Canyon Country Magazine January 2024

anyon ountry MAGAZINE SINCE 1919

JANUARY 2024

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SON LEARNS LOVE OF OFFICIATING FROM DAD

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J A N UA RY 2024

TA B L E O F CONTENTS

C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E · 3

4 Canyon Alum Learns to Love Officiating from His Dad 6 Hart District Approves Fiscal Stability Plan 7 Hart District Approves New Canyon HS Turf and Field Lights 8 Canyon and Golden Valley Named to College Board’s AP School Honor Roll Congratulations to Canyon Country Students Honored at Colleges

6 HART DISTRICT’S STABILITY PLANsince the 2018-19 school year.

Hart District enrollmentFISCAL has declined by 8.1%

9 Around Canyon Country 11 Margo Rothenberg Celebrates 100 Years 12 City OKs Canyon Country Development Changes 13 Chiquita Ordered to Remove Leachate More Quickly 15 Calendar — Canyon Country Community Center and Library Events

7 CANYON TO GET NEW TURF

anyon ountry MAGAZINE JANUARY 2024 | Vol. 3 | No. 1

PUBLISHER

Richard Budman rbudman@signalscv.com (661) 287-5501

9 IN PICTURES: STUFFED ANIMAL SLEEPOVER

CANYON COUNTRY MAGAZINE EDITOR Doña Uhrig

SALES REPRESENTATIVES Maureen Daniels Jennifer Ramos Barbara Ward

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25060 AVENUE STANFORD, STE 141 VALENCIA CA 91355 The entire content of the Canyon Country Magazine is copyrighted 2023 by Paladin Multi-Media Group, Inc. All submitted letters and columns are strictly the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. All rights are reserved and no part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. If you would not like this delivered to your home, please call (661) 259-1000.

13 CHIQUITA ORDERED TO SPEED THINGS UP

4 · C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E

J A N UA RY 2024

Canyon Alum Learns To Love Officiating From His Dad

By Tyler Wainfeld Signal Staff Writer

M

ike Dobes was just a senior in high school when he got his start officiating local youth football games.

A tight end for the Canyon Cowboys football team at the time, Dobes had grown up watching his dad, Bob, officiate football games and even helped out with the chain gang when was somewhere between 9 to 11 years old.

“I would follow him to his Friday night football games, sit in the locker room with the crew and then I was always the clip kid,” Mike said in a phone interview with The Signal. “He was the head linesman and handled the chains for all those years, so I would do his clip. I was right there on the sideline.

“Just you know, probably 9, 10, 11 years old going, ‘This is the coolest thing ever.’”

It was following his senior season that Mike started helping his dad with youth football to “make some Christmas money,” he recalled. Now, 34 years later, Mike is still officiating games, making it 43 years straight with a Dobes high school official in Southern California.

“I’ve never looked back,” Mike said. “I’ve never taken a season off since my senior year of high school and just have had a blast. I continue to love doing it.”

Bob, a retired Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighter who still lives in Canyon Country, got his start in 1980 as a basketball official for a youth tournament and was asked to join the high school unit after. He retired from basketball in 2000 but kept on doing football for a few years, even getting the chance to do a few games with his son.

“We got to work one season together all throughout the San Fernando Valley,” Mike said, “working

Mike Dobes (right) and his dad, Bob, officiating a youth football game together. COURTESY PHOTOS.

JV and varsity doubleheaders together, which was just a blast to be on the field for a season looking at each other and laughing and just enjoying the sport out there.”

Mike has picked up where Bob left off, taking on some basketball duties in the past five years after a work schedule shift allowed him to work more in the late afternoon rather than only at night for football.

Both Bob and Mike said that the best part of being a high school football official is the camaraderie that is built among the officials. Unlike basketball where partners can change from game to game, football officials work as a unit for an entire season, and sometimes even longer.

“For the last 10 years that I was working, I had the same guys,” Bob said. “So, one game a season all the wives would come, sit up in the stands and then we all went out to have a meal afterwards. I’ve gone on numerous camping trips with the guys that I was working with. So, it is more of a bond than you would think.”

Bob doesn’t get to go out to too many of Mike’s games as most of them are in Ventura County, but occasionally Mike will be sent to a playoff game closer to the Santa Clarita Valley, such as last month when he helped officiate the Southern Section Division 6 first-round matchup between Hart and Crean Lutheran.

