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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-CA link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>I just wanted to say that I am so impressed with Michael Frind’s letter in the Record Saturday re Vrbanovic and Zehr lacing into Yvonne about setting aside the money for Hidden Valley. Well said Michael!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Susan K<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><span style='font-size:24.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Vrbanovic off-base on Hidden Valley<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Re: <b>Kitchener council rejects Hidden Valley purchase — Oct. 15</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>I was frankly quite shocked to read the comments of Coun. Berry Vrbanovic, who said that setting aside $2 million for Hidden Valley land purchases was “one of the worst examples of fiscal imprudence” that he has ever seen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>The motion of Coun. Yvonne Fernandes was directly aligned with the Compass Kitchener report, which recommended that $2 million be spent on new and existing natural areas. What better purpose is there than to dedicate these funds toward acquiring development-threatened lands inside Hidden Valley?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Although some of Hidden Valley lands would never be developed by virtue of being unsuitable for construction (they’re too steep, too wet, etc.), the buildable upland portions are no less important to the integrity of the core natural lands. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Firstly, the upland portions are groundwater-recharge zones that feed the discharge zones in the valley. Secondly, these areas serve as ecological buffers for the core areas. And thirdly, these areas would be ideal for replanting and public trails.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Fernandes is really only asking that we set the funds aside now, so that when the time is right, we can purchase the parts of this environmental jewel that are at risk of being paved over. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Fernandes, in noting that our grandchildren would be thankful for such a purchase, summed up the development-threatened section of Hidden Valley perfectly: “Once that is gone, it is gone forever.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Michael Frind<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>Waterloo<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>