Westside Reader June 16

WR June 16_Layout 1 5/29/16 12:25 PM Page 8
8 • THE Reader
city Budget
Officials eye $219M
budget for 2016-17
By Robb Fulcher
Staff Writer
Santa Clarita city officials are working to
put together a budget estimated at
$219 million for the coming fiscal year,
reporting slight growth in some areas of the
local economy.
Looking ahead, a five-year economic forecast
predicts continued stability.
A preliminary look at the 2016-17 budget,
which the City Council is scheduled to finalize
in late June, shows operations and maintenance
receiving almost half of the outlay, and
capital projects receiving almost one quarter.
Among the numerous capital projects in
the budget is a $15.2 million, 400-space
parking structure across from the Old Town
Newhall Library, where an art-house movie
theater and two mixed-use buildings are also
planned.
Other capital expenses include $3 million
toward a 12-mile extension of the Via
Princessa roadway, and $3.2 million toward
the Metrolink-related Vista Canyon Regional
Transit Center.
The budget is estimated to spend about a
Santa Clarita city officials are working to put together a budget estimated at $219 million for the coming fiscal
year, reporting slight growth in some areas of the local economy.
quarter of its general fund outlay on police,
fire and other public safety programs, and
about the same amount on parks, recreation
City sets restrictions on Old
Town Newhall business
By Robb Fulcher
Staff Writer
The Santa Clarita City Council set temporary
restrictions on the types of
business that can open in the Old Town
Newhall arts and entertainment district.
City officials said the 45-day moratorium
was put in place to ensure that the area continues
to develop with the focus on arts and
entertainment. At the end of the period, in
June, the council could extend the moratorium,
or set more permanent restrictions on
types of businesses in the area.
Businesses not affected by the moratorium
include restaurants, microbreweries, bars,
taverns and nightclubs, florists, and stores
selling antiques, collectibles, clothing, art,
books, sporting goods, music, jewelry, hobby
goods, stationery and toys.
The moratorium was approved on a 4-0
council vote, with Councilman TimBen Boydston
recused from the matter.
State officials had advised the city that
Boydston and colleague Laurene Weste
might have conflicts of interest that would
prevent them from casting a vote on the matter.
Boydston is executive director of the
Canyon Theatre Guild in Old Town Newhall,
and Weste owns nearby property.
Because four votes were needed to put the
moratorium in place immediately, either
Boydston or Weste had to stand aside. On the
advice of the state officials, the two cut cards.
Weste won, and Boydston sat out the council’s
discussion and the vote.
A city report cited improvements to Old
Town Newhall including construction of the
Old Town Newhall Library, a “streetscape”
themed refurbishing of Main Street, and the
addition of a roundabout to the corner of
Main Street and Newhall Avenue.
“New restaurants have located to Main
The Santa Clarita Planning Commission approved a
number of modifications at Henry Mayo Newhall
Hospital, prompted largely by changes in the state’s
building code.
Street, and commercial vacancies on Main
Street remain low, demonstrating a strong
customer demand in the area. The Newhall
renaissance continues, and the city is making
progress on establishing a vibrant arts and
entertainment district,” the report states.
“As the area has revitalized, the Main Street
area has become more attractive to all types
of uses, including retail uses that do not support
the arts and entertainment vision,” the
report states.
The City Council recently approved a plan
to build a Laemmle art-house theater, two
new mixed-use buildings and a $15 million
parking structure on a vacant block across
from the library. The new additions could
open in 2018. R
and community services.
The operating reserve for the general fund
will be about $17 million. R
planning commission
Helipad location, other
changes approved for
Henry Mayo Hospital
By Robb Fulcher
Staff Writer
The Santa Clarita Planning Commission
approved a number of modifications
at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital,
prompted largely by changes in the state’s
building code.
The most noticeable change would move
the hospital’s helipad to the northwest corner
of the inpatient building, to comply with
FAA requirements that were enacted after
the hospital’s master plan was approved in
2008.
The changes, approved by the Planning
Commission and passed along to the City
Council, include a roughly 4 percent increase
in the size of the hospital campus, beefing up
the inpatient building, redistributing the hospital’s
368 beds, and building an additional
caesarian section operating room.
“It’s basically the same hospital,” said Planning
Commission Chair Dennis Ostrom.
The helipad would relocate from the
southeast corner of the inpatient building's
roof to the northwest corner, 100 feet away.
That change would allow the direct transport
of patients from the helipad to the emergency
room, according to a city report.
One Valencia Summit resident told the
commission she was concerned about the relocation
of the helipad.
The helipad would remain more than 240
feet from the nearest home, a limit specified
in the environmental impact report for the
hospital, according to the city report. R
camp clarita
June 2016
Camp Clarita offers
variety of activities
for SCV youth
The City of Santa Clarita’s Camp Clarita
is currently accepting registration for
the 2016 summer program. Online
and walk-in registration for programs from
June 13 through August 5, 2016 is now
being accepted.
Camp Clarita is a day camp experience
that provides recreational fun and creative
learning opportunities for the youth of
Santa Clarita. The camps include activities
such as games, crafts, drama, swimming,
field trips and more for children ages 3-15.
Wee Folks and Little Folks camps are halfday
programs for 3-5 year olds, featuring a
variety of activities such as arts, crafts,
games, storytelling, music, dance and water
play at Canyon Country and Valencia Glen
parks. All campers must be potty trained to
participate. Program fees range in price
from $33 to $57 per week.
Junior Adventures Camp is an 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. camp for 4-5 year olds at Newhall
Park, which features age appropriate events
including crafts, games, music, sensory activities,
dramatic play and a special Friday
event each week. The Monday through Friday
programs cost $105 per week.
Ranger and Explorer day camps are offered
for children ages 5-8 and 8-12, respectively.
These programs are available
from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through
Friday. In addition to daily fun-filled activities
and swimming, Ranger and Explorer
campers participate in weekly fieldtrips
each Wednesday to a variety of locations
throughout Southern California including
Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Hurricane
Harbor and more. Available enrollment options
are Monday – Friday, Monday/
Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday.
Program costs range from $78 to $169 per
week dependent on program days.
Voyager Camp is offered for youth ages
11-15, and provides young teens with the
opportunity to visit local hot spots each day
including Disneyland, Universal Studios,
horseback riding and more. Available enrollment
options are Monday – Friday,
Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/
Thursday. The cost forVoyager Camp ranges
from $127 to $230 per week depending on
the number of days enrolled.
The deadline to enroll is by 5:00 p.m. on
the Wednesday prior to the week the program
begins and will be based on availability.
Walk-in registration is available at The
Centre, located at 20880 Centre Pointe
Parkway.
For more information, including program
details and registration forms, please contact
the Camp Clarita office at (661) 284-1465 or
campclarita@santa-clarita.com or visit
CampClarita.com.