canyoncountryadvisor.com

CCAC Members and Friends

**** Great News from a Great Community Oriented Group **** 

The Mint Canyon Moose Board of Directors have agreed to host Canyon Country Advisory Committee meetings in the Mint Canyon Moose Family Center Banquet Room. 

STARTING NEXT MONTH (SEPTEMBER 15) CCAC MONTHLY MEETINGS WILL MOVE TO

the Mint Canyon Moose

Family Center 2173

18000 Sierra Highway

Canyon Country, 91351

**** A Very Important Issue ****

Tomorrow at the Tuesday August 24 City Council Meeting, our City Council Members will be discussing taking over Library Operations from the County.

This is an important issue and we need to make our voices heard.

At last Wednesday’s Canyon Country Advisory Committee, Darren Hernandez presented information on the proposed Santa Clarita City takeover of our library services from the County.  This issue will be discussed, and possibly decided, at this Tuesday’s City Council Meeting after the Public Hearing for agenda item 15. 

The short story goes like this.  City Staff is claiming; “Under City Operation, the City could significantly enhance public library services for the City of Santa Clarita” at a lower cost. But when Mr. Hernandez was asked the question; “Will the city commit to providing, at a minimum, the same level of services, at no increase in cost, to all library users from both within the city and unincorporated county?” he did not answer in the affirmative.  Instead, Mr. Hernandez told us the current plan is; after the decision to takeover library services is made, City Staff will poll City residents to find out what services the community thought were important and ensure those services would be provided. 

Now I ask you, how could the City Staff know they can provide enhanced library services at a lower cost if they have not yet determined what services will be provided?  It is a safe assumption that under the City’s plan the service mix will be different than those currently provided by the County. Until the city can provide an exacting list of library services currently provided by the County and match them to the list of services the City intends to provide, we are just being feed a very disingenuous “smoke and mirrors” presentation.

I believe that we all want what is best for the Santa Clarita Valley.  I urge you to go to this Tuesday’s City Council Meeting and speak on agenda item 15.  Demand the council, not rush to judgment.  Let’s take the time to have staff prepare a detailed accurate plan. Then, give the County time to evaluate the City’s proposal and respond. 

Then and only then, will our City Council Members be able to make an honest informed decision that will be in all of our best interest. Otherwise, we will just end up with whatever City Staff decides to provide.

The next City Council Meeting will be held this Tuesday August 24 at City Hall in the City Council Chambers, 23920 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita, 91355, starting at 6 PM. 

Be there and let the Council what you think about the City of Santa Clarita taking over Library Services.

**** A Day we must NEVER Forget ****

on Saturday September 11, 2010

Honor the lives lost on 9-11-01,

Pay Tribute to the First Responders,

and Support the Brave Men and Women

Of our United States Armed Forces.

10AM-1PM

Reading of the Names Flag Ceremony

Veterans Memorial Park

24275 Walnut Street

Santa Clarita

Luncheon immediately following the Memorial

To Benefit the IRAQ Star Foundation

24527 Spruce Street

Newhall

Suggested Donation For Lunch is $5

Please RSVP

911Memorial2010@gmail.com

Or Call 818-634-5854

**** I hope to see all of you soon ****

because

"Together We Can Make A Difference"

Alan Ferdman

Chair, Canyon Country Advisory Committee

661 713-9344

CCAC Members and Friends

The next Canyon Country Advisory Committee meeting
 will be held tomorrow WEDNESDAY,
August 18, 2010,
 from 7PM to 9PM,
in the
George A. Caravalho Activity Center Banquet Room,
20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita.
 
Presentations will include:

The Kindle Ranch proposed 32 Acre Facility for Special Needs Children

The City of Santa Clarita proposal to take over operation of Santa Clarita’s Libraries will be presented by Darren Hernandez

An update about Sanitation District fees and results of the July 27 Sanitation Board Meeting

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who wrote emails and made phone calls to the City Council, City Manager, the Signal, and posted on the West Ranch Beacon in support of the CCAC.  Santa Clarita City Management has not changed their position so this will be the last CCAC meeting held at the Activities Center. 

But, with every door that closes, another opens. 

You will be pleased to know that another Civic Organization has agreed to provide the CCAC with a meeting facility starting in September.  So, we will not miss a meeting.  Make every effort to attend this, the August, CCAC meeting.  You will be able to meet and hear about our new partner.  In addition there are a lot of new things on the horizon for the CCAC.  We will have an opportunity to learn about and discuss them all.

