She's Taking On Newhall

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She’s Taking On Newhall
City promotes volunteer coordinator to staff position for downtown redevelopment.

By Marci Wormser
Signal Business Writer

Tuesday, June 12, 2001

ndree Walper, volunteer coordinator for the city of Santa Clarita, was promoted Wednesday to the position of economic development assistant for downtown Newhall redevelopment. Walper replaces Alex Vasquez, who resigned from the position earlier this year to take a job in private enterprise.
    Walper's duties will include serving as the city's liaison to the 17-member Newhall Redevelopment Committee, working to restore downtown Newhall and bringing more businesses to the area. As part of her job, Walper will bring redevelopment committee members' concerns to Mike Haviland, city economic development manager.
    "I'm very excited," Walper said. "It's something I think I have a true passion for. I really want to make this happen. I really want to see downtown Newhall revitalized."
    Walper, who has four grown children, beat out dozens of other applicants for the job. Assistant City Manager Ken Pulskamp cast the deciding vote after redevelopment committee officials narrowed the applicant pool.
    "She really brings a lot of history because she's actually worked with the Newhall redevelopment people in the past," Haviland said. "She has been very active in the program before. I think she really enjoys the area. She has a good sensitivity for the merchants. She's done a really good job at parks and recreation.... We're really excited to have her."
    Redevelopment Committee Chairman Larry Bird agreed.
    "Andree seemed to be the best for this particular position," he said. "She has far and away more experience working with people as a volunteer coordinator and with non-profits, volunteers and special projects. That background and experience is one of the most important qualities a person has to have for that job."
    Walper, a Newhall resident, said she applied for the position because she wants to see more services and entertainment venues in the area, such as pocket parks, murals, an independent movie theater, a farmer's market, children's museums, antique and retail stores and activities that will accentuate the area's deep Western heritage.
    Walper, who started her career with the city as an assistant with the Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival, believes that her new job is a natural progression after working with various organizations, including several non-profits.
    "It all seems to tie together pretty well for me," she said.
    As volunteer coordinator, Walper organized volunteers for various city programs and events. She started VolunTeens, a program that matches junior high and high school students with volunteer opportunities, and Phone Friends, a program for latchkey kids. She also coordinates the city's Fourth of July fireworks program and the annual Walk of Western Stars.
    Walper has served on the Friends of Hart Park board, the SCV Historical Society board and Theatre Arts for Children.
    "I think the fact that I have worked with a lot of non-profit boards will help me on the redevelopment committee since they are a board," she said.
    Her biggest challenges, she said, will be to convince area merchants that the redevelopment program is viable, and making people more aware of the services that are available.
    The agency's budget, which the City Council will review tonight, will help bring some of Walper's visions to fruition, agency officials said.
    The agency is expected to generate $372,330 in tax increment and to spend $467,225 in the coming year, according to the city's agenda report. Expenditures will include $150,000 for a parking lot on San Fernando Road and 6th Street; $95,055 for personnel; and $222,170 for operations and maintenance, the report said.
    The agency will not need to borrow funds from the city as it has done in the past, the report said. To date, the agency has borrowed $3,195,000 from the city's general fund, of which $2,679,080 has been used. Repayment is scheduled to begin in the upcoming fiscal year, with $93,082 in interest to be repaid in 2001-02.