Archive for January, 2009

City Reaches Milestone with Cross Valley Connector

January 30, 2009

 

Bob Haueter representing Howard Buck McKeon, Gail Farber, Public Works Director for L.A. County, Councilmember Laurie Ender, Councilmember Marsha McLean, Mayor Pro Tem Laurene Weste, Mayor Frank Ferry, James McCarthy, Deputy Director Planning, Public Transportation and Local Assitance for CalTrans, Greg McWilliams CEO, Lennar, Councilmember Bob Kellar

l-r: Bob Haueter representing Howard Buck McKeon, Gail Farber, Public Works Director for L.A. County, Councilmember Laurie Ender, Councilmember Marsha McLean, Mayor Pro Tem Laurene Weste, Mayor Frank Ferry, James McCarthy, Deputy Director Planning, Public Transportation and Local Assitance for CalTrans, Greg McWilliams CEO, Lennar, Councilmember Bob Kellar

 design_of_bridge

The City of Santa Clarita has broken ground on the last phase of the eight and a half mile roadway known as the Cross Valley Connector. The east/west roadway project is over eight years in the making and provides a critical part in keeping Santa Clarita traffic moving.

The final phase of the project includes construction of two bridges that will connect Newhall Ranch Road with Soledad Canyon and Golden Valley Road. Along with Mayor Frank Ferry and the entire Santa Clarita City Council at the groundbreaking were a host of representatives from both the public and private sectors who helped make the Cross Valley Connector a reality through the years.

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Posted in City Council, Traffic | Comments Off

City Event Tourism Bus Wrapped

January 30, 2009
City of Santa Clarita Toursim Bus

City of Santa Clarita Toursim Bus

 
City of Santa Clarita Tourism Bus

City of Santa Clarita Tourism Bus

The City of Santa Clarita, with  generous support from Mann Biomedical Park LLC, has wrapped a 45 – foot commuter bus, highlighting the City of Santa Clarita’s Spring tourism events. The bus takes commuters from Santa Clarita into the heart of Los Angeles and serves as a rolling invitation to bolster tourism at City events including the upcoming AT&T Champions Classic, the City of Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival and the Amgen Tour of California.

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Mayor and Councilmembers to Host Community Bike Ride Saturday

January 22, 2009
The City of Santa Clarita will once again host "Hit the Trail" Saturday January 24.

The City of Santa Clarita will once again host "Hit the Trail" Saturday January 24.

Mayor Frank Ferry and members of the Santa Clarita City Council are inviting residents and community members to “Hit the Trail” this Saturday January 24. Hit the Trail is a community bike  ride ending in a rally at Bridgeport Park. The bike ride follows the City’s trail system and has three starting points around Santa Clarita. Once at the rally attendees will be treated to free lunch, entertainment and giveaways.

School age children can enter a bike decorating contest with help from the City’s Parkmobile and be eligible to win prizes. Also at the park stationary bicycle competitions will be held on stage and emceed by presenting partner Hometown Station AM 1220 KHTS.

A variety of booths will be at the rally offering giveaways and representing the healthy lifestyle Santa Clarita residents enjoy. Among the booths, Edwards Cinema will be on hand and attendees will have the chance to win free movie tickets. Glenn Ivey Day Spa will also be at the park offering giveaways and free massages. Along with KHTS and the City of Santa Clarita, the event is sponsored by Jamba Juice who will be on site offering their delicious drinks for thirsty riders.

Residents do not need to paticipate in the community bike ride to enjoy the festivities at Bridgeport Park. The event is happening from 10 am to 1 pm and is completly free and open to the public. Free lunch will be offered, while supplies last, by the Lion’s Club of Santa Clarita.

Mayor Frank Ferry will be leading the portion of the ride from Valencia High School and Councilmember Bob Kellar will be riding from the Canyon Country starting point at Camp Plenty Road and Soledad Canyon.

Hit the Trail is a celebration of the City’s thirty mile trail system, but also is the official  kick-off  towards the countdown of the Amgen Tour of California. On Saturday February 21, the worlds top cyclists, including international  superstar Lance Armstrong, will roll into Santa Clarita for the start of Stage 7 of the Amgen Tour of California, America’s largest cycling event.

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Old Town Newhall “Streetscape” Project Slated for 2009

January 14, 2009

 

Main Street will have five blocks in Old Town Newhall transformed in 2009.

Main Street will begin it's transformation in 2009.

 The City has long-been committed to the revitalization of the Old Town Newhall area. This commitment will continue in 2009 as the City moves forward with another significant investment in the area - the beginning of a new “streetscape” for a stretch of Main Street.  Streetscaping is best described as a beautification project that includes pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, streetlighting, street furniture and landscaping. To support the landscaping portion of the project, it is necessary to replace and improve the water and drainage system that supports the area.

  The project timeline and implementation will be determined in the next few weeks. Several community and stakeholder meetings have been held to help shape the project. The design and some of the construction for the new landscaping, paved crosswalks, benches, antique street lights and new storm drain will be underway this spring. The streetscape project is intended to transform the look and feel of Old Town Newhall as it burgeons into the Arts & Entertainment District of Santa Clarita.

