header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


Laurie Ender

Laurie Ender is expected to be named Santa Clarita mayor when the City Council holds its annual reorganization meeting Tuesday – and later in the evening, the City Council is scheduled to review a budget adjustment that includes money for a community center in Canyon Country.

Ascension to the mayoralty isn’t automatic, but the position traditionally goes to the person who was appointed mayor pro-tem a year earlier. That person is Ender, who is nearing the end of her first four-year term on the City Council.

Santa Clarita has a five-person City Council, which selects one of its own to serve as mayor for a year. The mayor acts as a chairman of the board, presiding over City Council meetings, but has no more voting authority than any other council member.

Councilman Bob Kellar is in line for mayor pro-tem and would become mayor in 2013 if the council honors the rotation – and if Kellar is reelected to a fourth four-year term in April 2012.

Both Ender and Kellar are up for reelection next Spring. The terms of the other three council members – current Mayor Marsha McLean, Laurene Weste (mayor in 2010) and Frank Ferry (mayor in 2009) – expire in 2014.

The reorganization meeting takes place Tuesday at 5 p.m. at City Hall, followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m. when the council will review the city’s mid-year budget.

The council adopts a budget for the fiscal year each June and reviews it in December to check whether the money is coming in and going out as anticipated.

The city expects to receive $1.2 million more in sales and use tax than in projected, but the total figure is still off 15 percent from pre-recession years, and city staff isn’t in a rush to spend the little windfall – especially when Sacramento is prone to diverting money from city and county coffers. A staff report notes that the state “permanently diverted the vehicle license fee revenue from cities” in June, costing Santa Clarita $900,000 this year.

Another upside revenue adjustment is $6.8 million “in order to account for Fire District fees already collected” for three new fire stations.

But the city won’t be collecting $826,700 it was expecting from developers whose projects have been postponed.

On hold are a parking structure at Grace Baptist Church, medical office buildings in Valencia and Canyon Country, and a shopping center at Via Princessa.

Also, the redevelopment agency will come up $387,995 short due to taxpayer refunds and downward property reassessments.

Expenses that were unforeseen six months ago include a $477,093 payment to the state for the privilege of keeping Santa Clarita’s redevelopment agency intact; $124,000 to advocate for the Cemex land swap bill; $25,000 to design 27 additional parking spaces at the Valencia Library for a total of 70 spaces; and $32,500 for a downtown Newhall parking plan.

New expenditures also include $50,000 for the Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons. The expenditure didn’t make the June budget, so local arts groups turned out en masse to persuade the city to help offset the cost of their performances at the facility.

Also recommended is $311,500 for a new community center in Canyon Country. The city didn’t have the money for a new community center in the sour economy – but as it turns out, the recession works both ways. The city can’t pass up the deal it will get on a particular  space for lease in Canyon Country, so the proposal is back on the table.

According to the staff report, the location “ would serve as a community center or a hub for services that would provide an array of opportunities for the east side of the city, which makes up over 50 percent of Santa Clarita’s population.

“This community is a multi-generational, bilingual, and diverse socio-economic community. The new community center will offer programs that strengthen families and communities, while providing positive recreational and skill-building opportunities for youth. The center will be strategically located in order to maximize opportunities to intervene in the lives of high-risk youths, while also serving local families and seniors.”

 

Both council meetings – at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. – will be televised on SCVTV (Time Warner Cable Channel 20, AT&T U-verse Channel 99/Santa Clarita, and streaming live on the Internet at SCVTV.com).

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

2 Comments

  1. hmm…”medial office buildings”, can I have a “c” for $200, please

Leave a Comment


LATEST CITY HEADLINES
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
Residents are invited to join members of the Santa Clarita City Council for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the addition of Santa Clarita's 38th park, Skyline Ranch Park, 18355 Skyline Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351, to the Santa Clarita parks system on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m.
Monday, Mar 25, 2024
The sun is shining and adventure is just around the corner in Santa Clarita. Send your kids to learn all about the outdoors, nature and preservation through the city of Santa Clarita Youth Outdoors Adventures Program.

Keep Up With Our Facebook
Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDEC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman of the Office of Inspector General has issued a report entitled "Tenth Report Back on Implementing Body-Worn Cameras in Los Angeles County."
Office of Inspector General Issues Latest Report on LASD Body Cams
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Canyons Closes Out Ventura 7-2 in Final Home Match
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce with the Latino Business Alliance at the Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration on Tuesday, May 7.
May 7: Latino Business Alliance Cinco de Mayo Celebration
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is hosting March Meowness promotion where all cat adoptions are just $15 from now until April 9.
Adopt a Cat During March Meowness at Castaic Animal Center
California State University, Northridge is partnering with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and the Tataviam Land Conservancy to battle the impact of climate change in disadvantaged communities throughout the San Fernando Valley by establishing “urban forests.”
CSUN Partners with Fernandeño Tataviam Band to Build Urban Forests
Join the Santa Clarita Artists Association on Monday, April 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355, for the SCAA monthly meeting and guest demonstrator.
April 15: SCAA Presents Debbie Abshear Watercolor Demo
Residents are invited to join members of the Santa Clarita City Council for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the addition of Santa Clarita's 38th park, Skyline Ranch Park, 18355 Skyline Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351, to the Santa Clarita parks system on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m.
April 6: Grand Opening for Santa Clarita’s 38th Park
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center is preparing for the annual fundraising event, Celebrity Waiter, with the theme “California Dreamin’” on Saturday, April 27 at Bella Vida, 27180 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
Table Sponsorships Still Available for Celebrity Waiter Dinner
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Ken Striplin | A Fun, Festive, Egg-Filled Day
SCVNews.com