It has been my honor to serve as your mayor for 2013, and as the year comes to a close, I want to share with you some of our city’s many accomplishments.

Santa Clarita is a great place to live, work and play, and this year, our city was recognized locally and nationally for excellence in public safety, community involvement, technology and economic development.

If you are a commuter on the west side, you might be pleased to know  the city has completed a new, 280-parking-space park and ride project at the McBean Transfer Station  at McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard. Also in Valencia, we added 27 new parking spaces to the Valencia Library, along with a new, lighted sign and fresh landscaping.

In Saugus, we are underway with the addition of two new, lighted sports fields at Central Park, plus 170 more parking spaces, an improved running path, lighted walkways, drinking fountains and landscaping.  Also at Central Park, we recently celebrated our expanded Community Garden Project, bringing the total number of gardens to 131.

In Canyon Country, we are nearing completion of a major landscaping project at Sand Canyon and SR-14, which will beautify this major gateway into our city. We also have several landscape median projects underway including major work on Golden Valley Road and Sierra Highway.  In addition, a bike path extension is nearing completion on Golden Valley Road, which will connect Centre Pointe Parkway with Golden Triangle-Soledad Canyon.

As part of the Open Space Preservation District, the city is partnering to purchase land in the Newhall Pass that was previously identified for a major housing development called Las Lomas.  This beautiful land will now be preserved in perpetuity, adding to the buffer zone that surrounds our city.

2014 promises to be another fabulous year for our city.  We will be purchasing more open space; we will begin the widening of the Golden Valley Road bridge over SR-14; we will be constructing more landscaped medians; we will complete the Old Town Newhall Roundabout project; and we will continue the widening of the bridge and new bike path extension near the post office on McBean Parkway.

Our Arts Commission continues to work on a variety of arts projects in our city, as well as helping local artists to bring forth their talents for the benefit of the community.

If you are interested in learning more about our city’s many projects, events and programs, visit us online at www.santa-clarita.com. You can also sign up for email alerts on topics of your choice, and you can receive our online blog, City Briefs (www.santaclaritacitybriefs.com).

I have truly enjoyed serving as your mayor this year. I want to thank you for your support of our great city.

Councilman Bob Kellar has been mayor of the city of Santa Clarita during 2013.