 Main Street 

Main Street Cross Section 

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Posted in business, Community, planning | 1 Comment »

City to Form Arts Commission

January 14, 2009
On Tuesday night, the Santa Clarita City Council voted 3-2 to move forward with the formation of an arts commission.  The agenda item was brought forth by Councilmember Bob Kellar:
  

Excerpt of comments by Councilmember Bob Kellar on

Item 8:  Arts Commission Study

1/13/09 City Council meeting

  

“I urge my fellow Councilmembers to say “yes” to the development of an Arts Commission.  For purposes of maybe just giving a little bit of guiding light and picking up on what was said, I’m envisioning maybe a 9-member commission.  I do believe that a stipend is appropriate, but I think it should be absolutely nominal, and I’m thinking like maybe $25 a meeting.  That they should perhaps come together on a monthly basis and that we should give them a figure of…3 years was put out there; maybe we should be consistent with our existing structure and commissions at 2 years.  I’m open.  But I think the thing that we as a Council need to do this evening is to say “yes” to staff that we want the formation of an Arts Commission for the City of Santa Clarita.  And really it’s for the Santa Clarita Valley and I’m proud to say that.  And then give the responsibility of the details, if you will, to our existing committee that has incredible talent and experience, for them to come back for us to ratify what this Commission would look like and how it should be structured and maybe further review of what they intend to do.  I know we have 14 points here that I know a lot of effort…and perhaps that would be the guiding light and I’d be very comfortable with that because I was very impressed with those 14 points.  But that’s my recommendation to my fellow Council and I would like to make that as a motion that we do approve the formation of an Arts Commission for the citizens of the Santa Clarita Valley and we do it this evening.  Thank you. 

 

I made the motion that we cause a commission to represent the arts interests in the Santa Clarita Valley and no longer have the Arts Committee, simple as that.  And then have them report back to us what they envision to be an appropriate design, if they will, how many members, what a fair stipend would be, which I know out of having talked with so many of you is not an issue whatsoever, and that we move forward in that configuration.  I call for the question.“

 

On roll call vote:

Ayes:  McLean, Ender, Kellar

Noes:  Weste, Ferry

Absent:  None

Motion carried

 

The City’s Arts Advisory Committee will be discussing this item at their next regularly scheduled meeting of January 26, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall  in  the Orchard Conference Rooms on the first floor.  The meetings are open to the public.

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City Hosts Another Extreme Neighborhood Makeover

January 13, 2009

City Councilmember Bob Kellar greets local resident at the City of Santa Clarita's Extreme Neighborhood Makover in Saugus

City Councilmember Bob Kellar greets local resident at the City of Santa Clarita's Extreme Neighborhood Makover in Saugus

  

 

The Santa Clarita City Council hosted its third in a series of block parties, kicking off the Extreme Neighborhood Makeover in the Saugus area.  City Councilmembers Marsha McLean and Bob Kellar attended Saturday’s block party that provided residents in a targeted three-block area with information regarding the City’s efforts to help improve their neighborhood through the Extreme Neighborhood Makeover program.  Participants enjoyed lunch provided by Jersey Mike’s, as well as music, courtesy of KHTS-AM 1220.  A series of information booths and giveaways were also on-hand, along with members of the City Council and City staff. 

Santa Clarita’s Hometown Station KHTS 1220 AM has extended coverage of the event on their website including pictures and audio interviews.

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Councilmember Kellar Welcomes Public Art

January 9, 2009
Councilmember Bob Kellar with local artist Diane Fedoraro in front of "Molly" at the Westfield Valencia Town Center.

Santa Clarita City Councilmember Bob Kellar with local artist Diane Fedoraro in front of "Molly" at the Westfield Valencia Town Center.

The first in a series of the City of Santa Clarita’s public art installations at the Westfield Valencia Town Center was unveiled Monday and Santa Clarita City Councilmember Bob Kellar was on hand to usher in the new year of art in public places.

Sculptures  done by local artists will be on display at the Westfield Valencia Town Center through the year. Diane Fedoraro’s work can be seen by the public through March 8.

Artist Statement

Sculpture Decriptions

 

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FIRST BABY of 2009 GETS LOOT FROM CITY AND HOSPITAL!

January 5, 2009
54 am on January 2.) Santa Clarita City Councilmember Laurie Ender and Carol Winkler, HMNMH Auxiliary President.

From left: Aaron and Carie Swanson, baby Cameron Riley Swanson, weighing 8 pounds 13 ounces and measuring 22 inches in length, (delivered by Navid Navizadeh, MD at 7:54 am on January 2), Santa Clarita City Councilmember Laurie Ender and Carol Winkler, HMNMH Auxiliary President.

 

To help celebrate the special status of being the first Santa Clarita baby of the New Year, Carol Winkler, president of Henry Mayo’s Auxiliary, presented the family with a commemorative birth announcement, a $50 certificate for the hospital’s Gift Shop, and a gift basket filled with baby items from Babies R Us in Canyon Country. The couple also received a commemorative “Santa Clarita Baby” diaper bag from Laurie Ender, Santa Clarita City Council member.  Wrapped in a blanket and “Made in Santa Clarita” cap, Cameron lay sleeping in his mother’s arms, oblivious to the excitement that surrounded his birth.

Posted in City Council, Community | Leave a Comment »

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