Shani Kleinhaus
Environmental Advocate
Public speaking is one of our strongest advocacy tools. These days, this means Zoom calls and speaking to council members, board directors, commission and committee members about birds and the importance of wildlife habitat. Usually, we have only two minutes to comment on issues that we’ve spent months, if not years, studying and advocating for. Here are three examples from January 2021:
San Jose Rules & Open Government Committee
Council Member Dev Davis’ memo, Urban Greening Implementation Plan
This Plan would identify equity-focused urban greening projects to promote the incorporation of nature-based strategies (extensive urban tree canopy, California native plantings, re-wilding, rain gardens, etc.) in infrastructures plans and projects throughout the city.
Good afternoon Chair Jones and committee members.
A recent study that encompassed all of Europe showed that high biodiversity in people's vicinity is as important for life satisfaction as their income. Surprisingly, this finding was not limited to high income populace. The study actually showed that individual enjoyment of life correlates with the number of surrounding bird species.
At Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society (SCVAS), we hear the same from our members in San Jose. Furthermore, people's appreciation of birds and nature in their immediate surroundings has greatly increased in the months that COVID kept us at home.
The joy and inspiration that the community derives from seeing and hearing songbirds is the reason why SCVAS has been advocating for re-wilding the urban landscape and integrating birds, pollinators, and biodiversity into the sustainability framework. Vegetation, especially native species, should be prioritized in the urban forest, storm water treatment, parklands and even private lands.
We strongly support Council Member Davis’s Memo and hope you vote to move it ahead—it is time to capture the imagination and inspire people with nature in the city, and to use nature's force in cleaning our air and water, and alleviating the impacts of climate change.
Outcome: The plan has been referred to the city’s priority- setting process in late February. We hope that by the time The Avocet is published, it will be prioritized by the City Council!
Note: We are also actively promoting the integration of native trees and nature into urban landscapes in Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Palo Alto.
Please contact shani@scvas.org to to volunteer.
San Jose Planning Commission
San Jose Citywide Design Standards & Guidelines (CWDSG)
The City of San Jose has developed Design Standards and Guidelines that will apply to many new developments. The Guidelines include Bird Safety Standards.
Good evening Chair Caballero and San Jose Planning Commissioners. My name is Shani Kleinhaus. I am the Environmental Advocate for Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society. I emailed you earlier today in support of the San Jose Citywide Design Standards and Guidelines. I’d like to thank planners Leila Hakimzadeh and Tim Rood for reaching out to SCVAS as they developed the guidelines that would protect birds from colliding with buildings, and contribute to California native tree canopy and plantings in San Jose. We hope to see a substantial increase in locally native trees and shrubs in San Jose over time.
Earlier today, the Rules and Open Government Committee enthusiastically voted to advance to Council Priority Session Council Member Davis’s Urban Greening Implementation Plan. Rules Committee members
recognized the benefits that nature (and birds) bring to the city, and that an approach that breaks silos is needed.
This should mesh well with the Citywide Design Standards and Guidelines and result in a thriving livable city that is kind to its residents, birds included.
Outcome: The San Jose CWDSG was recommended, and will be heard by the City Council in February or March.
Note: We are also actively promoting Bird Friendly Design in Cupertino and Palo Alto. Please contact shani@scvas.org to volunteer.
Valley Water Board Policy & Planning Committee
Draft Policy Criteria and Guidance on Public Trails on Valley Water Lands valleywater.org/trails-policy
Creekside trails allow us to enjoy birds and nature. At the same time, encroachment and fragmentation of riparian ecosystems are harmful to the animals that depend on these habitats. The policy should create a review process for trail projects in light of operational, water supply and quality, flood protection, and environmental stewardship functions.
Good afternoon Chair Hsueh and Committee member. Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society thanks Valley Water for looking to address the tension between trails and biological resources, and the conflicts that expansion
of trails are creating.
As Chair Hsueh and Valley Water staff expressed, low hanging fruit have been picked. The pressure to pave trails in and along sensitive riparian habitats is increasing. Guidelines that protect and expand riparian corridors are desperately needed. We support the proposed guidelines.
The tensions now extend to commute trails which can exclude recreation for some - including older, slow pedestrians and other people who are there to enjoy nature.
In addition, the pandemic has created a different reality which exacerbated some of the problems—a greater need and greater use translate to more disturbance, and more access that increases incompatible use and activities that cities and other agencies are unable to control or enforce.
We appreciate the workshops and outreach to our organization, and work that staff has invested in an effort to balance trail construction and use and the protection of our riparian ecosystems. Thank you.
Outcome: The Board of Directors will hear the policy soon.
And Lastly...
SCVAS joined over 150 environmental organizations in a letter to President Biden. Here is the essence of what we asked for:
“Similar to the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps during the recovery from the Great Depression, your administration can jumpstart the United States economy by investing $25 billion in new and existing conservation programs that will create hundreds of thousands of direct jobs and provide benefits to people, communities and the environment.”
Let's hope that funds are invested not only in building infrastructure but also in restoring nature!
