City of Santa Clarita - City Manager Message

November, 2009

Earlier this year, the City Council began work on the 21-Point Business Plan for Progress, aimed at dramatically assisting our local business community and residents through the worst recession since the Great Depression.

Like nearly every community across the country, Santa Clarita is in the midst of historic economic times. Prudent fiscal planning and investment management by our City Council has lessened the local affects of the global economic slowdown, which has devastated some communities. While we are not immune to the hardships of the recession, we have managed to weather it better than most communities.

Santa Clarita’s 21-Point Business Plan for Progress, adopted by the City Council in April, was designed to help stimulate the local economy by boosting local businesses. The City’s financial commitment, coupled with federal stimulus dollars, have already yielded results. As an example, the new film incentive program provides subsidization of permit fees and a Transient Occupancy Tax rebate for locally-based productions. The program is the first in the entertainment industry’s “30-mile zone” of which Santa Clarita is in, and has helped to retain valuable productions in the Los Angeles area and to date, three productions have capitalized on the program, keeping hundreds of thousands of dollars right here in Santa Clarita.

Also part of the City’s 21-Point Business Plan for Progress is the maximization of federal stimulus dollars for local infrastructure projects. Some of these include highway infrastructure and transit capital assistance, including bridge rehabilitation, traffic circulation and improvements, expansion of parking at the Newhall Metrolink station, McBean regional transit center Park and Ride, as well as some “green” projects aimed at helping the environment and creating jobs.

Santa Clarita’s designation this year as “Los Angeles County’s Most Business Friendly City,” together with our City’s business friendly practices, helped to bring Advanced Bionics to Santa Clarita, with 350 well-paying jobs. The goals of the City’s plan are to bring more of these types of companies and more jobs to our City. One of the best tools in Santa Clarita’s tool box to help achieve this goal is the City’s designation as a State Enterprise Zone. To date, more than 140 local businesses have racked up over $37 million in direct savings through a variety of tax programs. This is real savings that businesses can use to re-invest in their companies, hire new employees and bump up their bottom lines.

If you would like more information about the 21-Point Business Plan for Progress, please log on to our website at: www.santa-clarita.com. I hope that you and your family enjoy a happy and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.

Best Regards,
Ken Pulslkamp

October, 2009

2009 is another busy year here at City Hall, with so much going on and a lot of work happening in the community. We are right on schedule with the completion of phase IV of the Sports Complex. As you know, the City already added a new and larger skatepark and two outdoor basketball courts. The remainder of the construction phase will include a new dog park, expansion of the parking lot and aquatic center seating area. Progress on the construction of the Golden Valley bridges over the Santa Clara river, linking Newhall Ranch Road with Golden Valley Road, and marking the final phase of the Cross Valley Connector road, is also on schedule and slated for completion next spring.

I want to also share with you four important events slated for this October. Each of these events are geared towards helping to keep Santa Clarita a great place to live, work and play. They are: the State of the City Luncheon on October 5 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Valencia; Safe Shred day at College of the Canyons on October 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the AAA/City Teen Driver Safety fair on October 17 from10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Park and the free drive thru Flu Shot clinic on October 30 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at College of the Canyons. More details on each of these events is available on the City’s website at www.santa-clarita.com.

Thank you for your interest in Santa Clarita. I appreciate your taking time to learn more about what is happening in our great City. Feel free to email me directly at: kpulskamp@santa-clarita.com.

Best regards,

Ken Pulskamp

September, 2009

Hello! Fall is definitely event time here in Santa Clarita, with a wide variety of interesting and family-friendly programs planned.

On Saturday, September 12, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., the City will host its award-winning River Rally Cleanup & Environmental Expo! The event is expected to draw large numbers of volunteers interested in helping remove trash and debris from the Santa Clara River. The City will provide volunteers with snacks, water, and a small gift in appreciation of their service to the community. This year, we will be cleaning the Newhall Creek, located behind the Newhall Community Center at 22421 Market Street. River Rally is always a popular event for local scout troops, clubs, and other community service organizations. More information is available through the City of Santa Clarita’s Environmental Services Division at (661) 286-4098 or online at santa-clarita.com.

