Item 19 Public Comment — Palo Alto City Council, December 2, 2024

From: Maria Daehler
To: Council, City
Cc: Marty Dreher; Karen Lemes; Kathy Hoekenga; Lauren; Tim Biglow; Nancy Mayo; Anne Campbell; Alice Kaufman Subject: Bay Area Native Allies Project signatures in support of resolution to protect Juristac and oppose gravel mining.

Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 11:27:36 AM
Attachments: JuristacPetition.pdf
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Dear Palo Alto City Council Members.

We the undersigned concerned citizens ask you to be the seventh city to support the following resolution listed on your agenda for December 2, 2024 Council meeting at 5:30pm:

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CHARTER CITY OF PALO ALTO AS FOLLOWS:

1. That the City Council of the Charter City of Palo Alto supports the efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as open space in perpetuity and to regain access to their cultural and spiritual sites at Juristac.

2. That the City Council of the Charter City of Palo Alto supports the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band’s preference to retain the name of the open space as Juristac.

3. That the Charter City of Palo Alto urges the County of Santa Clara to deny approval of permits for the proposed Sargent Ranch Quarry Project.

We the undersigned stand in support with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, environmental groups, and other concerned citizens (including 7500 letters written to Santa Clara County and over 20,000 signatures) to protect the ecologically sensitive ancient ceremonial site called Juristac, located in south Santa Clara County, and to oppose granting a permit to an investor group based in San Diego who is currently seeking to develop a 403-acre open pit sand and gravel mining operation at the proposed Sargent Quarry. The plan includes a 14- acre processing plant, three 200-foot- deep open pit quarry sites, a 1.6-mile-long conveyor belt, and a 20-foot wide access road.
1 Additionally, an estimated 35 million cubic yards of
excavated material (sand and gravel aggregate), with 25.3 million cubic yards of salable material (equal to 38 million tons of salable product) would be produced over the 30-year life of the mine, primarily for use in local road building and general construction.

We believe this proposed project severely impacts

1. Ancestral lands of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band used for sacred ceremony.

2. Wildlife Corridors used by many impacted species in our area: puma, condor….

3. Biologic Resources

4. Water Quality

5. Air Quality

6. Climate Change
Thank you for listing Climate Change and Natural Environment Protection and Community Health and Belonging as some of your top 2024 council priorities.

Sincerely,
See attached pdf with 93 signatures collected by BANAP, Bay Area Native Allies Project.

Maria Daehler, Marty Dreher et al
Dear Palo Alto City Council Members.

We the undersigned concerned citizens ask you to be the seventh city to support the following resolution listed on your agenda for December 2, 2024 Council meeting at 5:30pm:

NOW THEREFORE, B`E IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CHARTER CITY OF PAL0 ALTO AS FOLLOWS:

1. Thatthe city council of the charter city of palo Alto supportsthe effortsofthe Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as open space in perpetuity and to regain access to their cultural and spiritual sites at Juristac.

2. That the City Council of the Charter City of Palo Alto supports the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band's preference to retain the name of the open space as Juristac.

3. That the C`harter City of Palo Alto urges the County of Santa Clara to deny approval of permits for the proposed Sargent Ranch Quarry Project.

We the undersigned stand in support with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, environmental groups, and other concerned citizens (including 7500 letters written to Santa Clara County and over 20,000 signatures) to protect the ecologically sensitive ancient ceremonial site called Juristac, located in south Santa Clara County, and to oppose granting a permit to an investor group based in San Diego who is currently seeking to develop a 403-acre open pit sand and gravel mining operation at the proposed Sargent Quarry. The plan includes a 14- acre processing plant, three 200-foot-deep open pit quarry sites, a 1.6-mile-long conveyor belt, and a 20-foot wide access road.1 Additionally, an estimated 35 million cubic yards of excavated material (sand and gravel aggregate), with 25.3 million cubic yards of salable material (equal to 38 million tons of salable product) would be produced over the 30~year life of the mine, primarily for use in local road building and general construction.

We believe this proposed project severely impacts

1. Ancestral lands of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band used for sacred ceremony.

2. Wildlife Corridors used by many impacted species in our area: puma, condor ....

3. Biologic Resources

4. Water Quality

5.. Air Quality

6. Climate change
Thank you for listing Climate Change and Natural Environment Protection and Community Health and Belonging as some of your top 2024 council priorities.

Sincerely,
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From: Joy Sleizer
To: Council, City
Subject: Juristac Resolution
Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 8:40:00 AM
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Please consider a resolution to support and stand with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to protect the ecologically

sensitive

ancient ceremonial site, Juristac and reject
the proposed Sargent Quarry Projectl
Passing this resolution would protect 10,000 acres of essentially

virgin open
space

from being destroyed

by strip mining.

Juristac has historical and religious significance

to the Amah Mutsun
indigenous people.

I hope you will join other local communities who have passed such a resolution.

Thank you!
Joy Sleizer

Joy Sleizer

From: Julie Pineida
To: Council, City
Subject: Re: Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch a Open Space (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 8:32:06 AM
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Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,
My name is Julie Pineida and I am a member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. I am writing to request that the council approves the Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space. Juristac should be protected because
this land is sacred and deeply meaningful to our people. I ask that you please recognize its value and significance to us, as it represents the connection to our ancestors, our heritage, and our family.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Julie Pineida
Tribal Member-
From: Clerk, City
To: Alice Kaufman; Clerk, City
Cc: Council, City; Velasquez, Ingrid; Val Lopez; Valentin Lopez; Victorina Arvelo; Colleen Cabot; [email protected]; Jenny Green; Lizabeth Morell Subject: RE: Process to cede time during public comment Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 8:05:21 AM
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Good morning Alice,

We have received this request to speak, and added your group to the queue for Item 19.

