City of Santa Clarita - Press Releases

SANTA CLARITA MAINTAINS RANK AMONG TOP CITIES NATIONWIDE FOR MUNICIPAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

According to the Center for Digital Government, the City of Santa Clarita maintained its rank in 2009 as one of the top 10 Municipal Information Technology Operations in the nation, and number one in California, among cities with populations of 125,000 to 250,000. Winning cities were chosen via the Center for Digital Government’s 9^th Annual Digital Cities Survey.

"This year's winners demonstrate how cities have faced economic challenges with creativity and innovation in the use of information technology," said Cathilea Robinett, executive director for the Center for Digital Government.

The Digital Cities Survey examines how municipalities incorporate information technology into operations which better serve citizens engaging with local government. Open to all U.S. cities with a population of 30,000 or more, the survey classifies respondent cities into four size-based categories.

“The City of Santa Clarita is constantly utilizing technology to keep residents informed on local government issues,” said Mayor Frank Ferry. “The City’s continued rank as one of the top Municipal Information Technology Operations reflects its commitment toward staying connected with residents in the most effective ways possible.”

The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. The annual Digital Cities Survey is conducted in partnership with the National League of Cities.

For more information on the City of Santa Clarita’s top ranking in the 2009 Digital Cities Survey, please contact Kevin Tonoian, Technology Services Manager for the City of Santa Clarita, at (661) 286-4027.

STAY HEALTHY SANTA CLARITA! HEALTH AND FITNESS EXPO HELD THIS SATURDAY AT THE HYATT

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

The City of Santa Clarita and Parkway Motorcars invite community members to attend the 2009 Health and Fitness Expo, held this Saturday, November 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. The Expo is the last chance to register for the Santa Clarita Marathon events and all Marathon participants are required to attend to pick up their race packet.

The City’s 2009 Health and Fitness expo will feature more than 30 vendor booths featuring sponsors, free prizes, running gear, and health and fitness products for sale. Vendors featured at the event will include Parkway Motorcars, Whole Foods Market, Facey Medical Group, Glen Ivy Day Spa, Yoga Works, Spectrum Athletic Clubs and more.

“The City of Santa Clarita’s Health and Fitness Expo is a great way to kick-off the 2009 Santa Clarita Marathon,” said Mayor Frank Ferry. “The event provides community members with one convenient place to browse local health and fitness vendors, as well as an opportunity for last-minute registration.”

Runners registered for the Marathon who are unable to attend the Expo may send someone to pick-up their race packet in their place. Kid K runners are also invited to attend the Expo to pick-up their t-shirt and bib number and avoid long lines on race day.

The Hyatt Regency Valencia is located at 24500 Town Center Drive. For more information on the 2009 Health and Fitness Expo, contact Pat Downing, Arts and Events Supervisor for the City of Santa Clarita, at (661) 255-4918 or visit scmarathon.org.

CITY ANNOUNCES SCHEDULED ROAD CLOSURES FOR 2009 SANTA CLARITA MARATHON

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

The City of Santa Clarita is informing community members about road closures scheduled for Sunday, November 8 to accommodate the annual Santa Clarita Marathon. Closures will be in place periodically throughout the day from 5:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and detours will be provided for major closures.

McBean Parkway from Magic Mountain Parkway to Valencia Boulevard will be closed from 5:00 a.m. till 7:15 a.m. Westbound Valencia Boulevard will be detoured via Citrus Avenue to Magic Mountain Parkway from 6:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.

Magic Mountain Parkway at Tourney Road will be closed from 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. Commuters should expect delays in the Industrial Center on Avenue Scott, Avenue Stanford, Avenue Rockefeller, Anza Drive and Avenue Hopkins from 7:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.

Newhall Ranch Road will be closed at Avenue Tibbits and McBean Parkway from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and one eastbound lane on Copper Hill Drive at McBean Parkway will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Although Esteban Drive will remain open, motorists should use caution and be mindful of marathon runners crossing the street from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The Cinema Parking Structure and Auto Center Drive Entrance at the Westfield Valencia Town will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. to accommodate marathon participants.

The City of Santa Clarita and Parkway Motorcars will host the 2009 Santa Clarita Marathon on Sunday, November 8. The event is an official qualifier for the Boston Marathon and will feature a marathon, half marathon, 5k and Kid K.

For more information on the 2009 Santa Clarita Marathon, including route information and anticipated road closures, contact Pat Downing, Arts and Events Supervisor for the City of Santa Clarita, at (661) 255-4918 or visit scmarathon.org.

LOCAL JOB SEEKERS, VETERANS INVITED TO ATTEND SANTA CLARITA WORKSOURCE JOB FAIR

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:00:00 GMT

In recognition of Veteran’s Day, the City invites local job seekers, veterans seeking jobs, and businesses to attend its monthly Worksource Job Fair on Tuesday, November 10^th from 10 a.m. – 12 noon at the Santa Clarita Worksource Center.

The Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone offers numerous benefits to veterans seeking employment. Veterans can qualify for a Notice of Eligibility, which can aid in their job search, and offer them priority status through the Workforce Investment Act, a federally funded program created to assist job seekers through personalized job search assistance and/or possible employment retraining.

“Businesses located in the Enterprise Zone that employ veterans can save up to $37,000 on their State Income Tax, as well as gain knowledgeable employees with extensive occupational experience,” said Mayor Frank Ferry. “Today’s military veterans possess exemplary skill sets because military training schools teach a wide array of technological, leadership, sales, management, and operations skills.”

City of Santa Clarita Worksource Job Fairs are held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month and are offered free of charge to job seekers and employers.

The Santa Clarita Worksource Center is located at 20655 Soledad Canyon Road Ste. 25. For additional information on the Worksource Job Fair and incentives available to businesses located within the Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone, contact the Santa Clarita Worksource Center at (661) 424-1062.

ASPHALT REHABILITATION PROJECTS DELAYED ON MCBEAN PARKWAY, SOLEDAD CANYON ROAD

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Night work on Soledad Canyon Road and McBean Parkway as part of the City’s Asphalt Rehabilitation Project is postponed due to anticipated nighttime weather conditions. Paving on Soledad Canyon Road will continue on Sunday, November 1, with the construction Project on McBean scheduled to begin Monday, November 2.

The projects on Soledad Canyon Road and McBean Parkway are made possible through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Construction on both Asphalt Rehabilitation Projects will be conducted at night to avoid disrupting busy daytime travel.

The Asphalt Rehabilitation Project is made possible through funds received by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

For more information on the Asphalt Rehabilitation Projects on Soledad Canyon Road and McBean Parkway, contact Bill Whitlatch, Administrative Analyst for the City’s Engineering and Capital Improvement Projects division, at (661) 255-4933 or visit santa-clarita.com.

INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOP HOSTED FOR NEWHALL REDEVELOPMENT AREA BUSINESSES

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

The City of Santa Clarita and the Small Business Development Center invite business owners in the Newhall Redevelopment area to attend an informational workshop titled Marketing and Sales When the Economy is Sinking. The seminar will be offered from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. and again from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at Santa Clarita City Hall in the Council Chambers.

The Marketing and Sales When the Economy is Sinking workshop is offered in conjunction with the Newhall Redevelopment Small Business Grant Program. The seminar will provide Newhall Redevelopment area businesses with valuable information about doing business in Newhall, as well as 25 points toward their Newhall Redevelopment Small Business Grant application score.

“Newhall Redevelopment area businesses applying for a Newhall Redevelopment Small Business Grant can meet specific requirements to earn an application score of up to 250 points,” said Mayor Frank Ferry. “The additional 25 points available to business owners who attend the workshop can help bring eligible application scores up to 275, significantly increasing chances of funding.”

The Marketing and Sales When the Economy is Sinking informational workshop is part of the Newhall Redevelopment Small Business Grant Program, a component of the City of Santa Clarita’s 21 Point Business Plan for Progress.

City Hall is located at 23920 Valencia Boulevard. For more information on the Marketing and Sales When the Economy is Sinking workshop, please contact Christa Wasson, project technician for the City’s Economic Development division at (661) 286-4065 or visit santa-clarita.com/recovery.

October 30 Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic for SEASONAL Flu ONLY

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

SANTA CLARITA – The City of Santa Clarita, the L.A. Department of Public Health and College of the Canyons along with the L.A. County Sheriff and Fire Departments, are reminding residents that the Friday, October 30 drive-thru flu shot clinic will dispense SEASONAL flu vaccine only.

The flu-shot production line will be conducted in the College of the Canyons Valencia campus parking lots off Rockwell Canyon Road, with shots being dispensed from 10 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., or as long as the vaccine lasts. Entry to the parking lots and the clinic will be via one entrance on Rockwell Canyon Road only in order to facilitate patient screening activities.

People will generally stay in their cars to help minimize the potential spread of infection. As a result, no walk-up shots will be administered.

Despite some erroneous postings to the contrary on a couple of Websites, the organizers stress that only inoculations against the seasonal flu will be dispensed at this event.

This is the fourth consecutive year that local agencies have partnered to provide flu shots to the community. College of the Canyons is once again the location because the college’s Valencia campus is conveniently located and has a number of large parking lots that make the logistics of this type of event manageable.

College of the Canyons nursing students administer most of the shots and students from the college’s EMT program are an important part of the screening process prior to shots being administered.

Organizers are prepared to administer more than a thousand shots during the two-and-one-half-hour event.

