City of Simi Valley General Plan Update

Community Profile Summary of the General Plan Technical Background Report

September 2007

09057 | JCS | 07 www.ci.simi-valley.ca.us

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Demographics ™ Population in the City of Simi Valley grew from persons per household actually increased slightly to 59,832 in 1970 to 122,708 in 2006, at an average 3.06 according to DOF. annual rate of 2.0 percent over this period. The ™ Based on growth forecasts provided by City Staff, the average annual population and household growth population in the City is projected to grow from rates from 1970 through 2006 were 2.0 percent and 121,204 in 2005 to 135,869 in 2035 at 0.4 percent 2.9 percent, respectively, declining to 1.6 percent and annual average growth rate, while households are 1.5 percent, respectively, for the 2000 to 2006 forecast to grow from 39,225 in 2005 to 43,815 in period. 2035 at 0.4 percent annual average growth rate. ™ From 1990 to 2000, population in the 35 to 64 years ™ The persons-per-household ratio in the City is age group grew from 37 percent of the total currently forecast by City Staff to stay constant at population in 1990 to about 42 percent in 2000. In 3.09 from 2005 to 2035. contrast, the population in the age group 18 to 35 ™ The levels of educational attainment in 2000 were years, declined from about 30 percent to 22 percent similar in the City and the County with more than over this same period. 60 percent or more of the population aged 25 years ™ The senior population in the 65 and over group grew and over having some college education or higher. from 5.3 percent of the population in 1990 to 7.6 ™ The City had a labor-force of approximately 57,000 percent in 2000. residents in 2000, with the largest percent employed ™ Average household size in Simi Valley declined from in the Management and Professional occupations 4.15 in 1970 to 3.04 in 2000. From 2000 to 2006, the (38.2 percent) followed by Sales and Office occupations (30.7 percent).

Land Use and Urban Form ™ With its valley setting, Mediterranean climate, and ™ There are approximately 42 square miles of land area rolling hills, Simi Valley is situated in an attractive and in the City with older development generally located unique setting. The surrounding hills are a significant in the historic valley floor areas, and more recent natural feature that physically separates the City from development located in the outlying areas. neighboring jurisdictions and enhances its community ™ There is a continuous pattern of suburban identity. development on the valley floor characterized by one ™ Distinctive features that characterize the City’s form and two-story buildings, schools, shopping centers, are the Ronald Reagan Freeway (SR-118), which housing, office, and industrial centers interspersed transects Simi Valley north of its center, the Arroyo with parks and community facilities. Commercial Simi and adjacent open space areas, the Southern activities are concentrated along Tapo Canyon Road, Pacific Railroad which transects the City south of Tapo Street, Cochran Street and Los Angeles SR-118, and the expanses of hillsides and canyons Avenue, with business parks and industrial uses that surround the City on all sides. located west of First Street along Easy Street and the railroad, or generally south of Los Angeles Avenue

SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE 1 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

