Temescal Canyon Association
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Temescal Canyon Association was founded in 1972 to prevent the sale of what is now Temescal Gateway Park to a developer with plans for a golf driving range. In subsequent years TCA helped preserve the canyon from a variety of threats including a cross-mountain road, and in the mid-seventies TCA was instrumental in creating a plan for what is now Topanga State Park.

During the past few years we count among our achievements the bridge at the Temescal waterfall, pictured on the left, several smaller bridges in Temescal and Los Liones Canyons. Under direction of Trailmeister Ron Webster, TCA and the Sierra Club trails crew created two popular new hiking trails, one connects Gateway Park with Will Rogers, the other connects Gateway Park with Bienveneda Ave.

An on-going concern of the Association is the recent purchase and potential development by the YMCA of four acres at the corner of Temescal and Sunset. We would much prefer that this geographical and historical heart of our community remain in public hands, however the property was purchased by the State subject to a previous purchase option, an option that the YMCA after decades of controversy has now exercised. We are pleased that the YMCA has offered to consider TCA's comments as it proceeds with plans for the site.

Another concern is that there be ample and convenient access from the Palisades to the City park currently being planned on property stretching about a mile in Potrero Canyon from the Recreation Center to PCH. TCA intends to continue monitoring the park planning process and will continue to oppose efforts to restrict public access.

A recent cause for alarm is Governor Schwartzenegger's plan to reduce the funding of our state parks by ten percent which would result in the closure of 48 state parks, including Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park. Please scroll down to our newsletter to view Temescal Canyon Association's position on this inanity. For more information and action suggestions we recommend the Topanga Docents excellent web site savetopangastatepark.org.
TCA has taken a special interest in the creation of a park in Los Liones Canyon. This former dump stretching from Sunset Blvd. to the Mormon Church, has been transformed into parkland in part by thousands of hours of planting, watering, and weeding by a dedicated group of TCA volunteers.

TCA also funded creation of a large mural on Los Liones Drive depicting the canyon's natural flora and fauna. See detail at right. This was the work of several artists under direction of muralist Terri Bromberg.
For more than 20 years TCA has led hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains. You are welcome to come hike with us. Membership is not necessary, and children when accompanied by adults are welcome too.

In the winter months we hike one Sunday a month. Starting at nine we usually cover six to ten miles returning in mid-afternoon.

In the summer we hike once a week on Tuesday evenings starting at six. In order to finish before dark, these hikes are shorter, usually three to five miles and are not far afield. For more about our hikes and to view the current hike schedule, please scroll down.
 
We build trails. Would you like to help? No skill required, and we provide the tools. Just leave your name and e-mail address at the address below and we'll be in touch.

TCA has published a hiking map of our local mountains showing trails, fireroads, and points of interest. The map is free to TCA members or may be purchased at Gateway Park, Village Books, Will Rogers, Trippet Ranch, Palisades Letter Shop, or Palisades Bicycles.


Photos are courtesy of Jim Kenney.
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CARE TO JOIN US?

Would you like to join Temescal Canyon Association? Our dues are but $5.00 a year, which entitles you to our hiking map of the local mountains, newsletters, and hike schedules. For a donation of $25 we also include a beautiful TCA sweatshirt, the perfect gift!
You may reach TCA -
Please refer commments concerning this site to: pacpalted@earthlink.net
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SUNDAY HIKES FOR 2008

Member or not, you are welcome to join us. We meet at 9:00 a.m. sharp in the Temescal Gateway Park parking lot at the northwest corner of Sunset Blvd. and Temescal Canyon Road. Parking passes will be provided.

Wear boots or heavy shoes, bring lunch and water. We love dogs but they are not permitted on most hiking trails. However children accompanied by adults are welcome.

These hikes are about six to ten miles, so you can expect to be back at Gateway Park early to mid-afternoon.

Our hikes are most often in the Santa Monica Mountains on trails ranging from very easy to somewhat strenuous. Please bring any concerns about the difficulty of the hike to the attention of the hike leader before setting out.

