I discussed with you my belief in making the right and just decision. If I am elected to the City Council, this is the principle and standard by which I will make decisions based on hearing and considering all views about an issue. I will not be afraid to support a position that would meet this standard.
Ms. Tate-Mann wrote:
I have given much thought to the issues surrounding the Keck Institute and the Bernard Biological Field Station. My concern for preserving the Bernard Biological Field Station is not a position opposing the construction of the Keck Institute per se. Instead, it is a position that advocates compromise and proposing a mechanism whereby the colleges, the City, and the community can dialogue regarding these type of issues. There are always restrictions on the use of property. Thus, it is my position that we must look at long range use and preservation of property. I am pleased to know that the Field station has been used by college and community groups, college faculty and their classes, schoolchildren in both Claremont and Pomona, and the public. I support its use as a teaching and research tool. I encourage this use to continue and the public to be informed of the activities occurring on the Field Station. When I was a youngster, I was surrounded by property that was in its natural state. Property maintained in its natural state protects the environment and the health of people in the surrounding area. As a new City Council member I would give your perspective attention because your perspectives represent residents of Claremont. I will be faced with your concerns and the Claremont University Consortium concerns about the (future) Master Plan presented to the City. A spirit of considering all options, reasonableness, dialogue, and compromise is my pursuit.
I have a listening ear for your concerns for the preservation of the Bernard Biological Field Station. Your concerns will not be ignored by me.
Mr. Miller wrote:
Claremont has an unique opportunity to preserve open space through smart planning for growth. However, the city must be cautious in exercising its authority over land use so as to respect the legal rights of private property owners. As a city council member, I would like to see the BFS preserved as an educational resource and would be interested in your suggestions for winning strategies.
The Lawsuit settlement
In November, the Friends and Claremont University Consortium (CUC) signed a document specifying the terms to be included in a legal out-of-court settlement of the Friends' CEQA lawsuit regarding the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the North Campus Master Plan. On February 9, after much delay and many last minute changes by CUC, the Friends of the Bernard Biological Field Station and Claremont University Consortium signed the legal document.
While the settlement does not prevent building of the Keck Graduate Institute on the westernmost 11 acres of the Field Station, it does provide significant benefits for the Field Station and its programs:
CUC has agreed to preserve the Field Station program and 45 acres of the land for a period of at least 50 years. The preserved land includes the "neck" and its extension down to Foothill Blvd, including pHake Lake.
The remainder of the BFS can continue to be used as a field station until a development is approved. This cannot happen until after there is a master plan in place for all CUC held land including the quarry and the golf course as well as the BFS.
CUC will maintain adequate funding for the Field Station program.
Community groups will once again be able to use the BFS for educational purposes approved by the BFS Director.
CUC will provide a Native American monitor on-site during grading for the Keck Graduate Institute.
Unfortunately, in the final stages of hammering out the legal implementation for the settlement, CUC insisted on changing the terms agreed on in November and included a provision that states that if they are legally prevented from building on the remaining portion of the field station by anyone, the 50-year protection on the 45 acres will be voided.
In thinking about the pros and cons of the settlement, it is important to realize that it concerns only the lawsuit and nothing else. Even winning our court case would not have blocked the KGI development. It would only have resulted in requiring the City to redo part of the EIR. While the Board was seriously disappointed that we could not protect more of the BFS at this time, and we were extremely unhappy about CUC's last-minute changes, we still felt that the agreement was in the best interests of the BFS and was a step in the right direction.
 Meet the Inhabitants! |
Legless Lizards: Really?
Yes, indeed. There really are legless lizards, and the California species (Anniella pulchra) can be found on the Field Station. At first glance, and second too, these fascinating animals look like very small snakes. They are about the length and thickness of a pencil and most are a delicate pinkish-beige on top, with darker stripes along the sides and a yellowish underside. A few are dark. Unlike snakes, they have moveable eyelids and break-away tails.