Message from the Mayor and City Council
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in what the City of Santa Clarita is doing regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Santa Clarita City Council is very committed to economic revitalization and keeping you informed. This portion of the City’s website is intended to keep the community up-to-date on what is happening with Santa Clarita and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
What's New
Updated: November 19, 2009Median Improvements at Sierra Highway and Newhall Avenue
You may have noticed crews hard at work preparing for the installation of a new median at Sierra Highway and Newhall Avenue.
The project will reduce the width of the existing striped median and construct a landscaped median to provide three through lanes in each direction on Newhall Avenue and a bus shoulder at the south-west and north-west corners of the intersection. The project will also include Americans with Disabilities Act access ramps at the intersection.
Follow this project from start to finish and see your tax dollars in action!!!
Updated: October 1st, 2009
Grant Programs
The City and Redevelopment Agency are offering small businesses and property owners , located within the Newhall Redevelopment Project Area, exclusive opportunities to apply for and receive funding through the Newhall Redevelopment Small Business Grant and the Old Town Newhall Building Improvement Grant programs.
Updated: September 23rd, 2009
City Receives $4.6 million Competitive ARRA Award
On September 22, 2009, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced the City’s proposal to fund the installation of two additional solar bus canopies and solar carports at the Transit Maintenance Facility (TMF) was one of only 43 nationwide proposals granted an award through the Transit Investments in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) competitive grant program. In fact, of the 43 awards granted by the FTA, the City’s award of $4,620,000 was the fifth largest.
TIGGER is a $100 million competitive grant program designed to award transit agencies that are pursuing cutting-edge environmental technologies to help reduce global warming, lessen America’s dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, and create green jobs
Updated: July 9th, 2009
City Project Not Selected To Receive National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award
On June 30, 2009, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released their list of recipients for awards through the Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Project Grant Program. Of the 814 proposals submitted, only 50 were awarded funding. Unfortunately, the City’s $2.7 million proposal to remove arundo and tamarisk from 297 acres of the Santa Clara River was not among those selected to receive an award.
City Receives “Authorization to Proceed” with First ARRA Projects
The City has received from the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) the “Authorization to Proceed” (E-76’s) with its five designated ARRA Highway Infrastructure Program projects:
- Asphalt Roadway Rehabilitation Phase I ($1,500,000)
- Asphalt Roadway Rehabilitation Phase II ($1,619,899)
- Whites Canyon Road at Soledad Canyon Road Right-Turn Pocket ($1,200,000)
- Newhall Avenue at Sierra Highway Median ($305,000)
- Bridge Rehabilitation to Various City Bridges ($550,101)
Three of these projects, Asphalt Roadway Rehabilitation Phase I, Asphalt Roadway Rehabilitation Phase II, and the Newhall Avenue at Sierra Highway Median are currently out to bid. The two remaining projects, Whites Canyon Road at Soledad Canyon Road Right-Turn Pocket and the Bridge Rehabilitation are set to begin the bidding process within the next two weeks. Construction is expected to begin in the late summer and last through the winter 2009/2010
Updated: July 2nd, 2009
City Council Adopts Resolution to Submit Applications for Neighborhood Stabilization Competitive Grant Program and Approved the Acceptance of $174,751 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program Allocation
On June 23, 2009, the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency held a joint public hearing and adopted a resolution authorizing the City’s Neighborhood Stabilization Competitive Grant Program (NSP-2) application for an amount to be determined.
The NSP-2 provides competitive grants to state and local governments for the purpose of assisting in the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes. The NSP-2 allows for the same eligible activities as the State Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP-1). Those activities are as follows:
- Establish financing mechanisms for purchase and redevelopment of foreclosed-upon homes and residential properties, including such mechanisms as soft-second, loan loss reserves, and shared-equity loans for low-and-moderate-income homebuyers;
- Purchase and rehabilitate homes and residential properties that have been abandoned or foreclosed upon, in order to sell, rent, or redevelop such homes and properties;
- Establish land banks for homes that have been foreclosed upon;
- Demolish blighted structures; and
- Redevelop demolished or vacant properties (also includes using funds for site acquisition).
Submittal of the City’s NSP-1 application was authorized by the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency on June 9, 2009.
One important distinction between the programs is the federally, competitive NSP-2 requires at minimum either returning one hundred (100) abandoned or foreclosed homes back to productive use or eliminating their negative effect.
The City and Redevelopment Agency are currently exploring potential projects/activities that may qualify for funding and also be competitive at the federal level. The minimum funding threshold for applications is $5 million.
Council also approved the acceptance of the City’s $174,751 ARRA allocation through the United States Department of Justice’s Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG). This award will be used to supplement Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) funding from the State of California. This state funding source was recently reduced in response to the state’s current budget deficit.
These JAG funds will be used for the salaries of two Career Offender Burglary Robbery Apprehension (COBRA) detectives for a period of approximately 5 months. The COBRA program helps the City reduce juvenile crime and prevent gang violence.
Updated: June 29th, 2009
PUBLIC NOTICE
- Notice of Public Review and Comment Period for Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP 2) Funding. Click here to view document.
