The Santa Clarita City Council discussed Phase III in the construction of the new Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at their Tuesday meeting.

Also discussed during the May 28 meeting were state legislation, waste management and fire station development, according to the agenda.

Waste Management Rate Adjustment

Santa Clarita Waste Management services are currently held at a single-family rate capped below the normal rate provided by Los Angeles County. However, due to a notice from the County relating changes in the rates for unincorporated areas, those prices are now set to change.

According to City Manager Ken Striplin, the County rates are set to change from $22.72 to $23.79, effective on July 1, 2019.

The council approved the motion to change single-family rates up from $22.72 to $23.28, an increase of approximately 2.5 percent.

Elementary School Recognition

Recognition was given to the Bridgeport Elementary School Green Team. The students had been selected as the grand prize winner in the Grades of Green Waste Competition.

The 2019 Waste Campaign included 80 teams from 77 cities and 13 countries. Collectively, Grades of Green Waste Campaign teams diverted over 229,000 pounds of waste (114 tons) from the landfill and educated over 25,000 leaders and community members around the world, according to officials.

“These are the next generation of leaders and decision-makers in our communities,” said McLean. “We are in very, very good hands.”

New Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station

The meeting ended with a discussion about potential contacts for the onsite construction of the new Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

The project — a joint effort between the City of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles County — is an effort to design and construct a new station on Golden Valley Road.

“This is really the vision of the City Council from over a decade ago, and really demonstrates the diligence of the City Council in looking at public safety as a priority for this community,” said Striplin. “(They are) working with perseverance with the County of Los Angeles to step up and create something new, something modern and something reflective of the needs of law enforcement today.”

The current Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station was built around 1970 for a population of about 50,000. The valley now has a population of around 300,000, according to Striplin.

The ability of the council to fund the majority of the $65 million project reflects the “fiscal restraint” that the council has had over several years in setting money aside, according to officials.

The City Manager credited the success of the project partially due to a partnership with the County and District Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s office, which has offered a total contribution of $18 million, officials said.

The City Council awarded several construction contracts for Phase III of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station construction project, including an up to $47 million contract to Icon West Inc. for the construction itself.

“This is a really huge element for this community, and it has been a long, sought-out project and agreement,” said Councilmember Laurene Weste. “I can’t think of anything that is more important for our families and our community than to have the men and women that serve to protect us every day be housed in an adequate facility that will take us into the future.”

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