Anaheim eNewsletter September 2016

Revitalizing Beach

Big changes are coming to Beach Boulevard in the heart of west Anaheim.

The City Council recently approved the sale of land for a shopping center and the acquisition of adjacent land for future development, while also adopting measures to encourage investment along Beach.

It's all part of the city's Beach Initiative to bring new shopping, dining, homes and community gathering places to address resident concerns about blight and quality of life.

The city's sale of the Westgate site at Beach and Lincoln Avenue clears the way for a shopping center on a long-vacant, 25-acre plot.

The 250,000-square-foot center is set to include large retailers, restaurants and a paseo with outdoor dining, plazas and public art. The center could see construction in 2018 and a possible 2019 opening.

Just south of the Westgate site, the city is buying 3.6 acres of land at Beach and Lincoln to spur additional development.

The site now hosts the 44-room Americana Motel, used primarily for monthly sober living residents, a car wash and gas station.

The city plans to phase out those uses and sell the site for housing with some retail and affordable homes for working professionals such as teachers, firefighters and police who otherwise may not be able to afford to live in Anaheim.

To encourage additional projects along Beach, the City Council also approved an economic development package with flexibility in fees and development rules for preferred projects.

Meanwhile, work continues on a new development framework for Beach. What's known as the Beach Boulevard Specific Plan is expected to bring new zoning and planning guidelines in 2017 to encourage new projects and redevelopment of underutilized motels and retail space.

For more information, click here.


Shape Your Community	Skating Schweitzer	Busy Bookmobile
November brings a change in how Anaheim voters elect City Council members with the start of voting by districts. If you're a registered voter and live in district 1, 3, 4 or 5, then for the first time in Anaheim's history you will be able to cast a vote and elect a council member who lives in your district. In west Anaheim, voters in district 1 will pick from seven candidates on the ballot. In north central Anaheim, voters in district 3 will pick from five candidates. In district 4 around the Anaheim Resort, voters will choose from four candidates. In district 5 around Angel Stadium of Anaheim, four candidates are on the ballot. If you live in districts 2 and 6, your chance to vote for your district council member will come in 2018. All Anaheim voters will see Measure U on the ballot. If passed, the measure would require a two-thirds City Council vote to place a council-sponsored tax proposal on any future ballot. For more, see the City Clerk's elections site.	Skaters of all ages are putting the city's newest skate park to the test in the west Anaheim. What was once an underutilized part of Schweitzer Park is now a 3,800-square-foot skate park with rails, a quarter pipe and other street features. Earlier this year, the Disneyland Resort donated $500,000 to the city of Anaheim to build skate parks at Palm Lane and Schweitzer parks. The money also went to build pickleball courts and bring improvements to a softball field that now doubles as a soccer pitch at Twila Reid Park. During an unveiling, skate park builder Spohn Ranch brought together professional skateboarders and local kids to break in the new Schweitzer skate park. Also on hand was Disneyland Resort Ambassador Jessica Bernard and Anaheim Fire & Rescue firefighters who gave out helmets to kids as part of their Wear Your Helmet Like a Pro initiative to promote bike and skateboarding safety. For more on parks in Anaheim, click here.	Per square foot, the Bookmobile may well be Anaheim Public Libraries' busiest branch. On a recent Wednesday visit to the Anna Drive neighborhood, the 36-foot natural gas bus was packed with neighborhood kids just getting out of school. They checked out books and videos, enjoyed giveaways and took part in a raffle for a lightsaber and other prizes. The scene is similar at the Bookmobile's stops across Anaheim. It stops at more than 20 schools, parks and neighborhoods each month to bring the city's library to residents. And it's the last remaining Bookmobile in the county! The Bookmobile carries more than 6,000 books, magazines, videos and other items drawn from a mobile collection of 18,000 items. Each year, more than 60,000 books and other items are checked out from the Bookmobile. More than 30,000 kids, parents and other grown-ups use the Bookmobile each year. Click here for more and to see when the Bookmobile is in your neighborhood.


Fire Fraud Arrest	Ride in a Bucket Truck!	Fall is in the Air
Just days after an Anaheim business was defrauded out of more than $400, Anaheim Police arrested a man on charges stemming from a fire inspection scam. The suspect, Brian Lee Carsten of Newport Beach, is alleged to have impersonated a State Fire Marshal's Office representative on at least five occasions in Anaheim, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach and Santa Ana. The arrest was the result of a week-long investigation by Anaheim Police, Anaheim Fire & Rescue, Cal Fire and the Huntington Beach Police and Fire departments. Businesses owned or run by those with limited English skills were targeted. Anaheim Fire & Rescue officials always will be in uniform when working with businesses and residents. You should always feel comfortable asking for city identification or checking with the city or other agency someone is said to be representing. If you suspect you were contacted by someone falsely impersonating a fire official, contact Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS or online.	Ever taken a ride in the bucket of a utility truck? Anaheim residents will get the chance on Thursday, Oct. 6. As part of Public Power Week, Anaheim Public Utilities will be offering bucket truck rides for a birds-eye view of the city. The special exhibition takes place from noon to 3 p.m. at the Downtown Anaheim Farmers Market on Center Street Promenade. Public Power Week is a chance to learn about how electricity reaches our homes and businesses. Customers also can get tips on how to lower their bills. This year, Anaheim Utilities field crews will be wearing pink hard hats to show support throughout the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness. Public Power Week is celebrated by more than 2,000 municipal electric utilities across the country. Municipal electric utilities, including here in Anaheim, provide electricity on a not-for-profit basis to more than 48 million people. For more information, visit anaheim.net/utilities.	If you haven't already indulged in your favorite pumpkin-something seasonal treat, hurry out and get it now! Fall is officially here, and that means the 93rd annual Anaheim Fall Festival and Halloween Parade is near. You'll find a one-of-a-kind family friendly event on Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. along Center Street Promenade. In addition to live music, food, storytelling, local artisans and old-time carnival games, your kids and dogs can take part in costume contests. The crowd favorite Howl-O-Ween Pooch Pawrade starts at 3 p.m. following the children's costume contest. At 6 p.m. is the Halloween Parade. The parade starts at West Street and makes its way down Broadway, through Center Street and ends at the Anaheim Packing District. The parade is a can't-miss! To participate in the parade or learn more about the festival, check out their website here.

USA Volleyball

Gives Back

The city of Anaheim is extending its official host city support of USA Volleyball with benefits for youth sports and residents.

In the next four years, USA Volleyball will bring events and programs to the city, including:

A yearly clinic for all high school varsity volleyball teams in Anaheim with Olympic-caliber coaches and players.
Continuation of the USA Volleyball-affiliated Starlings program that works with at-risk junior high school girls from low-income families.
Expanded volunteer efforts with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Anaheim and other nonprofits.

As host city, Anaheim will see new volleyball events that draw administrators, coaches, players, families and fans here. The events will spur new hotel-stay revenue, which is Anaheim's largest source of funding for public safety and community services.

USA Volleyball also has pledged to work with Visit Anaheim and its new Sports Anaheim arm to help provide new uniforms to high school volleyball teams in the city.

Learn more about the Men's and Women's National Volleyball Teams here.

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