In an effort to help families, the City of Santa Clarita is proud to present its Teen Scene Unplugged on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at the Hyatt Valencia Grand Ballroom. The City of Santa Clarita and the Blue Ribbon Task Force are pleased to present a unique, dramatic, and thought-provoking presentation, about teen stress, peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, sex, gangs, self-harm, depression, and the underlying emotional issues and life stressors that lead to unproductive choices. A Resource Fair (6-7pm) will precede the presentation (7-9pm). Parents are encouraged to bring their teens along. For more information about Teen Scene Unplugged, or about the Blue Ribbon Task Force, please contact Tess Simgen, at (661) 250-3708 or visit santa-clarita.com.

Finally, it is my pleasure to cordially invite you to attend our annual State of the City Luncheon event on October 5, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Grand Ballroom. We have an interesting program planned and one I’m sure you will enjoy. Your $35 gets you a great lunch and a special, commemorative gift. More information and you can RSVP at www.santa-clarita.com . Call 661-255-4939 for more information.

I hope that you and your family take the opportunity to attend these unique community events. Thank you for your interest in the City of Santa Clarita. It’s because of the tremendous involvement and support of our community that Santa Clarita continues to be one of the best places to live, work and play!

Sincerely,

Ken Pulskamp

August, 2009

It is my pleasure to provide a message to you each month from me, offering an overview of what the City is working on, as well as information on upcoming events. I hope that you find these messages useful. Additionally, I regularly post to my twitter site at: www.twitter.com/kenpulskamp if you just can’t wait for the monthly message!

As the City embarks upon the new fiscal year, we continue our capital projects work program that represents millions of dollars in infrastructure for our City. If you have visited the City’s Sports Complex this summer, you’ve probably noticed the large equipment working on the 38 acres adjacent to the facility which is owned by the City. This expansion project, Santa Clarita Sports Complex Phase IV, is nearing completion, adding the recently opened Skate Park to the Sports Complex, a new open-play field, and an additional 93 parking spaces. To be completed this fall are two lighted outdoor basketball courts, which can also be used for low-intensity recreational roller hockey games, with covered picnic areas, an interim half -acre off leash dog park, additional covered-terrace seating at the Aquatic Center, a pedestrian walkway system connecting upper with lower park areas, lush landscaping, and even more parking. We are very excited about the project that will provide for the recreational needs of our community well into the future.

In Old Town Newhall, the two-block streetscape project is moving along well with nearly one side of the street completed. The streetscape project adds beautiful new brick sidewalks and crosswalks, wooden planking, lush landscape, street furniture and ambience to Main Street, Old Town Newhall. Prior to the Streetscape, the street dipped down for runoff which caused many vehicles, including some City transit buses, to bottom-out. The drainage problem was fixed as part of the Streetscape improvements, eliminating the need for crosswalk gutters and allowing for a smoother flow of traffic. For more information on the City’s Old Town Newhall Streetscape project, call: 661-260-3431.

Many people have mentioned to me that they are planning on hanging around Santa Clarita this summer. If that is the case for you and your family, the City has some terrific ideas for recreation and entertainment. If you haven’t visited Central Park on Saturday night at 7 p.m. for our free Summer Concert in the park series, I encourage you to go! Every Saturday night this summer, you and your family can enjoy quality music in a comfortable, fun setting. For more great things to do right here in our community, check out: www.visitsantaclarita.com.

Next month, we will host our annual State of the City Luncheon on October 5, 2009 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Valencia. Mayor Frank Ferry and the Santa Clarita City Council will present the City’s top accomplishments from the last year, as well as provide a glimpse at exciting projects and programs planned for the future. Tickets are $35 per person and include a commemorative gift. For more information or to RSVP, go on line to: www.santa-clarita.com.

I want to personally thank you for your interest and participation in our great City. Please feel free to email me with any questions, thoughts or suggestions at: kpulskamp@santa-clarita.com

Best regards,
Ken Pulskamp

June, 2009

Greetings!

