SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: Message from the City Manager

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December 28

2011 - John Ford's 1924 "The Iron Horse," filmed in SCV, added to Library of Congress' National Film Registry [story]

Message from the City Manager

Commentary by Ken Striplin

By Ken Striplin | Thursday, Oct 2, 2014

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Ken Striplin

Assuring a high quality of life for our residents and business community is a top priority for all of us at City Hall. To that end, our annual budget goals reflect this mandate by focusing on improving aging infrastructure, increasing our operating reserves, and taking a futuristic approach to planning.

This year, we are spending more than $22 million to improve and upgrade city roads, facilities, sidewalks bridges, park and libraries. This investment will help protect our valuable infrastructure and increase the life of it.

Nearly $7 million is being spent on beautification and landscaping city wide, helping increase property values and area aesthetics. Another $8.4 million will be used to improve traffic circulation, transit and trails in our city.

Each year, our city produces an on-time, balanced budget with healthy reserves. This year, our reserves have been increased to 18 percent or $14.5 million, with a goal of 20 percent in the next few years. This is being accomplished by taking a conservative approach to budgeting and making sure our expenditures never exceed our revenue.

Taking a futuristic approach to governing is important. This year, we will be partnering to provide new electric vehicle charging stations in the city to help support alternative fuel vehicle use. And to help provide for the needs of our seniors, we’ve increased our support of the Senior Center by $140,000, bringing our annual support amount to $750,400. We are also working with the Senior Center and L.A. County on a new and larger senior center facility.

If you would like to hear first-hand what is happening in our city, I invite you to attend our annual State of the City luncheon Oct. 16 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Valencia. Hosted by the Santa Clarita City Council, the luncheon event is open to the public, and you can RSVP online at www.santa-clarita.com or by calling 661-255-4905. The cost is $40 per person.

Thank you for your interest in Santa Clarita. I appreciate your taking time to learn more about what is happening in our great city. I would also like to encourage you to check our regularly updated city blog at www.santaclaritacitybriefs.com. Feel free to email me directly with your comments, suggestions and ideas at kstriplin@santa-clarita.com.

Ken Striplin is city manager of the city of Santa Clarita.

Comment On This Story

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3 Comments

Steve Petzold says:

Thursday, Oct 2, 2014 at

I don’t understand why we should have to pay $40 to hear Striplin speak at a noon luncheon. May I make the bold suggestion that the city hold a Saturday morning meeting at the Santa Clarita activities center for FREE and provide coffee and donuts ?

Reply
jim soliz says:

Thursday, Oct 2, 2014 at

And our reserves would be healthier if our Mt. costs were not as high. Close to a million to run City Manager’s office.

Reply
alabi2k says:

Thursday, Oct 2, 2014 at

I think people are more concerned about finding a decent job, feeding their families, and keeping their homes, than they are about ‘beautification and landscaping’.

Reply

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At this time last year, we had no idea what changes and challenges 2025 would have in store. What I did know, and what this year reaffirmed, is that whatever 2025 brought our way, we’d get through it together.

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As we wrap up this incredible year with JCI Santa Clarita, my heart is truly overflowing with gratitude. This chapter has shown up in such wonderful ways, and I’m so proud of everything we’ve created together.

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