It is an honor for me to serve as your mayor, and I would like to thank my fellow City Council members and my family and friends for your support.

Santa Clarita is now Los Angeles County’s third-largest city, with a population of more than 209,000. However, one of the things I appreciate most about our community is that despite our size, I continue to hear we still have a hometown feel. As your mayor, I want to do everything I can to ensure that feeling continues, because it is unique to Santa Clarita.

Over the last 27 years of cityhood, we have worked hard to build a place that people are proud to call home. We have added new parks, libraries, roads, trails, facilities and services to improve our quality of life. We have advocated regionally and nationally to assure that Santa Clarita remains safe and beautiful. We have planted trees, supported partnerships that benefit veterans, seniors, children and those most in need. We have added transportation options and preserved our wide-open spaces. We have created entertainment, education, sports and safety programs for a well-rounded and healthy community.

These efforts are making an impact, as evidenced by the results of our recent community survey in which 90 percent rated the quality of life in Santa Clarita as good or excellent.

As we move into 2015, I want to let you know that the high level of customer service, transparency in government, excellent capital projects and responsive local government you enjoy will continue.

I am happy to share with you a few of the new projects and programs we have planned for the coming year.

We are focused on Santa Clarita’s future and are already working on a plan we call Santa Clarita 2020, which includes a series of long-term projects that will help take us into the next decade and beyond.

Some of these projects include the new community center in Canyon County, a new library and community rooms in Saugus, a new and larger sheriff’s station in the city, a state-of-the-art tennis complex at Central Park, more open space acquisitions and trail enhancements, completion of the Arts Master Plan, and working with Los Angeles County and the Committee on Aging for a new, expanded Senior Center.

I am proud of the comments I receive about the revitalization and beautification of Old Town Newhall, which over the years has transformed into a thriving arts and entertainment district. We will continue these efforts in the coming year. We should have resolution from the state to move forward with the city-owned block across from the Old Town Newhall Library branch and will continue pursuing an independent theatre, restaurants and retail shops that will further enhance Main Street and the entire city. A new boutique hotel will soon be under construction, adding another amenity to our old town.

Each one of Santa Clarita’s older, established neighborhoods and business districts deserve equal attention, and revitalization of each remains a priority.

I have been highly involved with regional agencies, boards and coalitions over the years, and we must continue our work with our legislators to prevent the siting of a mega-mining project in Soledad Canyon. We also need to continue to pursue dollars to decrease the cost to taxpayers for the chloride clean-up, which has been mandated by state and L.A. County Regional Water Quality Board officials.

One of my top advocacy priorities this year is to work with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, known as Metro, to better represent and meet our transportation needs in Santa Clarita.

I want to thank our city manager, Ken Striplin, and our city staff. Santa Clarita is one of the most well-run, successful cities in the state. We continually win awards for excellent fiscal management, public works projects and innovation, to name a few. I am so very proud of our staff and the high level of customer service and work they do for our residents and business owners each and every day. Thank you.

I want to thank our public safety team. Our Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department and CHP are incredibly dedicated and have helped Santa Clarita remain one of the safest cities in the nation.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank our community. Santa Clarita is the best place to live and work because of the people here. You are kind and caring, and you love your community. It is an honor to serve you.

Finally, I want to let you know your local government is here to serve you. We offer many communication portals for you to let us know your concerns, your issues and to offer input. Whether you choose to address the council in person at our twice-monthly regular City Council meetings or send an email, we are listening to you and truly appreciate your taking the time to communicate with us. I have always and will continue to personally read and respond to each e-mail.

Thank you again for the opportunity to serve this amazing community. I am looking forward to a wonderful new year.

Marsha McLean is mayor of the city of Santa Clarita. She can be reached at mmclean@santa-clarita.com.