and Tapo Street and Tapo Canyon Road. The Simi as a Project Area. Redevelopment Project Areas Valley Town Center, a regional shopping center, is allow the Agency to eliminate blighted conditions located north of the Ronald Reagan Freeway between through the use of redevelopment tools and Erringer Road and First Street. development incentives. ™ The most common urban forms found in Simi Valley ™ Tools used by the City to limit the location, amount are as follows: and design of development include the Simi Valley ■ Residential: Large lot, traditional suburban, master Growth Management Plan which is designed to planned communities, and mixed density maintain compliance with the Ventura County Air ■ Commercial: Corridor commercial (non-pedestrian Quality Management Plan; the Simi Valley City Urban oriented commercial or strip commercial); Restriction Boundary to protect existing agricultural, Neighborhood Centers or corner retail center; or open space, viewsheds, wildlife areas, and watershed Regional Centers (Town Center or Big Box) land from the impacts of development; and the Hillside Performance Standards designed to preserve ■ Industrial: Light industrial or business park and respect the natural topographic features of the ™ The City’s existing land uses fall into six major land hillsides surrounding the City. uses. These uses as a percentage of the total land ™ As the City continues to grow and the remaining area within Simi Valley are as follows: Residential vacant land is developed, there must be critical (29%), Open Space other than parks (41%), analysis of what land uses will be allowed in the Commercial (3%), Industrial (2%), Public/Semi-Public future, where development will occur and in what which includes schools, public buildings, religious amounts, and what it will look like in order to achieve facilities, parks, etc. (8%), and Other which includes the community’s Vision. agriculture, infrastructure, land fill, vacant, etc. (16%). There is a limited amount of vacant land in the City ™ Retail, administrative, professional, and service (2% included in Other). commercial uses are located throughout the community and account for approximately 3 percent ™ The City’s General Plan land use designations and its of the total land uses. Commercial areas in Simi major zoning categories generally correspond to its Valley include commercial corridors (e.g., Los existing land uses and are summarized as follows: Angeles Avenue, Cochran Street, Tapo Canyon Road, Residential ( 35%), Open Space (35%), Commercial etc.), commercial strip centers, corner retail centers, (3%), Industrial (5%), Public and Semi-Public (7%), and neighborhood shopping centers, and regional retail Other (12%). centers (e.g., Simi Valley Town Center). ™ The Simi Valley Community Development Agency has designated a limited amount of property in the City Economics ™ Based on employment data from the California in manufacturing, professional, scientific and technical, Employment Development Department (EDD), the and information-related activities. City’s employment base grew from 33,625 in 2001 to ™ The City had a significantly lower average payroll 36,959 in 2005 at an annual average growth rate of wage ($38,969) in 2005 compared to the South East 2.4 percent. Ventura sub-region ($55,478) due to the higher ™ The City’s economic base is more specialized in retail proportion of jobs in low paying job categories and office—especially managerial and finance and (almost 25 percent in retail and accommodation and insurance activities, relative to Ventura County but food services). less specialized relative to South East Ventura County

2 SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

™ Preliminary employment growth forecasts from the Thousand Oaks, San Buenaventura, and Camarillo at Southern California Association of Governments $17,760, $16,795 and $12,657, respectively. (SCAG) RTP 2007 shows City employment growing ™ Simi Valley was performing close or better in 2005 from 43,163 in 2005 to 65,964 in 2035 at 1.4 percent. than the Ventura County per capita average in This is faster than the household growth forecasts General Merchandise, Service Stations, Food Stores provided by City Staff at 0.4 percent over the 2005 to and Eating and Drinking Places, but less-than-average 2035 forecast period. If this growth in jobs and in Apparel Stores, Home Furnishings & Appliances, households is realized, the jobs per household ratio Auto Dealers & Auto Supplies. would increase from 1.10 in 2005 to 1.51 in 2035. ™ However, the 2005 retail sales estimates for the City ™ Based on information from the California State Board do not include the effects of the Simi Valley Regional of Equalization, per capita taxable retail sales estimate Town Center, especially in retail categories like in the City was $10,513 in 2005 (in constant 2006 General Merchandise, Apparel, Eating and Drinking dollars), lower compared to Ventura County at and Specialty Retail. $11,293, and other Ventura County cities like Housing ™ Simi Valley’s housing stock increased 11.5 percent ™ The City’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation from 2000 to 2007. This level of growth outpaced the (RHNA) is 3,383 for the time period of 2006 to 2014. countywide growth of 8.9 percent. The City’s Growth Management Plan will provide a sufficient number of permits to meet the RHNA ™ The majority (82 percent) of the City’s housing stock requirements of 3,383 units. is comprised of single-family homes, with the remaining 18 percent being multi-family units and ™ Simi Valley has an active housing production market. mobile homes. Countywide, single-family homes As of June 2007, there were a number of residential comprise about 75 percent of the total housing stock. projects either under construction or in the development pipeline. ™ Based on housing prices and salary surveys, certain occupations (e.g., service employees, health care ™ There are potential opportunities for new housing in workers, and school teachers) have difficulty affording infill areas that are currently under-utilized and housing in Simi Valley. To afford a median priced through the use of transferable development rights. single-family home of $540,000, an annual salary of close to $150,000 would be needed. This salary level is almost double that of the median salary of professionals, such as civil engineers (almost $79,000). The affordability gap is even more severe among service employees. Almost six wage-earners in the service industry would need to pool their incomes together in order to afford a median-priced home.

SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE 3 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Community Development Issues T The City has a limited amount of vacant land, particularly within the valley floor. Thus, to meet the City’s future housing and commercial needs, additional development may occur as infill or re-use of existing properties. T The current distribution of land use in the community supports and encourages the dominance of automobile use. Exploring more mixed-use, transit-oriented, and pedestrian-oriented uses may be an option for future land use. T Preservation of hillside and open space areas remain a continuing issue in the community as land development pressures continue to increase. T As existing residential and commercial uses in the older areas of the City age, there will be an increased need for maintenance and upgrades. T Housing cost burden affects a significant portion of households in Simi Valley, particularly the elderly and those earning lower incomes. T Based on the State 2007 income limits for Ventura County and current real estate prices, homeownership in Simi Valley is beyond the reach of most lower- and moderate-income households, including seniors and working families. T There is a need to examine the interface between new development and existing land uses to ensure compatibility or so that appropriate buffers between land uses can be provided, as necessary. T The current land use distribution in the community supports and encourages the dominance of automobile use. Exploring mixed use, transit-oriented, and pedestrian-oriented uses may reduce vehicle trips, traffic congestion, and auto emissions. T Existing commercial development patterns along some of the City's corridors are not suitable in size, location, and dimension for contemporary shopping center design. Therefore, opportunities to consolidate commercial development in appropriate amounts and locations should be explored to adequately service the City's needs. T There is not a strong relationship between the City's available transit opportunities and the location of medium and high density residential land uses. The location of additional transit opportunities and location of jobs and housing uses in close proximity to each other should be considered. T The City currently limits residential density in hillside areas. Should additional density be considered for hillside areas to achieve broader City objectives, appropriate design standards must be incorporated into the standards to assure maximum aesthetics and minimal environmental impacts for any new development. T According to the City’s survey data, demand for commercial/office and industrial space has been strong with low vacancies of 2.0 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively. Low vacancy rates have persisted because of low construction activity due to lack of available land. T According to information provided by City Staff, the City has relatively little available vacant land for new office and industrial spaces, important for economic growth. T The City currently has little available vacant land for multi-family (higher density) residential for affordable housing.

4 SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE INFRASTRUCTURE

Water Resources ™ Two-thirds of the City’s water is provided by the ™ The District is designing a nanofiltration plant to treat Ventura County Waterworks District No.8 (District) water produced by the District’s wells. This treated and one-third is provided by Golden State Water water will serve 5 percent of the District’s current Company. average water consumption. ™ The City’s major source of water is imported water. ™ Water demand for the City’s projected growth will More than 96 percent of water consumed in the continue to be provided by Ventura County District service area is imported from the California Waterworks and Golden State Water Company, Aqueduct. through the Calleguas Municipal Water District and ™ To relieve the shortage in reliable imported water the development of local groundwater sources and supplies, the District is proposing to expand its water recycled water. recycling program for irrigation and possibly for industrial use. Wastewater ™ The City’s sanitary sewer system and Water Quality The City will initiate a backbone sewer rehabilitation Control Plant is operated by the Sanitation Division program and added maintenance to prevent system of the City’s Public Works Department which treats failures. all wastewater in Simi Valley. ™ The City plans to expand the wastewater treatment ™ Current system has approximately 360 miles of plant to its ultimate capacity of 17.5 million gallons mainline sewers which had a flow of approximately per day by the year 2014 based upon current 9.5 million gallons per day in 2005. population and land use projections. ™ Much of the City’s sewer pipe system is nearly 50 years old, and is subject to ongoing deterioration. Stormwater ™ The Ventura County Watershed Protection District contemplated for construction pursuant to the City’s (District) provides flood control facilities throughout Master Plan of Drainage. the County including Simi Valley. ™ Specific localized areas in the eastern and western ™ The major drainage course through Simi Valley is portions of the City have less of a slope, high Arroyo Simi and excellent north-south slopes permit groundwater tables, and necessitate special attention storm run-offs to be rapidly conveyed to Arroyo Simi during the design of future drainage facilities. where they are transported out of the basin. ™ Reevaluation of the City’s Storm Drain System is ™ Flood control structures which significantly affect the currently underway with the updated Master Plan. amount of stormwater runoff passing to flood control Identification of System deficiencies and and drainage facilities in the basin already exist or are recommended corrections will be made as part of this update.

SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE 5 INFRASTRUCTURE

Solid Waste ™ The Simi Valley Landfill and Recycling Center ™ The current owners plan to expand the landfill to (Landfill), operated by Waste Management of meet the County’s long-term disposal and recycling California, provides all of the City’s daily refuse needs. The plan includes doubling the portion of its disposal needs. The Landfill recycles approximately current trash intake to accommodate growth in 25 percent of all waste accepted. Ventura County, and to compensate for the closure of another landfill in the County. ™ As of the year 2000, the Landfill is permitted to accept up to 3,000 tons per day of refuse and 6,250 ™ The Landfill expansion includes a proposal to set tons of recyclable materials. It is permitted for aside 516 acres of land as a buffer area and wildlife 274 acres with 138 acres for disposal with an habitat. The Landfill proposes to expand to estimated life through the year 2024. approximately 371 acres to extend its life beyond year 2050.

Energy Resources ™ Electrical energy is supplied to Simi Valley residents ™ Natural Gas is supplied to Simi Valley by the by Southern California Edison, one of the largest Southern California Gas Company, the nation's electric utilities in the United States. Electricity is a largest natural gas distribution utility. Virtually all “reactive” utility, meaning it is provided on an as- streets within the City contain a pipeline that is part needed basis to customers within existing structures of the Gas Company network. As development in the City. occurs, the Gas Company will continue to extend its service to accommodate new development.

Telecommunications ™ Local telephone service to Simi Valley is provided by ™ The popularity of cellular phones has resulted in a AT&T in accordance with California Public Utility number of companies providing service to Simi Valley Commission tariffs. Phone services are provided by a through 23 cell towers Citywide. Service providers in variety of means over both copper and fiber wire. the City include the following: Several providers, including AT&T, provide long ■ Verizon distance phone service to Simi Valley as well as ■ Nextel wireless, high speed and dial-up internet service, ■ Sprint PCS wireless phone service, and digital satellite TV. ■ AT&T (Cingular, Pac Bell) ™ Cable television service in the City is provided by ■ T-mobile Time Warner Cable who provides digital cable ■ Royal Street Communications service, digital video recorder, high definition television, and other digital cable services.

Infrastructure Issues T Further study needs to be conducted to determine if water demand can be met for future growth projections. T There is a need for site drainage planning and design to protect downstream improvement from flooding damage. This is of particular concern in the western portion of the City. T Revenue sources to repair aging and undersized sewer and drainage facilities should be identified. T The Landfill expansion could result in potential environmental impacts on the community; therefore, these issues would be addressed in the environmental analysis for the Landfill expansion.

6 SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE COMMUNITY SERVICES

Police Protection ™ Simi Valley has been consistently ranked by the FBI as by making the Police more visible in the community, one of the safest communities in the nation with a which contributes to crime prevention and enables population of 100,000 or more. reduced response times to both emergency and non- ™ The Simi Valley Police Department’s (SVPD) average emergency calls. response time for emergency calls for service was ™ As the City grows in population, a proactive and 4.4 minutes and for non-emergency calls was 9.9 community-supported police department (i.e., minutes compared to a goal of 4 minutes or less for through programs that raise community awareness of emergency calls and 12 minutes or less for non- criminal activities such as the Neighborhood Watch emergency calls. These response times are within Program) will continue to help reduce crime rates as SVPD averages from previous years. residents and business become more aware of ™ In 2006, the SVPD transitioned from a 6-Beat Patrol methods and opportunities to reduce crime Plan to a 7-Beat Patrol Plan. The additional beat occurrences. provides a higher level of service to the community Fire Protection and Emergency Services ™ The Ventura County Fire Department (County) implements a Community Emergency Response provides fire prevention, suppression, and emergency Training Program which is designed to provide service responses in Simi Valley, primarily through residents and businesses with skills to become self- the five fire stations located in Simi Valley. The reliant and to assist others during disasters. County also provides other support services ™ The County strives to achieve a response time including wildland fire control and participates in between 5 and 7 minutes for emergency calls and automatic and mutual aid services with neighboring between 9 and 12 minutes for non-emergency calls. jurisdictions. The average emergency response time in 2006 was ™ The County and the City of Simi Valley both 4 minutes 56 seconds and for non-emergency implement programs to facilitate emergency responses the average response time was 7 minutes preparedness, including planning for, responding to, 18 seconds. and coordinating disaster recovery. The City also Schools ™ The Simi Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) ™ Currently, seven schools in the SVUSD are operating operates twenty-one elementary schools (grades K– over capacity; and the one school most over capacity, 6), three middle schools (grades 6–8), three high Atherwood Elementary—operating at 106 percent of schools (grades 9–12), one continuation high school capacity—is scheduled for expansion. (grades 10–12), one adult school, and one ™ Total enrollment in the District is projected to independent/alternative school in the City. There are decrease by approximately 2 percent overall through also sixteen private schools located in Simi Valley. the 2012/13 school year.

SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE 7 COMMUNITY SERVICES

™ As is typical in many school districts, decreasing ™ SVUSD has joint use agreements with the Rancho enrollment is primarily due to rising housing costs Simi Recreation and Parks District for the use of that preclude young families from moving into the many school recreation and park facilities as a means area, and in Simi Valley an aging adult population also to expand the use of community and SVUSD contributes to the decrease. resources.

Parks, Recreation, and Trails ™ The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District (Park ™ The City currently has a total of approximately District), an independent special district, is 1,150 acres of parkland not including 67 acres of responsible for the acquisition, development and parkland pending acquisition as well as potential maintenance of parkland and open space within its acquisitions of Tapo Canyon Park, land near the Simi boundaries, which include the City of Simi Valley. Valley Landfill, and the greening of Arroyo Simi as a linear park. ™ The City is well served by a variety of park experiences including four community parks ™ Private open space within the community includes (124 acres); six special-use parks (242 acres) including 5,261 acres of privately owned lands such as two golf courses, an equestrian center, a sports cemeteries, golf courses, and private equestrian trails, complex, a community center, and a historical park some of which are restricted to members only, but and museum; four natural parks (576 acres); twenty- provide visual open space relief and use by Simi Valley four neighborhood parks (204 acres); and two mini residents who may be members. parks (1.73 acres).

Other Services ™ The Ventura County Library Service Agency provides ™ The City is home to the 100-acre Ronald Reagan library services for Simi Valley residents through its Presidential Library which is operated by the National branch library located in the Civic Center adjacent to Archives and Records Administration and is home to City Hall. the Presidential Library Scholars program for high ™ In addition to its regular collection of books, school seniors in Ventura County. magazines, and periodicals, and internet and video ™ Other community services provided by the City of resources, the Library provides a variety of Simi Valley include a Citizen Advisory Program, the programming, including literacy programs, services Simi Valley Senior Center, the Cultural Arts Center, for children, tutoring, and craft programs. the Neighborhood Council Program, and several youth services, including the Boys and Girls Club.

Community Services Issues T Police and Fire staffing and services must be expanded commensurate with future growth in the community, to maintain and improve the level of safety and security that has contributed to the quality of life in Simi Valley. T School overcrowding in the community is not severe, but the District must be encouraged to provide adequately for all students so that high levels of school performance may be maintained. T In areas with a deficiency of parkland, joint use of school play fields can result in overuse. T There is a need for continued acquisition of open space and expansion of recreational opportunities to serve the City’s growing population.