Thank you!

Best,

Nicole Bissell
Administrative Associate III
Office of the City Clerk
P: 650.329.2630
E: [email protected]
www.cityofpaloalto.org

From: Alice Kaufman <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, December 1, 2024 8:22 PM
To: Clerk, City <[email protected]>
Cc: Council, City <[email protected]>; Velasquez, Ingrid <[email protected]>; Val Lopez <[email protected]>; Valentin Lopez <[email protected]>; Victorina Arvelo <[email protected]>; Colleen Cabot <[email protected]>; [email protected]; Jenny Green <[email protected]>; Lizabeth Morell <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Process to cede time during public comment

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Hi Nicole,

Thanks for your response. Here's the information you specified:

The spokesperson's name is Valentin Lopez, Chair of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. He will be speaking on item 19 (the resolution regarding Juristac), in person.

The people he will be representing are:

Victorina Arvelo
Colleen Cabot (via Zoom)
Jenny Green
Lizabeth Morell
Mohini Narasimhan
Please let me know if you need additional information. Thanks for your help!

photo Alice Kaufman (she/her)
Policy and Advocacy Director
Green Foothills | (650) 968-7243 x313
| mobile (650) 269-2248 | greenfoothills.org
Donate to Green Foothills by 12/31 and your gift will be doubled thanks to a 2X matching grant! Donate today.

On Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 9:04 AM Clerk, City <[email protected] > wrote:

Good morning Ms. Kaufman,

Thank you for reaching out. A spokesperson for a group will be allowed additional time if they are representing at least 5 other people (not including themselves). The typical time allotment is 10 minutes, and to the extent practical, the spokesperson will be called upon ahead of individual speakers. If the Mayor reduces the speaking time for individual speakers, the total speaking time for a spokesperson will also be reduced as determined by the Mayor.

If you would like to participate in group public comment, the Clerk’s Office asks that you notify us by email ([email protected]
) at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. In your email, please include the name of the spokesperson as well as the names of those that the spokesperson will be representing and the agenda item on which you’d like to speak. (If you’d like to speak on the Juristac item, this will be item #19). This allows us to prepare for the meeting by verifying the speakers and adding you to the public comment queue.

Please note, group public comment is allowed for both general public comment (which is for items not on the agenda) and public comment for agenda items. However, our overall policy for general public comment is that participation must be in person only. This policy carries over to group public comment as well – the spokesperson and those being represented must be present at the meeting in person. However, virtual participation (for either the spokesperson and/or those being represented) is permitted for other items on the agenda.

Best,

Nicole Bissell
Administrative Associate III
Office of the City Clerk
P: 650.329.2630
E: [email protected]
www.cityofpaloalto.org

From: Alice Kaufman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 6:06 PM
To: Council, City <[email protected]>
Subject: Process to cede time during public comment

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear City Clerk:

What is the process for speakers to cede their time during public comment to allow another speaker (someone speaking on behalf of a group) to exceed the allotted time?

Thanks for your help!

From: Alice Smith
To: Council, City
Subject: Item 19: Palo Alto City Council Agenda December 2, 2024 -Juristac Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 7:39:04 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

I would like to commend the Palo Alto City Council for considering a resolution to support

and stand with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, environmental groups, and concerned citizens to protect the ecologically sensitive ancient ceremonial site, called Juristac, located in south Santa Clara County, and to reject the proposed Sargent Quarry Project.

Please pass this resolution to protect these 10,000 acres of essentially virgin open space from being destroyed by strip mining an environmentally sensitive area, with historical and religious significance to the Amah Mutsun indigenous people.

Once begun, the Sargent Quarry Project will destroy forever the Juristac.

As a bird-watcher, I would like my grandchildren and their children to enjoy seeing

Loggerhead Shrikes, California Condors, Burrowing Owls and other endangered animals who depend on these undeveloped open spaces to survive.

Our own Foothills Park is the result of our City's vision to protect open space for future generations. Speaking up now in support of protecting Juristac is the right action for our City.

Thank you,

Alice Schaffer Smith

Alice
Your vote is your voice: use it or lose it.

From: Sonya Pineida
To: Council, City
Subject: Re: resent Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 9:26:47 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members, My name is Sonya Pineida and I am a member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. I am writing to request that the council approves the

Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space. Juristac should be protected because this is the sacred place that our community has held ceremonies since time immemorial. We must protect these lands for future generations so that we may conduct ceremonies here once again.

Thank you for your time and consideration, Sonya Pineida Sonya Pineida
On Sun, Dec 1, 2024 at 8:46 PM Sonya Pineida > wrote:

Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,

My name is Sonya Pineida and I am a member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. I am writing to request that the council approves the

Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the
Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space. Juristac should be protected because...

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Sonya Pineida

From: Cybele LoVuolo-Bhushan
To: Council, City
Subject: Protecting the Amah Mutsun ancestral land
Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 9:11:16 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear City Council Members, I an writing to encourage you all to vote against the request for Santa Clara County to allow a quarry on the ancestral land of the Amah Mutsun tribe. This land is sacred to the Amah Mutsun, and it should be conserved as such. The Amah Mutsun will protect and teach future generations about their culture and provide stewardship of the land. A quarry would only bring more air pollution in our environment. Please vote against the quarry and for turning this land over to its rightful owners. Thank you, Cybele LoVuolo- Bhushan

From: susan chamberlain
To: Council, City
Subject: in favor of Resolution protecting Amah Mutsun Tribal Bands Sacred Lands at Juristac.

Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 9:10:32 PM
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Dear City Council,
I am writing encouraging you to vote in support of the resolution protecting the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band's sacred lands at Juristac. We owe this to the indigenous people in that area to not desecrate their land by mining there. thank you
Susan Chamberlain
From: Pat Kinney
To: Council, City
Subject: Please support the Colleagues Memo, #19 on Dec 2 Agenda Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 8:49:02 PM
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Esteemed Council Members,
I urge you to support the Colleague's Memo: Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space which in Item #19 on the Dec. 2 Agenda.

When this passes, Palo Alto will join six other cities in Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties who have passed similar resolutions. The reasons outlined in the Memo itself make it clear why we should should support our indigenous brothers and sisters in the Bay Area.

Sincerely,

From: Sonya Pineida
To: Council, City
Subject: Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting)
Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 8:47:05 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,
My name is Sonya Pineida and I am a member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. I am writing to request that the council approves the

Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun
Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space. Juristac should be protected because...

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Sonya Pineida

From: Eric Zapata
To: Council, City
Subject: Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting)
Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 8:27:56 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,
My name is Eric Zapata and I am a member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. I am writing to request that the council approves the Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space. Juristac should be protected because...

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Eric Zapata
From: Alice Kaufman
To: Clerk, City
Cc: Council, City; Velasquez, Ingrid; Val Lopez; Valentin Lopez; Victorina Arvelo; Colleen Cabot; [email protected]; Jenny Green; Lizabeth Morell Subject: Re: Process to cede time during public comment Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 8:23:27 PM
Attachments: image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
image006.png
image007.png
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Hi Nicole,
Thanks for your response. Here's the information you specified:

The spokesperson's name is Valentin Lopez, Chair of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. He will be speaking on item 19 (the resolution regarding Juristac), in person.

The people he will be representing are:

Victorina Arvelo
Colleen Cabot (via Zoom)
Jenny Green
Lizabeth Morell
Mohini Narasimhan
Please let me know if you need additional information. Thanks for your help! photo Alice Kaufman (she/her)
Policy and Advocacy Director
Green Foothills | (650) 968-7243 x313 | mobile (650) 269-2248 | greenfoothills.org Donate to Green Foothills by 12/31 and your gift will be doubled thanks to a 2X matching grant! Donate today.

On Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 9:04 AM Clerk, City <[email protected]> wrote:

Good morning Ms. Kaufman,

Best,

Nicole Bissell
Administrative Associate III
Office of the City Clerk
P: 650.329.2630
E: [email protected]
www.cityofpaloalto.org

From: Alice Kaufman <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 6:06 PM
To: Council, City <[email protected]>
Subject: Process to cede time during public comment

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear City Clerk:

What is the process for speakers to cede their time during public comment to allow another speaker (someone speaking on behalf of a group) to exceed the allotted time?

Thanks for your help!

From: Juan Perez
To: Council, City
Subject: Re: Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 8:20:00 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,
My name is Juan Perez and my wife is a member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. I am writing to request that the council approves the Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space. Juristac is very important to the Amah Mutsun and many of their ceremonies were conducted on those lands since time immemorial. As a community, we must do what's right and passing the resolution will help make sure the right thing is done.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Juan Perez
From: Julisa Lopez
To: Council, City
Subject: Re: Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024 8:04:52 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,
My name is Julisa Lopez and I am a member of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. I am writing to request that the council approves the Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space. Juristac holds a lot of spiritual significance to my community and the Sargent Ranch Quarry would permanently destroy over 400 acres of our sacred site. Juristac is home to our medicine plants, our four legged and winged relatives and holds generations of stories and ceremonies. Our youth group was given the opportunity to visit Juristac, for the first time in 100 years, we shared stories under the elderberry trees and talked about how much this land meant to us. We hope to bring our children here for future generations. Please approve this resolution to help ensure that Juristac is protected.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Julisa Lopez
From: [email protected] on behalf of Lina Swisher To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Saturday, November 30, 2024 4:14:08 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,
Please approve the “Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space,” from Mayor Stone and Council Member Kou. Juristac is threatened by the Sargent Ranch Quarry, an open-pit sand and gravel mine that would destroy over 400 acres of habitat, literally scooping out the hillsides to create 3 open quarry pits hundreds of feet deep. About 86,000 gallons of groundwater would be pumped each day for mining operations, and the mine would generate hundreds of truck trips per day.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

For Mutsun people, Juristac is the home of a powerful spiritual being known as Kuksui. Juristac translates to “place of the Big Head,” and Big Head dances associated with Kuksui and other healing and renewal ceremonies took place in the area for centuries, often attended by neighboring tribal groups.

Juristac is also uniquely important for wildlife and biodiversity. These hillsides and streams are home to multiple at- risk species, including California red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, Burrowing Owl, and steelhead trout.

