In observance of Memorial Day, City Hall will be closed on Monday, May 29, 2017.

In April 2017, the City of San Fernando was awarded with the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) 2017 Excellence in Communications Award of Distinction for Website Redesign. 

In June 2016, after more than six-months of development, the City launched a redesigned website. The website domain remained the same (WWW.SFCITY.ORG) which enables residents, business owners, and the community at-large to experience this dynamic new website while also having access to a wealth of new information immediately. 

Some of the website's active new features include fillable Public Records Requests, Public Works Service Requests, Contact Us Requests, and an E-notification (subscription) service, as well as, a variety of City forms available for download in a fillable PDF format. 

Be sure to visit the City's website for updated information: WWW.SFCITY.ORG.

On April 18, , 2017, the U.S. Postal Service Federal Credit Union, the Education Commission, Richard Myles Johnson Foundation, and numerous volunteers presented the Bite of Reality program to approximately 70 students at the Teacher Prep Academy at the Cesar E. Chávez Learning Academies.  The interactive activity provided teens with opportunities to make financial decisions and hopefully, after completing the course, the students gained a greater understanding of the importance of saving money, developing wise spending habits, living within their means, and planning for the future.  Staff hopes to provide this experience to more schools and students in the near future. For more information on Bite of Reality, visit their website ( http://www.rmjfoundation.org/index.php/bite-or-reality). 

On May 23, 2017, the San Fernando Education Commission will hold its Second Annual Scholarship Awards Ceremony, at Las Palmas Park.  More than $9,000 in scholarships (ranging from $500 to $1,000 each) will be presented to middle school students, college-bound high school seniors, and full-time students currently enrolled in a community college or four-year university. Special thanks to Mayor Sylvia Ballin (who raised and/or donated funds via the California Latino Water Coalition Foundation, the Independent Cities Finance Authority, and her Community Investment Fund), Republic Services Inc., and private donors.  In addition to the Gabriel Fernandez Memorial Scholarship, this year, scholarships will be given to honor the memory of Elias Rodriguez.

O n Saturday, May 20, 2017, the City will host the annual Low Cost Vaccination/ Microchip and Licensing Clinic for dogs and cats. The event will take place  from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, in the City Hall parking lot located at the corner of Macneil Street and First Street. Healthcare and Emergency Animal rescue Team (HEART) staff will provide the following vaccinations at a low cost:  Rabies ($7), DHPP ($20), Bordetella ($15), Lyme ($22), FELV ($22), FVRCP ($20) and Purevax ($20). Additionally, San Fernando residents may take advantage of the low cost microchip services ($30) that will be offered for both dogs and cats. 

On Wednesday, April 19, 2017, the Police Department, along with LAFD Swift Water Rescue Team, hosted a Neighborhood Watch meeting in the Council Chambers.  The topic and training for our community was Flood Control Safety within San Fernando City limits and throughout Los Angeles County.  LAFD Swift Water Rescue Team members provided an excellent presentation on the history of their unit, rescue operations, and safety tips for in and around the flood control system.  Also present during this meeting was Pahola Mascorro (Elias Rodriguez' mother), Mayor Sylvia Ballin, and Councilmember Joel Fajardo.  The meeting and presentation were well-received by community members.  Also, this meeting was streamed via Facebook Live and received over 1,400 viewers.

In late March 2017, the City received notification that it has received designation as a Tree City USA! This award demonstrates the City's continued commitment to maintaining its urban forest and keeping local trees healthy. The Tree City USA program is administered by the Arbor Day Foundation and uses several criteria to determine eligibility, including maintaining a per capita budget of at least $2 for tree maintenance activities, coordinating a community tree planting event, maintaining a tree management ordinance and issuing a proclamation recognizing Arbor Day and the Tree City USA program.

