CITY COUNCIL OPPOSES EXPANSION OF LANDFILL : SANTA CLARITA ENDORSES CHINQUITA RESOLUTION.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

In a victory for environmentalists across the Santa Clarita Valley, the City Council is on record in opposition to the planned expansion of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.

Led by Councilwoman Jill Klajic, the council voted 3-1 with one abstention Tuesday to endorse a resolution that describes the potential expansion as ``poor public policy'' with ``potentially damaging environmental impacts'' on air quality.

``I honestly believe we need to be consistent,'' said Klajic, who also has led the city's fight against the proposed Elsmere Canyon Landfill. ``We need to move into the 21st Century. Santa Clarita needs to make that leap of courage to go forward.''

Mayor Carl Boyer and Councilwoman Jan Heidt also voted for the resolution with Councilman Clyde Smyth opposing it and Councilwoman Jo Anne Darcy abstaining.

``This move would seriously hurt our options,'' said Darcy who wants more information on air and water pollution related to the expansion. ``There's a still a whole lot of unanswered questions.''

Landfill operator Laidlaw Waste Systems Inc. is seeking a conditional use permit from the Regional Planning Commission to expand Chiquita to hold an additional 30 million tons of trash for up to 70 years. The landfill, west of Highway 126 near Val Verde, is set to close in 1997.

Klajic works for a Canyon Country recycling company that owns a Palmdale landfill. Her efforts to prevent Laidlaw from expanding, she said, do not constitute a conflict of interest because the city does truck trash to her company's dump.

In the Santa Clarita Valley, members of the Val Verde Civic Association, which has been seeking the city's support for months, said the council action gives them a powerful ally who can file appeals on their behalf.

``The city of Santa Clarita has considerable influence,'' said Val Verde resident Lew Berti. ``It's a testimony to the city's resolve to defend citizens against evil landfill monopolies.''

To date the council has spent nearly $8,000 on an air quality consulstant to assist the Val Verde Civic Association.

Laidlaw officials expressed dismay that the council approved the resolution, saying they would have preferred that the city wait for environmental results before opposing the project.

The same question surfaced in 1990 when Klajic convinced the council to fight the Elsmere landfill long before environmental documents were completed.

``We would rather the city be a little more patient for the final environmental impact report to come out,'' said Rod Walter, general manager of the Chiquita Canyon Landfill. ``I think the difference between the city and our position is that the city sees (the expansion) from a philosophical position. We think it's a good project and they're not prepared to wait to see what the project is.''

Smyth said opposing Chiquita would undermine the city's efforts to block the proposed Elsmere Canyon Landfill, which would be located about two miles outside of city limits if it is approved by the Regional Planning Commission and the U.S. Forest Service.

``We've put time, energy and a whole heck of a lot of money into Elsmere and that's what we must continue to do,'' he said. ``We must be consistent in that area.''

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Photo: Jill Klajic

``We need to be consistent''