I am wondering if anyone could share more information about the dedicated or designated status of our canyons? I was not able to attend the Crossfire meeting that Lee mentioned at our last community meeting. I'm not really sure how I can stay informed about developments on this matter or get more involved.
I know that I do not want to be looking at any type of automobile access or structures down there! I haven't quite come to terms about the idea of a park or even see how one could realistically be there with about half of it being owned by homeowners like myself; not to mention all the birds and coyotes that find refuge there!

Canyon

Hi Russell,
I have some information about the canyon scenario. My email is anavor@sbcglobal.net. -- alicia

DEFEND OUR CANYON

The issue of ''dedicated/designated'' needs to be addressed through our council person, Jim Maddafer. Ultimately, it will require the joint efforts of all the residents, the Parks & Recs Council and the city to get Zena Canyon, or any of our canyon open spaces, protected and restored. The Sierra Club is organizing a Friends of Zena Canyon group, which will offer a guided, instructional tour on Saturday, July 10, 2004, at 9:00 am. The tour will commence at the Zena Street opening to the canyon and everyone is welcome. Please pass this info along to your neighbors. There also is a grass roots group called the Canyon Defense League, which has the ultimate aim of stopping development of any kind in Zena Canyon and will join the Sierra Club in its efforts to rehabilitate and restore our beautiful, native canyon. Sierra Club's Canyon Preservation Organizer, Eric Bowlby, can be reached at: 619-284-9399 savewetlands@compuserve.com

Getting the canyon dedicated

The City?’s Planning Commission does the zoning changes within its boundaries. We have an advisory board, under the Planning Commission, that covers our area called Eastern Area Community Planning Council (EACPC) and is officially recognized by the City. We post their meetings here on the web site?’s calendar, so hopefully everyone from our area will attend. We are fortunate to have 3 of the 15 Boardmembers on this council living in our area. We are seeking another seat on the council this coming year, so greater attendance from our area would help strengthen our case for that. The City Council?’s only direct involvement comes in the capacity of an appeal board for the Planning Commission?’s decisions.

I was told that several years ago when the City?’s zoning was revised and Zena Canyon was changed from R1-40,000 to O R 1-1, EACPC attempted to make the canyon ?“dedicated?” instead of ?“designated?”. Unfortunately the vote did not pass, so it was only given the ?“designated?” status. If we wish to change it to that status I personally feel the current EACPC Board would be more willing to do so. We will need to get it brought up on their agenda, which requires giving them some notice so it can be placed in their monthly mailing to the public. You can get on their notification list by joining. Joining costs nothing and requires no attendance. We regularly put membership applications on the back table at our monthly meeting for RPCC. If we do get it on the agenda, we should see to it that we have as many people there as is possible.