August 16, Mayor Sam Liccardo City of San Jose 200 E. Santa Clara St. San José, CA 95113

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1 August 16, 2017 Mayor Sam Liccardo City of San Jose 200 E. Santa Clara St. San José, CA Re: Conservation in San José s Environmental Sustainability Plan Dear Mayor Liccardo and City Councilmembers: On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we appreciate the opportunity to comment on San José s forthcoming Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). We thank the City of San José for embarking on the creation of the ESP. City staff have described the ESP as a method to advance sustainability and achieve a New Good Life. We strongly embrace this perspective, and appreciate the opportunity to establish a plan that safeguards our environment, advances social equity, and strengthens our economy, while providing a higher quality of life for all San José residents. We write today to ensure that one critical element is included in the city s ESP: protection and stewardship of the natural and agricultural lands within San José s sphere of influence particularly the threatened landscapes of the Coyote Valley. The natural and agricultural lands of San José are essential assets for advancing sustainability. These lands provide a wide range of services to the city, including water quality, water supply, flood protection, habitat for rare and endangered species, carbon storage, recreation, and a 1

2 long-standing farming and ranching economy 1. They also form an integral component of the Bay Area s rich mosaic of open spaces, contributing to the health of the San Francisco Bay and landscapes stretching from the California Coast to the Central Valley. Despite the recognized importance of our region s natural and agricultural lands, the future of these lands is in jeopardy. Greenbelt Alliance s At Risk: The Bay Area s Greenbelt 2017 finds that 293,000 acres of Bay Area open spaces an area 10 times the size of San Francisco are currently threatened by sprawl development. Loss of our open space lands would have far-reaching impacts. Poorly planned development on San Jose s natural and agricultural lands would cause traffic congestion and increase air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Downtown flooding could be worse with reduced floodwater retention opportunities. The city s drinking water supplies would be placed at risk from groundwater contamination. Local wildlife would lose essential habitat connectivity, imperiling threatened species. Natural carbon sequestration from local soils would be lost. Such development patterns would also contradict many state, regional, and local policies that identify the need to protect our natural and agricultural lands. Examples include: The SB 32 Scoping Plan, which calls for increasing carbon sequestration through preservation of natural and working lands; Safeguarding California 2017, which highlights preservation of habitat connectivity to increase climate resilience; Healthy Landscapes 2030, which identifies protection of threatened natural and working lands for our climate strategy; Plan Bay Area 2040, which establishes a bold regional vision for focusing growth within our cities and towns and protecting our natural and agricultural lands 2 San José s own General Plan, which directly links land conservation to carbon sequestration in its Major Strategy for Environmental Sustainability/Environmental Stewardship and establishes a goal to reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) 40% by 2040 necessitating compact, walkable development rather than sprawl. San José s Coyote Valley deserves particular attention. The 7,400-acre valley floor is a nationally-recognized gem. The valley provides essential flood protection, retaining floodwaters that would otherwise flow into urban San José. It contains the largest freshwater wetland in Santa Clara County. It provides unique urban-edge agriculture, offering fresh food for the ninecounty Bay Area. It is also a bulwark against sprawl development, serving as a key buffer that defines San José s southern boundary and separates it from communities farther south. However, in Coyote Valley proposals for destructive sprawl development keep emerging, sparking sustained community opposition. For example, earlier this year, a proposal for a 30- acre warehouse facility threatened the valley; fortunately the land was purchased by the Peninsula Open Space Trust, expanding the valley s network of protected lands. Our understanding of the importance of Coyote Valley has grown significantly in recent years. 1 For additional information, visit BayAreaGreenprint.org, a new online tool that brings together a wide range of geospatial datasets on open space lands including biodiversity and habitat, agriculture, water, carbon, and recreation. 2 Plan Bay Area 2040 calls for expand(ing) the region s network of natural infrastructure to preserve and expand natural features that reduce flood risk, strengthen biodiversity, enhance air quality, and improve access to urban and rural public space, mitigate urban heat island effects, and enhance health. 2

