The Saugus Union School District governing board reassured the public that no action would be taken during a closed session conference in relation to a housing development company’s interest in the Santa Clarita Elementary School property during Wednesday’s special board meeting.
Community members argued during public comment that the wording of the agenda item under closed session stating the district was in negotiations with Marc Homes LLC. for price and terms of payment was misleading.
Before individuals could give public comment, governing board President Patti Garibay told those present that no action would be taken during closed session and that it was a continuation of the discussions the board has had.
Garibay also echoed what Superintendent Colleen Hawkins stated during the Santa Clarita Elementary Property Disposition Nov. 6 meeting at Bridgeport Elementary. In relation to property negotiations, the board is required to have a closed session meeting to discuss matters privately before any action can be taken. This process must also be done for matters related to litigation and anticipated litigation.
“Things have to happen behind closed doors for a reason to keep our negotiation power at the highest level possible,” Garibay said during Wednesday’s meeting. “There is no item to vote on.”
Following the board’s clarification came a series of public comments that reiterated the community’s hope that the property could be sold to the city so it could be turned into a community center for the Saugus area. Others proposed turning it into an extension of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital to help with the growing population and limited resources.
City of Santa Clarita Intergovernmental Relations Officer Masis Hagobian stated during public comment that the city sent a third letter on Wednesday afternoon showing interest in the property.
“As expressed in the letter, the city continues to patiently wait for board action to establish a process to solicit offers,” Hagobian said. “Additionally, out of an abundance of caution, the city is requesting to meet with district representatives regarding the potential acquisition of the property,” he said, adding that the city was looking forward to discussing the matter in detail with Saugus district representatives.
Hawkins then addressed questions Kathi Lund mentioned during her public comment, which isn’t traditional to do, but based off a previous conversation they both had privately earlier in the day, Hawkins said she wanted to speak on the matter to be transparent with the rest of the public.
Hawkins stated that the agendas have to be worded in a particular way for it to be legal for the board to discuss during closed session, which are rules they must follow to accommodate the Brown Act.
The person, persons, or entities that the board considers an offer from does not have to be mentioned in the agenda item and can only be listed as “property negotiations” but,“We felt however because the community was so concerned with the fact of whether or not we were doing any kind of behind the deal, back deal doing, that we would go for a more transparent piece and we would list,” Hawkins said.
She also added that during closed session, the board isn’t given presentations from another entity and the governing board, Hawkins herself, and Nick Heinlein, assistant superintendent of business services, are the only ones present during those sessions. The Saugus district cabinet is not allowed to be present if they are not directly connected to the matter, Hawkins added.
The reason why the board must go into closed session following an offer is because staff cannot take action without the governing board giving them direction, Hawkins said, and the board themselves cannot individually make decisions because it would be considered a serial meeting.
She acknowledged that Marc Homes did jump the process in submitting an offer, but any entity or person can do so and that is out of the district’s control.
“We don’t get to say to somebody, ‘Well, you can’t submit an offer,’” Hawkins said. “We have to take it as a public entity and then we have to go from there, so that’s what we’re doing tonight. It’s a big nothing.”
Hawkins also encouraged the public to avoid paying attention to misinformation spread through social media and said that if anyone has questions, they can contact her or Heinlein for additional information.