In the event of fire closure (red flag day) or questionable weather the hike will either be canceled, or if feasible the leader will suggest a Plan "B".

  • February 17 - We will walk from Zuma Beach, over Point Dume and along a beautiful stretch of beach to have brunch at Paradise Cove. With luck we'll see the migrating California Gray Whales as they pass Pt. Dume. If you would like to join us, please tell Carol or leave a message at 310-459-5931, as we need to make reservations. Expect brunch to cost about $10. NOTE: FOR THIS HIKE WE WILL MEET AT 8:00 A.M.

  • March 2: We will take a beautiful section of the Backbone Trail from Piuma Road to the summit of Saddle Peak, elevation 2,805'. This hike is about 10 miles round trip with considerable elevation gain.

  • March 30: Jim Kenney, noted nature photographer and TCA Board member will lead us on a "walk and talk" to view wild flowers in the recently burned area of Malibu.

  • April 20: The "Rendezvous Hike", we will take the Santa Ynez Canyon trail from Palisades Highlands to Trippet Ranch for lunch with the Sierra Club to celebrate John Muir's birthday, about a six mile round trip with moderate gain.

  • May 18: We will hike over the hill from Malibu Creek State Park to Paramount Ranch for lunch and to join in the festivities at the "Topanga Banjo and Fiddle Contest". Bring your lunch or food and drink may be purchased at the contest. General admission is $12, $7 for seniors. This hike is about 7 miles round trip with moderate elevation gain.
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FEBRUARY 2008 NEWSLETTER

Threatened State Park Closures
As you all know, in order to balance the budget, our governor plans to close a number of California State Parks, 20% of the total, including Will Rogers and Topanga. These parks we are told, have less usage and bring in less income than others in the state. How can a park on the outskirts of a humungous city such as ours, be less used? Who ever said that parks were supposed to be revenue generators anyway? The plan - and to quote Will Rogers - "All we know is what we read in the papers" - calls for gates and guards, which is laughable. If the State can afford guards at the numerous gates, it can afford park rangers. And is it possible to keep hikers out of a park with a 50-mile perimeter and dozens of trail heads? There's no way the parks can be fenced off. So the public will have access to the parks, but with no maintenance, no trash pickup, and no ranger presence. Is this a ploy? Will public resentment reach a level that we will consent to a tax hike as an alternative? The budget savings as a result of closing 20 percent of state parks (as well as reducing the number of lifeguards at state beaches?.) would evidently be a mere 9 million dollars, less than 0.1 percent of the state budget. TCA will oppose any effort to implement these ludicrous proposals.

Over the past many years State Parks has had to cut back its budget so that it now has a backlog of maintenance projects. The amount of money spent per visitor was $4.16 in 1990, but is now down to $2.80. Nevertheless there are still plans in the works for gates and another restroom in Los Liones, and a new restroom at the Hub.

Potrero Canyon
The hard-working Potrero Canyon Advisory Committee, ably chaired by George Wolfberg, has approved a plan calling for passive use of the park by hikers, bikers and picnickers (no organized sports) and calls for continued access from Frontera Ave. The controversial issue of access from De Pauw and/or Friends St., which we will continue to advocate, was deferred. The bad news is that the City has decided to build a massive earthen buttress below Corona del Mar, a multiyear project that won't even start until completion of a new geophysical survey and a new sewer line into the canyon from Via de las Olas. These lengthy projects must precede completion of rough grading Phase II, to be followed in turn by finish grading and landscaping. So the multi-decade Potrero saga continues with no end in sight.

The Local Coastal Plan
The Board of Supervisors adopted this plan unanimously last October. This land use plan governs all development in unincorporated county land within five miles of the coast, stretching from Leo Carrillo State Park to the north, to Topanga Canyon to the south. The protective policies of the LCP will shield such land - much of which the Park agencies would like to acquire but cannot afford- from over development. It will reduce zoning; protect ridgelines and riparian woodlands and environmentally sensitive habitat areas or "ESHA"s." Of course this plan does not satisfy all environmentalists. However, all in all it is a good plan, and for its passage we have once more to thank our supervisor, Zev Yaroslavsky.

