4 ACTIVISTS NAMED TO CITY'S PLANNING, PARKS COMMISSIONS.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Four activists who have fought landfills, created parks and established youth programs have been appointed to the city's parks and planning commissions.

On Tuesday, the City Council approved the appointments of Ralph Killmeyer and Darla Hoback to the Planning Commission and Maria Fulkerson and Henry Schultz to the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The four were nominated by Councilwomen Jan Heidt and Jill Klajic who were able to choose new commissioners because they had been re-elected to the council in April. At the start of their terms, all council members have an opportunity to nominate two commissioners.

Heidt nominated Fulkerson, a Saugus High School instructional aide, and Killmeyer, who helped form the city and create its General Plan. Klajic nominated anti-landfill activists Hoback and Schultz.

The new appointees will begin their four-year terms in August, replacing parks commissioners Todd Longshore and Maria Aguilar and Planning Commissioners Pat Modugno and Dave Doughman.

Fulkerson, who established a support group for Latino parents called United Mothers, said she's looking forward to her new job as parks commissioner.

``As our population of kids keeps growing bigger I think parks will be a very important thing,'' said the Saugus resident who wants to create more recreational programs for teen-agers.

Schultz, a Saugus resident who describes himself as an amateur naturalist, pushed to form the Santa Clarita Woodlands.

``For many years I have been interested in parks and open space issues in the Santa Clarita Valley,'' Schultz said in his parks commission application. ``I believe that my experience and management skills will help me serve the interest of our growing valley.''

Killmeyer, a management and engineering consultant, helped establish Santa Clarita as a city and served as chairman of the city's General Plan advisory committee from 1989 to 1991.

``I have a strong interest in city growth and maintaining the quality of life,'' the Newhall resident said in his Planning Commission application.

Hoback, a Valencia homemaker, has fought the proposed Elsmere Canyon Landfill and belongs to several environmental groups, including one formed by St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Valencia.

``As a 17-year resident, I have seen our valley grow and expand,'' she said in her Planning Commission application. ``I have seen the problems with infrastructure and traffic. I want to work to make sure these problems are addressed.''

Klajic said her appointments reflect her strong environmental interests and have a track record of fighting landfills and preserving open space in the community.

``Henry and Darla are very much individuals,'' she said. ``Neither of them have connections with the old guard. They are very independent thinkers. They'll come to a decision on the merit of issues before them. I just have a great deal of respect for them and I know the environmental community holds them in a great deal of respect.''

Heidt said her appointees are well-grounded experts in their fields who share her community spirit and good listening skills.

``We're here to listen to the community and that's what you need,'' Heidt said. ``You don't need people who have their own agendas. These people are listeners and are here to serve the public.''

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Photo: Maria Fulkerson, newly appointed to the city's Parks and Recreation Commission, kids around with her sons, Ryan, 5, left, and Kevin, 7.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News