Santa Clarita Hot Line Gets Results--and Some Heat

So what’s on the minds of people in Santa Clarita?

Just about everything, judging from the public’s response to a “concerned citizen hot line” recently installed at City Hall to give Santa Clarita officials a firsthand look at what pleases--and what angers--city residents.

Since the hot line was started by the city government March 21, about 70 citizens have called to complain about, among other things, parking, zoning enforcement, street lights, tree trimming, restrooms and the local appearance of a traveling circus.

“One was mad that we even had a hot line,” said Gail Foy, city spokeswoman. The caller thought the new service was a waste of taxpayers’ money and called the number just to let City Hall know his feelings, she said.

“But that’s what it’s here for,” Foy said. “We want to know what people are thinking.”

It is costing the city nothing extra, she said. The service uses a phone line that had been installed for the city manager but went unused, and she handles the calls at no extra salary.

Callers may remain anonymous but are encouraged to leave their name and telephone number so Foy can return their call. The number is (805) 259-6841. Callers leave their messages on an answering machine available 24 hours a day. The calls are confidential.

Many times, citizens simply want to know which city department they should contact to solve a problem, Foy said. At other times, they have specific projects in mind for the city.

Randy Barker, who agreed to let the city release his name, asked the city to paint left-hand turn lanes at a recently redesigned intersection. Work crews apparently forgot to restripe the pavement after they were done, he said.

A week later, the stripes were in place, Barker said. He called the hot line a handy service. “It’s kind of odd for a city to have that,” Barker said.

Not all callers are so pleasant. One man, speaking of the city’s spending $7 million for a site for its first permanent City Hall, said, “Why are you building a new City Hall when you can rent a warehouse somewhere?”

“We got some angry calls,” Foy said. But the citizens have remained civil when she called them back. “Nobody cussed at me,” she said.

The comments vary from praise to concerns. One woman wanted a councilman to know she agreed with his remarks in the newspaper. A man, a practical sort, noted that restrooms at a local park were locked. The city opened the restrooms, which had been locked accidentally, Foy said.

But some calls are beyond the jurisdiction of Santa Clarita. One woman called, quite concerned, about the weeknight performances of Circus Vargas in the city. Excited children will not be able to sleep after the circus, she said, and won’t be fresh for the next day’s classes.

Foy referred her to the Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event.