Attachment 11 - Public Comment received between 1101 Sep. 13, 2017 and 1100 Dec. 31, 2017My name is Peter Donnelly and I live in a new residence at 15305 Suview Drive in Los
Gatos . My wife and I worked hand in hand with the Planning Department to design and
build a home that met the wide ranging conditions outlined in the Hillside Standards and
Guidelines. While this was a lengthy and at times painful process I think our home and
the neighborhood are better for the diligence and effort that went in to making it work for
our 4 .3 acre hillside property.
I made comments on this topic at the last Planning Commission meeting which I
assume are part of the record and are included in the materials you have reviewed in
preparation for this meeting so I am not going to repeat those. Instead I wanted to raise
three specific comments for your consideration
• We have lots of ru les in place today to govern development activity in the Hillside
area . The Los Gatos Hillside Standards and Guidelines is a lengthy and wide
ranging document that covers many topics including fencing (specifically chapter
six: Site Elements). In fact there are six standards and a further five guidelines
on fencing alone. I'm not going to document each of these to you as no doubt
you are familiar with them. Needless to say they are comprehensive and
designed to balance the needs of the property owners as well as ensure the free
flow of wildlife in the hillsides . In Chapter 1 Standards are defined as "mandatory
nondiscretionary regulations that must be followed ". It seems pretty clear to me
that we don't need any more rules
• At the previous Plann ing Meeti ng whe re this topic was discussed the sponsor of
the document stated that the proposed ordinance simply codified what already
exists in the Hillside Standards and Guidelines . This is simply not true . For
example nowhere i n the Hillside Standards and Guidelines does it call for taller
fencing to be limited to within 30 ' of a primary residence (which by the way is not
even defined in the document itself ... does it only include the house ; what about
an attached garage; or a detached garage; what about an in-laws
quarters). There is language referring to ornamental landscaping to be restricted
to within 30 ' of a primary residence (Chapter 7 , Landscape Design) but that is not
the only reason one might want to have taller fencing . What about a playground ,
an outdoor entertaining space , a guest cottage, detached garages , a fruit
orchard , a utility area, an area for wild stock like goats or for domestic
animals . All legitimate uses for the land and in most cases these development
are governed by rules in the Hillside Standards and Guidelines. If you can build
these elements per existing development rules then you ought to have the right
to use and protect them . While the author of the document has subsequently
tried to include exceptions for items such as a pool , sports court , livestock areas
and orchards that are outside the 30 ' area this is very much a band -aid
approach . If the document had been written properly there would not be a need
for a long list of exceptions. Also if these exceptions are deemed acceptable by
the author even though they could very well impact wildlife migration pathways
why just these exceptions. Why not others? Surely if securing wildlife corridors
RECEIVED
NOV 2 8 Z017
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
is a primary objective then that is what ought to be focused on as the outcome ...
see next bullet point below
• The language for the proposed ordinance makes the assumption that a problem
exists everywhere as opposed to trying to address those situations where a
problem may be created by introducing taller fencing . Rather than severely
restrict a property owners use of their property to within 30 ' of a primary
residence why not take an approach that requires minimum wildlife corridors. If it
can be demonstrated that sufficient wildlife corridors exist then there isn't a
problem and if there isn't a problem then we don't need any new rules.
I personally don 't think we need a new ordinance. If the Town Council concludes that
we need to have something in place over and above what exists today in the Hillside
Standards and Guidelines then it ought to be designed to solve the problem or achieve
the desired outcome (the free flow of wildlife within the Hillsides) as opposed to
penalizing everyone even though a problem doesn't exist across the majority of
parcels . You can do better than what has been presented and I urge you to listen to the
concerns raised by many residents around this topic and ensure whatever is
implemented doesn 't create unnecessary bureaucracy and further limit the rights of the
property owners who pay dearly to live in this wonderful part of the Bay Area .
Sean Mullin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Hello Sean,
Cassandra Joseph <cjsmail2me@gmail.com >
Tuesday, November 28, 2017 6:56 PM
Sean Mullin
Proposed town code amendment for fence heights
I would like you to know that I fully support the proposed town code
amendment for fence heights, and to increase it to 7 feet. The 6 foot
fence with 1 foot of lattice is what seems to be standard, as far as what
I see pretty much all through Los Gatos. I think it would make sense
to heighten the limit. People want and need privacy and escape from
possibly noisy neighbors. I am in full support of this
proposition. Thank you for your time in researching and making
these proposed amendments. I think they would be beneficial to all.
Sincerely,
Cassandra Joseph
1
From: Maud Gleason [mailto:maudgleason@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2017 8:31 AM
To: Planning
Subject: Hillside Fence Ordinance
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Here is my husband's perspective on the proposed ordinance.I have signed the petition against it.
Sincerely,
Maud Gleason
15298 Kennedy Road
Los Gatos, 95032
15298 Kennedy Road
Los Gatos, CA 95032
The proposed new fence ordinance, although well meaning, betrays a lack of understanding of
the predator -prey behavior in our wonderful northern California ecosystem.
