SAN FERNANDO : City Undecided on Proposed Landfills

The San Fernando City Council has found itself in the spotlight of a regional battle over two proposed landfills, but so far hasn’t made a move to join either camp in the debate.

For the past few meetings, activists have asked the five-member council to join the fray over the proposed Elsmere Canyon landfill in the Santa Clarita Valley and Sunshine Canyon landfill above Granada Hills.

The attention from activists has put the 2.4-square-mile city with a population of about 23,500 into the spotlight of a battle pitting Los Angeles trash against homeowners in the Santa Clarita Valley. So far, however, the council has been mum.

But Monday night, Councilwoman Rosa Chacon went on the record opposing the proposed Elsmere Canyon Landfill.

“I support you on this,” Chacon told Santa Clarita City Councilwoman Jill Klajic, who spoke against the project. “I think it’s a matter of ecology, safety and wellness.”

The rest of the council took no action on Klajic’s request to pass a resolution opposing the dump. In past meetings, the panel has heard from opponents of expanding the Sunshine Canyon landfill, also without action.

San Fernando has no jurisdiction over the fate of the landfill projects, which will be decided primarily by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. But opponents of the projects hope that the city’s voice would be influential in the fight against them.

“It is your proposed garbage dump as well as ours,” Klajic said of Sunshine Canyon, warning of odors and traffic from dump trucks.

But City Councilman Doude Wysbeek said it would be unfair and unwise for the council to act before seeing an environmental impact report on the proposal, which is due by the end of the year or early next year.

Councilman Jose Hernandez requested that the developer of the proposed Elsmere Canyon landfill, BKK Corp., appear before the council.

Ronald R. Gastelum, chief administrative officer of BKK Corp.,the firm’s chief executive officer, took advantage of the three minutes of speaking time the council gives to any member of the public to say he would request more time to present his case at a later date. He was not allowed a more ample rebuttal time because he had not requested a formal place on Monday’s agenda.