8 SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE CIRCULATION

Circulation ™ The City of Simi Valley is served by an array of ™ Increased congestion in the future will have to be transportation facilities, including the State Route 118 managed through innovative strategies for more Freeway, one freight/commuter rail line, an extensive efficient movement of traffic, low-cost intersection roadway network, and several bus transit lines. operational improvements, the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and travel demand ™ The Ronald Reagan Freeway (SR-118) provides management strategies. Limited roadway widening is regional access to the City. The freeway has three likely to be reserved for selected segments and/or lanes in each direction (two lanes west of Madera intersections presenting heavy traffic conditions. Road) and is currently being widened to four lanes, from Tapo Canyon Road to the Los Angeles County ™ The City’s existing bicycle network is relatively line. SR-118 carries between 80,000 and 135,000 daily limited (eight miles of Class I bikeways and seven trips in Simi Valley, generally increasing from west to miles of sidewalk paths) and lacks significant east. connectivity and continuity. ™ A comprehensive arterial grid system provides ample ™ Commuter service in Simi Valley is provided by bus capacity to move local and regional traffic. East/west and rail lines by the City of Los Angeles’s peak hour arterials carry 80,000 to 90,000 daily trips across the Commuter Express bus service to Warner Center City. In the north/south direction, over 10 arterials and Metrolink serves Simi Valley with six trains in the handle between 90,000 (in the northern and southern morning and two trains in the evening to Los Angeles edges) to 195,000 daily trips (generally north of Los and two trains in the morning hours and six trains in Angeles Avenue) across the valley. the evening from Los Angeles on weekdays. Approximately 345 persons board Metrolink trains ™ While traffic is perceived as being heavy, especially in each morning at the Simi Valley station. Amtrak’s the western parts of the City, most streets are not Pacific Surfliner and the Coast Starlight stop at the heavily congested and are not operating under poor Simi Valley Metrolink Station as well. levels of service. Peak hour congestion levels become noticeable at a few locations in the City, including ™ Public transit service in Simi Valley includes local unsignalized intersections that could be candidates for fixed-route bus service, commuter bus service, signalization in the future (i.e., Kuehner Dr. & SR-118 commuter rail lines, and paratransit services. The WB on/off ramps, Kadota St. & Alamo St., and Tapo Simi Valley Transit Division operates four local fixed- Canyon Rd. & Royal Ave.). routes, carrying about 480,457 weekly passengers to Chatsworth, Ventura County communities (through ™ With the increasing job base in Ventura County cities VISTA—EAST) and to other systems like Metro and to the west and south, travel patterns are beginning Metrolink. to change and the traditional heavy peak directionality (eastbound AM and Westbound PM) ™ Simi Valley Transit provides Dial-A-Ride service for are giving way to a more balanced peak and relatively seniors and disabled persons, serving over 45,000 heavy all-day patterns along certain corridors. passengers per year.

SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE 9 CIRCULATION

Circulation Issues T Growth will continue to put pressure on the City’s roadway system as Simi Valley continues to attract jobs. T There may be a need and consideration in the future for additional freeway interchange(s) for better service to the growing areas of the City. T Bicycle network issues include the following: lack of significant continuity and connectivity of the network, cyclists riding on sidewalks because high-speed City streets are intimidating, the number of driveways along Los Angeles Ave. and Cochran St. limit their use, and poor pavement conditions and the large number of at-grade crossings make long-distance travel along the Arroyo Simi Bikeway less desirable. T As the west side of the City continues to grow, addition transit service will be needed. The potential for another Metrolink station or a re-location of the current station to a more suitable location on the west side should be considered to serve the growing areas.

10 SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

Natural Resources ™ Simi Valley is located in a setting that contains State-listed endangered and threatened plant and significant natural features such as hillsides, canyons, wildlife species and valleys that contain a variety of ecosystems ■ Open water habitats provided by Bard Reservoir, ranging from wildlife corridors to wetlands. Sinaloa Lake, and isolated locations along Arroyo ™ Wildlife within the Simi Valley area is extremely Simi and other creek areas abundant, including a diversity of mammals, birds, and ■ Chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitat for State amphibians. The creek channels and open upland and federally endangered and threatened plant and areas of the Planning Area are ideal habitat for wildlife species movement and foraging by wildlife species. These ™ Wildlife corridors and landscape linkages are variant ecosystems sustain a broad range of natural important features that act as pathways for wildlife and biological resources. travel, connecting habitat areas that may otherwise ™ In general, important habitats and biological resource be separated by rugged terrain, changes in vegetation, areas within Simi Valley and the adjacent Planning or human disturbance. Area include the following: ™ Adoption of the Simi Valley City Urban Restriction ■ Canyon areas that provide important habitat for Boundary in 1998 has done much to protect existing wildlife (water, food, shelter, and movement agricultural, open space, viewsheds, wildlife areas, and corridors) watershed land from the impacts of development. ■ Riparian woodlands located along Arroyo Simi and other creek channels that provide habitat for Hydrology and Water Quality ™ Simi Valley is located within the Calleguas Creek Urban runoff, erosion, agricultural runoff, and other Watershed (Watershed) which encompasses natural causes are common nonpoint sources. approximately 343 square miles. The major drainage ™ The Calleguas Creek Watershed is considered highly course through the City is the Arroyo Simi. impaired (conditions are inadequate to support ™ Surface water quality within the City is affected by a beneficial uses as designated by the Regional Water variety of discharges from both point and nonpoint Quality Control Board) due to urban development sources. Wastewater treatment plant effluent is the and past agricultural activities. The impaired uses largest and most common point-source discharge. affect drinking water, aquatic life support, and recreation.

