”
Red Phone, you can tell summer is near … plenty of bike and
running events throughout South County. My question is, how come
the promoters of these events are allowed to spray paint all over
our streets?
“Red Phone, you can tell summer is near … plenty of bike and running events throughout South County. My question is, how come the promoters of these events are allowed to spray paint all over our streets? Directional arrows, distance markings, etc. I’m sure if I went in front of the MHPD and painted all over the street, they would gladly write me a citation. Some events are starting to use chalk, which is fine, but the Wildflower Run also used paint. Just follow the course and see how many counts of ‘tagging’ they did! Also, who is going to pay the costs to remove the paint marks?”
Red Phone: Dear Tagged, Red Phone contacted Wildflower Run Director, who said her team tries to be very sensitive to the environment as they mark the course, using only six small painted orange marks to designate each mile.
“All other markings on the street were painted using Rust Oleum Landscape Spray Chalk,” Duckett said. “According to the manufacturer, ‘Rust-Oleum Landscape Spray Chalk is a unique, temporary chalk to create precise, easy to read temporary lines for tackling any landscape design projects. It is environmentally friendly and lasts 15 to 30 days when exposed to traffic and weathering.’ We trust that nature will take care of the markings and no removal will be required.”
Good caller, thanks for your inquiry and your concern for our community. If you still see those marks in early May, give Red Phone another call, because something went wrong.
City does not own entire El Toro Mt.
“Red Phone, I thought El Toro was owned by the city. Two weeks ago I went to the annual hike up El Toro and I heard some people say that the city asks permission from the owners for the hike. Why is this? El Toro is our city’s logo and I find it really unfair that we can’t go up it whenever we want, and that whoever owns it has all the privilege, who do they think they are?”
Red Phone: Dear Finds it Unfair, the “they” you are referring to are the property owners at the base of the hill. According to Karl Bjarke, deputy director of engineering of the city, the Morgan Hill Historical Society and Boy Scout Troop 799 – who organize the annual hike, and coordinate the date and logistics with the private property owners – obtain an event permit from the city.
“The property owners have been very accommodating given that hundreds of citizens participate in the event,” Bjarke said. “Of the commonly used trails to the summit of El Toro, portions are on city property and portions are on private property. The city owns practically the entire east face of El Toro mountain and does intend to construct a more hiker-friendly trail to the summit in the future. Such a trail is only in the planning stages right now.”
There you have it, good caller. Perhaps someday daily access to the top of the mountain will be allowed for anyone who wants a spectacular view of South Valley.
