July 25, 2023
To: Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Preserve Public Access Working Group
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Dear Working Group members,
The Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, the Sequoia Audubon Society and Green Foothills congratulate you on your appointment to the Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Preserve Public Access Working Group. As you start this journey, we wish to provide the following comments.
- The Agenda for 7/27 schedules public comment at the end. The Orientation Materials and Background Information packet includes (starting on PDF page 6/232) the Procedural Guide and Ground Rules for this working group. The Procedural Guide and Ground Rules provide in Section 5. Meeting Operation Procedures item 6 Public Participation (PDF page 9/232):
“Members of the public may speak during public comment periods provided at each meeting, one at the beginning of the meeting and another to be held at the discretion of the Working Group Co-Chairs. A handout with rules for public participation will be available at all meetings.” (emphasis added.)
We ask the Working group to adhere to the Procedural Guide and Ground Rules and allow public comment at the beginning of the meeting. This is necessary for members of the working group to hear public sentiment and bring up public recommendations and concerns, as merited, during the meeting. In addition, we ask you to allow public comment on specific items on future agendas. We believe that robust and transparent public participation is needed to ensure the best outcomes for the process.
- Midpen’s goals for Hawthorns include
“Natural Resources: Manage for ecological resiliency of aquatic and terrestrial habitat, wildlife corridors connectivity, and other sensitive natural resources.”
It is disconcerting to see that the scope of the working group is focused solely on access, and not on restoration and habitat enhancements that would help the local fauna and flora persist in our landscape.
When access is planned without planning habitat and species-oriented preservation, restoration and enhancement, the result is usually mitigation of impacts to biological resources. That is rarely a balanced, win-win outcome. We ask you to include preservation of species and enhancement of habitat in your discussions. Please identify areas and species that would benefit from specific conservation actions, and avoid any parking facilities or trail alignments that would result in significant impacts to biological resources and wildlife movement. We have a responsibility to leave the land and its species in a healthier state than it is currently.
Sincerely,
Mike Ferreira
Executive Committee member
Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter
Lennie Roberts
Legislative Advocate
Green Foothills
Leslie Flint
Member, Conservation Committee
Sequoia Audubon society
Shani Kleinhaus
Environmental Advocate
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
Judy Fenerty
Conservation Chair,
California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley Chapter