The Santa Clarita City Council approved a “pilot program” for a lease of dark fiber optic internet lines during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

The City Council also gave the final approval of the budget for fiscal year 2019-20, discussed some upcoming summer events and recognized June as Pride Month on Tuesday, holding public hearings on several agenda items.

Several members of the council shared their excitement for many of the upcoming events hosted around the city this summer, including Concerts in the Park, the Fourth of July Parade and holiday fireworks.

Councilmember Laurene Weste reminded residents to practice fire safety during the upcoming national holiday, especially due to the dry conditions of the upcoming summer.

”Let’s be safe this year. We’re entirely in a fire zone in this valley and we cannot and should not violate nature’s law,” said Weste. “Fire will burn wherever it can, and we are surrounded by brush in this valley, especially with 30 inches of rain this year.”

Pride Month

Several members of the community and local representatives came up to the speaker’s podium to commend the city council on their decision to recognize June as Pride month.

“This means more to me than you know,” said resident Ashley Calkins. “For the kids like me, who felt alone, this means something.”

Another speaker, the mother of an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force, tearfully shared her worries for LGBTQ youth, as well as her pride in the Santa Clarita City Council.

“We feel comfortable sending our kids off to war, to be killed, to be maimed, but we are not okay with them being who they are in our schools and in our community,” she said. “So that is why it is important to me. I sent my son off to war at 18 years old. I would like to see us welcome and support our young people, that’s just a small token we can show as a community.”

Representatives from the offices of Assemblywoman Christy Smith, Congresswoman Katie Hill and County Supervisor Kathryn Barger all offered support in the Santa Clarita City Council’s decision to observe Pride Month.

Although Councilman Bill Miranda was unable to attend the meeting due to his grandson’s wedding, he still made a video statement for the recognition of Pride Month.

“It was very important to me that we recognize June as Pride Month in the city of Santa Clarita,” said Miranda in the prerecorded message. “To me, tonight’s recognition is also a celebration of love. That is what LGBTQ Pride Month is all about.”

Miranda was the council member that had brought forth the suggestion of officially recognizing June as Pride Month at the last City Council meeting.

“I am proud of our diverse and inclusive community. The city of Santa Clarita was built upon diversity, and we welcome people of all ethnicities, backgrounds, beliefs, values, cultures and sexual orientations,” said Miranda. “Having this magnificent blend of unique individuals is what makes our city great.”

Dark Fiber

The City Council chose to lease two dark fiber strands from Crown Castle Fiber LLC, which would connect Santa Clarita to downtown Los Angeles.

This connection would allow the City to select from a variety of internet service providers that can provide a cost-effective price for a 1 Gbps, or faster, internet connection for the city’s network, according to City officials.

The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce applauded the move, which could potentially increase internet offerings in the area.

“This is a great first step by the City of Santa Clarita,” said Nancy Starczyk, chair of the board of the SCV Chamber of Commerce. “Bringing businesses high-speed internet access to the Santa Clarita Valley is a top advocacy priority for the SCV Chamber of Commerce. In order to grow business and maintain our rating as a top business-friendly city, we need to assist our businesses, especially those in the industrial and commercial centers, to gain access to high-speed internet.”

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