Temescal Canyon Association Home

Temescal  Canyon  Assocation

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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 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 geographic and historic 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 hope that the YMCA will be responsive to the community's concerns 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 current cause for alarm is Governor Schwartzenegger's plan to eliminate all funding of our state parks and to close down Topanga State Park, Will Rogers State Historic Park and all other state parks in the Santa Monica Mountains. Temescal Canyon Association has protested this inane, unworkable nortion to our legislators Fran Pavley and Julia Brownely, and we are now collecting petitions for submittal to the Governor.


TCA has taken a special interest in the creation of a park in Los Liones Canyon. This former dump stretching from the fire station on 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 facing the park on Los Liones Drive depicting the canyon's natural flora and fauna. This was the work of several artists under direction of Palisades muralist Terri Bromberg, see detail on right.
For more than 30 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.


To Reach TCA

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, a reusable shopping bag, 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:


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Tuesday Hikes 2009

Member or not, you are welcome to join us. We meet at 6:00 p.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 water. We love dogs but they are not permitted on most hiking trails. However children accompanied by adults are welcome.

These hikes are usually three to five miles and you can expect to be back at Gateway Park before dark.

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 another plan.

  • May 19th - Tonight we explore some of the lesser-travelled trails in Will Rogers State Historic Park.

  • May 26th - From Temescal Gateway Park we will go over the hill past the Chautauqua reservoir, down Rivas Canyon and if time permits on to Will Rogers.

  • June 2nd - From the top of Paseo Miramar,(elev. 630 ft.} we will take the East Topanga Fireroad to enjoy the woderful view from the Parker Mesa Overlook, (elev. 1,540 ft.), a round trip of about five miles.

  • June 9th - Starting at the top of Mandeville Canyon, (elev. 1,370 ft.) we will take the Hollyhock trail to Mulholland and the site of a 1950's missile base, (elev. 1,906 ft.) then return down the Garden Land trail to Mandeville.

  • June 16th, (NOT 17th as shown on the printed schedule) - From Via Las Palmas at the top of the Highlands, (elev. 1,549 ft.) we will take the Temescal Ridge Trail, past Radio Peak and on to the remains of a mystery cabin, (elev. 2,025 ft,), a round trip of about three miles .

  • June 23rd -We will hike the Temescal Loop Trail, up the canyon, down the ridge, then enjoy a supper in Gateway Park. Please see Carol for details and reservations for the optional dinner.

  • June 30th - From Trippet Ranch in Topanga, (elev. 1,186 ft.) we take the Musch Trail to Eagle Junction, (elev. 1,676ft.) and return to Trippet down the East Topanga Fireroad.

  • July 7th - From Entrada Drive in Topanga we do an easy hike on the Dead Horse Trail to Trippet Ranch and back.

  • July 14th - From Palisades Highlands we will do an easy walk up beautiful upper Santa Ynez Canyon.

  • July 21st - Starting near the Mormon Church in Los Liones we will climb up to the East Topanga Fireroad and go on to one of several spectacular view points.

  • July 28th - From the top of Bienveneda Ave. we will hike the Leacock Trail loop.

  • August 4th - We will seek out some of the many secret stairways in Santa Monica Canyon.

  • August 11th - For our final hike of the season we will explore the once very depressed, but now very ritzy Venice Canals. There are several bridges to be crossed each involving a vertical gain of four to five feet. After this easy walk we may choose to have dinner at one of the many nearby restaurants.

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Board and Officers 2009

  • 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, Maps, Membership, & Web Master
  • Susan Orenstein, Secretary & Alternate Community Council Representative
  • June Perez
  • Patti Post
  • Norma Spak
  • Ron Webster, Sierra Club Liaison & Trail Master
  • Roger Woods

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September 2008 Newsletter

Welcome!
To begin with I would like to welcome all of you who have recently joined our association. And we hope you will join us on our upcoming hikes. To give you a little background - TCA was founded in 1972 to prevent the sale of what is now Temescal Gateway Park for a golf driving range. In subsequent years TCA has helped preserve Temescal Canyon from a variety of threats including a cross-mountain road to the Valley! If you would like to learn some more of TCA’s history and updates on our hikes, please go to our website, at temcanyon.org.

Temescal News
We were pleased to learn that TCA was to be included as a “stakeholder” in the preparation of a long range plan for the Conservancy property in Temescal Canyon, however that process has now been put on hold pending a review of the YMCA pool issue by the Conservancy Board. We understand this review will be open to the public and held in Temescal Gateway Park sometime in November.

The pool, which predates Conservancy ownership of the property, has for many years been a social as well as fitness center for the Palisades and especially for many of our seniors. We encourage the Conservancy and the Y to find a way to keep this resource open to our community as well to the thousands of young people the Conservancy brings to the canyon each year.

The schools that were renting space in Temescal Canyon have finally left, and as you may notice the meadow where the trailers had been parked has been beautifully restored. The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority – who manage the canyon, now have more space to bring in the school groups of inner city children to stay for a few nights and enjoy the setting

You will be happy to hear that the mural in Temescal Canyon was re-coated with another protective layer in June. This was accomplished by a group of TCA volunteers, under the direction of muralist Terri Bromberg. Graffiti artists were at it again in August, but thanks to the coating the graffiti was easily removed.

Funds for State Parks
As you no doubt have heard, the Governor has backed down on his plan to close a number of State Parks. We think this was due to the overwhelmingly negative response to his plan. The Topanga Canyon Docents spearheaded the local protest with help from TCA and the Sierra Club and many other organizations. Thank you all for responding to our mailing, and for signing the petitions. Several hundred were taken to Sacramento and delivered by hand to the Governor by a group of Topanga Elementary schoolchildren!

Assemblyman John Laird (Santa Cruz) has proposed a wonderful solution to the problem of funding for State Parks. To quote the California State Parks Foundation – “A $10 surcharge would be added to the vehicle license fee of all non-commercial vehicles. In exchange Californians would be provided free day use access and parking to virtually all state parks.” California’s State Park system is the largest in the nation, but as many of us are aware, it has been under funded for decades, with a huge backlog of maintenance projects. The remarkable solution proposed by Assemblyman Laird is a part of the current budget, which is still stalled in Sacramento, as we all know. Since the $10 surcharge is considered a tax, it would need a 2/3 majority to pass. If it does not pass, it could become a ballot initiative.

Sunday Hikes
We enclose the schedule for our 2008-9 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.

Dear Members
If you find a return envelope enclosed it means we’ve not heard from you for a year or more. As always the date of your most recent donation may be found on your mailing label. Our dues remain but $5.00, which entitles you to a trail map of our local mountains and a re-usable TCA shopping bag, while a donation of a mere $25 also entitles you to a beautiful TCA sweatshirt. These items may be picked up at Palisades Bicycles, 871 Via de la Paz, (next to the Letter Shop, at rear of Beckwith Insurance).

Carol Leacock, President

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Association Bylaws

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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