Archive for September, 2008

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City Honors Local Mars Rover Team

September 30, 2008
The Santa Clarita City Council honored members of the JPL team that worked on the Mars Phoenix Program at the September 23rd meeting.

The Santa Clarita City Council honored members of the JPL team, at the September 23rd meeting, who worked on the Mars Rover Program

Those honored were all Santa Clarita residents:

Gene Bonfiglio-Spacecraft Navigation Team, Ted Drain-Navigation Software, Scott Evans-Navigation Software, Ken Fuji-Mission Design, Thomas R. Gavin-JPL Associate Director, Barry G. Goldstein-Phoenix Project Manager, Kathleen Kipfstuhl-Ground Data Systems, Behzad Raofi-Maneuver Design, Byron Yetter-Deep Space Network Support, Norma Mainland-Mission operations systems lead, Maria Schellpfeffer-Flight sequence team, Robert Denise-Lead Payload Software Engineer.

 Thank you to the Mars Phoenix team, and congratulations again on your success!

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CITY COUNCIL TO HOLD SPECIAL MEETING REGARDING BENZ DIVERTER

September 26, 2008

At the request of Mayor Bob Kellar, the Santa Clarita City Council will hold a special City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. to address the removal of the Benz Road/Alaminos Drive traffic diverter.

The traffic diverter was put into place at the authorization of the City Council, at Benz Road and Alaminos Street on Wednesday, September 24, 2008, in response to requests from residents of Benz Road who are experiencing increased traffic on their street.

Following the placement of the temporary diverter, residents living on surrounding streets began contacting the City, expressing concerns with regard to the diverter.  By Friday, September 26, the City had received well over 100 emails and phone calls related to the Benz Road/Alaminos Drive diverter.

Mayor Kellar requested a special City Council meeting be scheduled as soon as possible to again address this issue.  The City Council will meet in Council Chambers at City Hall, 23920 Valencia Boulevard, first floor.

Click  for the City Council Agenda Report and for a Benz Road chronology outline.

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Hospital Master Plan Heard at City Council Meeting

September 24, 2008

The Santa Clarita City Council held a public hearing on the expansion master plan of Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Tuesday evening. During the public hearing, the City Council heard presentations from both City staff and the applicant.

Once the presentations were over, the City Council listened to over 40 speakers, both in favor and in opposition to the expansion proposal.  Right now, the City Council is in the process of reviewing the Environmental Impact Report (EIR).  The public comment period for the EIR ends on Oct 17. The public hearing was continued to November 19.

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September 24, 2008
Ken Pulskamp, Ed Masterson, Jennifer Baldwin, Jeff Lage, Fred Duncan cut the ribbon in front of their new lean manufacturing cell.

Ken Pulskamp, Ed Masterson, Jennifer Baldwin, Jeff Lage, Fred Duncan cut the ribbon in front of their new lean manufacturing cell.

B & B Manufacturing, a world-class provider of lean manufacturing solutions to the aerospace, military, semiconductor and automotive industries, unveiled their latest “lean manufacturing cell “during a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at their Santa Clarita based facility on Tuesday September 15th.

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STREET ART FESTIVAL COMING THIS WEEKEND

September 22, 2008

 

On Saturday September 27 and Sunday September 28, 2008, the Santa Clarita Street Art Festival, sponsored by Lockheed Federal Credit Union, returns to Old Town Newhall.  This exciting two-day festival will be located along Main Street between Lyons Avenue and 5th Street.  The Street Art Festival is a free outdoor event, open to the public, and features live entertainment: local and international dance performances, live music, fine arts and crafts, hands-on art activities, and the fine art of street painting.

The highlight of the festival is the Street Painter Block, sponsored by Glen Ivy Day Spa, where attendees can watch street painters create a works of art, from the beginning outlines to final masterpiece.
The Pop Art Block, sponsored by Saturn of Santa Clarita, will feature many artforms practiced by local artists including contemporary artworks such as sculpture, installations, and traditional paintings.

There will also be great music and food available all weekend long. For more information check out the City of Santa Clarita’s Street Art Festival online.