We have lived on our property in Los Gatos , at the top of Kennedy Rd and adjacent to 20,000
acres of Mid Pen Open Space, for nearly 30 years, and have observed all of the species native to
this area.
We know by personal experience that a 6 foot fence does little to deter smaller predators, such as
raccoons, coyotes, and bobcats, at least when there is a chicken dinner on the other side of the
fence. However, a 6 foot fence does deter deer.
Deer are the principal food of the apex predator in our hills. Each adult mountain lion kills one
every 3 or 4 days, approximately 100 per year. This town wasn't named for house cats! The
only times that mountain lions have been sighted on our property is when they have been hunting
-in one case stalking a dog, in another, killing our goats.
By reducing fence heights and making it easier for wildlife to travel , we will be inviting deer into
our yards. And their predator will follow. Inevitably, mountain lions will have interactions with
people and pets. The ones that persist in these behaviors will need to be seriously relocated or
euthanized. This will be the unintended consequence of a "wildlife friendly " fence policy, which
is therefore a bad idea!
We have a local resource, if we need further information on mountain lion behavior. The UC
Santa Cruz Puma Project has studied our local cats, and tracked them with radio collars. They
would certainly be able to provide expert advice.
Sincerely Yours ,
Frederick Holley MD
Sean Mullin
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
David Weissman <gryllus@gmail.com >
Thursday, November 30, 2017 8:04 AM
Sean Mu ll in; Jo el Paulson
For TC 12 /5 fence ordinance meeting
PV . FenceSketch (l ).pdf; 11-28-2017. DBW draft. Fences .docx
Please distribute the attached draft, and figure, to the TC members, and place them in the staff report and online. My
changes from the staff draft presented to the PC on 9/17 /2017, are shown in red type.
Also , please distribute these articles to the TC members and place online:
1. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/n ational/articl e24727537.html
2. https://ww2. kqed.org/science/2017 /07 /27 /lyme-disease-in-california-sorting-fact-from-myth/
Thank you.
Dave
Dave Weissman
15431 Francis Oaks Way
Los Gatos, CA 95032
H: (40 8) 358-3556
gryllu s@gmai l.com
1
1 My changes to staff draft presented at PC meeting of 9/17 /2017, are shown In red type
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Sec. 29.40.030xx. -Purpose and intent.
The Fence Ordinance is divided into two parts: non-hillside and hillside areas. The use of fences. walls.
gates, gateways, entrv arbors. and hedges in the hillside areas shall be minimized and located so that
natural landforms appear to flow together and are not.disconnected. The primary emphasis shall be on
maintaining open views. protecting wildlife corridors and habitat connectivity, and maintaining the rural,
open, and natural character ofthe hillsides. Additional details are available in the HDS&G .
Sec. 29.40.030xx. -Definitions.
The following words. terms. and phrases. when used in this diyision. shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in this section.
Building envelope is the three-dimensional space on a parcel, excluding the required yard areas. The
building envelope area plus the required yard area constitutes the entire parcel.
Domestic fence is any fence that does not conform to the conditions of a horse fence.
Fence means a man-made structure serving as a barrier or screen &eA&\FY&teEI ef 'NeeEI, Metal. wiee.
ffliSBAP+'• ela&&, slastie. steAe eF aRy FRatetial.
Fence height means measured from finished grade and shall be measured from either side of the
property line which affords affected property owners the most buffering from noise, light. glare. or
privacy impacts.
Hedge means a boundary formed by closely growing deciduous or evergreen bushes or shrubs.
Hillside lot means a parcel of land that is shown on the Hillside Area Mao i n the Hillside Development
Standards and Guidelines regardless of zoning district.
Horse fence means a fence not exceeding 48 inches in height above natural grade. It shall be of split rail
design, constructed of wood, and be at least 50% open in design. The minimum height above grade shall
be 16 inches and shall have 12-inch spacing between rails wherever feasible.
Movement corridor means a movement pathway that is typically independent of season and used by
ilnimals on a near daily basis for the acquisition of food. shelter, water. and mates.
Open-view design means a fence or other structure that permits views through it.
Planting Zone 1 means that area withi n a 30-foot radius of the prima,.Y dwelling unit on a hillside· lot.
Required yard means that area of open space between the parcel line and the building envelope. The
minimum width of this yard is equivalent to the setbacks listed in Sec. 29.40.270, except for rear
setbacks on parcels located in HR-20 {see below}.
Retaining wall means a man-made structure designed to retain soil.
Riparian corridor means an area comprised of habitat strongly influenced and delineated by the
presence of oerennial or intermittent streams.
Stream means a body of water that flows at least periodically or intennittently through a bed or channel
having banks. The body of water may include watercourses having a surface or subsurface flow that
supports or has supported riparian vegetation, fish, or aauatic life. RECEIVED
NOV, 3 0 2017
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
PLANNING DIVISION
1
39 Top of bank means a stream boundary where a majority of normal discharges and channel forming
40 activities take place. The top of bank will contain the active channel, active floodplain, and their
41 associated banks. Where there are no distinguishable features to locate the top of bank, the local
42 permitting agency will make a determination and document as appropriate. In the absence of this
43 determination, the 100-year water surface will be used.