Bob didn’t go to that game, but Mike made sure to stop by home before heading to College of the Canyons for the game. Mike recalled a basketball game in Simi Valley a couple of seasons ago that Bob was able to attend, and he said he felt like a little kid again looking for his dad in the stands.

“I’m looking up in the stands and going, ‘Hey, my dad’s up there. That’s cool,’” Mike said. “It’s like,

that’s just so weird, like it’s the same feeling of being 8 years old and playing Little League.”

There have been quite a few moments in Mike’s officiating career that he said have left him feeling grateful.

One of those was when he got to do a football game at Monrovia High School, his dad’s alma mater.

“I can remember a couple of times getting to work their games,” Mike said. “So, I’m on the field where my parents went to school.”

Mike has also gotten to officiate football games at both the Rose Bowl and Angel Stadium, the latter of which he said was a “jarring” experience.

“The end zone was in the middle of like left field or something,” Mike said, “so the environment was really odd, but it’s like, ‘Man, this is pretty cool.’”

He even got officiate the first football game between Oaks Christian and Westlake.

“We joke you can throw a rock and hit the two schools, and it was the first time I walked out of a stadium after a game and my ears hurt because of the noise,” Mike said. “It was so loud and so packed. The whole night was just electric. You could just feel the energy in the stadium.

Asked who the better official was, Bob paused for a second before Mike chimed in with, “It’s definitely you. You taught me everything you know.”

Bob laughed for a second before answering, “Well, I’m gonna have to give into that then. Maybe not all of that was good, but I taught him everything I did know.”

Mike has a full-time job at Grace School in Simi Valley, teaching junior high English and Advanced Placement world history. He doesn’t need to continue officiating and taking multiple nights away from his family each month, and sometimes each

J A N UA RY 2024

C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E · 5

week during basketball season.

So why does he do it?

Bob had the answer to that question.

“One of our sayings throughout the unit is, ‘There’s no better place to be on a Friday night than on a football field in front of a full stadium,’” Bob said. “It’s such a good feeling to be there and to know that you’re gonna make sure everything goes smooth, that everybody plays fairly. And you are not noticed. You don’t want to be noticed. Do your job and get out of there. But guys love to be on the field on Friday night.”

Mike felt the exact same way, and even took it a step further, showing appreciation to his dad for giving him the path to stay in sports long after his athletic career was over.

“I’m so grateful to my dad because he introduced me to this, and I was a teenage kid going, ‘Yeah, I’ll follow my dad around and make some Christmas money,’” Mike said. “It’s turned into 34 years and counting of memories and experiences and friends and this whole world I never would have been part of if it wasn’t for my dad.

“It’s been a blast, and I hope my knees and hips and every other body part lasts so I can keep doing it for plenty more years.” 

From left: Mikes Dobes daughter, Dawn, Dobes, Bob and his wife, Linda.

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6 · C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E

J A N UA RY 2024

Hart District OKs Fiscal Stability Plan January 17, 2024

21

Deficit spending projected through 2026-2027 school year.

By Tyler Wainfeld Signal Staff Writer

T

he term “living document” was used multiple times at the Wednesday, Jan. 19 William S. Hart Union High School District governing board meeting in reference to the projected budgets for the district over the next three years that could include deficit spending and cost-cutting measures that may include layoffs.

In short, the district is projected to spend more than $21.3 million from its reserve fund for this school year, followed by nearly $16.5 million in 2024-25, more than $13.3 million in 2025-26 and more than $15.1 million in 2026-27. That equates to more than $66.3 million in reserve spending over the next three and a half school years.

And, that plan projects about $21 million in savings via “reductions in force” — in other words, cutting personnel costs, potentially via layoffs. Superintendent Mike Kuhlman said the board would have to take further action before any reduction in force is implemented.

Board member Bob Jensen, who represents Trustee Area No. 2, continually used the “living document” term whenever those numbers were brought up as they can change over time based on new data.

The board approved this fiscal stabilization plan at the meeting, with board member Cherise Moore, who represents Trustee Area No. 3, being the lone board member to vote against it. The district was tasked with creating such a plan by the Los Angeles County Office of Education in October due to declining enrollment and attendance numbers resulting in a projected loss of revenue.

Moore questioned the beginning fund balance of just more than $116 million that was provided in the first interim report in December that was adjusted to just more than $115 million in the plan presented on Wednesday. Her point was that, given that the fiscal year has already started, the beginning fund balance should be the same.

