April 23, 2008 - Daily Brief
Written by Jeff on April 23rd, 2008Instead of attending the Santa Clarita City Council meeting last night, I slacked off and rented the film “Cloverfield,” the mysterious and frightening film about a disaster in NYC. Of course even in my leisure, I can’t escape the SCV; watching the Special Features section of the DVD revealed that several important scenes had been shot in, you guessed it, our own Santa Clarita Valley.
News
- That’s Couniclmember Laurie Ender to you bub: Laurie Ender and Bob Kellar were sworn in as City Councilmembers at Tuesday’s meeting and the city council and community members also bid farewell and thanks to Couniclmember TimBen Boydston, who did more than take care of the seat he was appointed to in December 2006. Not much on Boydston’s exit in the Signal’s coverage today; for that you’ll need to read I Heart’s account of the meeting, which covers Boydston’s exit, Ender’s entrance, new protests over the Avenues project, and more. I Heart concludes that Ender will fit in “just fine” on the new council. Anyway, Old Town Newhall Redevelopment was a big topic at the meeting; The Signal’s Katie Geyer reports that the new City Council “authorized the city to move forward with construction plans” for Old Town Newhall that involve a new storm drain on Main Street, as well as installation of “trees, shrubs, boulders, outdoor cafe seating and benches.” Some voiced the now familiar concerns about disrupting existing businesses during the construction. Also, KHTS has a decent report on the meeting and a quote from Boydston seemingly addressed to Ender.
- Decoding the Newhall Land/LandSource story: So despite having a full day to research and attempt to talk to Newhall Land employees (they’re across the street after all), The Signal did little more than publish Newhall Land’s kinda-sorta/but-not-really press release on the matter of Newhall Land parent LandSource’s troubles in paying off its creditors. I suspect if I really understood all the intricacies of Newhall Land’s relationship with LandSource, Lennar, LNR, CalPers, MW Housing, and all the other vehicles and corporate bodies involved in this story I’d be in the business making coin instead of writing about it, but I’ll do my best. To really understand what’s going on here, you have to go back to Lennar’s 2004 purchase of Newhall Land, which was heralded by some as “brilliant” because it allowed the Miami-based home builder to maximize potential profit while minimizing land-ownership risk. With its purchase, of course, it picked up not only Newhall Land but the 15,000 odd acres of Newhall Ranch and other territory in LA County. Everything appeared to be going swimmingly until 14 months ago though, when Lennar sold off 68% of LandSource -a vehicle Lennar created to obtain more financing for the 2004 deal- to MW Housing Partners, which is involved with CalPers. At the time that deal was completed, LandSource’s holdings were valued at approximately $1.3 billion -double what they were in the 2004. But since then, land value and the real estate market has nosedived, and now LandSource is left holding the bag for its creditors, a fact which has been emphasized by MW Housing Partners and Lennar, one of which told the Wall Street Journal that “none of these equity investors are liable for the debt if LandSource defaults.” So, from the cheap seats, it looks like Newhall Land’s assets were gobbled up by an industry titan (Lennar) only to be spit out at a profit ahead of a collapse in the housing and land market. That’s just my analysis though, so take it for what it’s worth. 2004 article on Lennar’s purchase of Newhall Land, BigBuilder Online article on LandSource’s failure to repay loans, and Wall Street Journal article.
- Speaking of holding the bag: Is the Hart District trying to avoid laying off teachers by instead eliminating teacher-like Resource Instructional Assistants? That seems to be the gist of what some at the SCV’s only junior and senior high district are saying after the District announced that it was eliminating all 30 of the Instructional Assistant positions. The assistants work directly with special needs students and one assistant told The Signal that “I don’t think the public is aware of how much the students are going to be affected.” All this as a result of the District attempting to make ends meet ahead of a state budget that might cut some $10 million from Hart’s coffers. Sharon Cotal covers this well with a pair of articles in today’s Signal.
- A story just begging for a creative headline and lede: No bulls*** here…three bulls were found hanging out in front of a Walgreens in Castaic on Monday night. CHP officers responded and by a stroke of luck found the owner of the bulls who herded them into a trailer and back to his property without incident. “I couldn’t believe how easy it was,” the copper said. “Those guys are good cowboys.” Of course they are, we have a Cowboy Festival to celebrate them after all. Parimal Rohit reports.