Juristac is also a critically important wildlife corridor. The biological review conducted on the proposed quarry stated that this site may be one of the most important areas for wildlife movement on the entire Central Coast.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

The cities of Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sunnyvale, and the County of Santa Cruz, have all passed similar resolutions. This is Palo Alto’s opportunity to stand in solidarity with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and their efforts to protect their most sacred landscape, as well as to show support for the protection of this critical wildlife linkage.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Lina Swisher

From: [email protected] on behalf of Cedric de La Beaujardiere To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Friday, November 29, 2024 1:17:07 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Cedric de La Beaujardiere

From: [email protected] on behalf of Gerald Gras To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Thursday, November 28, 2024 12:05:19 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Gerald Gras

From: Humphrey, Sonia
Cc: LAFCO
Subject: LAFCO Agenda Packet Now Available - 12/4/24 Meeting Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 3:22:50 PM
Attachments: December 2024 Meeting Agenda Packet.pdf
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The agenda packet for the December 4, 2024 LAFCO Meeting is now available on the LAFCO website:
https://santaclaralafco.org/meetings/commission-meeting-2024-12-04-211500.

Best regards,

Sonia Humphrey, LAFCO Clerk
LAFCO of Santa Clara County
777 North First Street, Suite 410
San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 993-4709

From: Rice, Danille
To: Council, City; Shikada, Ed
Cc: Executive Leadership Team; Clerk, City; City Mgr
Subject: City Council Bundle - November 27
Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 2:30:17 PM
Attachments: image002.png
FW Bathrooms at Eleanor Pardee park.msg
RE Bike Parking for Apartments..msg
FW downtown library used as a homeless shelter.msg
Park and Page Mill.msg
RE Comment on Nov 4 meeting.msg
image001.png
Re_ email.msg
RE_ This wall may soon fall into Oregon Expressway underpass.msg Dear Mayor and Council Members,

On behalf of City Manager Ed Shikada, please see the attached staff responses to emails received in the City.Council inbox through November 27th.

Thank you,
Danille

Danille Rice
Administrative Assistant
City Manager’s Office|Human Resources|Transportation
(650) 329-2229 | [email protected]
www.cityofpaloalto.org

From: Abdi Soltani
To: Council, City
Cc: Alice Kaufman; [email protected]
Subject: ACLUNC Support Juristac Resolution - Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 12:18:04 PM
Attachments: 2024.11.27 ACLUNC Letter to Palo Alto City Council re Juristac Resolution.pdf CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,

Attached please find a letter from the ACLU Foundation of Northern California to express support of Council Member Lydia Kou and Mayor Stone’s Colleague’s Memo, and to ask you to approve the Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space.

Many thanks,

Abdi Soltani
Executive Director
ACLU Foundation of Northern California

Transmitted via Electronic Mail
November 27, 2024

Palo Alto City Council
250 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Via email: [email protected]

Mayor Stone and Council Members,

Re: Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council Meeting
Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Northern California (“ACLU NorCal”) submits this letter to express support of Council Member Lydia Kou and Mayor Stone’s Colleague’s Memo, and ask you to approve the Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space.1 The ACLU supports and defends the rights of all Native American peoples to retain their specific and unique cultural and religious traditions and practices. The future existence of Tribes across our country depends ultimately upon secure and permanent land bases, and the rights of self - determination necessary to preserve traditional customs and ways of life. 2 Self-determination, religious freedom, and cultural survival are intimately tied to protection of sacred sites. There can be no religious freedom if the foundation for the practice of the religion in question has been destroyed.

The future survival and vitality of the ancestral people of these lands, represented by the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, is largely tied to preservation of the sanctity of Juristac. To destroy this site would be to continue the long and ugly history of the nation and the state of California, which was founded on the forced removal, enslavement, and genocide of Indigenous peoples.3 As our state’s

1 Hereinafter referred to as “Juristac Resolution”
2 ACLU Bd . Pol’y 313; ACLU Found . N. Cal. Bd. Res. No. 2021 -06-24A, “In Support of Nationwide ACLU Indigenous Justice Initiatives ,” available at:
https://www.aclunc.org/sites/default/files/FOUNDATION%20RESOLUTION%20supporting%2 0indigenous%20justice%20FINAL%2006.24.21.pdf.
3 See ACLU N. Cal., “Gold Chains: The Hidden History of Slavery in California,” available at https://www.aclunc.org/sites/goldchains/index.html (last accessed Oct. 15, 2021) ; see also Santa Clara City Council
October 15, 2021

Page 2 ends

first Governor, Peter Burnett, put it bluntly in his 1851 address to the Legislature: “[t]hat a war of extermination will continue to be waged between the two races until the Indian race becomes extinct must be expected.”
California’s treatment of its original inhabitants was shockingly violent. After the brutal Mission system enslaved and took the lives of thousands of Indigenous peoples, the state sanctioned and funded massacres against Indigenous peoples—authorizing $1.29 million in 1850’s dollars to pay for the militia campaigns that amounted to genocide. 4 In addition to this brutal ity, California Indians were subjected to repugnant laws and policies . For example, the 1850 “Act for the Governance and Protection of Indians” made the enslavement of California Indians legal and fueled the kidnapping and trafficking of Native American children into indentured servitude.

Furthermore, the State of California and the U.S. federal government destroyed sacred places and prohibited traditional and cultural practices by law.

Native peoples—who stood in the way of the rich bounty that California’s diverse natural beauty signified for newcomers—were forcefully removed from and dispossessed of their ancestral lands.