Ralph Peschek, the district’s assistant superintendent of business services, said he would go over the numbers once again to ensure accuracy, but that a plan had to submitted to the county by Jan. 31, ahead of the district’s next scheduled board meeting on Feb. 7.

“It doesn’t really answer my question, and only for that reason, I’m not going to be able to vote on it right now,” Moore said. “But I trust that the work will happen.”

While the district approved spending from its reserves, the fiscal stability plan actually improves the financial outlook for the next three school years.

The first interim report projected deficit spending of more than $26.2 million for this school year followed by $28 million next year, just under $28 million in 2025-26 and more than $30 million in 2026-

th Fiscal Stability Plan – January 17 Fiscal Stability Plan Presented on January 17

Description

2023-24

2024-25

Revenues

311,721,478

307,153,621 310,440,691 316,362,389

Expenditures

333,080,061

323,641,806 323,765,315 331,516,370

Excess(Deficit)

(21,358,583)

(16,488,185) (13,364,624) (15,153,981)

Beginning Fund Balance

115,108,953

93,750,370

77,262,185

63,897,560

Ending Fund Balance

93,750,370

77,262,185

63,897,560

48,743,579

- Restricted

35,814,742

31,874,257

31,323,660

30,617,114

- Committed

23,794,109

23,794,109

5,737,388

0

- Economic Uncertainties

10,073,402

9,709,254

9,754,601

9,945,491

24,068,117

11,884,564

17,081,913

8,180,974

January 17, 2024

- Unassigned / Unappropriated

2025-26

2026-27

15

Multi Year Projection Projection – December 15th 15 Multi-Year Presented on December

FISCAL STABILITY PLAN 01.17.24

Description

2023-24

2024-25

2025-26

2026-27

Revenues

311,721,478

306,113,621 310,748,734 315,322,389

Expenditures

337,999,385

334,269,284 338,721,300 345,339,358

Excess(Deficit)

(26,277,907)

(28,155,663) (27,972,565) (30,016,969)

Beginning Fund Balance

116,181,141

89,903,234

61,747,572

33,775,007

Ending Fund Balance

89,903,234

61,747,572

33,775,007

3,758,038

- Restricted

31,779,486

29,377,422

29,228,153

30,617,114

- Committed

23,794,109

22,342,071

1,000

0

- Economic Uncertainties

10,139,982

10,028,079

10,194,732

10,360,181

- Unassigned / Unappropriated

24,189,658

0

(5,648,877)

(37,219,257)

GRAPHICS COURTESY WILLIAM S. HART UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

27. In total, that would be just under $112.5 million in reserve spending over that time period, or nearly double what the new plan calls for.

The plan as presented would see the district attempt to meet its through the following: $3.1 million in revenue increases via increased district property lease income and updates to civic center fees that would more accurately reflect operating costs.

As-yet unspecified reductions in force to the tune of $21.3 million, as well as not filling otherwise open positions.

Reducing general fund expenditures by $10.8 million, including a flat rate for legal services, re-

FISCAL STABILITY PLAN 01.17.24

ductions in travel and professional development, and moving eligible positions to be paid for using grant money.

A sweep of available funds to decrease expenditures by $2.7 million.

Reductions in programs to save $8 million.

In discussing the plan, Peschek reiterated that some of the details remain to be determined and are subject to how the projections play out.

“Staff has identified … potential layoffs, or reductions in force, which we certainly hope to address through attrition, of $21.3 million,” Peschek said.

See HART, page 10

J A N UA RY 2024

C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E · 7

New Canyon High Turf, Field Lights Get Green Light

By Tyler Wainfeld Signal Staff Writer

T

he William S. Hart Union High School District governing board approved on Wednesday spending more than $4.7 million on turf replacement at Canyon High School and permanent light fixtures at five high school athletic fields.

Both projects would be funded by the special reserve fund for capital outlay projects.

The turf replacement is a necessity, according to Michael Otavka, director of facilities, planning and construction for the district, because it has reached its 10-year life cycle and the heavy usage that the field saw while Valencia High School’s turf was being replaced at the beginning of the fall semester.

The purchase and installation of the turf will cost approximately $773,000.

“I’m glad we’re doing this,” said board member Cherise Moore, who represents Trustee Area No. 3.

“I know that this was something that I had hoped we could do because of the way that we had to use the field last fall.”