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City Luncheon Draws Record Crowd

September 18, 2008

The City of Santa Clarita hosted the 2008 State of the City Luncheon this week, to a sold out crowd of residents, business and community leaders in attendance.  Led by Mayor Bob Kellar who discussed the City’s declining crime rates, revitalization of Old Town Newhall and the Cemex legislation, the luncheon event included a video presentation from each of the Santa Clarita City Councilmembers.  Mayor Pro-tem Ferry shared information about the City’s major road proejcts, as well as the One Valley One Vision joint general plan; Councilmember Laurie Ender discussed the City’s successful graffiti abatement program and teen programs; Councilmember Marsha McLean showed the City’s green facilities and shared information about how the City is reducing its carbon footprint, and Councilmember Laurene Weste toured the City’s major park and recreation facilities, sharing information about expansion projects, trails and the open space preservation district.

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Mercy Housing Project

September 17, 2008
At the September 9th joint Redevelopment Agency/City Council meeting, the Santa Clarita Council approved the loan of $2.7 million  to Mercy Housing California for the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Hidaway Apartments in Canyon Country. The Hidaway Apartments are currently in default on a loan with the County of Los Angeles and have fallen into disrepair over the last several years. Mercy Housing will use $2.3 million  to completely renovate the 67-unit building inside and out. Once the renovation is complete, all of the rental units will be held at affordable rents for families earning at or below 50% and 60% of the area median income for 55 years. The project will provide much needed affordable housing for working families, as well significantly improving the condition of the buildings and rental units. The City will maintain significant oversight of the project throughout the 55-year affordability agreement and will conduct annual inspections of tenant eligibility documentation, property maintenance, and rental units.

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Parking Lots as Open Space? NOT in Santa Clarita!

September 10, 2008

Yes or No?: Are developers allowed to count parking lots as parkland and open space in the City of Santa Clarita within specific plan areas?

 

Answer: NO

 

The City’s code section (Unified Development Code, Section 17.16.030 C. 2. b.) reads, “Consideration of other forms of access, such as pedestrian ways, courts, plazas, driveways, horse trails, bike trails, or open parking lots offered for dedication may be made at the time of the specific plan consideration as a means of meeting requirements for open space or park dedication requirements.”

 

An example of how this would be applied by the City of Santa Clarita would be when a park or trail head is proposed and built in a specific plan area and it provides parking for that use.  Then, that entire amenity, the park and/or trail and associated parking, could, at the Council’s discretion, be accepted as a dedication of open space.  In no way does this code section relieve an applicant of any parking requirements, nor does it suggest or allow that required commercial or residential parking could be used as a means to meet providing required open space.

 

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Benz Road Update

September 10, 2008
Cross section showing the proposed implementation of the diagonal diverter near Benz Road.

Cross section showing the proposed implementation of the diagonal diverter near Benz Road.

The City’s Public Works Department is finishing the design of the temporary diverter near Benz Road to ensure that it is installed safely and does not cause issues for pedestrians and people trying to drive around it.  The Public Works Department plans to install the diverter no later than the week of September 29.  The City’s Transit Division is working with Public Works to reroute the local bus service and advise riders of the changes. The diverter will be in place for a three-month trial period, per the City Council’s direction.  The City’s Traffic Division will be providing before and after traffic analysis for the temporary diverter.

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Valencia Bridge and Major Thoroughfare Construction Fee District Increase Approved

September 10, 2008

At the September 9, 2008 City Council meeting, the Council voted to approve an update to the Valencia Bridge and Thoroughfare (B&T) District.  This is a fee developers pay as part of their contribution for infrastructure.  The update will go into affect on January 1, 2009 and will increase the B&T fee for the Valencia District from the current rate of $11,610 per single family home to $19,650 per single family home, with similar increases for multi-family, commercial and industrial developments.  This update is necessary to bring the fee in line with recent increases in construction costs.  The fee was last updated in 1999, and since that time, roadway and bridge construction costs in the Los Angeles area have increased by 10% annually.  The new fee will allow a total of $55 million in new revenue to be collected to construct the highway system improvements identified in the City’s General Plan Circulation Element.  Since the Valencia B&T District is a joint district with Los Angeles County, the County will be adopting the same update at the October 28 Board of Supervisors meeting, with the same implementation date of January 1, 2009.

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