44 Traffic view area means that area, on corner lots, which is within fifteen (15) feet of a public street and
45 within two hundred (200) feet of the right-of-way line of an intersection, or a distance of thirty (30) feet
46 measured horizontally in any direction from the point of intersection of the property lines at street
47 corners.
48 Wall means a man-made structure that defines an area, carries a load. or provides shelter or security.
49 Wildlife-friendly design means a fence. wall, hedge, or other structure that permits any animal,
SO regardless of size. to easily climb under. pass through. or lump over.
51 Sec. 29.40.030xx. -Non-hillside lots: Proposed new fences. walls. gates, gateways. entry arbors, and
52 hedges.
53 (A) In residential zones, no permits are required for the repair, replacement, or construction of
54 feRees, walls, gates, gateways, entry arbors, or hedges that are ~o more than six (6) feet
55 high; or fences. walls. or gates that are no more than six (6) feet high, with one (1) foot of lattice
56 on top (seven {7) feet high in total) on , or within all property lines.
57 (B) The following height exceptions shall apply:
58 (1) Corner lot: In a traffic view area, no corner lot or premises in the Town shall have any fence,
59 wall, gate, gateway, entry arbor,· or hedge higher than three (3) feet above the curb unless
60 permission is secured from the Town Engineer.
61 (2) Properties not on a street corner: At the discretion of the Director of Community
62 Development, side yard and rear yard fences, walls, gates, gateways, entry arbors, or
63 hedges, behind the front yard setback, may be a maximum of eight (8) feet high provided
64 the property owner can provide written justification to the Planning Department that
65 demonstrates either of the following conditions exists :
66 a. A special privacy concern exists that cannot be practically addressed by additional
67 landscaping or tree screening .
68 b. A special wildlife/animal problem affects the property that cannot be practically
69 addressed through alternatives. Documented instances of wildlife grazing on
70 gardens or ornamental landscaping may be an example of such a problem.
71 (3) Historic Districts and/or Landmark and Historic Preservation overlay: The maximum height
72 of fences in the front yard shall be three (3) feet and shall be of open-view design.
73 (4) Gateways or entryway arbors : May be up to eight (8) feet high, including within Historic
74 Districts or for properties with a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay, and shall be of
75 open-view design. A gateway or entryway arbor shall have a maximum width of six (6) feet
76 and a maximum depth of four (4) feet. No more than one (1) gateway or entryway arbor
77 per street frontage is allowed.
78 (S) Adjacent to commercial property: Boundary line fences or walls adjacent to commercial
79 property may be eight (8) feet high if requested or agreed upon by a majority of the
80 adjacent residential property owners.
2
81 (C) Materials. The tyoe of fencing materials within the non-hillside zone are generallv unrestricted,
82 and fences can be a combination of material_s, with the following exceptions:
83 (1) Plastic fencing is di_scouraged everywhere and is prohibited in Historic Districts.
84 (2) Barbed w i re or razor ribbon wire is prohibited in all zones.
85
86 Sec. 29.40.0JOxx. -Hiiiside lots: Proposed new fences. walls. gates. gateways. entrv arbors. and
87 hedges. ·
88 This division section covers any new fence. wall. gate. gateway. entrv arbor. or hedge. and the
89 replacement, modification, and/or repair of any existing fence. wall. gate. gatewav. entry arbor, or
90 hedge whether the primary dwelling unit is new or existing. Guiding principles come from the HDS&G
91 which state that rural-character fences shall allow wildljfe to pass through. that fences shall not be
92 allowed in areas that would lmoede the movement of wildlife. and that deer fencing shall be limited to
93 areas around ornamental landscaping with larger areas not to be enclosed. IA tl:1e a~seRee ef a PFil'laF\'
94 ewelliRg unit. aA eAtire J:tillside let. iRel1::1diRR aA\' aeeesseP+· strYetYR!s s1::1eJ:t as a ~arR. ster:aRe sl:lee,
95 stahle, er si11tllar stn.,et1:1re. shall he 69\'eree bv tJ:te eeneitieRs efthis 5eetieRa For purposes of this
96 division, hillside lots are divided into 2 sections -the building envelope, in which minimal fence
97 restrictions are enforced; and the required yard, which is regulated to be more wildlife-friendly.
98
99 Fences within the building envelope of hillside lots do not require a permit and are subject to Section
100 29.40.030, Non-hillside residential lots above; however, fencing is limited to six (6) feet high in total.
101 Deer fencing up to eight feet in height shall be limited to areas around ornamental landscaping.
102
103 Fences within the required yards on hillside lots require a permit and are subject to the following
104 standards:
105 (1) HR-1 (one (1) to five (5) acres for each dwetling unit). Domestic fences or fences consistent
106 with the standards of a horse fence are allowed in required yards, including along property lines.
107
108 (2) HR-2% (two and one-half (2%) to ten (10) acres for each dwelling unit). Only horse fences are
109 allowed in required yards, including along property lines, and shall be allowed only on slopes of
110 twenty percent (20%) or less.