The turf is set to be purchased from the same company that the new Valencia field turf came from, but the installation will be done by AFE Sports rather than by the manufacturer, as was the case at Valencia. The installation at Valencia was

PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

pushed back numerous times in the fall, leaving Valencia athletic teams without a full field to practice on.

Board member Erin Wilson, who represents Trustee Area No. 4, questioned if using a different installer would ensure the project is completed on time. Otavka replied saying that the manufacturer of the turf had staffing problems, which led to Valencia’s replacement being delayed, but that AFE Sports does not have that same problem.

Otavka added that the project is scheduled to begin on May 13 and would be finished in four to five weeks.

The larger capital project is the installation of

permanent lights at the five high school fields that do not yet have them. Canyon and Valencia high schools have both had lights and host football games and other nighttime activities for the Hart district, along with College of the Canyons’ Cougar Stadium.

The reason for the lights being installed is the implementation of Senate Bill 328, which requires school districts to have high schools begin their school days no earlier than 8:30 a.m. This would require a later end time, therefore leading to after-school activities, including sporting events, to take place at later times.

Castaic High School, West Ranch High School, Hart High School, Saugus High School and Golden Valley High School would all get lights, with the district paying just under $4 million for the construction and installation at all five schools.

The total cost of the project, including engineering work, inspection and consulting fees and contingencies, is $6 million, according to Otavka, who added that the previous estimate for the project was $7.5 million.

Otavka said the project still needs to be approved by the Division of the State Architect, but that prior approval by the board would help to streamline the process. The hope, he said, is to have the lights installed by the end of summer so that the fields can be used starting next fall. 

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8 · C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E

J A N UA RY 2024

Canyon, Golden Valley Named to College Board’s AP School Honor Roll PRESS RELEASE

S

ix schools in the William S. Hart Union High School District have been named to the College Board’s AP School Honor Roll for 2022-23, placing them in the top 30% of eligible schools. The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools across the country for successful advanced placement programs with broad access.

To qualify for the AP School Honor Roll, schools must meet certain criteria for the most recent graduating class: College Culture: 40% or more of the graduating class took at least one AP exam during high school.

College Credit: 25% or more of the graduating class scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during high school.

College Optimization: 2% or more of the graduating class took five or more AP exams during high school, with at least one taken in ninth or 10th grade.

Additionally, schools may be recognized with the AP Access Award, which highlights schools that demonstrate a strong commitment to equitable access to advanced coursework for all students.

WE TRIM YOUR TREES RIGHT!

To the honor society and honor roll students from Canyon Country Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society University of Southern California Joseph Mashati

The following district high schools received distinction: Canyon High School – Bronze with Access.

Castaic High School – Bronze with Access.

Golden Valley High School – Bronze.

Hart High School – Silver.

Saugus High School – Bronze with Access.

West Ranch High School – Silver.

“Congratulations to these exceptional schools who have been recognized for their commitment to fostering access and increasing college readiness,” Superintendent Mike Kuhlman said in a news release.

According to Hart district officials, it was not immediately clear why Valencia High School wasn’t included on the list. Schools did not apply for the recognition — the College Board compiled the list based on its own available data. Valencia’s data was not immediately available Friday because the school has gone on its winter break. 

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Around J A N UA RY 2024

C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E · 9

Kevin Hart Promotes VitaHustle

Comedian and actor Kevin Hart made an appearance at Walmart Supercenter in Canyon Country on Saturday to promote his vitamin and supplement brand, VitaHustle.

PHOTOS BY HABEBA MOSTAFA / THE SIGNAL

Stuffed Animal Sleepover

Children, parents and stuffed animals gathered to watch magician Arty Loon and have a stuffed animal sleepover at the Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy Library.

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1 0 · C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E

HART

Continued from page 6

J A N UA RY 2024

Hart District Enrollment Data

Peschek also wanted to make sure that everyone understood that the reductions in spending were due to a decrease in state funding through the projected cost-of-living adjustment and a decrease in enrollment.

The COLA was initially presented as 3.94%, but LACOE directed school districts to expect that number to drop to 1% in October. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January budget update decreased the COLA even more to 0.76%, which was used to create the financial stability plan.

Peschek said the change in COLA equates to a projected $27 million decrease in funding over the next three years.

Collyn Nielsen, the district’s assistant the Sulphur Springs Union School be a day off for students while movThe “living document” term was Hart District enrollment has declined by 8.1% since the 2018-19 school year.