Updated: June 10th, 2009
City Council Adopts Resolutions to Submit Applications for Neighborhood Stabilization Program Allocation and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Recovery Act Allocation
On June 9, 2009, the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency held a joint public hearing and adopted a resolution approving the City’s Neighborhood Stabilization Grant application for $1,187,000 in funding allocated by the State of California.
The Neighborhood Stabilization Program is authorized under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 for the purpose of assisting in the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes and properties. If approved by the California Department of Housing and Development, the City will utilize these funds to acquire/redevelop demolished or vacant properties and demolish blighted structures in Old Town Newhall, as part of the long-term implementation of the Downtown Newhall Specific Plan, adopted by the City Council in December, 2005.
Council also adopted a resolution authorizing the City’s submittal of its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Recovery Act allocation of $1,565,800. If the City’s submittal is approved by the United States Department of Energy, the City will use this allocation to fund five programs:
- Green Energy Incentive Program - $313,160 – The City is proposing to take up to the allowable amount of funds (20%) and create a business energy-efficiency program. This program would provide grants to local businesses that wish to upgrade their energy efficiency.
- Retrofit Lighting for Bridges and Lighting at City Facilities – $550,000 – This project would replace approximately 140 existing high vapor sodium street lights with induction lighting, saving the City $45,000 per year in energy costs. Additionally, lighting at various City facilities will be retrofitted with energy efficient technology.
- Newhall Public Library Energy Upgrades – $500,000 – This project would provide energy-efficient upgrades for the Newhall Public Library, which may include day lighting, daylight sensors, energy-efficient lighting, task-appropriate lighting, cool-roof technology, overhangs, improved glazing, night flushing of air, efficient Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning [HVAC], and improved appliances.
- Volume Based Rate Program – $102,640 – This project would include the purchase of 35-gallon trash containers. The purchasing of these containers would result in the City’s franchised solid waste provider being able to implement a volume-based rate program citywide, which will result in an increase in the City’s diversion.
- Ultraviolet-C Emitters for Air-Conditioned [A/C] Coils – $100,000 – This project would entail the installation of high-output C-wavelength ultraviolet (UVC) emitters at A/C heat exchange coils at various City facilities, including the Sports Complex and Newhall Community Center. These UVC emitters rid the coils of the HVAC unit of bio-film and restore and maintain near original design energy efficiency. This typically produces 10 to 20 percent in energy saving and reduced-maintenance costs.
Updated: June 8th, 2009
Small Business Administration "Doing Business in a Tough Economy" Workshop
On June 2, 2009, the City, along with Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Mike Antonovich, the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Valley Industrial Association, the Small Business Development Center, and College of the Canyons, hosted a free workshop for local small business owners to inform them of incentives available through the Recovery Act as well as various loan programs specifically engineered for small businesses provided by the United States government.
Mayor Frank Ferry kicked off the workshop which included speakers from the U.S. Small Business Administration and the California Statewide Certified Development Corporation. The speakers presented information regarding several loan programs and technical assistance services including specific Recovery Act initiatives. The City of Santa Clarita also made a brief presentation regarding tax incentives available through the City's Enterprise Zone.
Updated: June 2nd, 2009
City Council Approves Consolidated Plan for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Recovery Act Allocation
On May 12, 2009, the City Council approved the City’s draft 2009-2013 Consolidated Plan for the City’s use of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Recovery Act allocation of $303,635. If the Consolidated Plan is approved by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City will use this allocation to fund two programs: a commercial façade improvement program and a small business development center program for local businesses.
Improvements that may qualify through the façade improvement program include: painting of building facade (unless painted within the last year - sides will be permitted if visible from the street, rear permitted if building has a rear customer entrance); signage, awnings, or exterior lighting; repair/replacement of doors or windows visible from public view; and tile, edge treatments, and other façade improvements as approved by the Agency.
For the small business development center program, funds will be utilized to provide a minimum of twenty (20) micro-grants of up to $5,000 to local, qualifying businesses to provide monetary incentives to local businesses who hire individuals of Low Moderate Income (LMI); encourage small and start-up businesses to use the programs and services offered by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC); and reimburse businesses for strategic investments in their business.
Updated: April 15th, 2009
Interdepartmental Recovery Act Team Established
On April 14, 2009, the City Council received a presentation outlining the steps that staff is already taking so that the maximum amount of federal dollars reach the community. The City Manager established an Interdepartmental Recovery Act Team, comprised of representatives from every City department, to identify and pursue every dollar for Santa Clarita. On a daily basis, this 16 member team is responsible for sifting through various sources of Recovery Act information, assessing the City's eligibility for specific opportunities and applying for funding.
City staff will also be working in partnership with various public agencies, business groups and non-profit organizations. Recently, a letter was sent to various public sector and private sector entities expressing the City's desire for participation in a community-wide co-recovery effort.
Thus far, the City has been notified of $13,531,284 in formula allocations through the Recovery Act including: $5,174,650 via the Highway Infrastructure Program; $5,125,864 in Transit Capital Assistance; $1,565,800 through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program; $1,187,003 under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program; $303,635 via the Community Development Block Grant Program; and $174,332 through the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program.
City of Santa Clarita Council
From L-R: Mayor Laurene Weste, Council Member Bob Kellar, Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean, Council Member Frank Ferry, Council Member Laurie Ender