111
112 (3) HR-5 (five (5) to forty (40) acres for each dwelling unit}. Only horse fences are allowed in required
113 yards, including along property lines, and shall be allowed only on slopes of twenty percent (20%} or
114 less.
115
116 (4) HR-20 (twenty (20) to one hundred sixty (160) acres for each dwelling unit). Only horse fences are
117 allowed in required yards, including along property lines, and shall be allowed only on slopes of twenty
118 percent (20%) or less. Rear yard setbacks shall be 35 feet minimum width.
119
120 The following fence types and materials are not of wildlife-friendly design and are therefore prohibited
121 in the required yard:
122 (a) Chain-link. chicken wire. welded wire. wire mesh, cyclone or similar fence material.
123 (b) Buck and rail fences.
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(c) Any fence with bare lengths of wire stretched between posts.
(d) Electric fences. including any fence designed to produce an electric shock.
{e) Barbed or razor wire fences, including any fence with attached barbs, sharp points. or razors.
(f) Double fences.
(g) All hedges
131 All new hillside fences, hedges, and walls are subject to the following restrictions:
132 (1) Open-view design fences. that do not detract from the scenic nature or character of the
133 surrounding area, are encouraged everywhere within the hillsides. Only open fencing should
134 be located within 20 feet of the property line adjacent to a street.
135 (2) Traditional split-rail fences are encouraged. Rural styles shall emphasize natural colors su.ch
136 as brown, grey or green.
137 (3) Fences and hedges shall be located to follow natural contours. whenever possible.
138 (4) Fences and hedges shall be located to avoid Impacts to trees, animal movement corridors.
139 and other natural features.
140 (5) Riparian corridor. No domestic or horse fence. wall. gate or hedge shall be constructed
141 within a riparian corridor or within 30 feet of Its top of bank.
142 {6) Prohibited materials. Barbed or razor wire fences, including any fence with attached barbs,
143 sharp points, or razors, are prohibited.
144 (7) No fence. wall, gate, or hedge shall be constructed in the public or private right-of-way or
145 within any trail easement or other easement precluding their construction unless allowed, in
146 writing, by the Town Engineer.
147 (8) All domestic yard hedges, greater than 30 feet from the primary residence, and outside
148 planting zone 1, shall consist of only plant species listed in Appendix A of the HDS&G.
149 (9) Walls
150 (A} Walls are prohibited unless needed for privacy as determined by the Director of
151 Community Development.
152 (B) Town approved retaining walls are permitted.
153 1.!Q) Fences existing when this ordinance takes effect, are exempt from these conditions, except
154 as described below under repair, replacement or modification.
155 (F) Repair, replacement or modification of existing fences. walls, hedges or gates:
156 ill When a portion of a fence exceeding twenty-five percent of the total length (a straight
157 run) of fencing within required yards on a property is damaged or voluntarily removed,
158 any replacement fencing of that portion shall conform to the fence regulations pursuant
159 to a fence permit. The permit shall be posted on site during construction. ·
160 ill Are encouraged if such changes improve wildlife movement or animal corridors.
161 Ifil Replacement or modification of any fence, wall, hedge or gate shall be prohibited if the
162 Town Engineer determines that a public safety hazard exists.
163 (G) Exceptions:
4
164 (1) A temporary (1 to 3 vear), animal excluding, protective circular enclosing fence may be erected
165 in required yards to protect, until established. a newly planted tree or shrub, when that plant
166 species is listed in Appendix A of the t:fDS&G.
167 (2) Enclosure fencing around vineyards. orchards, and vegetable gardens shall be limited to those
168 areas requiring enclosure and does not have to be wildlife friendly. Such fencing is prohibited in
169 required yards except for HR-1 zoning.
170 (3) Security fencing required to protect a public utility installation.
171 (4) Written exceptions may be granted when the Director of Community Development finds that
172 the strict application of these requirements will result in a significant hardship for the property
173 ~·
174 (H) Fees. The fee, as adopted by TuwR ReselutieR fer MiRer ResideRtial Ele•ielepmeRt. prescribed
175 therefore in the municipal fee schedule, shall accompany any application for a fence in the
176 Hillside area submitted to the Town for review and evaluation pursuant to this division. (NOTE:
177 Portola Valley charges $110 for a horse fence permits and $225 for all other fence permits).
178 (I) Enforcement. Any fence, wall, gate, gateway, entry arbor, or hedge constructed, replaced,
179 modified, or repaired without required approval, is a violation of this Code.
180 (J) Where a conflict exists between the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) of a hillside
181 Planned Development (PD) and this document, the requirements of this document shall prevail.
182 (Kl Notices. Noticing shall comply with the publl~ noticing procedures of Section 29.20.480 of the
183 Town Code.
184 (Ord. No.1316, § 4 .10.020, 6-7-76; Ord. No. 1493, 3-17-81; Ord. No. 1873, §I, 10-7-91 ; Ord. No.