As Always,

All Santa Clarita residents are welcome to attend.

Tell your friends and neighbors.

Because,

“Together We Can Make A Difference”

Alan Ferdman

Chair, Canyon Country Advisory Committee

661 713-9344

CCAC Members and Friends 

I would like to thank all of our residents that took the time to attend the Sanitation Board Meeting held last Tuesday evening.

For the 7700 residents who filled out a protest form and those attending the meeting, you can be assured that your effort made a difference. Board Members Weste and Mclean joined the community in voicing concern and opposition to the requirements levied by the Regional Water Board.

I would also like to take this opportunity to commend Supervisor Antonovich who very vocally stood up for our community. In addition, Supervisor Antonovich insisted that the Sanitation District provide justification of their Operation and Maintenance increases and provide time for a public hearing on that issue as well.

Please remember that decisions pertaining to the Sanitation District Operation and Maintenance Fee increases, Connection Fee increases and Chloride issues have only been postponed.

We will need to be vigilant and attend the appropriate future meetings.

********************************************

Continuation of the City of Santa Clarita and Canyon Country Advisory Committee partnership is still up in the air.  The decision is in the hands of Santa Clarita City Management. 

We need your help retaining our meeting location.

I have posted a Guest Commentary on the West Ranch Beacon.  http://westranchbeacon.com/blog/2010/07/guest-commentary-is-the-city-manager-attempting-to-censor-local-residents/#more-25372

Please take the time to look it over and post your comments.

Keep sending your emails on this subject to City Manager Ken Pulskamp (kpulskamp@santa-clarita.com) and post them on the West Ranch Beacon or the Canyon Country Advisor (www.canyoncountryadvisor.com). 

********************************************

Plus
Mark you Calender
 
The next Canyon Country Advisory Committee meeting
 will be held WEDNESDAY,
August 18, 2010,
 from 7PM to 9PM,
in the
George A. Caravalho Activity Center Banquet Room,
20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita.
 
Presentations will include:
•Kindle Ranch - A year-round camp program serving children with special physical, medical, emotional, or socio-economic challenges
•Proposed Library Operational Changes - Provide Canyon Country with the same service hours as Valencia by Darren Hernandez
 
As always,
"Together We Can Make A Difference”
Alan Ferdman
Chair, Canyon Country Advisory Committee
661 713-9344

CCAC Members and Friends

This Month is packed with many issues that will affect us all.

Information relating to:

 Tuesday’s City Council Meeting,

July 21 Canyon Country Advisory Committee Meeting,

and Sanitation District informational and Public Hearings

can be found below:

On Tuesday July 13, 2010

CITY OF SANTA CLARITA CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Will be held at 6:00 PM in the

 City Council Chambers 23920 Valencia Blvd. 1 ^st Floor Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Please attend Tuesday’s Council Meeting and SPEAK OUT on these issues

Agenda item 24 raises campaign limits from $360 to $1000.  Although every public speaker, at the last council meeting, opposed this change, the Council approved a second reading by a margin of 4 to 1 (with Bob Kellar dissenting). It was the consensus of the public speakers that this change would benefit incumbent candidates and be detrimental to challengers.  What we need in Santa Clarita is election campaigns that are based on debates and issues not large war chests.

Agenda item 26 Benz Road.  Cut through traffic has been a major issue for this residential street since it was opened to Copper Hill traffic.  The city believes that the speed cushions installed to study the problem will resolve the issue.  But here is the rub.  Local governmental agencies caused this problem when they opened the road and now they want the residents to pay for the fix.  Come out and support the residents of Benz and tell the council, public money created this problem and public money should fix it.

Agenda item 28 Sunset Heights Street Vacation MOU.  This is another neighborhood (Winterdale, Canvas and Linda Vista) that has serious issues with cut through traffic.   Come out and support this process which allows the local neighborhood residents to determine the fix, most appropriate, for their neighborhood.

Public Participation.  The Canyon Country Advisory Committee needs your help.  Our organization, formed by the city, has been providing information to the Public for the last decade and one half.  City management has now informed the group that they will no longer be provided a place to meet. If the city can spend $100,000 to purchase more “aesthetically pleasing” road signs (see agenda item 9) there is certainly enough resources ($50 per month) to continue providing the CCAC with a meeting room.

The complete City Council Agenda can be viewed at;

http://apps.santa-clarita.com/agendas/CouncilAgendaFace.aspx?MeetingID=4635

The next Canyon Country Advisory Committee meeting

 will be held WEDNESDAY,

July 21, 2010,

 from 7PM to 9PM,

in the

George A. Caravalho Activity Center Banquet Room,

20880 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita.