3 In June 2017, the Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority released its draft Landscape Linkage report 3 detailing how the undeveloped valley floor provides a critical connection for wildlife, linking millions of acres of habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Mount Hamilton Range. This year s flooding of Coyote Creek has also shown a spotlight on the valley s role in water management. This new information requires a re-examination of the valley s future and a recognition of the rich and diverse roles that our natural and agricultural lands play of San José s sustainability and climate resilience strategies. We can and must secure a safer future for these lands and the ESP provides a way. The plan should outline a bold conservation agenda for the city of San José. The ESP should: 1. Recognize our natural and agricultural lands--particularly the Coyote Valley--as key components of the city s sustainability strategy. 2. Establish new policies and programs to better protect and steward these lands. 3. Dedicate city financial resources to these efforts. 4. Create robust measurement and monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of these conservation activities. 5. Accelerate the city s efforts to encourage sustainable, equitable development within the city s existing footprint and provide a robust network of urban parks and trails for all San José residents. In the attachment, we provide further details on how protection of San José s natural and agricultural lands is integral to the three priorities that city leaders have identified for the ESP water, mobility, and energy and provide initial recommendations on how to integrate conservation considerations into these three priorities. We look forward to working with the city in the months ahead to develop a robust, detailed conservation agenda for the ESP. Conclusion Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the ESP. We look forward to working with the city to develop this plan and stand ready to partner with you to bring its best elements to life in the years ahead. Sincerely, Kiyomi Honda Yamamoto South Bay Regional Representative Greenbelt Alliance Alice Kaufman Legislative Advocacy Director Committee for Green Foothills Shani Kleinhaus Environmental Advocate Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society 3 Coyote Valley Landscape Linkage: A Vision for a Resilient, Multi-benefit Landscape, June

4 Linda Ruthruff Conservation Chair California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter Mike Ferreira Conservation Committee Chair Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter Joel Ramos Regional Planning Director TransForm Matt Quevedo President San Jose Downtown Residents Association 4

5 Attachment A Integrating Conservation into the three themes of San José Environmental Sustainability Plan City leaders have identified three priorities for San José s Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP) water, mobility, and energy. Below, we provide additional comments regarding how conservation of San José s natural and agricultural lands is integral to all three priorities. 1. Water Management Water is the lifeblood of any community, and can be distinctly dangerous as well, as demonstrated by the catastrophic floods that San José experienced this past winter. As the impacts of climate change become more severe, the challenges of handling San José s water issues sustainably will increase. Conservation and stewardship of the city s natural and agricultural lands should be part of the city s water sustainability strategy. Three water management issues are particularly important flood management, water quality, and water supply. Flooding Open space lands in the vicinity of San José s creeks and streams provide a natural buffer to flooding. Coyote Valley is particularly crucial in this regard. Environmental protection and restoration of areas such as Coyote Valley could reduce flood risks to urban San José, maximizing floodwater retention through minimally-engineered low-carbon green infrastructure approaches. This year s tragic flooding in downtown could have been lessened if stormwater capture projects had been present along Fisher Creek. San José s susceptibility to flooding is being exacerbated by the effects of climate change, making these actions all the more pressing. The ESP should acknowledge the flood protection values these lands provide, and call for preservation and enhancement of these lands to retain their flood protection functions. Drinking water quality The ESP is intended to foster a more sustainable water supply for San José. Safeguarding open space lands that protect local water sources is an environmentally-beneficial method to help ensure a reliable water supply and insulate the city from increasing water scarcity under changing climatic conditions. Two thirds of the drinking water in Santa Clara County is stored underground, so protecting groundwater quality is critical. Unfortunately, San José s local drinking water supplies are uniquely vulnerable to contamination. The Santa Clara Valley Water District s 2010 Groundwater Vulnerability Study ranked North Coyote Valley as one of the areas most vulnerable to groundwater contamination. North Coyote Valley is especially important because contamination there can spread quickly, both by leakage into surface streams and by rapid movement through the aquifer into highly-urbanized areas downstream. Unlike most other areas at high risk for groundwater contamination, Coyote Valley remains largely undeveloped. Preservation of this landscape is a low-cost solution to help protect the city s groundwater quality. The ESP should describe the value that such lands provide for groundwater quality protection and recommend protection of these lands to sustain our groundwater quality. Drinking water supply As described above, local water supplies can be more sustainable and resistant to changing climatic conditions than imported water. Local precipitation provides 30% of the water supply in Santa Clara County, with much of that supply coming from groundwater recharged through 5

