BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers MAKING HIS POINT- Frank Serafine of Simi Valley expresses his concerns about the Runkle Canyon site to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors at their first meeting in Simi Valley. Serafine requested a new environmental impact report be required for the location. The first-ever Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting held in Simi Valley opened the door on Tuesday night to more than 30 members of the public, who took full advantage of the opportunity to voice their concerns to district supervisors in a local venue.

The public comment portion of the meeting lasted nearly two hours, with issues concerning the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, urban development of Runkle Canyon, development in the Santa Susana Knolls and wage negotiations for county employees dominating the microphone.

Citizens concerned with the former Rocketdyne-controlled Santa Susana Field Laboratory asked for help in monitoring the contamination of the site. Besides informing the board of facts and statistics, some citizens spoke about personal health issues they said were related to the hazardous conditions.

"The most toxic substances on the face of the earth are soaking and contaminating that site that is overlooking all of us," said Elizabeth Crawford, founder of Rocketdynewatch.org.

On the matter of Runkle Canyon, at least four members of the group calling themselves "The Radiation Rangers" addressed the board in regard to Runkle Ranch- and evidence they've acquired that they say proves it's unfit for development.

Members of the group, including John Southwick, implored the county representatives to take steps to halt the project and require that the developer order a new environmental impact report before proceeding.

Southwick also accused city officials of showing "bad faith" regarding residents' repeated attempts to ask for help.

"The gloves didn't bubble, but you're still in trouble," Southwick said in a comment directed toward Simi Mayor Paul Miller.

Residents of the Santa Susana Knolls also attended the meeting to express concerns about the proposed 100 manufactured-home Colton Lee project, including the widening of Katherine Road. One resident, Kate O'Brien, emphasized that "knolls" signified hills, and that the development would be out of character for the neighborhood.

"We really feel that as a community, we're being sold out," said Marie Mason, vice president of the Santa Susana Knolls Homeowners Association.

Representatives of the Service Employees International Union of Ventura County lobbied at the meeting to get fair wage negotiations, in an attempt to retain quality employees. Speakers said the high turnover rate was causing existing employees to become overworked and that the county should do its part to "invest in its workers."

"I have been recently forced to have to leave Ventura County due to lack of costofliving adjustments," said Albert Mesa, who was a crime analyst at the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

Other issues brought up at the meeting included support for Simi's landfill expansion and a request for an independent investigation of the 9/11/01 attacks. At the end of the public comment session, board members assured citizens they would consider everything that was said.

"These comments don't go overlooked," said Supervisor Peter Foy. "It does make a difference- what you say- and it shows your concern and the issues that are important to you."

To view streaming video of the special Board of Supervisors meeting, visit www.countyofventura.org and click on the link for July 17.