- And another animal story with a less than happy ending: The wires were filled with reports yesterday about a 39 year old Canyon Country man named Stephan Miller who was killed by a 700-pound grizzly bear at a movie training compound near Big Bear Lake. The bear, named Rocky, “lunged at Miller and bit him in the neck. ” Miller was pronounced dead at the scene. Miller’s cousin Randy worked as a stunt double with Rocky in a recent Will Ferrell movie. Cal OSHA and Department of Fish and Game are investigating. Link
- More headline nonsense: The Signal’s coverage of March Real Estate numbers is swell but its headline might be a bit optimistic “SCV HOME SALES ON REBOUND,” the paper reports, leading off with the fact that more homes and condos were sold in March than in February. But overall, there’s still a lot to think about: the median house price fell some 19% from March of 2007 to $470,000. That’s still $10,000 more than January’s low median house price of $460,000. The Signal spoke with a local realtor about the numbers: “Has the worst passed? Perhaps. But ti will take many months to work out the impacts that foreclosures have on the market.” In today’s Signal or you can read the Daily News report.
- Jon Dell blogs Sacramento trip: For the second time, some of the city’s “biggest movers and shakers” have taken a trip on board a bus to Sacramento to meet with and lobby Sacramento “movers and shakers” like Cameron Smyth, School Superintendent O’Connel, CalTrans honcho Will Kempton, and others. Jon Dell, KHTS news director, doesn’t give a whole lot of names of who’s on the bus, but says the group is comprised of “school superintendents, board members, Lawyers, theater directors, non-profit CEOs, water experts and one Mayor who liked cracking jokes from the back of the bus.” His day one report is here.
- Details on Bristol Farms grocery store in Bridgeport Marketplace: “Plans for Bristol Farms in Valencia include individual “shops” with full facades and themed props, including a fresh juice and smoothie counter, a fresh sushi department with sushi made onsite every day, a coffee bar and an eat-in cafe. The wine area, with its four walls, wine racks and roof trellis, resembles a specialty wine boutique.” Opening in October. More Sushi for the SCV = Nice!
- COC Students head to Santa Barbara to protest .edu cuts: At least 15 COC students traveled all the way to Santa Barbara to protest “against proposed California higher education budget cuts that would cause future tuition increases.” The COC delegation was apparently lead by the college’s ASG president who’s quote in the Cal State Long Beach newspaper sounds like it was written by a professional: “Higher education is very important and higher education is the gateway into the career world. If we raise tuition, we’re essentially hurting our economy.”
Miscellaneous
- George Runner on foreclosure mess: The conservative State Senator who’s termed out this fall has been quite vocal lately. He opens up with an essay on the foreclosure crisis, the credit crunch, and homeowners who borrowed more than they could afford. Link
- Buck takes from Doolittle:Santa Clarita’s Congressman Buck McKeon has just hired a new executive assistant named Candace Dodge. Dodge, a 2005 grad of Cal State Sacramento was an executive assistant to Representative John Doolittle, California’s 4th District conservative Republican who’s been tied in with the Abramoff scandal. Last year McKeon was one of few California Republicans to offer tepid support for Doolittle while he was under fire for various controversies.
- Tim Myers continues dissecting City Council election: Very interesting post today from Tim Myers, the number-crunching blogger at West Ranch Beacon. Myers apparently went to city hall to get detailed election returns for various precincts in Santa Clarita in the wake of Laurie Ender’s stunning victory two weeks ago. What did he find? Well, in one way the results are surprising; in another way they’re not. According to Myers, Ender dominated in “precincts north of the Santa Clara River that abut Bridgeport, Northpark and Helmers Elementary; the base of Laurie Ender’s PTA support. In those three precincts Laurie Ender garnered 511 votes more than the nearest finisher; capturing a stunning 48% of the total votes cast. In precinct number 6, which abuts Helmers Elementary; the absolute seat of Laurie Ender’s base, she captured a stunning 54% of ALL votes cast, beating the nearest competitor by more than 300!” Myers concludes his column by saying that the race “revealed a new Balkanization in Santa Clarita politics” something he says he’ll discuss next week. Could we at long last be headed for a District-based rather than At-Large City Council? Inquiring minds want to know! Link
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It sure was challenging last night staying abreast of City Council’s show while Pennsylvania’s Operation Chaos was in full swing. However, it certainly was terrific to see Mr. Boydston receive proper recognition for his fine service to our communities. Likewise, the Calgrove Coaltion Crew put on a mighty fine display of resistance to Jeffrey Lambert’s idiotic plan for the “Open Space” near Calgrove. BRAVO!
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Yes, quite the send-off for TimBen. What was figured would take about half and hour went to an hour, then a recess was called so all of TimBen’s parting gifts could be removed. Proved how appreciated TimBen is by the people of this city. Between TimBen supporters and the Calgrove Corrider Coalition, that room was packed.
The Calgrove Corrider Coalition did a fine job! There were 132 people there Sunday.
Jay and Joyce Rogers, the people who bought the Smiser Mule Ranch and proposing The Avenues, contributed that $15,000 to Armando Azarloza’s Citizens For Integrity in Government PAC that directly benefitted Laurie Ender. Jay and Joyce Rogers are the Plum Canyon LLC that is listed as donating that $15,000 to Armando’s PAC. So here we have The Avenues project donating a huge sum to a PAC that can be traced right back to Buck McKeon via Armando Azarloza, a PAC that represents about $29,000 for the Laurie Ender campaign. Very interesting.