6 rainwater percolation. Preservation of our natural and agricultural lands allows rainwater to continue to recharge our groundwater aquifers. Development on these lands creates impervious surfaces, which eliminates aquifer recharge opportunities and makes rainwater run off quickly into streams and the Bay. Many jurisdictions throughout the country have protected local watersheds that provide surface water supplies. For example, Austin, Texas has protected the lands overlaying its adjacent groundwater sources. The ESP should build upon these examples, describing the value our natural and agricultural lands provide for our local water supplies and recommend protection of these lands to maximize percolation and water retention. 2. Sustainable Mobility Transportation based on sprawl development is dysfunctional and unsustainable in every sense - personal, societal, and environmental. Development on our natural and agricultural lands, would worsen the City s traffic and increase the air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Coyote Valley in particular is far from transit and other amenities, exactly the type of location that will induce additional drive-alone travel patterns that increase traffic and congestion and complicate the City s efforts to achieve the General Plan s ambitious VMT reduction goals. Mobility based on infill development and multi-modal transportation is the solution. By directing new development into infill locations and expanding opportunities for walking, biking, and transit within those locations, we can create thriving neighborhoods with new jobs and homes that strengthen our economy, protect our environment and improve public health. Additionally, the ESP is an opportunity to recognize the potential for a large world-class recreational trail system that links open space areas such as the Coyote Creek parkway and Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve with urban lands and the Bay. Such an Urban Greenway runs a loop through the heart of San José along its two major stream systems and is anchored in Coyote Valley. From Coyote Valley, the Coyote Creek runs north through the heart of downtown all the way to the Bay. Nearby at the Bay, the Guadalupe River runs up on a parallel track through the City to Alamitos Creek and Almaden Valley to Coyote Valley. Much of this Urban Greenway has trails and more are planned, including the Fisher Creek Trail and others as described in the City s Trails Program. The ESP should reference the importance of protecting our natural and agricultural lands to ensure sustainable mobility outcomes. It should prioritize protecting wildlife linkages where transportation infrastructure has the potential to interfere with movement of wildlife. It should also encourage infill development and foster an array of walking, biking, and transit opportunities to encourage sustainable mobility patterns. 3. Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Protection and stewardship of our natural and agricultural lands is broadly recognized as an important strategy for energy and greenhouse gas emissions and efforts are underway to maximize these values in San Jose and beyond. The City of San Jose is a key partner in the Santa Clara Valley Climate and Agricultural Protection Program (CAPP), a multi-sector effort to protect Southern Santa Clara County s important farmland and reduce future effects of climate change. The CAPP is funded in part by the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program (SALCP), which provides funding from the California Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund 6

7 to protect agricultural lands in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet California s climate change goals. The forthcoming CAPP plan will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by protecting the county s most strategic farmlands. These and other efforts should be referenced and incorporated into the ESP. The ESP should also recommend protection and stewardship of lands that provide greenhouse gas benefits as part of a sustainable energy program for San José. 7

8 From: Chris MacIntosh < > Sent: Wednesday, August 16, :07 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; District1; District2; District3; District4; District5; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; District9; District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure San Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear San Jose Mayor and Councilmembers, I am writing you to express my thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city s sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose s natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -And much, much more. Not least the benefit of a "green lung" to all of us/ The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [Your Name] Chris MacIntosh Menlo Park 94026

9 From: Michael LeClair < Sent: Wednesday, August 16, :15 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; District1; District2; District3; District4; District5; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; District9; District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure San Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear San Jose Mayor and Councilmembers, I am writing you to express my thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city s sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose s natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -And much, much more The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Future generations will honor and thank you for your foresight and courage to stand up for what is right. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Geoman Michael LeClair Morgan Hill 95037

10 From: James Haskell < Sent: Wednesday, August 16, :49 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; District1; District2; District3; District4; District5; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; District9; District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure San Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear San Jose Mayor and Councilmembers, I am writing you to express my thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city s sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose s natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -And much, much more The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, James Haskell James Haskell Morgan Hill 95037

11 From: Nancy Reyering < Sent: Wednesday, August 16, :28 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; District1; District2; District3; District4; District5; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; District9; District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure San Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear San Jose Mayor and Councilmembers, I am writing you to express my thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city s sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose s natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -And much, much more The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Nancy Reyering Nancy Reyering Woodside 94062

12 From: Mary E. Martin < > Sent: Wednesday, August 16, :55 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; District1; District2; District3; District4; District5; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; District9; District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure San Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear San Jose Mayor and Councilmembers, I am writing you to express my thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city s sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose s natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -And much, much more The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Mary E. Martin Mary E. Martin San Jose 95135

13 From: carol ruth < > Sent: Thursday, August 17, :54 AM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; District1; District2; District3; District4; District5; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; District9; District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure San Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear San Jose Mayor and Councilmembers, We are writing you to express our thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city s sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose s natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -And much, much more The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Carol Ruth and Dr. Ronald Ruth carol ruth Stanford 94305

14 From: Bill Leikam < Sent: Wednesday, August 16, :51 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; District1; District2; District3; District4; District5; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; District9; District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure San Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear San Jose Mayor and Councilmembers, I am writing you to express my thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city s sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose s natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -And much, much more The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [Bill Leikam - The Fox Guy] Bill Leikam Palo Alto 94306