CITY TO CONDUCT NIGHT WORK ON MCBEAN PARKWAY BETWEEN DECORO DRIVE AND NEWHALL RANCH ROAD

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

Beginning Wednesday, October 28, the City of Santa Clarita will conduct its Asphalt Rehabilitation Project on McBean Parkway between Decoro Drive and Newhall Ranch Road. Roadwork will be conducted in the evening from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. to avoid disrupting busy daytime travel.

Construction will be strategically scheduled to minimally impact residents living near the project area. Asphalt street grinding scheduled near homes will mostly be conducted during the early evening hours, with work continuing throughout the night closer to nonresidential business areas. Less noisy pavement operations will also be conducted during nighttime hours.

“The City of Santa Clarita is committed to maintaining high quality streets for its residents,” said Mayor Frank Ferry. “The Asphalt Rehabilitation Project, made possible through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, allows the City to maintain some of Santa Clarita’s most frequently used streets at no further cost to taxpayers.”

Lane closures may be in effect between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays to accommodate rush hour traffic. The Asphalt Rehabilitation Project on McBean Parkway is scheduled to be completed by November 25.

For more information on the Asphalt Rehabilitation Project, including details on the night work and future construction projects, contact Bill Whitlatch, Administrative Analyst for the City’s Engineering and Capital Improvement Projects division, at (661) 255-4933 or visit santa-clarita.com.

PARKMOBILE PARTY PACKAGES PROVIDE FUN, AFFORDABLE WAYS TO CELEBRATE BIRTHDAYS, HOST PARTIES FOR KIDS THIS FALL

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

The City of Santa Clarita invites community members to take advantage of its Parkmobile Party Packages this fall. The program is a great way to celebrate birthday parties and events at local parks, providing fun activities for kids 5-12 years of age at an affordable price.

There are four different themed, fun filled Parkmobile Party Packages available to suit any kid’s desire, including Sports Lover, Surf’s Up, Circus Bizircus and Fit for a Knight/Pretty as a Princess. Each Party Package includes fun, interactive activities like arts and crafts, sports and games designed to entertain kids for hours. Packages are $11 per child for residents and $13 for non-residents for a two-hour reservation. Additional hours are available for $5 per child per hour for residents and $7 for non-residents.

“The City’s Parkmobile Party Packages are a great way to celebrate this fall, while enjoying the City’s great parks,” said Mayor Frank Ferry. “The packages deliver maximum fun for minimum cost for outdoor birthday parties, family reunions and company picnics.”

Parkmobile Party Packages can be reserved for Saturdays or Sundays at private residences or any City of Santa Clarita Park (based on availability). Reservation requests must be submitted at least two weeks, and up to six months, prior to the scheduled event.

For more information on the City’s Parkmobile Party Packages, or to make a reservation, please contact Jennifer Lindstrom, Recreation Coordinator, at (661) 284-1465 or visit santa-clarita.com

CITY OFFERING MULTI-DAY EXCURSIONS TO EXCITING LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:00:00 GMT

The City of Santa Clarita is currently offering three multi-day excursions to exciting locations across the country, including Gardens & Mansions featuring New Orleans and Cajun Country, Oregon Trails and New York City & the Empire State. All excursions are rich in American history and include round trip airfare, accommodation at first class hotels, admission and sightseeing costs, and select meals.

The Gardens & Mansions featuring New Orleans and Cajun Country excursion will be held March 21-27, 2010. Featured attractions on the 7 day, 6 night getaway include a Tabasco Factory tour and trips to the famous French Quarter, Bourbon Street, Pirates Alley, historic Natchez Antebellum Mansions, the Bellingrath Gardens and Home, and more. The excursion is $1649 per person double occupancy and $2149 per person single occupancy.

The Oregon Trails excursion, held June 10-15, 2010, will feature an exploration of Portland, also known as the “City of Roses,” and surrounding areas. The 6 day, 5 night getaway will include a trip to Mount St. Helens Volcanic National Park, a Sternwheeler Columbia George cruise, Portland Rose Festival and Parade, and more. The excursion is $1599 per person double occupancy and $2149 per person single occupancy, with deposit due December 9, 2009.

“The City’s multi-day excursions are a great way for residents to enjoy getaways to exciting locations without the hassle of organizing an itinerary and making hotel and airfare arrangements,” said Mayor Frank Ferry. “Deposit due dates are approaching and space is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so interested residents are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible.”

The New York City & the Empire State excursion will tour the sites of the Big Apple from October 7-13, 2010. The 7 day, 6 night getaway will include trips to the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Times Square, Rockefeller Plaza, Greenwich Village, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ellis Island, Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as an exciting Broadway show. The excursion is $2049 per person double occupancy and $2699 per person single occupancy, with the deposit due April 5, 2010.

Registration for the City’s three excursions is now available. For more information on itinerary and registration, or to receive a registration form, please contact the City’s Trips and Tours office at (661) 284-1465.