Temescal Canyon
One piece of interesting news is that there is a plan to construct a trail parallel to the entry road- something we have long advocated. In fact, this new trail is virtually complete! People have always tended to walk down the middle of the road, since there is no sidewalk, and this can be hazardous as the road is so narrow. The new trail is on the east side of the road, and a few yards above it, but close enough that pedestrians can easily access it. We encourage you to check it out.
Incidentally Temescal Gateway Park is owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and thus is not one of the parks threatened with closure.

TCA Shopping Bags
To further the goal of a "Plastic Bag Free Palisades", TCA reusable cloth shopping bags will be available shortly. They will carry the familiar TCA logo, which was designed in the 1970's by Bernard Flynn. They will be available free to all members. See our web site temcanyon.org for details.

The Hike Schedule
We enclose the schedule for our 2008 Sunday hikes and hope you can join us. We meet at 9:00 a.m. in Gateway Park and are usually back at Temescal by early to mid-afternoon. For more about our hikes and to check for possible updates please see our web site temcanyon.org.

Membership
If you find an envelope enclosed it's been over a year since we"ve heard from you. Our dues remain but $5.00 a year as they have since 1972. A donation of only $25 entitles you to a beautiful TCA sweatshirt which may be picked up at Palisades Bicycles, 871 Via de la Paz, next to the Letter Shop. Also all members may pick up their free copy of our updated map of our local hiking trails.
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BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS FOR 2008

  • Maria Bane
  • Richard G. Cohen
  • Barbara Dembo, Treasurer
  • Gil Dembo, Vice President & Community Council Representative
  • Shirley Haggstrom
  • Ethel Haydon
  • Mira Karlovac
  • Neven Karlovac
  • Jim Kenney
  • Carol Leacock, President
  • Ted Mackie, Membership & Web Master
  • Susan Orenstein
  • June Perez
  • Patti Post
  • Norma Spak
  • Ron Webster, Sierra Club Liaison
  • Roger Woods
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BYLAWS OF
THE TEMESCAL CANYON ASSOCIATION
AS AMENDED FEBRUARY 2008

I PRINCIPAL PURPOSE

The Temescal Canyon Association was established as a not-for-profit organization, incorporated in California in 1972, and qualifying under Internal Revenue Code Section 501 (c)(3). The specific and primary purposes of the Temescal Canyon Association shall be:
  1. To be an advocate for the preservation of open space in the Santa Monica Mountains.
  2. To enhance the public's experience of the open space through building and maintenance of trails, and by leading the public on hikes along these trails.
  3. To act as a liaison between the community and the various park agencies.
  4. To support and assist the various park agencies in those areas deemed appropriate by the Board.

II MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in this organization is open to those who share the interest in furthering the purposes listed above, and who pay the requisite membership fees.

Section 2. Membership fees and dues will be set by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Each member of this Association will be entitled to one vote. Business brought before the members at any general meeting, annual or special, shall be decided by a majority vote of those present and voting.

Section 4. Annual Meeting - The annual meeting of the members of this Association shall be held in the month of November or December, at a location determined by the Board of Directors. Written notice of the time and place of the annual meeting shall be delivered personally to each voting member or sent to each voting member by mail, e-mail, or other form of written communication, addressed to each voting member's address as it is shown on the records of the Association. Any notice shall be sent or delivered at least five days before the date of the meeting.

Section 5. Special Meetings - Special meetings of the members of the Association for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the president of the Association or by any nine directors.

Written notice of the time and place of special meetings of the members shall be given in the same manner as for annual meetings of the members.

Section 6. Liabilities of Members - No person who is now, or who later becomes, a member of this Association shall be personally liable to its creditors for any indebtedness or liability, and any and all creditors of this Association shall look only to the assets of this Association for payment.

The Association indemnifies, and holds harmless, and agrees to defend all officers and directors of the Association against all claims and legal actions to the maximum extent permitted by law.

III BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Number of Directors - The Board of Directors shall consist of a minimum of 15 members until the number of directors is changed by amendment to these bylaws.