Soils and Minerals, and Agriculture ™ There is little or no constraint to most types of City’s hillside and canyon areas that typically require development on the City’s soils. The least compatible site-specific geologic investigations to determine areas for development due to high slopes include the more accurate development constraints.

SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE 11 NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ™ Oil deposits exist within the northern portion of Simi City’s farmland is located in the northern and Valley and extraction is currently permitted in this southern hillside areas. Significant conflicts exist area where there are small discrete oil and gas fields between agriculture and urban uses which prevent that contain a number of production wells. long-term agricultural use of areas adjacent to ™ Agriculture use of land in Simi Valley is no longer a developed areas, including dust from cultivation, and significant factor in the local economy. Most of the pesticide use. Visual Resources ™ Simi Valley is dominated by a physical setting that ■ Ridgelines and canyons offers residents and visitors a variety of scenic ■ Woodlands (e.g., oak woodlands in the Simi Hills) experiences. The character and quality of life for ■ Waterways including lakes, streams, arroyos, and residents are inextricably linked to this physical reservoirs setting. ■ Undeveloped hillsides and open space areas ™ The City’s rich visual setting is typified by the including park lands following natural resources: ■ Viewsheds (the view of the valley floor traveling ■ Mountains and rock formations (Rocky Peak and west on SR-118) Whiteface Escarpment) Historic and Cultural Resources ™ Simi Valley’s historic-cultural resources include > Cultural Arts Center Building physical elements that define the City’s past and > Scott Ranch present heritage and give Simi Valley a unique identity > R.E. Harrington House and charm. These resources provide a sense of > Row of Mexican Fan Palms permanence that fosters civic pride and stewardship > Grandma Prisbrey’s Bottle Village among the community. > Meier Ranch Main House ™ Important historic resources include the following: > House of Book > Mt. McCoy ■ State and National Register Resources: > Tapo Ranch Headquarters > Strathearn Historical Park > Site De la Guerra Adobe Robert P. Strathearn House o > Ta’apu Village Site Colony House o > Ta’apu Cemetery Simi Adobe o > Chumash Wilderness Park > Burro Flats Pictographic Cave Paintings > Stagecoach Road ■ Other State and Locally designated Resources: > Freight Road > Old Town Simi > Knolls Rock > Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church > Santa Susana Depot > Miss Bessie Printz Colony House > First Presbyterian Church > Simi General Merchandise Store (Strathearn > Row of California Fan Palms Park) > Hummingbird Ranch and Home > Simi Cemetery > Elephant Rock > Runkle Ranch Headquarters and Corral > Simi Elementary School

12 SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES Air Quality ™ Summary data through the year 2006 shows ozone generated as residents have to commute outside of levels in the Simi Valley at higher than State and the community for employment. Therefore, low- national standards, and PM10 and PM2.5 levels are density development increases the distance between higher than State standards. uses and therefore increases the number of vehicle ™ The density of development and the patterns of land trips for daily activities. use affect air quality within an area. For example, ™ Segregated land uses increase the number of motor communities where the majority of land is developed vehicle trips and associated emissions since with low-density residential and have more local opportunities to walk, ride bicycles, and use public residents in the work force than the number of local transportation between homes and work/shopping jobs (i.e. are housing rich), as is the case with Simi are generally reduced. Valley, have a greater potential for emissions to be Natural and Cultural Resources Issues T Loss of sensitive habitat may increase as a result of increased development within the Planning Area. T The impact of nighttime lighting on wildlife may increase as development continues to encroach on habitat area. T Encroachment from development onto wildlife corridors may increase as development continues to expand within the City boundaries. In particular, Alamos Canyon is threatened by development in the area. Additional impacts on wildlife movement and reproductive capabilities should be assessed. T Noncontiguous areas impact species diversity, corridors, and larger animal migration. Preservation of contiguous areas (e.g., the Arroyo Simi) within the Planning Area would help to ensure that the level of biodiversity is maintained. T There is a need for water quality monitoring programs for surface and groundwater, including water quality testing in coordination with local and regional agencies. T Increased urbanization and hardscaping of undeveloped areas will impact water recharge capabilities. T Careful planning is needed to preserve wildlife habitat, scenic resources, and other natural resources from the impacts of future development. T Ongoing pressure for development and redevelopment may threaten some of the City’s historic structures or affect their historical context. T The City has limited venues for professional quality performing artists. T Continued development will increase the amount of pollutants within the City, primarily through motor vehicles emissions from commuter traffic. Land use patterns and development density as well as traffic demand management and alternative travel modes should be considered among other pollution reduction strategies.

SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE 13 COMMUNITY HEALTH & SAFETY

Geology & Seismic ™ Simi Valley is located in a seismically active region Plant, the City of Simi Valley’s Public Services Center, with proximity to several major regional fault and the Calleguas Municipal Water District main systems, including the San Andreas and Santa Susana pump station. Faults. ™ Future development within the foothill areas of Simi ™ Liquefaction refers to the occurrence of soils Valley is subject to development standards and becoming saturated with water. As the soils become grading criteria that minimize geologic and seismic more and more compact, they can ultimately cause hazards. foundations of structures to move, leading to ™ All development subject to seismic hazards must structural damage. The western and eastern portions perform geotechnical investigations to assess the of Simi Valley and along the Arroyo Simi contain potential for unsafe conditions prior to construction. areas subject to liquefaction, including residential ™ Simi Valley has emergency preparedness programs in areas, several schools, one fire station, the Simi Valley place to mitigate the impacts associated with natural County Sanitation District Wastewater Treatment and man-made disasters.

Flood Hazards ™ Protection from major flooding in Simi Valley is Simi and its tributaries. Development within these provided by flood control facilities in the Arroyo Simi areas is subject to building code requirements that and its tributaries. mitigate some of the risk associated with building within a flood plain. ™ Most areas of the City within the 100-year floodplain are located within or directly adjacent to the Arroyo Fire Hazards ™ In general, fire is not a major problem in the flat, ™ The Ventura County Fire Protection District developed areas of Simi Valley, but wildland fires provides fire prevention, fire suppression, and life periodically occurs in the fringe-urban and hillside safety services in Simi Valley, and works closely with areas surrounding the valley floor. the California Department of Forestry on a protection strategy to limit damage and loss to due ™ The risk of life or property loss from fires in urban to wildfire. settings is influenced by a variety of factors including building materials, materials stored at the site, ™ The Uniform Fire Code, California Fire Code and response times, fire flows, and ingress and egress to Health and Safety Code, and the City’s Multi-Hazard the site. Mitigation Plan and City ordinances provide standards and regulations for fire prevention and safety.

14 SIMI VALLEY GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY PROFILE COMMUNITY HEALTH & SAFETY

Noise ™ As with most urban and suburban environments the ™ Typical receptors that are sensitive to noise are primary noise sources in the Simi Valley Planning located throughout the Simi Valley Planning Area and Area are mobile sources, which would include include residences, schools, child care centers, vehicles along roadways, train pass-bys, and other hospitals, long-term health care facilities, convalescent transportation related noises. Construction activities centers, and retirement homes. and nightclub activities are also regular and ™ Federal, State and local codes contain regulations and sometimes on-going sources of noise throughout the guidelines to govern noise from both transportation Planning Area. and non-transportation noise sources in the City to protect sensitive receptors listed above.

Community Health & Safety Issues

T Simi Valley may prevent potential structural damage by identifying and retrofitting buildings and requiring seismic design for future development. T At present capacities, some of the flood control facilities in the City are not designed to adequately contain the runoff from a 100-year flood. Further, increased development could lead to a number of impacts, including loss of floodplains, tributaries, and water recharge capability which contribute to flooding. Water recharge causes flooding in the western area of the City. T Population and employment growth in Simi Valley will require commensurate increases in police, fire, and emergency response capabilities so that high quality levels of public safety are maintained. T Increased development and traffic increases on major roadways, SR-118, and in Metrolink and Amtrak service will increase ambient noise levels adjacent to these roadways especially during A.M. and P.M. peak hours and may affect emergency response times. T Reducing noise levels in existing development is a greater challenge than in new development due to the cost associated with retrofitting existing buildings with noise reducing insulation and will require distinct actions to address this issue.

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