Through treaties and other agreements, the United States federal government acknowledged Indian Tribes’ existence as sovereign nations predating the existence of the US as a nation, and entered into government-to-government relationships with Tribes. In exchange for vast swaths of ancestral territory - nearly the entire country - and often upon forced removal to distant, barren lands, the federal government assumed a trust relationship with the Tribes, legally binding itself to provide for the education, health, and well-being of Native American peoples; to hold tribal land in trust and to respect self-determination; and to provide federal protections for sacred and burial sites and rights to hunt, fish and gather. But many tribes were either never recognized by the United States or had their federal relationship terminated. In California, this has often been a direct result of California elites fighting to disposes Native peoples of their land and heritage and, in effect, erase Native peoples from our state. Without federal recognition, tribes still exist, but without the rights and protections afforded under federal law. Many tribes are today fighting to gain or regain federal recognition—including the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band.

That the Amah Mutsun do not have federal recognition—and the tribal sovereignty, government- to-government relationship, and protection of important and hard -won federal laws —is not an accident. We must not use legacy of stolen land and broken treaties as a reason to deny the principles of freedom, equality and justice enumerated in our Constitution to all people today. A mine at Juristac would be only another shameful stain on our state’s history.

Benjamin Madley, An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe 1846–1873 (Yale University Press, 2016).
4 See Brendan C. Lindsay, Murder State: California’s Native American Genocide, 1846–1873 346 (University of Nebraska Press 2015); see also Madley, supra n.2. For a non-comprehensive list of genocide incidents in the San Joaquin Valley, see STATE OF CAL. NATIVE AM. HERITAGE COMM’N, Timeline of Genocide Incidents in the San Joaquin Valley Region , available at:
http://nahc.ca.gov/cp/timelines/san-joaquin/ (last accessed Apr. 9, 2021).

Santa Clara City Council
October 15, 2021

Page 3 ends

ACLU NorCal stands with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band in their efforts to protect their traditional lands and urges the City of Palo Alto City Council to approve the Juristac Resolution at its December 2 meeting.

Sincerely,

Abdi Soltani
Executive Director
ACLU Foundation of Northern California
[email protected]
CC: Alice Kaufman
[email protected]
Chairman Valentin Lopez
[email protected]

From: [email protected] on behalf of Emid Prarson To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 11:16:51 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Emid Prarson

From: [email protected] on behalf of Matt Schlegel To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 10:49:21 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Matt Schlegel

From: [email protected] on behalf of Casey Cameron To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 10:43:45 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Casey Cameron

From: [email protected] on behalf of Laurie Winslow To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 12:00:37 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Laurie Winslow

From: [email protected] on behalf of Shannon McEntee To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 9:58:50 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Shannon McEntee

From: [email protected] on behalf of Barbara Bowden To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 9:50:52 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Juristac is also uniquely important for wildlife and biodiversity.

Open pit mining woulld be an insult to the
indigenous peoples, and a visual insult to all who enjoy green, open spaces.

Do your part i preserving and
protecting it.

Sincerely,
Barbara Bowden

From: [email protected] on behalf of Serena Chen To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 9:17:57 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Serena Chen

From: [email protected] on behalf of Virginia Smedberg To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 8:32:17 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

First, we don't have that much groundwater to spare (to waste) on such a project).

Second, we humans have to stop
stealing land from the other denizens of this planet - animal and plant kingdoms.

Third, we need to respect the
sacredness of the area.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Virginia Smedberg

From: Michelle MacKenzie
To: Council, City
Subject: Sargent Ranch Quarry Project
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 6:58:18 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear City Council
I write in support of Item 19 on the agenda for December 2nd. This is a resolution in support of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, which seeks to do the following: 1) to preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as open space in perpetuity and to regain access to their cultural and spiritual sites at Juristac; 2) retain the name of the open space as Juristac; and 3) urge the County of Santa Clara to deny approval of permits for the proposed Sargent Ranch Quarry Project.

Thank you for your consideration.

Michelle MacKenzie
From: Alice Kaufman
To: Council, City
Subject: Please substitute for previous letter re Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 5:43:54 PM
Attachments: Joint letter re Juristac.pdf
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

To the City Clerk:

Attached please find an updated version of our previous joint letter signed by multiple nonprofits and community groups.

This updated version contains the names of additional groups that have signed on to the letter; the letter is otherwise unchanged.

The following organizations have now signed on to this letter:

Friends of Juristac
Bay Area Native Allies Project (BANAP)
South Bay Indigenous Solidarity
Please substitute the attached letter in place of the previous version. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your assistance.
photo Alice Kaufman (she/her)
Policy and Advocacy Director
Green Foothills | (650) 968-7243 x313 | mobile (650) 269-2248 | greenfoothills.org Donate to Green Foothills by 12/31 and your gift will be doubled thanks to a 2X matching grant! Donate today.

November 26, 2024
PaloAltoCityCouncil250HamiltonAvenuePaloAlto, CA94301Viaemail: [email protected] Re: AgendaItem19, 12/2/24CityCouncil meeting
Dear Mayor StoneandCouncil Members,
Theundersignedorganizationsrespectfullysubmit thesecommentsinsupport of CouncilMember LydiaKouandMayor Stone’sColleague’sMemo, andaskyoutoapprovetheResolutionSupportingtheEffortsof theAmahMutsunTribal BandtoPreserveJuristac/Sargent RanchasOpenSpace. Wearenonprofit andcommunitygroupsjoiningtogether tosupport theAmahMutsunTribal Bandinthiseffort, andwerepresent thousandsofmembersintheregion, includingintheCityof PaloAlto.