15 From: Christine Nagel Sent: Thursday, August 17, :00 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; Districtl; District2; District3; District4; District5; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; Districts District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure San Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear San Jose Mayor and Councilmembers, I am writing you to express my thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city's sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose's natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -Defend biodiversity for a healthy ecosystem The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [Your Name] Christine Nagel San Jose 95126

16 From: Chris Allingham > Sent: Thursday, August 17, :36 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; Districtl; District2; District3; Districts District5; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; District9; District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure San Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear Mayor Liccardo and Councilmembers, I am writing you to express my thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city's sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose's natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -And much, much more The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Chris Allingham District 8 Resident San Jose, CA Chris Allingham San Jose 95138

17 From: Ronald Semenza < > Sent: Thursday, August 17, :26 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; Districtl; District2; District3; Districts District5; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; District9; District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure San Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear San Jose Mayor and Councilmembers, I am writing you to express my thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city's sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose's natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -And much, much more The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [Your Name] Ronald Semenza San Jose 95119

18 From: Carolyn Straub < > Sent: Thursday, August 17, :11 PM To: The Office of Mayor Sam Liccardo; Districtl; District2; District3; Districts Districts; Oliverio, Pierluigi; District7; Herrera, Rose; District!?; District 10; City Clerk Subject: Please ensure Sari Jose's ESP includes preservation Dear San Jose Mayor and Councilmembers, I am concerned about what the city means by the goals of water, energy and mobility within its statement on the future Environmental Sustainability Plan. At your meeting on Monday, Aug. 21,1 hope you will detail these goals. The Panatonni project recently was obtained by POST and environmental interests and a plan for Coyote Valley to have 1,000 acres of green open space. I am hoping that the rest of the Valley will not be overdeveloped - mobility (meaning trains) or energy( meaning business) on the remaining tract. There is not a point to developing a "city" within Coyote Valley. The Valley is the last of green space that was once "The Valley of Heart's Delight" and it affords an atmosphere of calm growing country within South County. Agriculture has flourished here for at least a century. Is beauty not an important goal as well? What kind of nation will we become with "very square inch" taken for industry? I am writing you to express my thoughts on the draft Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). Please make sure that the ESP includes preservation of open space and natural lands as an important part of the city's sustainability strategy. Conservation of San Jose's natural and agricultural lands, especially threatened gems like Coyote Valley, is crucial to the environmental sustainability of San Jose and the entire Bay Area. These lands: -Protect our communities from increased flood risks -Safeguard the quality and supply of our drinking water -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon -And much, much more The ESP should recognize the importance of these lands in achieving our climate change goals and promoting sustainability throughout our region. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Carolyn Straub

19 Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society Established 1926 August 18, 2018 Re: Supplemental Environmental Groups letter - San Jose s Environmental Sustainability Plan Dear Mayor Liccardo and City Councilmembers, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Citizens Committee to Complete the Refuge, California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter, Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, San Francisco Baykeeper, and Committee for Green Foothills submit this letter as a supplement to the letter that was sent by environmental groups on August 16 th (see attached) regarding San Jose s forthcoming Environmental Sustainability Plan (ESP). In this letter, we wish to reiterate the importance of protection and stewardship of the natural and agricultural lands within San José s sphere of influence. In addition, we wish to broaden the scope of discussion to lands north of Highway 237, inclusive of City-owned land. In alignment with the City s economic development goals, North San Jose has seen tremendous development in recent years. This development brought with it unsustainable traffic congestion, and continues to place development in areas susceptible to both fluvial flooding and sea level rise as well as adjoining sensitive riparian, bayland and wildlife refuge habitats. A celebrated population of Burrowing Owls survives in the Regional Wastewater Facility grasslands. Many other species, including endangered species Congdon s Tar Plant, a listed California Rare Plant Species, thrives there as well as vernal pool arthropods. Many animal species and birds use the grasslands, riparian areas and bay wetland to forage, roost, and reproduce and for migratory linkages. The ESP provides an opportunity for San Jose to provide environmental leadership, and to examine the remaining undeveloped lands in Coyote Valley and in North of Highway 237 with a true sustainable lens. Respectfully, Shani Kleinhaus, Ph.D Environmental Advocate Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society Eileen McLaughlin Board Member Citizens Committee to Compete the Refuge

20 Linda Ruthruff Conservation Chair California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter Erica Maharg Managing Attorney San Francisco Baykeeper Michael Ferreira Chapter Conservation Chair Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter Alice Kaufman Legislative Advocate Committee for Green Foothills

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