District, also seeing declines in ensuperintendent of human resources, ing the first day of school from Tuesbrought up once again here, as the said the district has been looking into rollment or simply no change, an inday, Aug. 13 to Monday, Aug. 12.

COLA could go up should the state’s crease in enrollment is unlikely in the that, but the broader issue is people Nielsen said this was done because budget increase in any of the next leaving the state of California entirely. near future. other districts have taken the day afthree years.

Board President Linda Storli was “There’s been a population decline ter Halloween off and that the Hart In terms of enrollment, the disoptimistic that with 2,000 new homes in the state of California overall, and district has noticed a drop in attentrict is down 1,824 students since the being built in Santa Clarita that enthat decline happens all year round, ” dance for that day in prior school 2018-19 school year, with 361 sturollment numbers could go up should years, whether due to taking care of Nielsen said.

“We have taken a look at dents leaving the district between the families with children move into them. younger siblings or taking vacations. some of the landing spots for where 2022-23 school year and the current “I think this is going to come back,” “I think that’s an excellent idea,” one. Another 43 students left between the students are leaving us for, and Storli said.

“Someone’s going to buy some of them are (Opportunities for Storli said. “I think that starting the end of the fall semester and the Learning), Mission View. They move, those homes. If not, builders probably school on Tuesday or Wednesday of beginning of the spring semester. shouldn’t be building them.” they’ve gone to either out of state or With Peschek’s number of $12,500 the week never did make sense. Start Average daily attendance was also other districts outside of the Santa in state funding per student, Kuhlschool on Monday and then we take brought up as school districts across Clarita Valley.” man said the district has essentially the advantage of taking the Nov. 1 the state receive funding for every day Mission View and Opportunities lost $4.5 million since the 2022-23 off and, hopefully, by the fourth they that a student attends class. The disschool year and $25 million since the for Learning are both independent come back to school.” trict’s three-year average prior to the public charter schools.

2018-19 school year.

The board did approve a financial COVID-19 pandemic was an attenKuhlman added that with feeder Moore asked if the district knows gain for the district on Wednesday dance rate of 95.7%. That number has districts for the Hart district, such as where those students end up going. via a one-time grant that would see dropped to an average of 92.99% in the district receive just short of $12.9 Average Daily Attendance Numbers the three years since. million. Those funds would be used Peschek noted that average daily for the following: attendance has spiked by at least 1% for every school in the district for this Obtaining standards-aligned proschool year, except for Valencia High fessional development and instrucSchool, which is at 0.95%, though tional materials for specified subnumbers are still down compared to ject areas. pre-pandemic levels.

Obtaining professional develop“It’s excellent to see those increasment and instructional materials es are maintaining because that’s how for improving school climate. we’re funded,” Peschek said.

He added that just because atten Developing diverse, culturally reledance has increased this year does vant and multilingual school library not mean more funding for this year, book collections. but that the state could be incentiv Operational costs, including retireized to provide more funding over the ment and health care cost increases. next three years should average daily COVID-19-related costs necessary attendance stay positive. to keep pupils and staff safe and One way that the district is looking schools open for in-person instructo increase attendance for the next tion. w school year is to have Friday, Nov. 1,

J A N UA RY 2024

C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E · 1 1

Margo Rothenberg Celebrates 100 Years

S

itting between her daughter, Agi Flesch, and granddaughter, Jacqueline Hickerson, Margo Rothenberg celebrated her hundredth year with a beige, sparkly dress, sunglasses on her face and a piña colada in hand at Oakmont of Santa Clarita on Wednesday.

Born on Jan. 21, 1924, Rothenberg was born and raised in Vác, Hungary. Enduring many obstacles, Rothenberg survived World War II and The Hungarian Revolution of 1956, seeking refuge in Colombia in January 1957.

Regardless of the hardships, Rothenberg says she lived a happy life.

Before moving, Rothenberg was treated in Switzerland for eight months for macular degeneration, going blind in her left eye. While she regained her vision during the treatments, her eyesight was never the same, especially declining in more recent years.

Rothenberg came to America in 1962, working for a drapery store. Later on, she worked for the May Department Stores Co. for 12 years, before she retired and moved to Las Vegas in the late 1980s.

She lived in Reseda, then in Canyon Country, coming back to the Santa Clarita Valley 10 years ago after being in Las Vegas.

PHOTO BY DAN WATSON / THE SIGNAL

Rothenberg was married three times and had two children from the first two marriages: Flesch and her brother. Rothenberg’s third marriage to Edward Rothenburg, a German concentration camp survivor, lasted for 56 years. Edward was a part of Oakmont’s Memory Care Community before his death four years ago.