Presentations will include:

Medical Services provided by the North East Valley Health Corporation presented by Hector Godoy

The latest information on the Sanitation District proposal and how much it is going to cost you. ($296 per year in 4 years and $650 per year in 2025?) Have you have sent in your protest letter yet?

An update on progress of the Material Recycling Facility Site Selection Committee.

What’s in the future for the Canyon Country Advisory Committee?  Will the city reconsider and continue to sponsor the CCAC by providing a meeting location? Will the CCAC be forced to privatize and find another venue?  What does it all mean?  One thing I can say for sure.  With every door that closes, another opens.  We will continue to support our community because “Together We Can Make A Difference”.

Sanitation District News

Have you sent your Sanitation Fee increase Protest Letter In Yet?

If everything going on was not enough, Sanitation Fee increases and the proposed $210 million Chloride Removal addition to our Waste Treatment Plant will raise Single Family Sewage rates to “at least” $296 in the next 4 years and to “at least” $650 per year by 2025.  After that no telling how high they will go. All of that without any Scientific evidence to support the project. 

Please attend, at least one of, the remaining informational meetings listed below. 

In that way, you can be ready to share your information at the July 21st Canyon Country Advisory Committee meeting.

Informational Meetings

Santa Clarita City Hall  July 14 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Santa Clarita City Hall  July 19 7:00 PM

Castaic Area Town Council Meeting July 21 7:00 PM

Public Hearing with the local  Sanitation Board

Santa Clarita City Hall July 27 6:30 PM

Want to share you view on any of these items?

Go to http://www.canyoncountryadvisor.com and post your comments.

As always,

"Together We Can Make A Difference”

Alan Ferdman

Chair, Canyon Country Advisory Committee

661 713-9344

CCAC Members and Friends
Mark Your Calendar
Tell Your Friends
THIS COULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT CCAC MEETING OF THE YEAR!

 
The next Canyon Country Advisory Committee meeting will be next  
WEDNESDAY, May 19, 2010, from 7PM to 9PM,
in the
George A. Caravalho Activity Center Banquet Room,
20880 Centre Pointe Parkway,
Santa Clarita.

Presentations will include:

Sheriff Department will provide information on their Neighborhood Watch Program

Remember the 300% Sanitation District Fee increases proposed last year.  This year they are PREPARING US FOR A 500% INCREASE. That is an $800 INCREASE ON YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL. We will present the facts and what we need to do!

Follow up information about the Cross Valley Connector Highway 14 Bridge, upgrade of Golden Valley Road from Centre Pointe to Sierra Highway, the Soledad Canyon Road upgrade, why the medians look the way they do and how funding was established for the Whites Canyon Right Hand Turn Lane (or what are Bridge and Thoroughfare Districts).

The Winter Homeless Shelter is scheduled to move this summer. Information will be provided on where it will be in operation this Winter and how long it will be in operation at that location.

And much, much more. 
 
All SCV residents are welcome to attend.
 
As always
“Together We Can Make A Difference”
 
Alan Ferdman
661-713-9344

CCAC Members and Friends

Mark Your Calendar

Tell Your Friends
 
The next Canyon Country Advisory Committee meeting will be held  
WEDNESDAY, March 17, 2010, from 7PM to 9PM,
in the
George A. Caravalho Activity Center Banquet Room,
20880 Centre Pointe Parkway,
Santa Clarita.

This will be the LAST in the series of CCAC MEET THE COUNCIL CANDIDATE sessions.

This month will feature candidates Frank Ferry, Johnny Pride  and Laurene Weste. Each candidate will have 10 minutes to tell us about themselves and 20 minutes to answer questions from the audience. 

Nominations for 2010 CCAC offices will continue to be taken. CCAC Elections will be conducted at the April 2010 CCAC meeting.

And much, much more.
 
As always
“Together We Can Make A Difference”
 
Alan Ferdman 
661-713-9344 

Watch for the latest schedule additions and changes on www.canyoncountryadvisor.com. 

Did you miss the January or February Meeting?

