Santa Clarita council votes to remove planning commissioner Denise Light after rancorous public comment

The Santa Clarita City Council voted to begin the process to replace planning commissioner Denise Light after a contentious public-comment period in which dozens of residents urged the council to keep her and several speakers accused Mayor Pro Tem Lorraine (West) of retaliation.

Denise Light spoke to the council before the vote, citing the city’s municipal code and council norms and asking the council to follow a process that “promotes justice.” She told the council that commissioners may be removed "with or without cause," but that removals must be handled consistent with the municipal code and due process standards.

The hearing drew large turnout and more than two dozen residents who spoke in support of Light. Josh Rivas, a local business owner, told the council there were "no actual allegations against her — no wrongdoing, no trial," and argued that "asking questions" is part of public service. Several speakers, including Lisa Kosika and Bradley Gross, alleged improper dealings and retaliation tied to a downtown development and cited a disputed $750,000 figure in connection with negotiations involving a developer; the council did not make findings about those allegations during the meeting.

City staff and the city attorney’s office summarized relevant law: planning commissioners serve at the pleasure of the council, removal requires a majority vote once agendized, and certain actions may implicate the Brown Act and state whistleblower protections. Staff also said funding and developer exactions discussed at the planning commission had been the subject of multiple public meetings and that exactions generally must bear a nexus to project impacts.

After council discussion, a council member moved that the council allow the mover to pursue appointing a new planning commissioner; another council member seconded the motion. The city clerk called the roll: McLean—No; Ayala—Aye; Gibbs—No; Mayor Pro Tem West—Aye; Mayor Miranda—Yes. By that vote the motion carried and the council proceeded to replace the commissioner.

Supporters of Light said the removal appeared retaliatory and risked chilling future commissioners’ willingness to ask questions of developers and staff. Denise Light argued her questions advanced transparency and that no statutory or ethical violations had been presented as grounds for dismissal.

The council did not make substantive findings at the meeting about the specific allegations raised by members of the public regarding negotiations with developers or about personnel matters beyond the motion to replace the planning commissioner. The next procedural step is the council’s appointment process to fill the vacant commission seat.

The meeting continued after a tense exchange with members of the audience following the vote.