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2 | Community | January-May 2021 what’s inside? 3 Message from the Palmdale Mayor and City Council 4 Letter from City Manager 5 Commerce 10 Feature Story 12 Community 21 Safety 22 Engaged 24 Activities 29 DryTown Water Park 31 Community Events 33 Palmdale Playhouse Message from the 34 Palmdale Amphitheater 36 Chimbole Cultural Center Palmdale Mayor and City Council 37 Palmdale City Library 38 Legacy Commons 2020 has been a time of unprecedented challenge for the City of 41 Outdoor Recreation Palmdale. While the onset of the pandemic has been swift, learning how 43 Public Art to live, work, and cope with COVID-19 has been taken time, effort, and 43 Frequently Called Numbers adjustments. The Council understands that our business community has been Palmdale News severely impacted by the Federal, State, and County restrictions and Winter/Spring 2021 shutdowns. The City continues to help small businesses and boost local A publication of the City of Palmdale economic activity during the pandemic. The City Council has taken 38300 Sierra Highway, Suite A actions to invest approximately one million dollars to help businesses Palmdale, CA 93550-4798 during the economic downturn, launching several innovative programs 661/267-5115 including the City’s Small Business Assistance (SBA) Grants, Operation www.CityofPalmdale.org Jump Start, Shop Palmdale, and Palmdale Take Me Home Tonight (see feature story on page 10) Editor John Mlynar Among the businesses that were able to move to Palmdale since the Design Angel Pulido Flores, pandemic began are Edwards Federal Credit Union on 10th St. West and Antelope Valley Press Ave. O-8, US Tools Group at 630 St. Andrews Way, Fairfield Inn on Ave. Stella Devine-Knight O-8, a medical spec building on 5th Street West, Circle K on Palmdale Photography City Staff Blvd., and Wendy’s in east Palmdale. CITY COUNCIL One big name business, Amazon, also was able to open from start to Mayor Steven D. Hofbauer finish in less than a year despite the coronavirus impacts. [email protected] The Council also approved staff’s proposal to make Palmdale a Mayor Pro Tem Laura Bettencourt 5-G fiber city to offer residents, schools, and businesses a new level [email protected] of internet connectivity. The plan calls for a partnership with SiFi Councilmember Austin Bishop Networks for the installation of a fiber optic network for residential and [email protected] commercial gig speed internet. SiFi Networks will invest approximately Councilmember Juan Carrillo $160 million in Palmdale to deploy 800 miles of fiber throughout the [email protected] City. Once implemented, essentially every home and every business in Councilmember Richard Loa [email protected] Palmdale will have access to high-speed internet. The City is partnering City Manager J.J. Murphy, ICMA-CM with the Palmdale School District, Westside Union School District, and [email protected] Antelope Valley Union High School District to combine resources and apply for grant funding (see article on page 5) On the Cover: We look forward to new and exciting things in 2021. As part of the City’s public art program, beautiful sculptures called Antelopes on Parade were created by local artists and are on display at the Antelope Valley Art Gallery in Palmdale, located 38198 10th St. East. The selections are the works of Lori Antoinette, Xochilt Garcia, Debbie Haeberle, and Kierstyn Swann. City Meetings Letter from the Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Palmdale City Council meetings are not currently open for in- CITY MANAGER person attendance. Meetings will be broadcast Dear Resident: via Zoom. The situation is subject to change and 2020 was a year that we all wish we could forget. Even as we begin a new year, residents are encouraged to keep up-to-date by we are still facing the COVID-19 crisis, and I do understand — we are all tiring of checking the City’s website, www.CityofPalmdale.org, this public health emergency. But let’s take a moment to reflect on how far we and on Facebook at City of Palmdale-Government. have come as a community and what we need to do next. When the crisis began, we started #PalmdaleCares. It was more than just How to Submit Public Comments through a hashtag; it was a commitment that we made to you to do everything we eComments could to keep our community healthy and strong. Our parks and recreation Go to www.cityofpalmdale.org/agendasminutes staff immediately started providing childcare, which we offered free to first and find the meeting you wish to comment on responders, teachers, medical providers, and emergency service workers. Those under “Upcoming Events.” Click on the eComment dedicated servants still had to work even as day care centers were closed. City link of your selected meeting. On mobile devices, staff also provided virtual recreation opportunities when our summer programs you may need to swipe left to see the