridge are great options. Other people find other
ways to adapt by going to a gym or simply walking the streets of their neighborhood.
Never have I felt so entitled that I needed to implore the city council to alter a decades-long commitment to open space
preservation in order to accommodate my personal recreational needs.
What's next, building canopies over the trail so people will be able to hike in the rain? I hope the Council realizes that
the whining of people who claim the current policy is “inconvenient” for their personal needs isn’t justification for
abandoning a carefully crafted preservation plan.
Sincerely,
John Dalbey
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PO Box 15032
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
(805) 546-8890
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