No cows on state land.
Bonnie Durrance/Sonoma Valley Sun
California Parks will not grant access to the Montini Open Space Preserve through State Parks property. The proposed public path would cross State Parks lands surrounding the Vallejo Home, a registered landmark. That usage, according to Mary Pass, Sector Superintendent of California State Parks of Sonoma and Napa, would not be consistent with the Parks’ mission of stewardship. “Our mission is to conserve unique scenic features of California landscape and historic and cultural resources and to provide educational and resources for the public,” she said, explaining how the Parks’ mission differs from that of Open Space. An example of such a resource would be the California missions, which are unique, historic, cultural entities. For another example, she said that Mt. Diablo is unique. “Because of the original survey markers, and because it’s the southernmost boundary for some plant species and the northernmost boundary for others.”
According to Maureen Middlebrook, Community Affairs Officer, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District, the state has been saying no all along. “The council wanted us to take a look at creating an entrance at Fourth Street,” she said, because of community concern about access at Fifth Street, which would involve, among other things, the possible loss of the Montini cows. “Seeing the cows is not an issue,” Middlebrook said, explaining that if the Montini cows are removed, Open Space District will graze other cows on the land.
The issue rests, at the moment. The Open Space District is still talking to community members and the Open Space District is looking to do their EIR process early in the year.