185 2049, §I, 10-5-98; Ord. No. 2062, §I, 6-21-99; Ord. No . XXXX. §)
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KQED Science
NEWS fHTTPS://WW2.KOEQ.OBG/SCIENCE/CATEGOBY/NEWS/I
Know How to Protect Yourself From Lyme Disease on Bay Area Hikes
Lyme-infected western blacklegged ticks h ave been found in 42 out of California's 58 counties. (Ervic Aquino)
By Anna Kusmer fhttps://ww2.kged.org/science/author/akusmer/l -----------
JULY 27, 2017
Northern California has many attractions, but the fact that it's prime tick habitat isn't one of them.
RECEIVED
NOV. 3 0 £tli f
Adding to the angst surrounding outdoor activities is that tick hotspots are unevenly distributed on a patchy landscape.
'Medicine has the tendency to want a vaccine or a clear antibiotic silver bullet, and I don't think the Lyme
system gives us that luxury.'
-Nate Nieto, University of Northern Arizona
One moment you're strolling through redwood forests, the next through oak forests, and a couple of hours later you may come across
scenic chaparral. While on this iconic hike, you probably don't realize that you've moved through both h igh-and low-risk Lyme disease
areas. The question is, do you know wh~re you are most at risk ?
The answer is in the oak forest where layer s of rich leaf litte r are a kind of Club Med for ticks.
It's Always Tick Season
"Tick season" exists year-round in northern California . The highest risk is in the spring and early summer due to an abundance of
juvenile ticks, known as nymphs (the most virulent life-stage ). However, peak diagnosis time extends into July, because it can take a
few weeks to realize that you have the disease .
Summer is also particularly dangerous for Lyme disease because that's when people spend the most time outside, and many of the most
beautiful hiking areas tend to be tick-ridden.
It's always tick season in Northern California. Peak season is spring and early summer. (Bay Area Lyme Foundation)
Most people associate Lyme disease with the Northea stern U.S. and the upper Midwes t, and for ~ood reason
(btt,ps;l/www,c dc.~oy!lym elstatslmaps.html); the vast majority of cases are reported there, due mostly to the fact that the landscape is
blanketed with prime tick habitat. On the west coast, t he risk is real, but it's different.
How to prevent a tick bite in the first place.
• Dress the part: Tic ks tend to like to climb upwards, so wear full-length pants, tucked into your socks, and a fu ll le ngth shirt, tucked in to your pants
• Pesticide options: Chemical tick-repellents or acaricides can be very effective at low dosages. Be sure to read manufactu rer's instruction s carefully.
• Clean your body and clothes: Take a shower once you get home from a hike and throw your clothes in a hot d ryer for a 1-hour cycle.
• Check your pets and yourself: Perform a thorough tick check when you get home. Ticks can travel into your house on dogs and cats.
"There are definitely patches in California where the risk is just as high as the East -it's just not the same spatial extent," says Dan
Salkeld, research scientist at Colorado State University.
The overall abundance of Lyme ticks is relatively low on the West Coast; however, t he risk is spread unevenly. Hikers can move from
high-risk area to a low-risk area and never know it.
In Ca lifornia, ''You can be in one valley and rates of Lym e can be as high as in upstate New York, Connecticut or Rhode Island," says
Nate Nieto, a microbiologist at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. "Then you go over one ridge, the habitat changes completely -
and there's nothing,"
Part of what puts C alifornians at risk is a la ck of awareness -among the public and even among doctors. Much of the research and
public health information is base d on ea st coast ecology and may not apply to the West.
For many Californian physicians, Lyme disease is just not on the radar, even though according to the Bay Area Lyme foundation
(lmp;//www,bayarealyme.or~Q. Lyme-infected ticks have been located in 42 of California's 58 counties (highest incidence were in
Trinity, Humbolt and Mendocino as of 2014). About 100 cases of Lyme disease are reported in California each yea r, but according to
Supervi sing Public Health Biologist Kerry Padgett of the state Department of Public Health, the disease is likely more widespread.
"The re is an under-diagnosis and under-reporting of Lyme di sease in California," says Padgett.
How Ticks Make Us Sick
Lyme disease is caused by a microscopic spiral-shaped bacteria called borrelia burgdorferi. On the west coast, these Lyme disease-
caus ing b acteria live inside the guts of the western blacklegged tick and can travel into the blood streams of bitten animals.Ticks
ge nerally live for two or three years. They are born Lyme -free, and will contract or transmit Lyme during feeding, once during each of
their three life stages.
Blue-bellied lizards are our frie nds . Their blood actually cures Infected ticks of Lyme disease. The "grapes" in this lizard's ear a re all
feeding ticks. (Ervic Aquino) ·
When a Lyme-infected tick bites, it typically takes 36-48 hours for the bacteria to make the journey from the t ick's gut to their mouth
and into the bl ood of their host. The process ca n take as little as 24 hours.
Only 15 -20 perce nt ofbacklegged ticks contain Lyme di sease during their nymph stage, and that number is much lower, 1-2 perce nt, in
adults.
A Forest Full of Frenemies
To de te rmine disease risk of a particular place, researchers look to some of the tick's favorite foods.
The most common reservoir of Lyme disease -the s pecies t h at init ially infects tick s -is t he western gray squirrel.