Here it is, halfway through the year already. Things have been very busy at City Hall and I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of our recent activities and give you a preview of what’s coming up.

The City Council is getting ready to adopt our new fiscal budget for 2009-2010. This upcoming fiscal year is definitely a challenging one for everyone. Your City Council is working hard to make sure that the City is fiscally solvent and well-positioned for the future. Through prudent fiscal management, the City will continue to provide residents with the programs and services they have come to expect.

In Old Town Newhall, we’re moving along with plans to build a new and expanded library to replace the old library in Newhall. After community meetings and surveys, the City has a good idea of what the community would like to see in a new library in this area and will begin construction later this year. Located at Main Street and Lyons, the new 26,000 square-foot library will serve as a community gathering place for decades to come. Additionally, we will soon be finishing the first phase of the streetscape project in Newhall, helping to make Old Town a destination location for diners and shoppers.

Over at the Sports Complex in Canyon Country, the City is currently building two fully lighted outdoor basketball courts, which will also be used for low-intensity recreational roller hockey games. An interim, half- acre, off leash Dog Park is also being constructed on the Sports Complex site. In addition to increasing the size and scope of available recreational activities, Phase IV of the Sports Complex expansion project will also expand the Aquatic Center’s concrete seating bleachers, add another 143 parking spaces and create new hillside landscaping to the Sports Complex. A pedestrian walkway system connecting the upper and lower park areas will round out the Phase IV expansion project. Some amenities to look forward to in the future, although as yet, unfunded to build, include a BMX track, two lighted sports fields, a universally accessible play area, a permanent dog park, picnic shelters and more restrooms and parking.

Right now, we’re gearing up for the 4^th of July festivities as well as our popular, free Summer Concert series. You may find out about all of the 4^th of July activities via the City’s website at www.santa-clarita.com. The free summer concert series begins in July and is held every Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at Central Park. For a complete free concert schedule, log onto our website. You won’t want to miss the free 4^th of July fireworks show at the Valencia Towne Center, sponsored by the City.

Thank you for your interest in the City of Santa Clarita. It is always a pleasure to hear from you. You can reach me directly via email at: kpulskamp@santa-clarita.com.

Best regards,
Ken Pulskamp

May, 2009

Greetings! I hope this spring finds you outside, enjoying the beauty of the season in Santa Clarita.

City Hall is a busy place these days with our employees working on a number of programs and projects aimed at improving our quality of life here in Santa Clarita. Work is well underway for the last phase of the Cross Valley Connector, an 8.5 mile roadway that connects SR 14 with I-5 through the City. The two bridges that will ultimately connect Golden Valley Road with Newhall Ranch Road and Bouquet Canyon are expected to be completed next spring. On the west side of town, we are finishing up the expansion of Magic Mountain Parkway at the Old Road, including the expansion of the freeway on and off ramps. Look for that multi-year project to conclude later this summer.

And speaking of summer, we are gearing up for another great season of free concerts in the park. Every Saturday night at Central Park, you and your family are invited to enjoy the sounds of summer at no charge. The summer season kicks off with a great day of 4^th of July events including a 5K run, the traditional 4^th of July parade and fireworks at the Mall. Check out the City’s website at www.santa-clarita.com for a listing of the free concerts and 4^th of July events.

In Old Town Newhall, we are well underway with the first two blocks of our streetscape program. Construction of the streetscape project in Old Town is expected to be completed in early July and includes new street furniture, landscaping and hardscaping aimed at dramatically improving the look of the area. Future phases of the project will commence as new development locates to the area.

If your four-legged friend needs a vaccination, look no further than the City’s low-cost doggie vaccination clinic happening Saturday, May 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Central Park, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road. Your dog may also receive a dog license-renewal and free micro-chipping. For more information, contact the City of Santa Clarita at 661-286-4193.

Thank you for your interest in our great City! Should you wish to contact me directly, my email address is kpulskamp@santa-clarita.com.