eComment couldn’t open. The City also stepped up our food distribution at SAVES and link. Scroll through the agenda to find the item offered seniors new drive-through services at Legacy Commons. Our economic for which you would like to provide a comment development team developed incentive programs like Take Me Home Tonight, and select that item to input your comments. You Al Fresco Dining, Jump Start Palmdale, and Shop Palmdale to support local may comment as a guest, or as yourself through businesses, and provided financial assistance programs as well. As this crisis your SpeakUp Palmdale account. eComments continued, we helped keep people in their homes with mortgage and rental can be submitted up until one hour before the assistance programs to address the individual economic impact this crisis meeting starts. To sign up for an account, please visit delivered. palmdale.granicusideas.com/users/sign_up, and Together we passed Measure AV, allowing Palmdale to keep tax dollars at home follow the onscreen instructions. If you require a where we have more control over how to best meet our community’s needs. I disability-related modification or accommodation sincerely thank you for voting to invest in Palmdale’s future. I pledge that I will to participate in this meeting, please call the City work to ensure that this money will be spent wisely on innovative programs that Clerk’s office at 661/267-5151 at least 72 hours prior support our community, nonprofits, veterans, youth sports teams, and all the to the meeting. programs that help build quality of life. City Council meetings are held on the first However, pandemic or not, Palmdale is not waiting for it to be over to move Tuesday of the month, with optional workshops our City forward. While our effort to invite USSPACECOM to make its home held on the third Tuesday. Both meetings begin at 7 in Palmdale was just delivered a disappointing rejection, it brought positive pm. The Planning Commission meets on the second attention to Palmdale, reminding the world that we are at the forefront of the Thursday of the month beginning at 7 pm. The aerospace industry. We are moving forward to address the digital divide by Board of Library Trustees meets on the third Tuesday partnering with SiFi to lay 800 miles of fiber to bring high-speed internet to of each month at 5:30 pm. The City Council and homes and businesses. We anticipate opening our airport, planning our next City Planning Commission meetings are broadcast live park, and developing housing for the next generation. We remain committed to on Spectrum Channel 27 and livestreamed at www. our local businesses and will continue to work to attract new ones. cityofpalmdale.org/agendas. As we all wait for a COVID-19 vaccine to be available, please continue to be vigilant in stopping the spread. Stay home whenever possible, wear your mask, and wash your hands. Do this to protect the loved ones in your life. While we can’t predict what is next in regard to COVID-19, I promise that no matter what lies ahead, we will be ready to serve the needs of our community. Sincerely, To report emergencies, residents may call J.J. Murphy, ICMA-CM 661/267-5338 after 6 pm and before 7:30 am City Manager Monday through Thursday and all-day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Emergencies include sewer overflows, roadway/right-of-way hazards, downed tree limbs, downed signs, potholes, or broken sprinkler lines in City parks or landscaped areas. PALMDALE | commerce Palmdale: A Fiber City A proposal to make Palmdale a fiber city could offer residents, schools, and businesses a new level of internet connectivity while helping to close the technological digital divide. The plan calls for a partnership with SiFi Networks for the installation of a fiber optic network for residential and commercial gig speed internet. When implemented, it would not only improve the connectivity of City residents and businesses, but will also help bridge the digital divide, the gap that exists between individuals who have access to modern information and communication technology and Superintendent Regina Rossall. “We look forward to being involved in those who lack it. this community-wide initiative.” SiFi Networks will invest approximately $160 million in Palmdale “The Antelope Valley Union High School District takes pride in to deploy 800 miles of fiber throughout the City. Once completed, essentially every home and every business in Palmdale will have access being on the leading edge of providing technology-rich learning to high-speed internet. Currently there is limited fiber-to-home and environments and experiences for our students and learning fiber-to-business connectivity. communities,” said AVUHSD Superintendent David J. Vierra. “We are excited at the opportunity to partner with the City of Palmdale It will take approximately one year to plan and two years of construction to deploy throughout the entire City.