Similar resolutionshavealreadybeenapprovedbytheCityCouncilsof Gilroy, MorganHill,MountainView, SantaClara, SantaCruz, andSunnyvale, andbytheCountyof SantaCruz. Inaddition, morethan25,000peoplehavesignedapetitioninsupport of protectingJuristac, andover 100current andformer electedofficials, communityleaders, andnonprofit organizationshavesignedontotheStatement of OppositiontoSargent RanchQuarry. Werespectfullyrequest that theCityCouncil takeactiontopassthisresolutiontosupport theAmahMutsunTribal Bandintheprotectionof thisculturallyimportant landscape, andtoprotect thecriticalwildlifelinkageandhabitat at Juristac.

Juristac: SacredtotheIndigenousCommunity, Critical for WildlifeMovement Juristacliesat theheart of theancestral landsof theAmahMutsunTribal Band. TheportionofJuristacknowntodayas“Sargent Ranch” encompasses5,200acreslocatedat theverysouthernborder of SantaClaraCounty, southwest of Gilroy(seeimagebelow). For thousandsof years, theAmahMutsunpeopleheldsacredceremoniesat thislocation-- thehomeof a

powerful spiritual beingknownasKuksui. Juristactranslatesto“Placeof theBigHead,” andtheBigHeaddancesassociatedwithKuksui andother healingandrenewal ceremoniestookplacehereover thecenturies. Juristacwasagatheringplacefor manytribesinthearea, anditsspiritual andcultural significancetotheIndigenouscommunityisuniqueinour region. (For moredetailsonthehistoryandthecultural andspiritual significanceof Juristac, pleasevisitProtectJuristac.org.) ImagecreatedbyGreenInfoNetwork.

Inaddition, Juristacisacritical wildlifecorridor that linkstheSantaCruzMountainstotheGabilanRangetothesouthandtheDiabloRangetotheeast. Thisareahasbeenidentifiedasanimportant migrationrouteinall habitat connectivityassessmentsfor theregionsincetheyear2000. 1 TheSantaClaraValleyHabitat Agencyrecognizesseveral landscapelinkagesrunning 1 See, e.g., Diamond, TD, ASandoval, NPSharma, MEVernon, PDCowan, APClevenger, andSCLockwood. 2022. Enhancingecological connectivityandsafepassagefor wildlifeonhighwaysbetweenthesouthernSantaCruzMountains, GabilanRange, andDiabloRangeinCalifornia. Pathwaysfor WildlifeandPeninsulaOpenSpaceTrust; PenrodK, Hunter R,MerrifieldM(2001) MissingLinkages: RestoringConnectivitytotheCaliforniaLandscape. SouthCoast WildlandsProject, LosAngeles; Spencer, W.D., Beier, P., Penrod, K., Parisi, M., Pettler,A., Winters, K., Strittholt, J., Paulman, C. andRustigian-Romsos, H., 2010, CaliforniaEssentialHabitat ConnectivityProject: Astrategyfor conservingaconnectedCalifornia. Report prepared

throughtheSargent Ranchproperty(linkages12, 18, 19and20onthismap). TheSantaClaraValleyOpenSpaceAuthorityconsidersthe“Sargent Hills” areatobeoneof itstop10conservationfocusareas(number 8onthismap).

TheThreat toJuristac: AnOpen-Pit SandandGravel Mine
Thecurrent owner of theproperty, theSanDiego-basedDebt AcquisitionCompanyof America,hassubmittedanapplicationtotheCountyof SantaClarafor asandandgravel open-pit miningoperationon400acresof pristinehillsidegrasslandat Juristac. AccordingtotheDraftEnvironmental Impact Report (DEIR), theSargent RanchQuarrywouldoperatefor 30years,includethreepitshundredsof feet deep, andpumpabout 86,000gallonsof groundwater perdayfor quarryoperations. Thequarrywouldpermanentlyalter theJuristaclandscape, turninghillsidesintodeeppitsandscarringthelandscapewithtruckhaul roads, conveyor belts, anda14-acreprocessingplant. Further informationabout thequarryproposal canbefoundonSantaClaraCounty’swebpageabout theSargent RanchQuarryproject.

Over 10,000publiccommentsweresubmittedtotheCountyinresponsetotheDEIR. Of these,thevast majority(99.9%) stronglyopposedthemineandurgedtheCountytodenytheproject.

TheCountyiscurrentlyintheprocessof reviewingthose10,000+commentsinpreparationforreleasingthefinal EIR. AccordingtotheCounty’sbest estimate, theSargent RanchQuarryproject maycometoavotebeforethePlanningCommissionandBoardof Supervisorsbymidtolate2025.

TheSargent RanchMineWouldDestroytheSacredIndigenousLandscapeof Juristac Aspart of theDEIRprocess, theCountycommissionedanethnographicstudyof theSargentRanchproject area. That studydocumentedknownhistoricresources, includinghumanburialsdatingfromthousandsof yearsago, anddeterminedthat thereisahighlikelihoodofcurrently-unknownburiedprehistoriccultural sitesverynear totheprocessingplant andotheractiveareasof thequarry. Inaddition, theDEIRidentifiedtheentireJuristaclandscape,includingtheentirequarryarea, asacultural resourcetobeprotected. TheDEIRfoundthatconstructionandoperationof theSargent RanchQuarryproject wouldresult in“permanent andirreversiblealterationstothephysical landscapeof theJTCL[JuristacTribal CulturalLandscape]. Thesealterationswouldsignificantlydiminishtheemotional andspiritualassociationsheldbytheTribetothiscultural landscapethroughthedestructionof thesacredandspiritual qualitiesthat qualifytheJTCLasaTCR[Tribal Cultural Resource].” DEIR, p. for CaliforniaDepartment of TransportationandCaliforniaDepartment of FishandGame; BayAreaOpenSpaceCouncil 2011, TheConservationLandsNetwork: SanFranciscoBayAreaUplandHabitat GoalsProject Report, Berkeley, CA; Penrod, K., Garding, P.E., Paulman, C.,Beier, P., Weiss, S., Schaefer, N., Branciforte, R. andGaffney, K., 2013, Critical Linkages: BayArea&Beyond. ProducedbyScience&Collaborationfor ConnectedWildlands, Fair Oaks, CA[www.scwildlands.org], incollaborationwiththeBayAreaOpenSpaceCouncil’sConservationLandsNetwork[www.BayAreaLands.org].