Sincerely,
Ken Pulskamp

April, 2009

This is a difficult year for many and the economic news doesn’t seem to be getting better quickly. I want you to know that our City is doing everything we can to help our local economy, our residents and our businesses. I have assembled an inter-departmental team of city staff to track and apply for the wide variety of stimulus funds that are becoming available. Our goal is to assure that Santa Clarita receives as much funding as possible from the stimulus funding. For businesses in the City, the Enterprise Zone is a terrific way to realize amazing tax savings. Our economic development staff is working directly with business owners to make sure that they are taking advantage of the Zone and saving money. The City is also working to make sure that businesses that are already here are receiving the assistance they need to grow and to succeed.

I hope that you and your family are able to attend the upcoming Earth Day Festival/20^th Annual Arbor Day Celebration being held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Park. Themed zones at the Earth Day Festival will include an Energy, Community, Ecological, Water Conservation, Children’s and Green Car Zone. Notably, the Energy Zone will feature a full solar array which will produce power to be utilized by the entire Festival. Kid-friendly entertainment is scheduled for the Children’s Zone where kids will be able to pick up an Earth Day passport to get stamped as they travel around the Festival learning about global warming, solar energy, water and pollution. Visit santa- clarita.com or call the Arts and Events office at (661) 286-4018 for more info.

Also in April, the City will host the 16^th annual Cowboy Festival at Melody Ranch and Motion Picture Studio. The festival runs from April 25-26. This exciting western festival is an amazing opportunity to visit a real, working movie ranch located right here in our community. For the annual Cowboy Festival, the City brings in the best cowboy poets, singers and performers for a weekend of fun for the entire family. You will also enjoy amazing peach cobbler, cooked outdoors in a dutch oven by the Cowboy Cultural Committee. For ticket information, log on to www.cowboyfestival.org or contact the ticket office at: 661-286- 4021.

As always, if you would like more information, we are available via phone (661-259-CITY) or on our popular city website: www.santa-clarita.com. If you would like to receive regular email updates on a variety of topics, sign up for our “e-Notify” program on our website. Thank you for taking the time to know what is happening in our City.

Best regards,

Ken Pulskamp

March, 2009

As we approach the spring season, there is sure to be an abundance of wildflowers and foliage, making for a beautiful backdrop here in our Valley. What a great time to get out and enjoy a few spring events here in the City of Santa Clarita!

I want to encourage you to attend the AT&T Golf Classic being held at the Valencia Country Club March 9-15, 2009. This nationally-renowned golf event, part of the PGA Champions tour, will feature champion golfers right here in our community! Tickets are available now at www.attchampionsclassic.com.

Don’t miss the City’s annual Emergency Expo on Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at College of the Canyons. Visit the Emergency Expo and learn how to be better prepared for all types of disasters. Demonstrations and displays from Fire, Sheriff, CHP, Public Health, CERT, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Animal Care and Control. You and your family will also enjoy an opportunity to purchase emergency supplies and services, as well as preparedness learning games for children.

I am very excited to tell you about our first annual Earth Day event, Saturday, April 18, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Central Park. The City is partnering with a wide variety of agencies, businesses and nonprofits to bring you and your family and exciting “green” day here in Santa Clarita. For more information, log on to our website at: www.santa-clartia.com.

Our Valley is home to the incredible Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park and awesome water park, Hurricane Harbor. While Six Flags is a great, family-friendly place to enjoy quality time, it is also an award-winning park. Six Flags Inc. recently hosted the third annual Golden Flag Awards, a company-wide program recognizing the outstanding performance throughout all the Six Flags parks in various categories. Six Flags Magic Mountain was nominated for an impressive 11awards from best guest service to park cleanliness. Six Flags Magic Mountain brought home three Golden Bunny Awards! The three winning categories included: Gold Standard Guest Service Award; Best Operations Team and Park President of the Year. Congratulations to Jay Thomas and all of his amazing staff at Six Flags!

Thank you for your interest in the City of Santa Clarita. As always, if you would like to contact me, you can call my office at 661/255-4900, or email me directly at kpulskamp@santa-clarita.com.