Additionally, in April 2017, tree maintenance and planting work is scheduled to resume in the community. These activities consist of planting, grid trimming/pruning, the removal of dead/diseased trees and tree stump removal.  Prior to work starting, locations will be posted for temporary parking restrictions and residents will be notified of maintenance activities.  This maintenance work continues the City's proactive efforts over the last several years to keep up with regular tree maintenance activities.  This work is cost-effective and helps to alleviate potential hazardous conditions related to overgrown trees.

The City has three street improvement projects included in this year's capital improvement program budget and on March 29, 2017, bids were received for the CDBG Improvement Project, which is focused on street and concrete repairs along Alexander Street, from First Street to Fourth Street.  The lowest responsive bid was received from All American Asphalt in the amount of $143,979, which is well within the Engineer's cost estimate. The City Council awarded the contract on April 17, 2017, and work will get underway in mid-May 2017.

In addition, work continues to move forward on the City's two other resurfacing projects, including the Annual Street Resurfacing Project (street/utility) and the Glenoaks Improvement Project (street/traffic safety improvements on Glenoaks Blvd.). Design work on the Annual Resurfacing Project is approximately 70% complete while the Glenoaks Project began in late April 2017.

West Coast Arborist will be planting 27 Raywood Ash trees along Phillippi Street between Harding Avenue and the cul-de-sac West of N. Maclay Ave. As you may recall, before last year's Annual Street Resurfacing Project several trees (Liquidambars) along the street were removed as they were no longer viable. The tree planting will be completed in May 2017.

In late March 2017, Public Works staff completed repairs to the HVAC units at City Hall that heat/cool the Council Chambers and adjacent conference rooms. Staff quickly diagnosed power issues and made repairs to the system. Public Works' in-house expertise is a great asset to the City, helping to reduce facilities maintenance expenses and reduce repair times.

Over the past year, the City and community stakeholders have made remarkable progress in the development of a Safe and Active Streets Master Plan for the community. This effort will help to identify opportunities to improve transportation and pedestrian safety, including both programming and infrastructure improvements. Work on this grant-funded master plan is nearing completion and will be considered by the Transportation and Safety Commission and the City Council in May 2017.  As you'll recall, the master plan process has involved extensive community engagement with local schools and community members, including interactive charrettes and the coordination of a local Walk to School Day.  Once complete, the master plan will serve as a guide for local transportation safety improvements and position the City for future grant opportunities.

As a result of recent vandalism and tagging at the Gateway Monument, it was determined that the painted stucco entry sign was in need of repainting. Public Works staff initiated work to repaint the entry monument sign to be consistent with other entry monuments in the community. Great job by Public Works staff!

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In early April 2017, Public Works staff will initiate maintenance and repair activities on the solar light fixtures that line the bikeway.  This work includes cleaning of solar panels and replacement of fixtures, if necessary.

Public Works staff members are busy with several improvements at Las Palmas Park, including: repairs to the playground areas, and the instillation of perimeter fencing for baseball fields, new basketball nets, new partitions/toiletry dispensers in the Women's outdoor restroom and barricades along the rear parking lot area.  These improvements help to keep the park in good condition during the busy spring season.

Quarterly, the Recreation and Community Services Department distributes a brochure that lists all of their exciting new activities and programs, including:

• Fitness & Wellness Programs
• Arts Classes
• Sports Programs & Activities
• Senior Programs & Activities
• Health Classes
• Transit Services
• Upcoming Events

CLICK HERE to view the Spring Programs Brochure for April 2017 through June 2017.

In honor of Older American's Month 2017, the Recreation and Community Services Department will host the Annual Senior Expo on May 19, 2017. The event will take place at Las Palmas Park, from 9 am to 1 pm, and it is estimated that over 300 seniors will attend this free event.  Various agencies such as the Alzheimer's Association, the California Public Utilities Commission, the Center for Health Care Rights, and the National Organization for Renal Disease plan on participating and will be on site to offer valuable information and free health screenings to the seniors. Participants will also enjoy live entertainment, lunch, a dance and raffles.