EDITORIAL : REFLECTIONS ON CHATSWORTH; IS 60 MINUTES REALLY ENOUGH TIME TO CONSIDER THE FUTURE?

IT'S been 20 years since the DWP drained Chatsworth Reservoir and left it idle.

And after two decades of nothingness, DWP Commission President Rick Caruso spent a full 12 months preparing a study on possible uses for the 1,300-acre site, owned by the Department of Water and Power.

Apparently, the Los Angeles City Council couldn't be bothered with discussing and considering what to do with the reservoir that would protect the area while serving the most residents and their needs.

One hour - that's all the time the council needed to send Caruso and his efforts to stir up a constructive debate packing.

Just 60 minutes.

The future of a resource that is worth $100 million in cash and far more in the pleasure it could bring tens of thousands of people for years to come if properly utilized didn't receive an adequate public hearing.

Councilman Hal Bernson successfully stymied public debate and dismissed all options except his.

He and his council cohorts slammed the door on any and all possibilities except keeping the land in its present state - an idle, gated preserve that's a vision of loveliness for the homeowners on the hillsides and off-limits to the rest of the area's residents.

Maybe that's the best decision, but we think Valley residents ought to know more and have a chance to look and see and make up their own minds.

The city-owned land - which means owned by the 3.1 million residents of Los Angeles - apparently is just too rare to allow the city's residents access.

Turning over a precious commodity lock, stock and bobcat without proper public comment and debate, and before fully considering the cost is a crying shame.

How can the public adequately judge what's best for the Chatsworth Reservoir until it's been given an opportunity to tour the property?

And how can the public tour the property when it's fenced and padlocked 24 hours a day, seven days a week and it's virtually impossible getting special permission for most of the public other than school kids?

Why not open the property for a week and allow the public a chance to tour what it's been paying for all these years?

Why not let people judge and decide for themselves?

Whose secret garden is this anyway?

The council directed Caruso to return next week with an action plan on proposed uses, access, funding and potential managers, including the Department of Recreation and Parks and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

But it seems clear the council will entertain no options other than keeping the reservoir out of bounds for soccer players, out of bounds for girls and boys' baseball, out of bounds for hikers and nature lovers, out of bounds for basically anyone but bobcats.

Before the council decides once and for eternity to shut everyone out, it should throw open the gates for a few days.

At least let members of the public enjoy for one shining moment what they'll be missing for the rest of their lives under the current plan.