CITY INFO CENTER TO OPEN : VOLUNTEERS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON PROGRAMS.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

Jane Valencia, an active hospital volunteer and 14-year civil servant, thought her background could be of some help.

Caroline Benedum, a mother of two and a small-business owner, had some extra time on her hands and wanted to help her community.

Now both are volunteers in the city's new information center opening today in Canyon Country Park.

``I'm really excited to see this,'' said Valencia, a three-year Canyon Country resident. ``It's going to give (residents) more convenient resources.''

The center will dispense information on everything from building permits to dog licenses and recreation classes for youngsters. But a trip to City Hall will still be required because visitors will not yet be able to pay for such services at the center. If the three-month pilot program sparks enough interest, city officials may expand the program elsewhere in the Santa Clarita Valley.

``We're hoping that by providing a variety of hours in the morning and afternoon and by having the center open four days per week, we'll get a good idea of when people want the center to be there in the future and what kinds of questions and information they need,'' said Steve Stark, the city's finance director.

The center will be open 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Wednesday and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Valencia, who will inaugurate the center's first shift Monday, is a veteran volunteer. At Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, she works in the surgical and intensive care unit waiting room and the chaplain's office.

``I enjoy working with people,'' she said, adding, ``I'm interested in things. I get to learn more about the city and the Canyon Country area.''

A former civil servant in Tucson, Ariz., Valencia said she relishes the chance to use her governmental background in launching Santa Clarita's first satellite city hall.

``Every day, we might come up with a new situation,'' she said. ``There's no reason why we can't have the information available.''

Benedum, who runs a financial consulting company with her husband, is looking forward to her first volunteer job.

``I want to do more and get involved and help my community,'' the 34-year-old Newhall resident said. ```We're being given the opportunity to help people.''

To prepare for their duties, the volunteers attended a one-day orientation where they learned the names of city department heads and the answers to the most frequently asked civic questions.

In the center, the volunteers will be equipped with a telephone, City Hall directory - and an arm-load of brochures.

Benedum, scheduled to begin her volunteer shift next week, can hardly wait.

``If I can help somebody get information, it'll be rewarding to me,'' she said.