HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/17/2017 Item 10, Vujovich-LaBarre
Christian, Kevin
From:Mila Vujovich-LaBarre <milavu@hotmail.com>
Sent:Tuesday, October 17,
To:E-mail Council Website; Harmon, Heidi; Gomez, Aaron; Rivoire, Dan; Pease, Andy;
Christianson, Carlyn
Subject:Item #10 Meeting date - October 17, 2017
October 17, 2017
Mayor Harmon and City Council Members
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Dear Mayor and City Council,
You will find here concerns that I have in regard to Item #10 for tonight’s City Council Meeting.
The current night-hiking proposal, in my view, will constitute a hazard to our City finances, public
safety, and Mother Nature.
I oppose night hiking and biking within the City limits. I believe that it is important to protect the Open
Space Reserves within the City of San Luis Obispo.
"The majority of San Luis Obispo residents value the City's natural beauty, clean air, and open
spaces as the City's greatest strengths, and as the most important aspects of it highest quality of life,”
according to numerous surveys.
City residents for years have long sought to to preserve our community's natural environment and
control excessive growth detrimental to the long-term sustainability of the community. The clean air,
abundant native plants and wildlife, open spaces, and unique landforms are the natural beauty of San
Luis Obispo - natural assets that are becoming increasingly rare in California. Once they are lost,
they can never be replaced.
While times are indeed changing with development in and around the perimeter of San Luis Obispo,
we still need to preserve what has drawn people to treasure in our wonderful
City.
Although I am a huge advocate for recreation and sports, I believe that there are plenty of options for
people to hike and bike in town without compromising the established walking and biking trails and
open space after dark.
As a resident of the Ferrini Heights area, I have witnessed plenty of emergency rescues over the
years at all hours. I think that the mountain bikes will make the established trails more perilous.
Rescues and injuries in the daylight hours are one thing. At night they could be fatal.
I also worry about the increase in crime. What better place to attack an unsuspecting male or female
individual than on a trail at night!
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I also have concerns about fire hazard. People with barbeques have been known to ascend our local
mountains. Thanks to a handful of vocal residents and a ranger on occasion they have been able to
tell people that cooking with fire on the mountain is not permitted.
I see permitted night hiking as an ideal invitation for our homeless population to expand their
nighttime camping area.
Our City finances are already in grim condition. I do not envision additional policing or support to keep
expanded areas safe.
Lastly, I am concerned about the wildlife. It is so refreshing to walk on the City streets in the Ferrini
Heights and see deer and other creatures roaming about after dark . These creatures need time to
eat and procreate. Open Space was, in the past, for the creatures. The Parks and Recreation
Department was for our residents and tourists.
Having heard comments from some of you on this topic, I am assuming that you will be tempted to
approve this proposal tonight due to immense public pressure by a handful of constituents. As a
parent and teacher I know that it is sometimes hard to say “No” and to want to work out a
compromise. This is a situation where the answer should simply be “No.”
If the City truly has economic problems, approving this proposal would be a step in the wrong
direction.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Mila Vujovich-La Barre
650 Skyline Drive
San Luis Obispo, California 93405
milavu@hotmail.com
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