Santa Clarita Council tackles busy slate 

Santa Clarita City Hall
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With Election Day precluding the City Council from its usual semi-monthly meeting on the second Tuesday of the month, the council will have a busy slate this Tuesday — covering issues from the proposed new sheriff’s station, to buying new buses, to beginning the process of filling upcoming vacancies on various boards.

Those are among the 16 items on the agenda as the council convenes Tuesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Among the highlights:

* The council will consider awarding four contracts, totaling about $877,000, to four firms connected to the planning phase of the proposed new Sheriff’s Department station.

The new station, which would be built on city-owned land at 26201 Golden Valley Road (currently home to Fire Station 104), would replace the current facility on Magic Mountain Parkway – built in 1972.

“Since the time the station was built, the population of the Santa Clarita Valley has increased nearly six fold, from approximately 50,000 to 299,000,’’ according to a memo to the council from the Department of Public Works. “Given the age of the current station and the population growth of the Santa Clarita Valley, the station is undersized and obsolete for the current needs of the valley.”

In May, the council approved an agreement with the county to fund a new 44,400-square-foot facility, plus a 4,000-square-foot vehicle maintenance facility and helipad. Eventually, the project will cost an estimated $51 million.

Tuesday’s measures would fund Phase 1 of the plans for the new station – covering environmental and civil engineering, concept design and geological testing, among other areas.

* The council will also consider two funding proposals, totaling $8.5 million, to purchase 13 new buses.

Some $3.9 million would be used for five 45-foot compressed natural gas buses from Motor Coach Industries.

Another $4.6 million would go for eight 40-foot natural-gas buses from Gillig Corporation.

According to a memo to the council from the city’s Neighborhood Services Department, “Five of the City of Santa Clarita (City) commuter buses and eight of the city’s local buses have reached their useful life and are scheduled to be replaced over the next 18 months.’’

* The council will vote to publish a formal list of various upcoming vacancies to appointed positions on the Planning Commission; Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commissions; Arts Commission; and the Open Space Preservation District Financial Accountability and Audit Panel, among other boards.

Two seats will expire on each of those boards on Dec. 31.

By law, the council is required to declare the vacancies and advertise for candidates interested in filling them, along with qualifications.

Dec. 27 is the deadline for the City Clerk to receive applications. On Jan. 10, the council would vote to fill the expiring terms.

The council’s full agenda, with memos, can be found here.

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(661) 287-5525

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