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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-22 - AGENDA REPORTS - SHARE VISION UPDATE (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT jl� CONSENTCALENDAR City Manager Approv : DATE: October 22, 2002 Item to be presented by: Ken Pulskamn SUBJECT: SHARE THE VISION IV — 18` YEAR UPDATE DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council receive staff presentation and approve the annual update of the Share the Vision IV Action Plan. BACKGROUND On October 20, 2002 Santa Clarita residents representing neighborhood groups, community groups, business, education and the environment, joined with the City Council, City staff and community leaders to create a strategic action plan for the City's efforts for three years. This action plan included several items that must be addressed through collaborative partnerships with other agencies and organizations in the community. Important Share the Vision IV Note Regarding Community Partners: The action items that were assigned to the City but that fell within the purview of other agencies within the community to address were rewritten with the agency to reflect a partnership approach to accomplishing the community's vision. One year has passed since the creation of this strategic action plan. The purpose of this agenda item is to provide an update to the City Council and the community on the City's progress to date in accomplishing the direction provided by the Share the Vision IV Action Plan. The attached document is a detailed report of the accomplishments to date for the priority areas. The highlights are as follows: Economic Development • The City's short-term economic development focus has shifted to include outreach to attract companies from the Bio -tech Industry. • The City has been successful in partnering with several key local business and education groups to enhance the local economy. Some of these groups are the Valencia Industrial Association, College of the Canyons, and the Auto Dealers. • A new strategic plan has been developed for the revitalization of Downtown Newhall and an evaluation of potentially expanding the Newhall Redevelopment Area is underway. APPROYED Agenda Nem:. Growth and Transportation • The City is working proactively to obtain as much federal and state money for roads as possible. This is being accomplished through the MTA Call for Projects for 2003 and through Congress McKeon's Office. The newly updated Bridge and Thoroughfare District fees went into effect in October, which will raise much needed money for roadway infrastructure. • The City Council recently adopted new design guidelines that will provide a source of direction to land owners in designing the look of buildings and developments in the different areas of the City. Parks, Recreation and Open Space • A new home has been identified for the Newhall Community Center. Staff is moving forward with plans for the design and construction of the new facility. • The City is well on its way to creating a youth advisory committee. Staff held a formation meeting with approximately 80 high-schoolers to discuss various aspects of the committee. The committee will provide feedback to the City Council on current events from the perspective of the youth in the community. • The Open Space Plan has been completed and adopted. This plan will assist the City Council in making ongoing determinations regarding the acquisition of open space for public purposes. • The US Army Corps of Engineers has completed their River Reconnaissance Study and has selected a project to consider implementing on the Santa Clara River. The City is seeking federal funding to complete the Feasibility Study phase of the project which is required before the ACOE can move forward to implement the project. • A temporary homeless shelter has been planned for this winter. It will be located at the Via Princessa Metrolink Station. Education and Schools • City staff is heavily involved in working with the SCV School Coalition to improve education in the community. The current focus of City staff and Coalition efforts is the passage of Proposition 47 (school bond) on November 5, 2002. Health and Welfare • Gravel Mining (TMC) — The City and our partners were able to defeat the mining operation at the County level this year. More work is ahead to defeat appeals and legal attacks. • Local Hospital — City Executive Management staff are heavily involved with the Hospital Board of Directors with the goal of providing staff consultative expertise where needed. They participated in the Hospital's Strategic Planning Session in September 2002 and will be assisting the Hospital in updating and upgrading their web site. • Water Quality and Quantity — The City's main work effort with regard to water quality is the work being done by the Whittaker-Bermite City Council Subcommittee, staff and consultants. Other water quality efforts include the ongoing work of the Stormwater Program. The City continues to actively oppose the Regional Water Quality Control Board's chloride standard for the Santa Clara River. Neighborhood Reinvestment & Preservation • The City has implemented a pilot program to prosecute severe offenders of City codes that require property owners to keep their properties clean and habitable. This enhanced level of enforcement has given City staff greater ability to help keep properties in the City safe and aesthetically pleasing for neighborhoods. During staff review and work plan development a few action items were combined and some were redrafted to address the issues of community partners. These changes were not substantive in nature. The information included in the attachment for your review will be formatted into a newsletter that will be sent to members of the community who participated in the Share the Vision IV strategic planning process in October 2001 on an annual basis. Staff is progressing well toward achievement of all of the items contained in the community strategic plan. The second annual comprehensive update will be provided in October 2003. ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS None identified by staff. FISCAL IMPACT None. ATTACHMENTS Share the Vision IV One Year Brochure Text - Draft S:\PBS\Rietze1\Share Vision IV\SV4 ANNUAL UPDATE CC ITEMI.doc SHARE THE VISION IV — ONE YEAR UPDATE One year ago, on October 20, 2001, residents representing neighborhood groups, community groups, business, education and the environment, joined with the City Council, City staff and community leaders to create a strategic action plan to guide the City's efforts for the next three years. The action plan included several items that must be addressed through collaborative partnerships with other agencies and organizations in the community. As a result a true "community based" plan was developed. The plan has five priority areas with an action plan for each. The priority areas are economic development, growth and transportation, parks, recreation and open space, education and schools and health and welfare. This newsletter is an update of the status of progress to date on each of the priority areas and their associated tasks. This is the first year of the three year plan, so watch for the next two annual updates to get up-to-date information on our progress. Important Share the Vision IV Note Regarding Community Partners: The City's goal is to form partnerships with other governing bodies within the community. As such, the action items that relate to other governing bodies were rewritten with the help of the agencies involved. These agencies will work with the City to achieve the community's goals. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Issue Statement: Santa Clarita must craft a long-term economic development vision for our community. This vision must reflect a collaborative model that emphasizes public/private partnerships. It must embrace action -oriented components that include enhanced marketing and attraction, including business retention and recruitment, provides for a diverse economy and adequate infrastructure to support our collaborative efforts. Accomplishments to Date: • The City's economic development efforts have been redirected toward bringing businesses related to the Bio -tech Industry into the City. • The City has created and is supporting economic partnerships within the City. A few examples of the efforts that are currently underway include: participation with local auto dealers in a shop local campaign; the Valencia Industrial Association with the Business -to -Business Industry Show and the Annual Website Design Contest; College of the Canyons' Annual Aerospace Conference; and local school districts on the School to Career Program. • A new strategic plan for revitalizing Downtown Newhall was completed on August 24, 2002. The action plan will direct City, community and business efforts in the Newhall area for the next five years. Next Steps: • Develop a long-range economic development master plan. • Consider expanding the redevelopment area in Newhall. GROWTH & TRANSPORTATION Issue Statement: Growth and development impact our community's quality of life. Multi -agency coordination must occur to ensure adequate infrastructure and facilities are in place to meet the needs of current and future residents and business owners for a sustained high quality community. Accomplishments to Date: • The University of Southern California completed a study of the Soledad Canyon Road Corridor from Camp Plenty Road to Sierra Highway. The study evaluated the feasibility of gradually refurbishing the area with mixed use commercial and residential land uses. • The City is aggressively pursuing Federal funding for the. Cross Valley Connector roadway project. Congressman McKeon is assisting the City through requesting funds in the Federal budget. The City is currently working on each part of the Cross Valley Connector from environmental review to construction. • Submitted an aggressive list of transportation projects for a Federal grant program (called TEA -3). • Architectural design guidelines were adopted by the City Council in October 2002. These guidelines provide a source of direction to land owners in designing the look of buildings and developments in different areas of the City. The guidelines provide direction on things like 360 degree architectural features, materials and color. • The City and the County of Los Angeles are developing a single General Plan that will guide land use and development in the Santa Clarita Valley over the next 20 years. During the past year significant public involvement has occurred and the first set of technical documents are being prepared. This is a landmark project and one of the first of its kind to bring two government entities together to jointly plan for the future of an area. • The Bridge & Thoroughfare Districts (a mechanism used to collect money for roadway improvements from developers) updates have been completed and took effect in September 1, 2002. The Districts' fees were increased to raise more money to fund needed roads. • The City's Capital Improvement Program's internal and external coordination have been evaluated for potential improvement. Improvements, like automation for better and faster communication, are underway. These improvements will assist the City in continuing to design and build public projects (e.g. parks, roads, etc.) on schedule and under budget. Next Steps: • Design a program to increase the number of people that use the bus. • Complete the One Valley One Vision Joint General Plan. • Implement the recommendations of the Mayor's Committee on Managed Growth. PARKS, RECREATION & OPEN SPACE Issue Statement: The community has continued to express the need for increased trails, parks, open space, and active play space. In order to address needs, innovative funding opportunities must be evaluated and secured, and a systematic approach to obtaining the amenities must be implemented. Accomplishments to Date: • A new home is being created for the old and overburdened Newhall Community Center. The City Council has chosen a new location for the center in Newhall and plans are proceeding to design and construct the new facility. • The formation of a youth advisory group to provide the perspective of youth within the community on current issues before the City is underway. A scoping meeting with 120 high school students was held in September 2002. • An Open Space Plan that helps the City evaluate open space property throughout the Valley for potential acquisition by the City or another public entity (e.g. Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy or the United States Forest Service) has been completed. The Plan will be used by the City Council and staff to assess the long-term strategic value of accepting open space areas that are offered for purchase or offered as a donation or lands that the City seeks to purchase. • The United States Army Corps of Engineers has completed a study of the Santa Clara River to determine opportunities for enhanced utilization of the river for water recharge, natural habitat, recreation and other uses. The study identified a project that will reintroduce water into the Santa Clara River from one or more of the wastewater treatment plants. The City is working to secure federal funding to conduct the feasibility analysis phase of the process. • The City Council has approved funding for a Homeless Shelter for this winter. The shelter will be located in modular units placed at the Via Princessa Metrolink Station. The shelter will operate from November through March. Research is ongoing to identify a permanent site for a homeless shelter in the City. Next Steps: • Needed repairs to the existing Newhall Community Center will occur in November and December 2002. • Consider increasing the amount of park land that is given to the City when develop projects are approved. • Assess adequacy of existing parks and open space areas to meet the needs of the community. • Pursue Federal funding for the second phase of the Army Corps of Engineers project to enhance the Santa Clara River. EDUCATION & SCHOOLS Issue Statement: While it is recognized that the schools are governed by multiple locally elected school boards, the community has expressed concern regarding the overcrowding of schools, occupational training, and educational needs within the valley. There is a need for all stakeholders to work collaboratively to address the impacts of and resolve these issues. Community Parnter(s): Santa Clarita Valley School Coalition (made up the school districts, City, County and Building Industry Association) Accomplishments to Date: • The City's Intergovernmental Relations Officer and members of the City's Executive Management Team participate with the Santa Clarita Valley School Coalition on an ongoing basis. In this way the City is able to provide whatever expertise may be available and needed by the Coalition to help improve education in the community. • The focus of the Coalition's efforts at this time is the passage of Proposition 47 (school bond measure) during the November 5, 2002 election. HEALTH & WELFARE GRAVEL MINING Issue Statement: The City of Santa Clarita's image is closely tied to its high quality of life. This is enhanced via protection of the environment from external impacts such as the transit mining concrete (TMC) project. Accomplishments to Date: • The City, community members, legislators and the County of Los Angeles were able to stop the TMC project from moving forward at this time. The County Board of Supervisors denied their request for a permit to run their excavation operation. • The City Council approved a resolution requesting that Congressman McKeon seek a legislative compromise solution. The City's lobbyist in Washington met with representatives from TMC on October 24, 2002 to discuss a potential compromise. • The City is pursuing a meeting with Supervisor Antonovich and the Attorney General's Office to discuss the Attorney General's intervention in the Cemex vs. Los Angeles County lawsuit. • The City is appealing a decision that was made to not allow the City to intervene in the Cemex vs. Los Angeles County lawsuit. LOCAL HOSPITAL Issue Statement: While it is recognized that the City is not the lead agency governing hospitals, the community has expressed concern on the availability and quality of appropriate hospital services to meet the needs based on the demographics of the community. Specifically, services for pediatrics and geriatrics appear in need of expansion. Community Parnter(s): Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Accomplishments to Date: • Members of the City's Executive Management Team participate regularly with the Hospital's Board of Directors through participation on various Board Committees. In this way the City's resources and any needed expertise are available to the hospital on an ongoing basis. • The City participated in the Hospital's Strategic Planning process in September 2002. • City staff will be providing technical assistance to the Hospital in its new effort to update and upgrade its web site design. WATER QUALITY & SUPPLY Issue Statement: The community is concerned with the water quality and supply and the need to ensure adequate supply and quality of surface and groundwater when considering approval of development projects and long-term planning. Community Parnter(s): Castaic Lake Water Agencies, Valencia Water Company, Newhall County Water District, Santa Clarita Water Company, Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Watershed Stakeholders Accomplishments to Date: • Drinking water quality in the City is being addressed through the City's work effort to expedite clean up of contaminated soil and groundwater on and surrounding the Whittaker-Bermite property, which lies between San Fernando Road, Soledad Canyon Road, Golden Valley Road and Circle J Ranch Road. The City Council has adopted a 14 point action plan to address this through work with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control to keep pressure on Whittaker-Bermite to clean-up the pollution they caused through manufacturing munitions on the site for 80 years; pursuit of federal, state and local funding sources; and partnerships with the local water agencies, legislators and others. • Surface water quality in the City is being addressed through the City's ongoing work to implement the provisions of the Federal Clean Water Act through the Stormwater Program. This program includes a proactive education campaign to encourage people to keep anything but clean water out of the gutter, street and other components of the storm drain system. • The California Regional Water Quality Control Board will be setting a water quality standard in the Santa Clara River that will increase the cost of sewer services in the Valley by 5 times. The City has been working with Board staff to find alternative solutions. The City submitted a letter formally opposing the proposed standard and testified at the October 24, 2002 Board meeting. The City also obtained letters to the Board from local elected officials supporting the City's position. NEIGHBORHOOD REINVESTMENT PROGRAM Issue Statement: There is a need to protect and restore our existing neighborhoods and business districts via the implementation of sound economic development strategies, revitalization efforts and creation of strong neighborhoods, community linkages, and civic pride. Accomplishments to Date: • The City has implemented a pilot program to prosecute severe offenders of City codes that require property owners to keep their properties clean and habitable. This enhanced level of enforcement has given City staff greater ability to help keep properties in the City safe and aesthetically pleasing for neighborhoods. S: \PBS\Rietze1\Share Vision IV\ONE YEAR BROCHURE.doe