When asked by Oakmont employees what she wants to drink, Rothenberg replied: “You know what — piña,” before having her sentence finished with “colada.”

When asked about how she feels to be 100, she

replied: “I don’t feel 100. I feel strong,” When asked about what age she feels the most, she pointed to each shoulder and said, “50, 50.”

Her favorite memory was school. What did she love the most about it? “Everything, I love studying,” Rothenberg said. “I graduated in technical drafting. I was working with 17 engineers, and I was the only girl.”

In Hungary, Rothenberg worked on radios, doing the schematics. “She was always very studious. She loved school. She [also] loved dancing when she was younger,” Hickerson said.

Rothenberg chimed in with her favorite types of dancing being tango, folk and Hungarian dancing, while saying she also loved to sing. As for her favorite pastime as she got older as a Las Vegas resident? Gambling.

Flesch elaborated on her mother’s artistic skills, stating that she enjoyed drawing and was good at it.

As the room drew residents and family to celebrate Rothenberg with photos and a pink and white cake, the three women reflected on Rothenberg’s feat.

“We’re happy she’s still with us here. It’s quite an accomplishment,” Hickerson said.

Flesch said being “a very strong-willed woman” helped Rothenberg along the way. “That’s what she needed to do to survive.”

“I cannot believe it,” Rothenberg said. 

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1 2 · C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E

J A N UA RY 2024

City OKs Canyon Country Development Changes MetroWalk project to reduce number of apartments by 161 in favor of townhomes.

By Perry Smith Signal Senior Staff Writer

T

he Santa Clarita City Council on Tuesday approved a developer’s request to build about 160 fewer units, favoring townhomes over apartments, in a development planned for southeast of Jakes Way and Lost Canyon Road in Canyon Country.

Council members approved a developer’s request for the MetroWalk Specific Plan, which is south of the burgeoning transit-oriented Vista Canyon project near Highway 14 and a new Metrolink station.

The developer cited market demands as prompting the pair of requests: one area would change from having 179 market-rate apartment units within two four-story buildings to instead having 93 for-sale townhomes; the other request was to change 119 market-rate senior apartments within a four-story building to 44

townhome units.

A few residents questioned the logic of reducing the number of units built in light of the housing crisis and the already high cost of homes in Santa Clarita.

“Building rental units should be an imperative right now,” said resident Chad Rush, who said that he, like most of his friends who are under 30, “or even older,” live with their parents because affordability is such a problem in the city.

“These aren’t just hourly workers from McDonald’s, these are college-educated health care workers,” he added, disputing the description of the developer’s request to remove market housing as a minor change.

The state’s low housing supply is repeatedly cited as a reason the state’s market is in dire need of more homes.

Another commenter also identified as one of the 20-somethings who are “being priced out of their own city” by the city’s moves.

City Manager Ken Striplin said he

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understood commenters’ frustration but also that the changes were always a possibility when the plan was approved in March 2021. The MetroWalk project approval allowed for the developer to make adjustments administratively if they wanted to, but city staff called the hearing to inform the council and the public, he said.

Mayor Cameron Smyth asked the developer whether the land would stay vacant if the city did not take action to formalize the plan change.

“The short answer is, yes, we do not see any short-term utilization of this portion of the property given the significant headwinds that we’re facing in the kind of broader economy and the macro-economic conditions,” said Jonathan Frankel of the Atlantis Group, representing the project’s applicant.

Addressing the senior-housing portion of the project, he said it was underwritten pre-COVID, and that since then, well, things have changed.

“COVID really fundamentally

altered the market for senior market-rate apartments in a way that really no one could have anticipated,” he told the council, adding that sort of “dense, style of living” largely has fallen out of favor within that community.

The developer request runs contrary to a concern that’s been mentioned publicly by multiple Santa Clarita City Council members, including Smyth, who have noted the city seeing an influx of requests for an increasing number of large-scale housing developments that are largely able to circumvent local control by addressing the state’s need for more housing units.

Efforts by the Legislature in recent years, citing local governments as one of the obstacles to more multiunit housing being built, have made it easier for developers to add units.