Section 2. Quorum - A majority of the current members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 3. Powers of Directors - Subject to limitations of the articles of incorporation, other sections of the bylaws, and of California law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Association shall be controlled by, the Board of Directors. Without limiting the general powers, the Board of Directors shall have the following powers:

(a) To select and remove all the other officers, agents, and employees of the Association, prescribe such powers and duties for them as may not be inconsistent with law, the articles of incorporation, or the bylaws.

(b) To conduct, manage, and control the affairs and business of the Association, and to make rules and regulation not inconsistent with law, the articles of incorporation, or the bylaws.

Section 4. Election and Term of Office - Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting and shall serve for one year from the date of their election, without limitation on the number of years in office.

Section 5. Vacancies - Vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be filled by a majority of the remaining directors then in office even though less than a quorum. A successor director so elected shall serve for the unexpired term of his predecessor.

Section 6. Place of Meeting - Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at any place that has been designated from time to time by resolution of the board. Special meetings of the board may be held at a place designated by the board.

Section 7. Organization Meeting - Following each annual meeting of members, the Board of Directors shall hold a regular meeting for the purposes of organization, election of officers, and the transaction of other business. No notice of such organizational meeting need be given.

Section 8. Other Regular Meetings - Other regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held when called.

Section 9. Special Meetings - Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the president, or by a majority of the current members of the Board of Directors.

Section 11. Removal - A Director may be removed from office, for cause, by the vote of a majority of the directors.

Section 12.Compensation- The directors shall receive no compensation for their services as directors.

IV OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers - The officers of this Association shall be a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, and such other officers as the Board of Directors may appoint. One person, other than the president, may hold more than one of these offices. Officers shall be members of the Board or Directors.

Section 2. Election - The Board of Directors shall elect all officers of the Association for terms of one year, or until their successors are elected and qualified.

Section 3. Vacancies - A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise shall be filled by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. President - Subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the president shall have general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Association. The president shall preside at all meetings of the members and directors and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Vice President - In the absence or disability of the president, the vice president shall perform all the duties of the president and in so acting shall have all the powers of the president. The vice president shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 6. Secretary - The secretary shall keep a full and complete record of the proceedings of the Board of Directors, shall keep the seal of the Association and affix it to such papers and instruments as may be required in the regular course of business, shall make service of such notices as may be necessary or proper, shall supervise the keeping of the records of the Association, and shall discharge such other duties of the office as prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 7. Treasurer - The treasurer shall receive and safely keep all funds of the Association and deposit them in the bank or banks that may be designated by the Board of Directors. Those funds shall be paid out only on checks of the Association signed by the president, vice president, treasurer or secretary or by such officers as may be designated by the Board of Directors as authorized to sign them. The treasurer shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

V COMMITTEES

Section 1. Subject to approval by the Board of Directors, the President may establish such committees as the President deems necessary to accomplish specific aims and functions of the Association.

VI PUBLIC STATEMENTS

Section 1. Only an officer or other person designated by the Board of Directors may make official statements on behalf of the Association, or state an Association position which is not part of the public record. Whenever a member of the Board desires to make an oral or written statement that does not meet these specifications, and that member identifies himself or herself as a Board member, that member shall clearly state that he or she is not representing the Association on the matter being addressed.

VII AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Section 1. Effective date: The Bylaws of the Temescal Canyon Association shall become effective upon the date of adoption by the Board, and shall thereupon supersede all prior Bylaws.

Section 2. How amended: The Bylaws may be amended, repealed, or new Bylaws adopted at any regular meeting of the Board, or at any special meeting called for that purpose. A vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board present at the meeting shall be necessary to amend or repeal any Bylaw, or to adopt a new Bylaw.

No amendment or new Bylaw may be voted upon until it has been read at two consecutive council meetings.

The full text of any amendment to or any new Bylaws shall be made available to member of the Board prior to the first reading.

Section 3.

No article of Incorporation, Bylaw, or standing rule shall be suspended at any meeting.
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