Pacific Palisades Community Council Discusses George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon

Several Motions Regarding the Park Were Passed During the January 12 Meeting

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

The Pacific Palisades Community Council tackled several issues related to George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon during its Thursday, January 12, meeting, ranging from supporting a request for daily park rangers to addressing areas of slope erosion.

George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon officially opened on Saturday, December 10, 2022, after several decades in the making. Since the passive park began welcoming visitors, several issues have been reported by community officials to Recreation and Parks and Council District 11 staff.

Los Angeles City Council passed a motion on Friday, January 13, to set the operating hours for the park to open at sunrise and close at sunset, which was one of the items touched on during the PPCC meeting Thursday evening.

Part of the City Council motion was to request the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners “instruct Park Rangers to enforce the park hours seven days a week.” PPCC voted unanimously during its meeting to support a motion urging “Council District 11 to secure the regular service of the Los Angeles City Park Rangers to ensure that park rangers are assigned to monitor George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon on a daily basis.”

“I was told pretty clearly that we were probably not going to see rangers up here every single day, but that we might be able to get a commitment of something,” PPCC Chair Maryam Zar shared about a conversation she had with Councilmember Traci Park. “So I’d like this community’s voice right alongside Traci’s as she goes to try to secure this for us.”

The next motion passed unanimously by the PPCC Board was in regard to standing water at the park, asking CD11 and RAP to request Vector Control personnel “on a regular basis, to test/monitor standing water at various spots along the riparian way … until conditions causing standing water in the riparian way are identified and corrected and/or the proposed pump, which is intended to effectively recirculate the riparian water, begins to function properly and ensures a moving stream that prevents the collection of standing water and/or the chance of mosquitoes or other hazards associated with standing water.”

The rest of the discussion covered observations that were made by area representatives of PPCC and Zar during a walk-through of the park, including slope erosion and trail fissures, dogs off leash, and fencing height.

“Many of you have done that walk on your own, you’ve probably noted some of these things,” Zar said. “This is not to say that we didn’t notice some wonderful and beautiful things … The views were beautiful, and the topography and the landscaping is gorgeous as well. But there are also things that we noted that we thought incrementally or maybe in their entirety as a package we should take to the attention of the city and see if we could get them worked out.”

One issue discussed by PPCC during the meeting was funding for a lateral trail connecting the park to Temescal Canyon Road—a requirement of the Coastal Permit—of which $1.15 million was secured by Congressmember Ted Lieu. Zar said that would have covered the lateral trail 10 years ago, but today, the price tag is estimated to be $3 million.

“The reality is if BOE doesn’t start to work on the trail, if they wait until the money’s there, it will probably cost us more than $3 million,” Zar explained, “and we’re always going to be chasing some kind of shortfall. So I’d like to get the BOE to start working while we’re trying to secure that money.”

Zar pitched requesting funds from LA Mayor Karen Bass, which prompted a discussion among board members of what should be included in that letter.

Rob Weber, who serves as legal counsel to PPCC and has worked with Chair Emeritus David Card on aspects of the park, said that the number one ask should be for Caltrans and the city to work together to approve access for the trail to be built, since part of the land is owned by Caltrans and work on a solution has been “completely stalled.” PPCC At-Large Representative Chris Spitz added that they should request Senator Ben Allen and Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin get involved so they can also encourage Caltrans and the city to find a resolution.

“I think what we’re asking for is to really have a walk-through with all of the parties to figure out what we’re all talking about,” PPCC Treasurer Randy Young said. “So all I would say is … ‘Hey look, we have these funds. Let us all get together and see what that means.’”

During the meeting, several areas with erosion were brought up and discussed, including just to the right of the Frontera gate, sloping along the trail and fissures on the Friends Street trail.

Zar, who is also a member of the Pacific Palisades Park Advisory Board, reported that CD11 and Rec and Parks are “aware of the fact that the slope is eroding” and “they know they have to go back to the drawing board with engineering.” In addition to writing a letter, she said she will bring it to the PAB’s attention when they meet, a meeting that will be attended by RAP officials.

“I’m going to ask the PAB to advocate for the slope erosion in the soil,” she said. “Whatever engineering has to do to fortify that soil.”

With more rain in the forecast the weekend of January 13 to 15, officials preemptively closed the park to visitors.

The final issue addressed was a “partial fence” which “connects the tennis court with the double vehicle gate at the main entrance,” Chris Spitz described, which is “supposed to be six feet from the ground” and needs “to be raised a few feet” to prevent visitors from jumping over it.

Zar reported that she will bring it to the attention of officials to address. As the Post went to print Tuesday, January 17, Zar said she had not heard a response.

Toward the end of the discussion, Zar said she is working on putting together an advisory committee specific to George Wolfberg Park at Potrero Canyon, which will, in part, be responsible for doing walk-throughs every so often to monitor ongoing issues.