3.5-42. Thereisnowaytomitigatethesepermanent andirreversibleimpactstotheJuristaclandscapeasawhole, aswell astoknowncultural, historicandpaleontological sites.

TheSargent RanchMineWouldDestroyJuristac’sBiodiversity, WildlifeCorridors, andWatershed AshighlightedinMayor Stone’sandCouncil Member Kou’sColleague’sMemo, Juristaccontainsessential foraginghabitat for theendangeredCaliforniaCondor, aswell asprimehabitat for other at-riskspecies. ThreatenedCaliforniared-leggedfrogsliveandbreedinSargent Creek, whichflowsdirectlyadjacent totwoof theminingpits.ThestreamsandpondsofJuristacarehabitat for threatenedCaliforniatiger salamandersandwesternpondturtles, andsteelheadtrout havebeenobservedinTar CreekontheJuristacsite. Goldeneagleshavebeenobservedforagingonthehillsides, andburrowingowlshavebeenobservedinthegrasslands.Thus, Juristacisrichinbiodiversityandcritical habitat for awidevarietyof species,includingthreatenedandendangeredspecies.

Theecological impact of theproposedSargent Ranchsandandgravel mineonJuristacwouldbeespeciallyseverefor speciessuchasmountainlions, whichdependontheabilitytomigratethroughthissitefor healthypopulationdynamics. Heavyindustrysuchasminingcausesdisruptiontoanimal movement duenot onlytothedisturbedfootprint of theproject but alsoduetothedailynoiseandheavyvehicleactivity, whichcandriveawaysensitivewildlifespeciesandprevent themfromutilizingtheir usual migrationroutes. Inthiscase, theproposedfootprint oftheminingoperationliesdirectlyacrossthemainmigrationroutefor animalsout of theSantaCruzMountains. Highway101isasignificant barrier for wildlifemovement, andthereareonlyafewundercrossingsbeneaththehighwaywhereanimalscantravel. TheDEIRfoundthat thequarrywouldhaveasignificant andunavoidableimpact onwildlifemovement.

TheSargent RanchQuarrycouldalsoseverelyimpact thelocal watershed. AccordingtotheDEIR, thequarrypitswouldexcavatethehillsidesonbothsidesof Sargent Creek. ThiscreekisatributarytothePajaroRiver, whichisalreadyheavilyimpactedfromrunoff andillegaldumping. TheSargent Creekwatershedencompassesover 1200acresandisestimatedtoprovidehundredsof acre-feet of groundwater rechargeandrunoff. If thepitsexcavatebelowthewater table, theintegrityof theSargent Creekwatershedwouldbeaffectedanditsabilitytorechargegroundwater significantlyimpaired. Sargent Creeksupportsararestream-dwellingpopulationof Californiared-leggedfrogs, afederallylistedthreatenedspecies, whichcouldbesignificantlyimpactedbythedisruption, increasedsediment, andother impactstothecreekandthewatershed.

PleaseJoinUsToSupport ProtectingJuristac
Byapprovingtheresolution, theCityof PaloAltowill jointhecitiesof Gilroy, MorganHill,MountainView, SantaClara, SantaCruz, andSunnyvale, andbytheCountyof SantaCruz, inshowingpublicsupport for protectingJuristac. Morethan25,000peoplehavealreadysignedapetitioninsupport of protectingJuristac, andover 100current andformer electedofficials,communityleaders, andnonprofit organizationshavesignedontotheStatement of Opposition toSargent RanchQuarry. WeurgetheCouncil tojoinwithustodemonstratetotheCountyPlanningCommissionandBoardof Supervisorsthat theleadersandcommunitiesof SantaClaraCountyarestandingwiththeAmahMutsunTribal BandinoppositiontotheSargentRanchQuarryandinsupport of protectingJuristac.

Thankyoufor your considerationof thesecomments.

Sincerely,
AliceKaufmanPolicyandAdvocacyDirectorGreenFoothills
AthenaHernandezGeneral CounselAmahMutsunLandTrust
Shani KleinhausEnvironmental AdvocateSantaClaraValleyBirdAlliance MikeFerreiraChapter ChairSierraClubLomaPrietaChapter
VictorinaArveloSouthBayResilienceManagerGreenbelt Alliance GregCottenFoundingMemberFriendsof Juristac
MariaDaehlerBayAreaNativeAlliesProject (BANAP)
KarahFisherConservationAdvocacy&OutreachSenior CoordinatorCaliforniaNativePlant Society JudyFenertyConservationChairCaliforniaNativePlant Society, SantaClaraValleyChapter EmmaHartungalongwithSURJCoordinatingCommitteeFacilitator, SURJSCC'scampaigntoProtect JuristacShowingUpfor Racial JusticeSantaClaraCounty Kristi IversonSteeringCommittee, MultifaithVoicesfor PeaceandJusticeActionCouncil Chair, UnitarianUniversalist Churchof PaloAlto ColleenCabotSouthBayIndigenousSolidarity
From: [email protected] on behalf of Pria Graves To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 5:23:53 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Finally, during the County hearings on this proposal, the "experts" claimed that despite the beauty of the area, no one really looks at it.

