The five-member Planning Commission meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. (Planning Commission Meetings are broadcast live on SCV TV channel 20 and on the City’s Website.) Members of the public wishing to address the commission may do so by completing a speaker’s slip upon arrival at the meeting. There is a three minute time limit per person.
Meetings are held in the City Council Chambers, 1st floor of City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita, CA. ( view map ) For more information, contact the Planning Division at (661) 255-4330.
Tim Burkhart, Chairperson
Term Expires: December 2024
Tim Burkhart has over 40 years of experience with Six Flags and has held supervisory and management positions in all aspects of theme and water park operations. He currently holds the position of Corporate Vice President- Maintenance and Construction and oversees the Maintenance and Construction functions for all 26 Six Flags parks in North America.
In addition to his North American park responsibilities, Tim is a senior executive on the International Development team, charged with the development and design of new internationally licensed Six Flags Parks. He has worked on multiple new International theme and water parks in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, China, and Mexico.
Tim is a graduate of Wm. S. Hart High School, attended College of the Canyons, and graduated from California State University, Northridge. He holds Bachelors’ and Masters’ Degrees, as well as numerous technical certifications.
Tim lives in the City of Santa Clarita with his wife Debbie. His oldest daughter is a High School teacher in Salinas, California and his youngest daughter is a hospital Dietician living in Castaic with her husband and son. He is an avid cyclist and a board member of the Santa Clarita Valley Trail Users, volunteering regularly to build and maintain trail networks in the City Open Spaces. Additionally, he sits on the executive boards of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Valley Industry Association, the California Association of Parks and Attractions, and an Associate Director on the Board of Friends of Hart Park and Museum He has served as President of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, as well as serving as Chair and on boards of numerous community nonprofits. He also has served twenty years as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Santa Clarita.
Patsy Ayala, Vice-Chairperson
Term Expires: December 2026
Patsy has been a resident of Santa Clarita since 2000. She has ample experience in the public sector working with members of the California Assembly and California Senate. In the private sector, she gained experience with international corporations at General Electric Aircraft Engines, where she helped to start the operation of a high-tech engineering center.
Patsy has contributed extensively to the legislative process in the State of California working on issues such as high-speed rail, the environment, water, sanitation, safety and other legislative areas. She acted on behalf of state legislators for government affairs, legislative work and creating opportunities to serve the constituents and navigate the State of California’s agencies. She managed emergency crisis cases like the Aliso Canyon Gas Leak and COVID-19 concerns, such as unemployment and safety protocols.
Patsy has also been an active member of the community. She has served as a leader in the Latino community and played a key role in numerous civic and educational organizations, including boards and committees for the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce Latino Business Alliance & Government Affairs Council, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Valley Industry Association, Saugus Union School District, William S. Hart Union High School District and College of the Canyons. Over the years, she has received commendations and awards for her involvement in the community, including being named the 21st Senatorial District Woman of the Year in 2013.
Patsy has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Management. She also has certificates of study through Coursera in Politics from Yale University and Marketing from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Lisa Eichman, Commissioner
Term Expires: December 2026
Lisa Eichman joined the Planning Commission in October 2010. She, her husband Craig and daughter Shelby have been residents of Valencia since 1986. They moved to Valencia in order to raise their daughter in a family-oriented community with quality schools. She is co-owner and founding partner of Eichman & Eichman, Tax and Accounting and also owns Gymnastics Unlimited, Santa Clarita’s oldest and largest gymnastics school with her husband. Lisa is an Enrolled Agent and a Licensed Financial Advisor. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the following organizations: All Valley Le Tip (current President), Gymnastics Unlimited Foundation (CFO), Foundation for US Historical Monuments (Treasurer and Founding Board Member). She is also the Head Coach of the Santa Clarita Special Olympics Rhythmic gymnastics team.
Renee Berlin, Commissioner
Term Expires: December 2024
Renee Berlin has been a resident of the City of Santa Clarita since 1992 and lives in Valencia with her husband Allen. Ms. Berlin retired from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) in December 2016, where she held the position of Senior Executive Officer, Countywide Planning, responsible for the planning, development, and environmental clearance of major transit infrastructure projects. Renee also managed the development and implementation of Metro’s Systemwide Station design and the Metro Art program. At Metro, Renee worked collaboratively with local jurisdictions throughout the County to fund and implement critical mobility improvements. Examples in the City of Santa Clarita include the McBean Transit Center, Cross Valley Connector, Magic Mountain Interchange, Golden Valley Interchange, bus purchases, Metrolink stations, and numerous traffic signal, bicycle, and pedestrian projects. Renee holds a BA in Urban Studies and an MA in Urban Planning.
Renee Berlin joined the Planning Commission in January 2017. She looks forward to working with her fellow Commissioners to continue the City’s responsible growth by taking infrastructure, sustainability, and economic development into consideration and bringing the City’s 2020 Plan to fruition.
Dr. Dennis Ostrom, Commissioner
Earthquake Risk Consultant
Term Expires: December 2026
Dennis moved to the Santa Clarita Valley with his wife Sue and their two daughters in the late 1970s. He was soon working with residents to provide a technical basis that supported resisting the location of a hazardous waste dump over the Santa Clara River in Canyon Country. Later he provided similar input to resist the Elsmere Canyon Dump. Dennis spent 25 years with Southern California Edison as their specialist in earthquakes. During that time he earned a doctorate from the School of Engineering at UCLA.
In the 1980s, while serving as President of the Sand Canyon HOA, he forged the basis of an equestrian community, via Special Standards, for that area. “I moved here in the late 70s because it was a great area to live and raise children, it continues to be that way today, and my primary reason for being on the Planning Commission is to do what I can to keep it that way.”