So avoid gray squi rrel h abitat and you're safe ? Not so fa st.
Enter t he blue-bellied li zard (also known a s the western fence lizard), which is naturally immune to Lyme disease, a nd has special
proteins in its blood that will cleanse infected ticks of the pathogen .
WHAT TO DO IF YOU FINO A TICK ON YOU:
Adult (left) and nymph (right) west ern bla cklegged tick s. (Bay Area Lyme Foundation)
If you find a tick on your body, don't panic! Remove the tick and keep track of what happens.
• Is the t ic k feed ing? That is, is the tick embedded in the s kin?
• If t he tick is embedded, slowly and steadily, with even pressure, remove the entire tick by pulling it straight out w ith a pair of tweezers. Do not jerk or t w ist t he tick.
Remove a ny mouthparts that bre ak off during removal. Then, if possible, sa ve the t ick in a jar o r plastic bag. DO NOT try to kill t he tick with oil or matches while it's
feeding. (If you do, it w ill release the contents of it s gut into you.)
• Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol or soap and warm water.
• How lon g did it feed? If it's less t han 36 hours, there's a hig h probability that you are safe.
• Pa y attention to your symptoms. If in 6-to-12 days, you have any kind of fever, go and see a doctor.
• A bulls-eye rash a round the t ic k bite is a sure-fire way to know if you've contracted Lyme, but this sym ptom only shows up in 50-70 percent of cases. Other symptoms
incl ude headache, fatigue, and skin rash.
So, a tick could feed on a squirrel and contract Lyme, which could then be neutralized wh en it bites a lizard.
"If you go into dense black oak woodland, which is prime habitat for ticks and squirrels, we find a higher p rop ortion of infected ticks,"
explains Salkeld . "However, if you move into a broken clearing with more light, yo u're going to fi nd more li zards, and th e prevalence of
Lyme goes down ."
Lyme disease involves many different s pecie s and is ecologically complex , which makes it a notoriously d iffi cult problem to solve for
re searchers and public health officials.
"Me dicine has the tendency to want a vaccine or a clear antibiotic s ilver bullet, and I don't think the Lyme system gives us that luxury,"
says Nieto.
"Lyme d isease is something t hat we call, in t he science world, a complex system, mean ing that there's a bunch going on here," he
contin ues." there's a bunch of hosts, the re's a bunch of vectors, and there's a bunch of p athoge ns, and that makes things difficult."
Mapping a Pathogen
California's diverse landscape and the complex interplay among species makes predicting Lyme tricky. However, the greatest ri sk pose d
to Cali fornians might be a la ck of awareness. Doctors here are less likely to suspect Lyme when patients come in with characteristic
symptoms.
"I have talked to physicians who say that they are not aware of Lyme disease in California," says Salkeld.
Organizat ions, such as t h e Bay Area Lyme Foundation, along with researchers like Nieto and Salke ld, are working t o change the
narrative and build the n ecessary evidence to make doctors aware of the scale of the problem . The foundation has a pro~am
(lmp:/fwww.bayarealym e ore/blo~/bS)'-area-lyme-found atjon-offers-free-tick-t estjn~-nat jonwideQ offering free tick testing nationwide,
which aims to map tick-borne diseases across the country by encouraging concerned citizens to send in samples.
''We're working on gathering real empirical data to show t h at Lyme is in t h e ecosystems of the West Coast," says Nieto, ''We're getting
clinical samples, ecological [tick] samples, and wildlife host samples ... so we can change the educational paradigm within the medical
sc hools and say, 'It's n ot just the Northeast and upper Midwest'-it's in California too."
"I t hink Californians should be aware ofticks, and the risks of tick-borne diseases, but the fear of disease sh ould not keep them from
enjoying the great o utdoors," adds Padgett. "I really do fee l it's possible to stay tick-safe whil e recreating and spending time outside."
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AUTHOR
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As habitat disappears, so does Californ ia's deer i: ·opulation
Matt Weiser -The Sacramento Bte
APRIL 09, 2012 06:41 AM
UPDATED APRIL 09, 2012 06:46 AM
An estimated 445 ,000 deer live in California , or about equal to the city of Sacramento's hwnan population. V. hich sounds like a lot, until you realize
the deer are spread over the entire state: 99 million a cres.
lf there were only 445,000 people in California, how long would it take you to find somebody you really wanted to hang out with?
Such is the plight of the state's deer population, our most iconic emblem of the forest . Without much notice, the species has declined slowly but
relentlessly in virtually every comer of the state.
The decline has been almost too small to see on an annual basis. But since 1990, California ha s lost nearly half its deer population, according to the
state Department of Fish and Game.
"Our deer are surviving, they're not thriving ," said Craig Stowers, deer program manager at Fish and Game. "Quite frankly, until people start taking
this seriously, we're going to continue to experience these types of declines ,"
This forest icon is on the wane mainly for one simple reason: habitat loss.
Between 1990 and 2000, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 75,000 acres per year were converted to low-den sity housing
across California . A recent Bee analysis of housing data showed a similar trend over the past decade, at least until the recession began . The rate was
even greater before 1990.
