Four Jackson Oaks residents are gunning for three open spots on
a committee that’s reviewing controversial trails for their wooded
backyards.
Morgan Hill – Four Jackson Oaks residents are gunning for three open spots on a committee that’s reviewing controversial trails for their wooded backyards.
But even if they’re selected by the Morgan Hill Parks and Recreation Commission to join the Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee, state law could prevent them from voting on issues 500 feet away from their homes.
The residents hope to join the committee as it studies proposed trail routes opposed by many Jackson Oaks residents, mainly because of perceived fire dangers and privacy concerns.
The trails are part of the city’s Trails and Natural Resources Study, a work in progress. The document outlines a city-wide network of trails, with about three miles of paths starting near Jackson Elementary school and looping through 260 acres of open space.
The study is a planning guide; no plans exist to build the proposed trails.
The committee is reviewing the study before forwarding a recommendation to the parks commission. The Morgan Hill City Council is expected to adopt the final trails master plan in February 2008.
Three of the four committee applicants have expressed concerns about trails weaving through their secluded million-dollar homes in the eastern hills. Like many Jackson Oaks residents, they want that portion of the trails plan removed.
But joining the committee to influence a decision would violate the city’s ethics code, according to Morgan Hill City Attorney Janet Kern. The policy states officials must avoid even the appearance of a conflict. Additionally, state law bars public officials from voting on issues that could affect their property values.
Three applicants reached for comment said the group is not coordinating its efforts to influence the committee’s decision.
They also denied their applications are tied to blocking the use of public land near their homes.
“I knew about the 500-foot law before I applied,” said David Dindak, 50, one of the applicants. “Basically, when I went to the committee meeting last month, I thought, ‘Wow, these are ordinary people’ and felt I could help.”
One applicant hadn’t heard of the state’s law regarding property values and politics.
“When did that become a law?” asked Carol Lucke, 60, adding she wants to work on planning safe bike lanes for Morgan Hill students.
The other two applicants are Rick Tait and Marian Sacco, also Jackson Oaks residents.
On Tuesday, the Morgan Hill Parks and Recreation Commission interviewed the committee candidates, except for Sacco who was absent.
“It was wonderful to have the applicants from Jackson Oaks,” said commissioner Kimberly Leiser, adding she hopes they would be eager to work on city-wide recreation issues. “But I hope their applications aren’t affected by whether or not they can vote on the proposed trails.”
Commissioner Mark Frederick declined to comment on the applicants when reached by phone.
Frederick, who works for the Santa Clara County parks system, angered Jackson Oaks residents at the May 24 bicycle and trails meeting when he suggested some of their arguments reflected NIMBY-ism.