The average national home price has risen by approximately $100,000 See METROWALK, page 14

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J A N UA RY 2024

C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E · 1 3

Landfill Ordered to Remove Leachate More Quickly

By Perry Smith Signal Senior Staff Writer

A

CHIQUITA LANDFILL. SIGNAL FILE PHOTO

problems or when landfill officials learned of them, according to the AQMD. Since October, experts have identified the landfill’s problem as two-fold due to a smoldering, subsurface reaction with temperatures exceeding 175 degrees occurring at a rate that’s severely overwhelmed the landfill’s containment systems.

The reaction levels are producing a noxious odor believed to be dimethyl sulfide at a rate that’s exceeding the capacity of flares meant to capture and burn off the gas, resulting in the landfill’s sulfuric odors being detected miles away. That’s the first problem.

See CHIQUITA, page 14

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fter nearly seven more hours of discussion, Chiquita Canyon Landfill and the South Coast Air Quality Management District came to an agreement Wednesday, January 17, on new conditions under which the landfill can continue to operate.

The upshot for residents is that under the new joint stipulated agreement, those near the Val Verde landfill should get a much better understanding of the pollutants that have caused more than 7,000 complaints in the last year, and more than 112 violations over the odors.

However, none of the measures approved or discussed seem likely to have a significant or direct impact on the smell — just a greater understanding of the source and any potential health risk.

Landfill officials have said progress is still likely several months away based on timelines laid out during the two days in front of the AQMD South Coast District Hearing Board. Waste Connections, which operates the landfill, issued a statement last week about several drilling projects that need to be completed to help mitigate the smell over the long term, but could make it worse in the short term.

But this hearing wasn’t about smell mitigation — it was because the landfill wasn’t up front about its

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1 4 · C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E

CHIQUITA

Continued from page 13

The second is that the reaction also contributed to the production of leachate, a byproduct from the chemical reaction of rain being filtered through rotting trash and landfill gases, which has a uniquely terrible smell from the decomposing garbage, according to sworn statements from AQMD Supervising Inspector Larry Israel.

The stipulated order that came out of the twoday hearing that concluded Wednesday is: community monitors will be installed in and around the landfill within 75 days; 24-hour sampling will be done three times a week until those monitors are installed; a website dedicated to posting those results for residents in real time will be created; there will be an oversight process for the landfill’s committee; clarifying language will be put in the order that health studies for the landfill will base their conclusions on the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment standards; and the landfill will seek approval of a permanent plan to address the problems while these temporary measures are being implemented.

The landfill is also being ordered to immediately remove the leachate, with twice daily inspections being ordered and seven-day-a-week removal.

The problems and smells were more clearly defined on the record during Wednesday’s testimony by Israel, who testified that he had more than 30 years of experience in the area that included the landfill, and he was very familiar with the facility.

The leachate problem, which was the subject of this week’s hearing, was known to the landfill in April, but not shared with the AQMD until October.

Based on how the complaints have grown, the Chiquita Canyon Landfill’s stench has been bothering more and more residents since about July.

Israel said Wednesday the problems have gotten significantly worse, particularly during September and October, with more than 4,800 complaints being received since September, coming at all hours, from community residents.

“Our thinking is, ‘We need to stop this as soon as possible — they’re being heavily impacted,’” Israel

J A N UA RY 2024

said, adding that making residents wait throughout a weekend to address the leachate smell would be “unconscionable.”

Israel described to the Hearing Board the smell from free-flowing leachate coming out the side of a slope within the landfill about 1,000 feet from the nearest home in Val Verde.

“The leachate smell that we detected, it’s like this putrid almost like a port-a-potty type of odor — it’s pretty horrendous, actually,” he said Wednesday, contrasting it to the landfill gas odor, which he likened to sour milk. One resident living directly on the other side of a slope of the landfill likened the landfill gases to the smell that occurs when garbage is left out on the corner too long.

Israel added that the pooling and ponding issues with the leachate seemed to have improved somewhat as of his last in-person inspection of the site in December.

“In short, where we ended up is that the modifications are the sort of comprehensive approach that the district expects and wants to see for the circumstances that we have and you have heard about in this hearing,” said Kathryn Roberts, who was acting as counsel for the South Coast District in front of the Hearing Board. “We think these are a necessary and appropriate modification, and we think there is no doubt there is good cause to grant this order.”

While the counsel for Chiquita Canyon initially was seeking more time and flexibility with the order, it ultimately reached a negotiated agreement

METROWALK

Continued from page 13

since March 2020, according to the Federal Reserve Economic Data. The Southern California market saw similarly dramatic increases in value, which many say is due to a lack of supply that hasn’t met growing demand for a number of years.