Follow the links below and see the other seven Council Candidates in action:

TimBen Boydston

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5JJEXhPpSY

 Part 2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59PqN8Zmhrk

Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zpcd-7zPnk

David Gauny

Part 1  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU5ZloSOa5M

Part 2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ezcp2gxAmzU

Part 3  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq0zIr7XI0w

Part 4  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10oT9et16UQ

Daniel Henriquez

Part 1  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7FLU7vIMrM

Part 2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhNflCY-jmw

Part 3  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nl3Ubpjud7o

Part 4  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e0Mr4JaF88

 Harrison Katz

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mzoyAE5eMk 

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcIaz7G_NoQ

Marsha McLean

Part 1  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPFi0jgtMPc

Part 2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfc9c_kr_kw

Part 3  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvxWVFO930Y

Part 4  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-feoMfAOhkg

Kenneth Mann

Part 1  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUXWDezbYHM

Part 2  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss7hMxi5xx4

Henry Schultz

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjBcrqcbNWc

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-amMrM2r-0

CCAC Members and Friends
 
The next Canyon Country Advisory Committee meeting will be held  
WEDNESDAY, January 20, 2010, from 7PM to 9PM,
in the
George A. Caravalho Activity Center Banquet Room,
20880 Centre Pointe Parkway,
Santa Clarita.

Disney Corporation will be providing a presentation on their latest local project.  This new facility to be located on Pacerita Canyon, east of HWY 14, will bring excitement, creativity and jobs to our valley.

The first in a series of “Meet the City Council Candidate” sessions will be held.  At this meeting TimBen Boydston and Harrison Katz will be telling us about themselves and answering questions from the audience. 

As with every New Year, nominations for 2010 CCAC offices will be opened. CCAC Elections will be conducted at the April 2010 CCAC meeting.

And much, much more.
 
As always
“Together We Can Make A Difference”
 
Alan Ferdman

 
661-713-9344

A preview of future meetings include:

The second installment of the “Meet the City Council Candidate” sessions will feature David Gauny and Marsha McLean at the February 17 CCAC Meeting. 

The third installment of the “Meet the City Council Candidate” sessions will feature Johnny Pride at the March 2010 CCAC Meeting.

Additional city Meetings of Interest this month include:

The Open Space District Financial Accountability and Audit Panel will meet on Thursday, January 21 at 6PM at City Hall, Main Conference Room, 3^rd Floor.  Main topics on the agenda is election of 2010 committee officers and review of 2008-2009 Open Space Financial Statements.

The Ad Hoc Recycling Facility Site Selection Citizen Committee (MRF Site Selection) will meet on Wednesday, January 27, 6:30 PM at City Hall.  An agenda has not yet been released.

These are both “Brown Act” meetings and are open to the public.  If you are interested in these subjects, feel free to attend.

CCAC Members and Friends

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010

As always, we are looking forward to a year of CCAC meetings packed with information about current Santa Clarita issues and events.

Canyon Country Advisory Committee meetings are held 

the 3^rd Wednesday of each month from 7PM to 9PM,
in the
George A. Caravalho Activity Center Banquet Room,
20880 Centre Pointe Parkway,
Santa Clarita.

At the January 20 CCAC Meeting:

• Disney Corporation will be providing a presentation on their latest local project.  This new facility to be located on Pacerita Canyon, east of HWY 14, will bring excitement, creativity and jobs to our valley.

• The first in a series of “Meet the City Council Candidate” sessions will be held.  At this meeting TimBen Boydston and Harrison Katz will be telling us about themselves and answering questions from the audience. 

At the February 17 CCAC Meeting: 

• The second installment of the “Meet the City Council Candidate” sessions will feature David Gauny and Marsha McLean. 

• At this time, Frank Ferry and Laurene Weste remain uncommitted for a session.  David Galvan, Daniel Henriquez and Johnny Pride (see Signal article Jan 3) will be sent invitations this week.

Other 2010 CCAC Highlights include:

• Re-introduction of the Canyon Country Advisor web site, (www.canyoncountryadvisor.com).  Our website/blog will be providing online postings of CCAC Meeting Agendas, minutes, presentations and other important information. Here you will be able to comment on the quality and content of local issues presented.  This feedback will help continue to make our meetings reflect our group’s interests.

• Videos of key presentations at CCAC meetings will be posted on YouTube with links provided by email and our web site.  This feature will enable those members who are unable to attend a particular meeting to view discussions relating to issues that are important to them.

• Plus much, much more.

I look forward to seeing each of you

“Together We Are Making A Difference”
 
Alan Ferdman
Chair, Canyon Country Advisory Committee
 
661-713-9344

PS - We are looking for members and friends that would like to help out with CCAC activities.  If you are interested in joining our video, web site and/or special events team please let me know.