They claimed that everyone is just busy driving past.

Well, not all cars are just one solo
driver and there are also passenger trains that run by.

Thousands of riders on these trains have the opportunity of enjoying the wonderful scenery as I have.

The claim that this has no scenic impact is simply a lie and I resent it enormously.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Pria Graves

From: [email protected] on behalf of Lawrence Garwin To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 4:46:56 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Lawrence Garwin

From: [email protected] on behalf of Julie Beer To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 3:43:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Julie Beer

From: Winter Dellenbach
To: Council, City
Subject: RE: City Council item - Juristac Resolution
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 1:50:59 PM
Dear Council members -
Please approve the Juristac Resolution.

The old saw, “Save it or lose it” applies here.

To lose this open space to gravel mining is a waste and not good stewardship.

To lose habitat supporting endangered species deserves our City’s outspoken opposition.

To ignore the significance of this land to the Amah Mutsun is to erode a culture and heritage.

Winter Dellenbach
Palo Alto
From: [email protected] on behalf of James Eggers To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 12:49:39 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,
What makes Santa Clara County special, even unique, is not our buildings and businesses, it is our people and our nature.

We must give respect and support to the first peoples who understand and continue to care for the land.

We must also give respect to the people who are here now and the natural environment that is essential for their health: physical, mental, emotional, familial and social, but also vocational, academic, and economic.

Please approve the “Resolution Supporting the Efforts of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band to Preserve Juristac/Sargent Ranch as Open Space,” from Mayor Stone and Council Member Kou. Juristac is threatened by the Sargent Ranch Quarry, an open-pit sand and gravel mine that would destroy over 400 acres of habitat, literally scooping out the hillsides to create 3 open quarry pits hundreds of feet deep. About 86,000 gallons of groundwater would be pumped each day for mining operations, and the mine would generate hundreds of truck trips per day.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
James Eggers

From: [email protected] on behalf of Nancy Martin To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 10:25:33 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Nancy Martin

From: [email protected] on behalf of Howard Cohen To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 10:12:17 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Howard Cohen

From: [email protected] on behalf of Anne Mason To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 9:48:41 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Anne Mason

From: [email protected] on behalf of trish mulvey To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 9:36:27 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
trish mulvey

From: [email protected] on behalf of Carrie Petersen To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 9:22:15 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Carrie Petersen

From: [email protected] on behalf of Ari Turrentine To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 9:21:28 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Ari Turrentine

From: [email protected] on behalf of Emily Sharp To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 8:50:14 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Emily Sharp

From: [email protected] on behalf of Diane McCoy To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 8:45:10 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Diane McCoy

From: [email protected] on behalf of Linda Skeff To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 8:42:12 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Linda Skeff

From: [email protected] on behalf of Melanie Cross To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 8:21:58 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Melanie Cross

From: [email protected] on behalf of Paul Hammes To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 8:16:00 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Paul Hammes

From: [email protected] on behalf of Graceann Johnson To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 7:19:50 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Graceann Johnson

From: [email protected] on behalf of Nancy Krop To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 7:19:27 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Palo Alto, as an environmental leader, should join the other county cities supporting this resolution. We also pride ourselves as an inclusive community, honoring different cultural traditions as those threatened here.

Juristac is threatened by the Sargent Ranch Quarry, an open-pit sand and gravel mine that would destroy over 400 acres of habitat, literally scooping out the hillsides to create 3 open quarry pits hundreds of feet deep. About 86,000 gallons of groundwater would be pumped each day for mining operations, and the mine would generate hundreds of truck trips per day.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Nancy Krop

From: [email protected] on behalf of Magdalena Cabrera To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 7:03:38 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Magdalena Cabrera

From: [email protected] on behalf of Sandy Songy To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 6:58:02 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Dear Mayor Stone and Council Members,
Please pay attention to this opportunity to block a sand and gravel plant from operating in sacred indigenous space and an important wildlife corridor.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution! As a resident of Palo Alto, I appreciate your attention to this important issue.

Sincerely,
Sandy Songy

From: [email protected] on behalf of Virginia Van Kuran To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 6:57:57 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Virginia Van Kuran

From: [email protected] on behalf of Joanna Holmes To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 6:55:47 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Joanna Holmes

From: [email protected] on behalf of Jessica Wohlander To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 6:52:28 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Jessica Wohlander

From: [email protected] on behalf of Barbara Moran To: Council, City
Subject: Please Approve Juristac Resolution (Agenda Item 19, 12/2/24 City Council meeting) Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2024 6:44:44 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.

Juristac is the most sacred site of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who held ceremonies there for thousands of years.

Mountain lions, American badgers, bobcats, coyotes, and other animals rely on the movement pathways through Juristac – pathways that the Sargent Ranch Quarry would block or seriously impact.

Please approve the Juristac resolution!
Sincerely,
Barbara Moran

Palo Alto City CouncilDecember 2, 2024

Palo Alto City Council
December 2, 2024