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“Proved how appreciated TimBen is by the people of this city.”
I wouldn’t go that far personally. Perhaps “by the people of this city who attend council meetings” would be a better statement?
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No, not just by the “people who attend council meetings.” Like him or not, that was a huge show of support for TimBen that cannot be denied.
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When Mrs. Ender took her chair last night I had the feeling of letting her show herself as a true council member of and for the people. After the enlightening donation information to her campaign from Mr. Rogers through Azarloza (and his PAC) really ticked me off. Trust me, the ghosts of mules past are going to come home to kick Lambert & Rodgers back to reality. Rogers has more games up his sleeve and he is going to pull them out one at a time to take advantage of the city staff, city council, and the citizens of Newhall.
If you’ve bought a vehicle you will know that the Sales Mngr, Desk mngr, and sales person will come out with the “First Pencil” that is grossly outrageous. (total highway robbery) At that point it’s up to the unsuspecting buyer to be smart enough not to be taken to the cleaners. By the time you negotiate down a few bucks your still paying far over price per month. Mr. Rogers, and his Monteverde metropolis, is just like that car deal and after he concedes a couple of buildings he will hope that all will have compassion on him for his generosity. He will still have a project that is 4,5, or 6 hundred % over what is allowable. Meanwhile, back at the mule farm, Rogers will have bulldozers ready to fire up so he can start his destruction of the best bedroom community in Santa Clarita. We’re not unsuspecting buyers Mr. Rogers.
Hay, Rogers & Lambert, Your not going to convince our residents that your riding a White Horse. Your pushing a Trojan Horse and we all see it. When I went down to LA city hall for the Las Lomas vote that stopped Palmer from going forward, I walked over and met Dan Palmer to say hello. He seemed to be surprised that someone from our side would want to come over and introduce themselves to him. When I told him I apposed his development he looked at me with this look of total confusion and asked, “why would be apposed, I don’t understand?” He looked at me as if he wanted a heart to heart right there on the floor of city council chambers. What he didn’t see was his look of total delusion on his face with eyes glazed over with $ signs in them. This delusion is the same with Rogers! I haven’t met Rogers but I’m sure he will be a close twin.
That said, Mr. Pulskamp needs to understand that his urban development crap will not fly with this development and will not me a feather in his cap for his résumé. He has gone to far and whatever game he is playing it will be found out. His dismissals of the publics comments by stating they have already asked them to reduce the project was clearly a snub to the residents who were there. If were back soon it will be because of him.
Tanks for the Ender info Pauline
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I shouldn’t write on the run. Sorry guys. I meant to say:
If we are back soon it will be because of Pulskamp &
Thanks Pauline (not tanks) That’s a little Jar Jar Binks there!!
Your right Pauline, That’s the chance you take when you hit send
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Ender fooled the citizens of SCV enough to get elected. I wouldn’t count on the citizens to be savvy enough to put a stop to the Avenue project. I’m completely disgusted!
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It truly was a HUGE show of support for an honorable man. We need him back and we need a few more like him in order to stop Pulskamp/Brotzman/Lambert’s efforts to completely clog up this valley.
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CC, I think we are savvy enough. This will have more people picking apart everything everyone does for this project and it will drive the developer crazy. Nothing is going to slide by. I think we will accomplish a lot to reduce the size of the Avenues.
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It’ll be interesting to see how Pulskamp/Brotzman/Lambert try to convince the community that the project is ‘needed’. Unfotunately, with G&L/Seaver they used the communities health needs for that massive project. Hey, maybe if they throw in a Medical Office Building with the store fronts, they can accuse those neighbors that they don’t have the interest of the entire community and they’re just NIMBY’s like the rest of us! I think (and it’s just my opinion) that there’s a whole lot of money out there doing a whole lot of talking and it’s not ‘for the people’! The naive/ignorant me wants to know, How did it get this far with our quant little city? What happened to responsible building?
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Jay and Joyce Rogers, developers that bought the Smiser Mule Ranch and have proposed the insanely immense project called the Avenues, are the same developers that were fined tens of thousands of dollars for the mess they made in the Plum Canyon area. They were the Shapell-Monteverde Company that caused major run-off problems due to improper grading. Considering the huge drainage problems on the Smiser property, and all the underground wells in unstable riverbed, this developer is NOT a developer that should be trusted to address the Smiser Ranch problems.
Also, this city has said no to Las Lomas, and The Avenues is 12 times bigger! EVEN if this project is cut in half, it is too big considering our no to Las Lomas. Considering our stand on Las Lomas, this project should have been shoved back to the Rogers and THEY should have had the resposibility of paring it down, NOT our city staff. We do have a master plan, and if a project is grossly beyond what our master plan states as acceptable, the developers should have it thrown back at them.
