Providing a wide variety of avenues for residents to communicate with their City has long been a hallmark of Santa Clarita.  Regular public meetings and hearings, a variety of workshops, articles, focus groups, block parties, pancake breakfasts, an interactive City website, email, newsletters, along with study sessions and special meetings have always been facilitated by the City to provide unfettered access and input to local leaders.

The City of Santa Clarita will continue the tradition of an open and inclusive local government as we begin a series of local town hall meetings.  The town hall meetings are aimed at both providing information to the community, as well as a mechanism for listening to ideas and concerns expressed by residents.  The town hall meetings will be held in the four communities of the City: Canyon Country, Newhall, Valencia and Saugus, beginning in February and going through May 2013 at local elementary school multipurpose rooms.

Each meeting will be geared to the particular community in which the meeting is held.  Participants will receive a short presentation by the Mayor about issues the City is addressing in their neighborhoods.  Following the presentations, attendees will enjoy a workshop format whereby several tables will be set up with information and city staff on various topics of interest including: parks, recreation, the arts, drug education, law enforcement, traffic, roads, street maintenance, transit, code enforcement, graffiti, open space, trails, bike paths, economic development, and filming.

The first town hall meeting will be held in the Newhall community on Feb.6 at 7 p.m. at Newhall Elementary School multipurpose room, located at 24607 N. Walnut Street.  The second town hall meeting is scheduled for March 5 at 7 p.m. in the Canyon Country community at Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary School multipurpose room, located at 26933 N. Silverbell Lane.  The third meeting will be held on April 30 at 7 p.m. in Saugus at Rosedell Elementary School multipurpose room, located at 27853 Urbandale Avenue and the final town hall meeting is slated for May 8 at 7 p.m. in Valencia at the Valencia Valley Elementary School multipurpose room, located at 23601 Carrizo Drive.

A local government founded by the people for the people was never more applicable than in Santa Clarita, where the people of the Santa Clarita Valley succeeded in forming their own, award-winning government just 25 short years ago.  The result was the much-acclaimed City of Santa Clarita, the largest area in the state ever to incorporate.  Dreams of local control, of locally generated tax dollars spent locally, of a voice in our own destiny and of a locally elected City Council were the fruits of cityhood, and still enjoyed today.

Public participation provides an important link for resident to not only be heard by their elected officials, but to also influence the decision making process.  While public participation does not ascertain that every decision will result in a consensus, it does provide the opportunity for an open dialogue in a visible manner with opportunities throughout the process for the public to influence the outcome.  The town hall meeting program is an excellent opportunity for residents to learn more about what the City is working on in their neighborhoods and also provide input on issues of importance.

For more information, contact the City’s Communications Division at 661-255-4939.

Bob Kellar is mayor of the City of Santa Clarita.