Best regards,

Ken Pulskamp

February, 2009

We’re already into the second month of the year for 2009!

This month, we are getting ready for the Amgen Tour of California, professional bicycle race, including world renowned bicyclists Lance Armstrong, which will come to Santa Clarita on Saturday, February 21, 2009. The world’s top professional cycling teams will be on stage in Santa Clarita for part of this amazing race through the streets of Santa Clarita, on their way to the finish in Pasadena. If you’ve never seen a professional bicycle race, I encourage you and your family to witness this incredible event. The City and its sponsors will be hosting several pre and post race events and activities for our community. You can learn more at www.santa-clarita.com/TourofCA

Believe it or not, it’s actually Cowboy Festival time here in Santa Clarita! The City’s 16^th annual Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival will once again welcome western musicians, entertainers, poets and handcrafters at Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio, in the heart of Santa Clarita. The 2009 line-up is one of the best, featuring top rated poets and musicians. Tickets are on sale now at www.cowboyfestival.org or by calling 661-286-4021.

We’ve already started our preparations for the City’s annual Emergency Expo which will take place on Saturday, March 21, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at College of the Canyons. Preparedness starts with you! Visit the Emergency Expo and learn how to be better prepared for all types of disasters. Demonstrations and displays from Fire, Sheriff, CHP, Public Health, CERT, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Animal Care and Control. You and your family will also enjoy an opportunity to purchase emergency supplies and services, as well as preparedness learning games for children.

I want to thank you for your interest and participation in our community. If you would like to receive regular updates on topics of interest to you and your family, check out our “eNotify” system, which will provide you with email notification offering several distinct topics including job notification, the community calendar, construction updates and more. This service is available at www.santa-clarita.com/enotify or by calling the City’s webmaster at 661-286-4070.

Best regards,

Ken Pulskamp

January, 2009

Happy New Year!

As we begin the new calendar year, I am excited to tell you about some of the things our City is working on that will benefit the entire community.

At the Sports Complex in Canyon Country, we are nearing completion of the new and expanded Skatepark. Designed in tandem with the local skating community, the new Skatepark will be four times the size of the original,with a whole lot more fun and action. Look for the grand opening early this spring.

Also this spring, the AMGEN Tour of California will bring the drama and excitement of a professional bicycle stage race to the California coast and to our City! The world’s top professional teams will compete over an eight-day, 700-mile race on a route that includes the California redwoods, wine country, the Pacific Coast, and in 2009, legendary cyclist Lance Armstrong!. Santa Clarita is proud to host the start-line of Stage 7 on February 21, 2009, from Santa Clarita to Pasadena. For more information, please visit: www.santa-clarita.com/tourofca.

I am thrilled to invite you and your family to the City’s first annual Santa Clarita Earth Day/20^th annual Arbor Day celebration. It will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at Central Park, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This interactive event, celebrating the earth and helping to promote a sustainable community, will include a variety of fun and educational activities for the whole family. Specially-themed areas will include: an Energy Zone, a Water Conservation Zone, a Community Pavilion, an Eco Zone, a Green Car Show, a Children’s Zone and so much more. If you are interested in more information, I encourage you to check out our website at: www.santa-clarita.com or call us at 661-259-CITY.

In the area of transportation, we will be working this year to complete the last phase of the Cross Valley Connector, linking Golden Valley Road with Bouquet Canyon Road over the river. On January 26, 2009, at 3 p.m., we will hold a groundbreaking event for the project, which will kick-off a 14-month countdown to completion of this important roadway!

Finally, you probably heard that Santa Clarita was selected as the Most Business Friendly City in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles Economic Development Commission. While we are very proud of this award and the recognition of what we have accomplished, I want you to know that we are striving to be even better and will continue to do everything we can to make Santa Clarita a great place to do business. Some of these efforts will include improving our permit processes, increasing communicating with our businesses and listening to your thoughts and ideas.

Should you have any suggestions or comments, or should you wish to email me, you can do so at kpulskamp@santa-clarita.com.

Best regards,
Ken Pulskamp