As it is, Jay and Joyce Rogers should be charged for the cost of OUR staff being burdened with cutting their outrageous project down to something that is reasonable.
FIRM FACES EPA FINES AGENCY CITES WATER VIOLATIONS.
Byline: Nicholas Grudin Staff Writer
PLUM CANYON - A developer building hundreds of homes in Plum Canyon faces more than $100,000 in fines after being accused of violating a provision of the Clean Water Act, and is now negotiating a settlement, an EPA lawyer said.
According to an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency, grading conducted by the Shapell Monteverde development partnership could lead to dirt washing into local streams when it rains, potentially polluting the region’s water supply. The construction is on both sides of Plum Canyon Road.
“The primary thing is that Shapell violated the storm water pollution prevention plan in its Clean Water Act permit by failing to implement adequate erosion and sediment control measures,” said Gail Cooper, the EPA attorney working on the case.
Officials of Shapell Monteverde did not return phone calls.
Shapell Monteverde responded to the complaint immediately, requesting settlement negotiations, which are confidential, Cooper said.
The EPA will announce the results of those negotiations when a resolution is reached, Cooper said.
According to the investigation, Shapell and Monteverde have not taken adequate measures to ensure that graded dirt being moved for construction does not wash into Bouquet Creek when it rains. Bouquet Creek feeds the Santa Clara River, which environmentalists have fought hard to protect.
“It’s pretty appalling that a developer would be in noncompliance of the Clean Water Act, and given opportune time to fix it,” said Teresa Savaikie, a local environmentalist. “They’re talking about polluting the Santa Clara River.”
In June, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ordered an investigation into the Shapell Monteverde grading. At the end of September, the EPA filed a complaint threatening a fine of up to $137,000.
CAPTION(S):
3 photos
Photo:
(1 — 3) According to the EPA, the grading used by Shapell Monteverde when it built homes in Plum Canyon, top, could lead to dirt being washed into the Santa Clara River by way of some nearby streams and a creek, above. Environmental activist Teresa Savaikie, left, says she’s appalled by the potential pollution of the river.
David R. Crane/Staff Photographer
COPYRIGHT 2003 Daily News
Copyright 2003, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.
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U.S. EPA settles Clean Water Act case with Los Angeles developer
Release date: 1/20/2004
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 452-3378
Shapell to pay $124,000
LOS ANGELES - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has settled a case with a Los Angeles property developer over federal Clean Water Act stormwater runoff violations near Saugus, Calif.
With this agreement the Shapell Monteverde Partnership will pay a cash penalty of $124,866.50 within 30 days. This agreement resolves a June, 2003 violation notice to the company.
On April 18 and May 12, 2003, U.S. EPA inspectors visited two properties Shapell is developing on Plum Canyon Road in unincorporated northern Los Angeles County. Federal and state regulations require construction sites to have erosion and sediment control devices in place. The EPA inspectors found such controls inadequate to meet requirements for protecting water quality.
In 2002 and 2003 the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board also inspected these sites twice and noted the same erosion and sediment control problems. The LARWQCB issued Shapell four violation notices.
“Stormwater controls are vital to prevent contaminants from polluting our waterways,” said Alexis Strauss, director of the water division in the EPA’s Pacific Southwest regional office. Runoff is one of the biggest causes of water pollution in the Los Angeles area.
For more information on U.S. EPA stormwater regulations, visit: http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/waterstormwater.html
EPA Home Privacy and Security Notice Contact Us
Last updated on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008.
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Re: The Avenue at Santa Clarita and “Hey, maybe if they throw in a Medical Office Building with the store fronts, they can accuse those neighbors that they don’t have the interest of the entire community and they’re just NIMBY’s like the rest of us!”
If Henry Mayo really needed additional medical/office space to meet urgent reqmt’s, they would jump all over themselves to acquire available bldgs on Tourney Road, which is approx 2 miles from HM. Well over 100,000 sq.ft just sits there.
But No! HM’s Master Plan is all about profit margins for G&L (Lambert) and a HUGE send-off bonus for Seaver.
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Pauline, I was reading your report and the theme song to the movie Mission Impossible popped into my mind.
That is great stuff. It would be nice to know what Pulskamp thinks about that development record. Pulskamp, manages everything here and I think he needs a good dose of public opinion more then the council. At this point anyway.
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You’re absolutely right, WethepeopleSCV! It would not only be nice to know what Pulskamp thinks about this but the entire city staff, including our hardworking City Council members! If the community hears this, I’m sure there would be more involvement in regards to ‘this’ massive project and the problems that ‘could’ arise.
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Lvogal, your spot on!!