Stanton Mayor Rigoberto "Rigo" Ramirez presented city accomplishments and future goals to more than 200 in attendance during the city's State of the City Luncheon on Oct. 30 at the Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel.
The colors were presented by Magnolia High School ROTC under the direction of Sgt. Richard Toscano, followed by the National Anthem sung by Ashley Pettus from the Magnolia High School choir.
Prelude music was performed by the Servite High School Jazz Band.
Stanton Mayor Rigoberto "Rigo" Ramirez presented city accomplishments and future goals to more than 200 in attendance during the city's State of the City Luncheon on Oct. 30 at the Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel.
The colors were presented by Magnolia High School ROTC under the direction of Sgt. Richard Toscano, followed by the National Anthem sung by Ashley Pettus from the Magnolia High School choir.
Prelude music was performed by the Servite High School Jazz Band.
Fr. Michael St. Paul from St. Poly Carp Catholic Church offered the invocation and blessing of the food.
"We are always in the presence of God which is the source and origin of our strength; bless the hands that prepared our food; bless our churches, synagogues, this band and the young people; the city and our families, and our leadership," said St. Paul.
"Stanton is 'my' Stanton, 'your' Stanton and 'our' Stanton," said Ramirez as he addressed those in attendance. "We have done a lot in a short amount of time – we are your public servants – and we need and will continue to listen to our residents and businesses."
Ramirez noted that Stanton is the most densely populated city in Orange County within its 3.1 square-mile radius.
"Every day there are 71,000 cars that pass through the city of Stanton and with its 39,000 residents it is an advantage and a challenge. When presenting Stanton to potential business and home developers they find the population and traffic flow attractive but it is very demanding for our police and fire departments," he said.
"Because of the recent economic hard times and the state's take-away program, Stanton has had to cut to the bare-bones every office and position it could, without compromising resident's safety," he added.
"We have a Park Ranger program that looks over our parks so that police can focus on other areas," he continued. "We have the Neighborhood Watch program, where we fight crime by making sure it doesn't happen. We are saving $700,000 a year by having volunteers at the front desk of our Police Department."
How is Stanton doing?
Ramirez noted that the city has added 100 new businesses per square mile since January 2013.
"We have done a lot more with a lot less because the staff and public safety have risen to the challenge, and we are moving forward."
Here's the Stanton State of the City 2014 report, with three main goals:
1) Business growth and retention;
2) Improve community experience and image;
3) Public safety.
Stanton City Council members have taken meetings to the streets.
Since 2013, they have conducted 21 community meetings with the goal of listening and implementing how residents want the city shaped.
"Residents have a voice and they will be heard," Ramirez said.
Knowing that businesses are critical to the success of the city, the mayor and staff took to the streets, conducting walkabouts and personally visiting 127 businesses. Also, the city established the Business Alliance for quarterly networking, socializing and information-sharing and held an Appreciation Luncheon.
"Businesses have a voice and they too will be heard," Ramirez said.
What are they doing with the feedback that has been received at the meetings? There is the Strategic Plan Implementation that includes: one-day turnaround for business licenses; business-improvement rebates; the fastest building plan check in Orange County; reduced processing time for planning permits; an eased signage program; a program called Shop in Stanton and more. What's the return on investment for Stanton residents?
In 2013, there were 148 new businesses in Stanton; year-to-date for 2014 Stanton has 141 new businesses and the existing businesses are expanding. Year-to-date, the Finance Department has processed more than 1,900 business licenses and has seven interested-developers in the Renaissance Plaza property on Beach Boulevard.
Wal-Mart at the south of the city and Kim's Piano at the north bookend Stanton.
And the largest Department of Vehicles in Orange County opened in Stanton Nov. 3. It has already brought significant interest from businesses that would like to open near the DMV.
Do the programs and results stand out? Yes, Ramirez said.
Stanton received awards such as Golden Hub of Innovation Award for Economic Development; Local Government Innovation in Economic Development Initiatives Award of Merit; honorable mention from the Orange County Business Council for the city's business and retention program; honorable mention for the Golden Hub of Innovation Award for Public Engagement; Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Financial Reporting; and an award for Business Partner Satisfaction.
As part of improving the city's image, Stanton is maintaining high-level quality streets, working to clean up Beach Boulevard, continuing the homeless program and adding resident-services to the existing programs, along with building a 12-acre Stanton Central Park planned along Western Avenue, south of Katella Avenue that will be constructed with a previously secured $3 million grant and $8 million bond. This means that there will be no impact to the city's general fund for building the park.
Stanton maintains 24-hour graffiti removal. The city has replaced 2,000 square-feet of sidewalks, 330,000 square-feet of asphalt, slurry-sealed 680,000 linear-feet of sewers, implemented a shopping-cart ordinance and is continuing its partnership with the Illumination Foundation that identifies, engages and rehabilitates homeless individuals.
The Median price of a single-family home as per the most recent county report is up 27 percent to $310,000, which is the third-highest increase in Orange County.
Stanton has re-established the Parks and Recreation Commission at no cost to the residents; there have been more than 100 volunteers that have given a total of 9,000 hours.
While the city has had to make numerous personnel and budgetary cuts, it is still maintaining safety levels, increasing police patrols in neighborhoods, preventing human trafficking and focusing on stopping gang activity, Ramirez said.
"It's a tall order to implement public safety for the 39,000 residents, as 71,000 cars pass by each day on Beach Boulevard," Ramirez said. "Since January, the Orange County Fire Authority has responded to 2,882 calls with only 15 firefighters serving Stanton. Since January, police services has answered 12,209 calls with only 20 deputies."
He continued: "We have a balanced budget, but we also have a structural deficit of $1.8 million, with 70 percent of the budget going to public safety for residents and businesses and based on feedback and results they are worth every penny."
With spending and budget cuts, there are volunteers running the Police Department's front desk. One fire truck has been removed, seven Orange County Sheriff's deputies jobs have been eliminated and six Orange County Fire Authority employees were removed. The full-time City Hall employees were cut from 36 to 24 employees – a 33 percent cut – and pensions and benefits of city employees have also been cut.
"Despite our cuts, our 2013 Strategic Plan asked staff, police and fire to do more with less. Our departments were given a challenge. It was accepted and has been exceeded," Ramirez said. "We've improved in business and community partnerships, too. Moving forward we will continue to work for fiscal stability and continue our dedication to public safety, which is critical to residents and business partners.. Stanton, we have made up much ground in a short period of time. Beach Boulevard is about to pop with businesses and job-producing developments. The resident programs and public safety remain high priority as we continue to build on a positive and thriving image, one that is indicative of our neighborhoods, economy and public service."
