PANEL OFFERS TOP 5 PICKS FOR COUNCIL ASSEMBLYMAN'S SEAT OPEN.Byline: JUDY O'ROURKE Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, -- A citizen committee that convened Friday to screen 15 candidates seeking appointment to the City Council to fill Assemblyman-elect Cameron Smyth's seat recommended five applicants for the job. They are a retired sheriff's department chief, a planning commissioner, a parks commissioner, a high school principal and a water board president. The five will be on the hot seat before the council next week. ``I am aware the community panel concluded their work; I do not know the results of the panel's decision,'' Councilman Bob Kellar said Friday afternoon. ``I am certainly looking forward to listening and talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to the top five on the list at our special meeting scheduled for Wednesday, and looking forward to making a decision that night as to who will fill the vacancy.'' Few residents attended the interview sessions, but about two dozen showed up for the public participation session that followed. About a dozen plugged their favorites -- the chief whom panelists gave the highest marks to and a doctor who did not make the cut -- before the vote was taken. Bruce McFarland, president of the Democratic Alliance for Action in Santa Clarita, said he was concerned about the ``democratic process'' and urged panelists to favor someone who would be a caretaker if such a person landed in their top tier. They did not heed his words. On their applications, top finishers Robert Spierer, Bill Kennedy Bill Kennedy can refer to:
Spierer, the retired chief, said the city's top priorities should be improving traffic congestion The condition of a network when there is not enough bandwidth to support the current traffic load. congestion - When the offered load of a data communication path exceeds the capacity. , confronting the jobs-housing mix, preventing blight blight, general term for any sudden and severe plant disease or for the agent that causes it. The term is now applied chiefly to diseases caused by bacteria (e.g., bean blights and fire blight of fruit trees), viruses (e.g., soybean bud blight), fungi (e.g. and ensuring public safety, noting Santa Clarita's rank as one of the nation's safest cities has dropped. ``We've taken for granted Adj. 1. taken for granted - evident without proof or argument; "an axiomatic truth"; "we hold these truths to be self-evident" axiomatic, self-evident obvious - easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind; "obvious errors" we're a safe city ... we have to worry about public safety declining,'' he said. City Planning city planning, process of planning for the improvement of urban centers in order to provide healthy and safe living conditions, efficient transport and communication, adequate public facilities, and aesthetic surroundings. Commissioner Kennedy said the top priorities should be reaching outside the city to organizations and agencies that influence the lives of city residents -- and building bridges to improve residents' quality of life. Planners should focus on smart growth, and the contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. Whittaker Bermite site should be transformed into the city's crown jewel Crown jewel A particularly profitable or otherwise particularly valuable corporate unit or asset of a firm. Often used in risk arbitrage. The most desirable entities within a diversified corporation as measured by asset value, earning power, and business prospects; in takeover . ``We have an unprecedented opportunity with Whittaker Bermite -- the hole in the doughnut,'' he said of the 996-acre property undergoing cleanup. ``I want to hear from people about what they want (the heart) of the city to look like in 20 years.'' Parks Commissioner Ender would like to see more teen centers around town to occupy idle youths, more quality jobs to decrease commuting and programs and services for diverse groups throughout the community. ``I think we could do a better job communicating with the county ... perpetuating standards we have within the city,'' she said. Saugus High School Saugus High School may refer to:
``We will be double the size (in population) in 20 years and need to prepare,'' he said, focusing on schools, job shadowing and internships for young people, recreation, homes and shopping. ``We need to become more job-friendly and work harder to maintain the businesses we have and recruit others to come here.'' Newhall County Water District board President Maria Gutzeit noted she is part of a citizen committee trying to revive a measure that protects open space, and she favors issuing a bond to help finance it. Her top concerns are resolving the city's ongoing multimillion-dollar battle against a mine planned on the outskirts of town, cleaning up the Bermite site and finding the best technical solution for the valley's chloride problem. The council will interview these candidates and may name one to replace Smyth at a special meeting Wednesday. The appointee APPOINTEE. A person who is appointed or selected for a particular purpose; as the appointee under a power, is the person who is to receive the benefit of the trust or power. could be seated on Dec.19. judy.orourke@dailynews.com (661) 257-5255 IF YOU GO Wednesday's meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd. CAPTION(S): 2 photos, box Photo: (1) Robert Spierer, center, a retired sheriff's department chief, was a favorite during the public participation session on Friday. Spierer, above being questioned by members of the community, is vying vy·ing v. Present participle of vie. vying vie for a seat on the Santa Clarita City Council. (2) Santa Clarita City Council hopeful Maria Gutzeit, is questioned by members of the community at the Santa Clarita Activity Center. The Newhall County Water District board president is one of five candidates to replace Councilman Cameron Smyth Cameron Smyth is a Republican who has represented Califoria's 38th Assembly district since December of 2006. He succeeded Keith Richman who was term limited. Prior to being elected to the state legislature, Assemblyman Smyth served on the Santa Clarita City Council, where he . David Crane/Staff Photographer Box: IF YOU GO (see text) |
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