In the SCV, the median listing price for homes

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with the AQMD. “Everyone in this room wants the same thing, to slow and stop this reaction,” said Megan Morgan of Beveridge & Diamond PC, which is representing the landfill. “Chiquita wants to fix this problem, and Chiquita wants to improve the experience of its neighbors.”

In the meantime, those neighbors await answers about the potential impacts, with an independent report expected next month by the L.A. County Department of Public Health.

One neighbor who was one of more than 200 plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against the landfill made a request early Tuesday that has yet to be addressed by regulators.

“My children are getting sicker. My friends are getting sicker,” Sarah Olaguez, a Val Verde resident, said Tuesday, calling for the landfill to take more drastic actions to help residents. “We no longer have clean, safe air to breathe. We can no longer open our windows, enjoy our yard or simply take a walk. We go home and breathe this in while we sleep. We need real action. We need to be moved away from this air.”

The Hearing Board is an independent panel that hears all sides of a case, weighs the evidence, and reaches a decision, according to its news release. A status hearing will be held on April 24 and 25, or as soon thereafter as it can be scheduled with the Hearing Board. 

and condominiums was $840,000 for November 2023, according to the Southland Regional Association of Realtors. That figure is up $60,000 from the same time last year and up 40% from March 2020, when it was $600,000.

For all of L.A. County, the median listing price was $995,000 in November 2023, according to Realtor.com, which also indicated the median price of homes sold for the same time period was $872,000. 

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C A N YO N CO U N T R Y M AG A Z I N E · 1 5

CALENDAR

Canyon Country Community Center 18410 Sierra Highway, Santa Clarita 91350 (661) 290-2266

CANYON COUNTRY COMMUNITY CENTER REGISTRATION FOR WINTER PROGRAMS OPENS NOV. 28 https://santaclarita.civicrec.com/CA/city-santa-clarita/catalog CCCC New Website https://santaclarita.gov/canyon-country-community-center

Every Wednesday, Year-round 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Canyon Country Community Center Hours of Operation Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Sundays: CLOSED President’s Day Feb. 19.

Gym hours 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

The gym will be closed on Feb. 14 for a City Event.

Adult and Senior Activities Senior Walking Club (55+)

A moderate to fast-paced walking group, which meets each week and walks the around the exterior of the facility.

Bunco (55+)

Come out and play this classic dice game that’s sure to keep the competition rolling!

Mahjong (55+)

An opportunity to socialize, play Mahjong, and meet new friends! Bring your own Mahjong card.

Senior Makers Club (50+) Senior Makers Club is a monthly DIY project class that’s sure to inspire creativity and fun!

Low Impact Outdoor Games (18+) Have some fun in the sun while having friendly competition with these outdoor games!

Line Dancing (18+) This choreographed line dancing class is a great way to meet new friends and get your groove on!

CANYON COUNTRY LIBRARY PROGRAMS Jan. 27 10 a.m.

Jan. 28 2 p.m.

Sit and Stitch Let’s Paint Acrylic Artwork

Jan 30

3:30 p.m. Wintercrafternoon

Feb. 1

9:30 a.m. Storytime 6:30 p.m. Club de Mujeres Latinas en Literatura

Feb 2

4:30 p.m. Teen Advisory Board

Feb. 4

2 p.m.

DIY Greeting Cards

Feb. 12 6 p.m.

Worlds of Whimsy

Feb. 13

3:30 p.m. Valentines Crafternoon

Feb. 15

9:30 a.m. Storytime 4 p.m.

Monoprinting with Watercolors

Feb. 18-19 Closed for Presidents Day Feb. 21

4:30 p.m. Artist Spotlight: Alma Thomas

Feb. 22

9:30 a.m. Cuenta Cuentos 3:30 p.m. Teen Crafts and Stuff: Valentines Day Cards

9:30 a.m. Cuenta Cuentos noon Homeschool Room Resource Support 3:30 p.m. Teens Crafts and Stuff: Craft and a Movie 4 p.m.

Read to a Dog

Feb. 10

Feb. 27

Feb. 8

10 a.m.

Sit and Stitch

3:30 p.m. Lego® Block Party

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Brought to you by Mayor Cameron Smyth, Mayor Pro Tem Bill Miranda, Councilmember Jason Gibbs, Councilwoman Marsha McLean and Councilmember Laurene Weste