This land conversion eliminated food and migratory corridors vital to deer.
"You can't have a good migratory deer population whe_n their wintering ground is covered in residential deve lopment for humans," Stowers said .
"They're competing for the same resources we need, and they're losing."
The species in question are mule deer and blacktail deer. Both species are lumped together in Fish and Game's 2011 population estimate of about
445,000 deer statewide, a drop from 850,000 in 1990.
The state manages its deer herds according to zones defined by habitat and deer behavior. Of the 45 zone s, only about six have deer populations that
held steady or increased slightly since 1990. These are generally found in some of the least-populated areas of the state .
All the other zones declined significantly.
Rural res idents might tell a different story. They see deer frequently around their yards, in their gardens, and as roadkill. Indeed, deer in these areas
are often considered a pest.
Deer require a particular type of fore st habitat called "early seral." This means they prefer to eat the tender, nutritious, young vegetation that surges
for several years after a forest fire or other land di sturbance.
The problem for rural residents, these days, is that deer primarily find this kind of food in the vigorous growth of gardens and landscaping that tend to
go with rural housing development .
The natural source s of this deer food have been largely eliminated by a century of fire suppre ssion in forests -the same problem that has caused
forests to become overstocked with small, young trees that now pose an enormous fire ri sk.
Land management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service now understand this error of excessive fire suppression. The problem is that allowing more
fire is difficult because the overly den se forests pose a massive wildfire ri sk, and because so many people and home s have cropped up in and near
fore sts .
It's a "double whammy" for deer, Stowers sa id . Much of their habitat has been eliminated by rural development . And the habitat that remains is poor
quality.
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PLANNING DIVISION
"If deer numbers are poor, they are a real canary in the coal mine, so to speak ," said Randy Morrison, Califor 1ia regional director at the Mule Deer
Foundation, a conservation and hunting organization . "They are a real bellwether species fo r a given habitat. J .nd our habitat is not healthy, no
question about it."
Complicating the problem is that, when a wildland fire does occur, there is often a rush to remove the burned trees and replant with seedlings. Often
this comes with herbicide spraying to prevent other plants from competing with the seedlings. This impulse eliminates the natural forest regeneration
that would support deer populations.
And it's not just deer. A study la st year by PRBO Conservation Science, which examined conditions after fires Jn the Plumas and Lassen national
forests , found that dozens of songbird species benefit from the same kind of post-fire habitat that emerges when a burned area is left alone.
"It's a hard sell," said Craig Thomas, executive director of the environmental group Sierra Forest Legacy. "People look at burned trees and they say,
'Oh God, let's get the green ones back.' The early seral habitat could be really diverse and beautiful if we thought about it as a valuable thing. Deer
suffer when we don't think that way."
Deer are also an iconic species for hunters, and the population decline has not gone unnoticed in their c ircles. Mule and blacktail deer are California's
primary big-game hunting species. Yet it has become increasingly difficult to harvest one .
The statewide hunter success ratio for deer hunters in 2010 was 15 percent, according to Fish and Game data. That means about four out of five
hunters who purchased a license and deer tag from the state and attempted to harvest venison for their family failed to bring any home.
In Colorado, by comparison, the hunter success rate for deer in 2011 was 43 percent, according to that state's Department of Wildlife.
"Our deer numbers are down to a point where success is definitely limited, which has been very discouraging to many hunters," Morrison said.
Because deer are a popular hunting species, they are intensively managed by Fish and Game and vast quantities of dat a are gathered when a hunter
reports a kill. As a result , Fish and Game knows there are problems with the demographics of the remaining deer population .
The leading concern is that the species is now dominated by older females, Stowers said, which do not have the same breeding success as younger
females. This makes it more difficult to rebuild the population.
Going back to the habitat problem, many of the fawns that do get born don't make it to adulthood -apparently because there just isn't enough to eat .
Fish and Game grades deer on a health scale from zero to 100, and most get a rating of 50 or below.
"We have yet to find a doe in this state that we would rate above a medium to poor condition," Stowers said.
In contrast, bucks are generally healthy. Being larger, they are able to outcompete other deer for whatever food there is.
Complicating matters is the fact that hunting regulations -and many hunters -are focused on harvesting bucks. Only male deer have the showy
antlers that make a good take-home trophy.
In 2010, the most recent data available, California hunters harvested 25 ,956 bucks and just 469 does.
This means the older does, instead of getting culled from the population, are just growing older.
Stowe rs said regulations need to be adjusted to encourage a larger doe harvest.
Morrison agreed. He said it would be appropriate in some areas -and hunters would support it -if th e doe harvest was carefu ll y monitored to avo id
harming breeding success.
Many hunters blame the deer decline on mountain lions, which primarily feed on deer. The claim is that a state law that banned mountain lion
hunting, passed by voters in 1990, allowed the deer-hungry mountain lion population to grow unchecked .
There has not been a thorough study of the state's mountain lion population in many years, and there are no formal monitoring programs in place .
Fish and Game estimates the population at between 4,000 and 6,000 lions, but even this estimate is dated.
There are hints, however, that even mountain lions are running out of deer to eat and turning to other food instead.
Recent evidence of a decline in porcupines across the state could be attributed to mountain lions, one of the few predators known to eat the prickly
rodent. There also have been reports of mountain lions eating feral pigs in the stat e's coastal regions.
Morrison, however, doesn't buy the mountain lion argument.
"I believe it's habitat , habitat, habitat," he said . "So far, I don't believe we're turning the ride at all. I'm concer ied. Very concerned."
To read m ore, visit www.sacbee.com.
From: Tanya Kurland [mailto:ts@vkgmail.crocodile.org] On Behalf Of Tanya Kurland ?
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2017 9:34 AM
To: Council
Cc: Town Manager
Subject: regarding Town Code Amendment A-17-002
Hello,
My name is Tanya Kurland and I live at 15275 Suview Dr., Los Gatos. I am writing to you to express my
disagreement with the proposed Town Code Amendment A-17-002 "Draft Amendments to Chapter 29 of
Town Code -Hillside Fences."
My feedback focuses on one of the aspects related to the proposed restriction s on fence height in the
hillside areas of the town. Restricting the height of the fences to 42" and bringing them as close as 30'
from homes allows deer and other wild animals to come close to, and possibly in contact with, people.
This brings potentially lethal Lyme disease closer to the townspeople and unnecessarily elevates the risk
of the infection.
The chronic forms of tick-borne infections have left many patients mentally and physically
debilitated. New reports suggest Lyme disease and its co-infections may be life-threatening. Many
patients go undiagnosed for years. Most never recall being bitten, less than half ever show the telltale
"bullseye rash," and as many as 20% continue to experience symptoms even after treatment. Current
diagnostics miss up to 60% of cases of early-stage Lyme disease, as it can take weeks for the body to
develop measurable antibodies against the infection.
http://www.s heamedi ca l.com/the-overl ooked%E2%80%93and-d eadl y%E2%80%93compli cat io ns-of-
lyme-di sease-and-it s-coinfectio ns
The auth o r of th e proposed Amendment, Dr. David We iss man , wrote to me in an email that "kee pin g
habitat s open th at support good numbers of western fence li za rd s, is the best way to combat Lyme
Di sease since t he young tick s that feed on li zard s, are cleansed of the bacteria ." While some other studie s
do show th at ti cks feeding on weste rn li za rd s stop carrying Lyme dis ease bacteria, a promine nt UC
B erkley stu dy published in 20 11 found evidence to co ntrad ict that conclusion. The stud y showed that
a reas where li zards had been r e moved actually saw a sub se quent drop in th e popu lation of th e ti cks that
transmit Lyme di sease. Ticks could not find sub stitute hosts and died .
http://news.berke ley.edu/201 1/02/15/ticks-li za rd-l yme-di sease/
In addition, it would be false to assume that the presence of western lizards in our area means that we
don't have Lyme disease carrying ticks. In fact , Stanford research determined widespread presence of
Lyme disease carrying ticks in Santa Clara county in 2014. According to Dan Salkeld, a dise ase ecologist
at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment , the study also found a second tick-related bacteria,
previously undetected in the region , that can bring on flu-like symptoms such as relapsing fever and
severe aches and pains in infected humans.
http://www. mercu1ynews . com/20 14/02119 /stanford-st ud y-find s-l yme-disease-w idespread-in-ba y-area -
open-spaces/
Deer and o th e r wi ld anima ls carry the ti ck s that s pread Lyme disease. Tick larvae and nymph s feed o n
small animal s, li ke sq uirre ls and li zards, but adult ticks feed o n bi g mammal s such as deer and
coyotes. These wild mamm a ls carry th e infected ti ck s a nd , w ith out fence s to re stri ct th em, bring tick s
c loser to people. The Bay Area Ly me Fou nd at ion , in a webs ite page titl ed, "Manage your property"
advises th at indi v idual s sh ould "build fe nces to keep o ut deer" to prevent Ly me di sease.
http://www.bayarealyme .org/lyme-disease-preven t ion/manage-property/
The Bay Area Lyme Foundation has a very impressive Scientific advisory board with such names on it
as Jo hn N . Au cott, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, C harles C hiu, MD,
PhD, U niversity of California, San Francisco, M o ni ca Embers, PhD, Tulane U niversity Health
Sciences, Christin e Green, MD, Board Member, LymeDisease.org & ILADS, Robert S. La ne,
PhD, University of California, Berkeley, William R obinson, MD, PhD, Stanford University School of
Medicine, Nei l Spector, MD, Duke University School of Medicine, Irving W e issman , MD, Stanford
University School of Medicine.
I think that we should listen to the expert advice and not lower our fences.
I would like to bring your attention to Chapter 30 -NEIGHBORHOOD PRESE RVATION of Town
Code, sec 30.10.010 -Purpose, it says: "This chapter is adopted to promote the health, safety, and welfare
of the re sid e nts of the Town of Los Gatos". I believe that passing of the proposed Amendment w ould
increase the odds of people getting sick and the refore its passing would contradict the very core of Town
Code.
Thank you,
Tanya Kurland
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