Photos by IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers SUNNY SIDE UP—Mayor Paul Miller, far left, and City Council members Steve Sojka, Barbra Williamson and Glen Becerra speak to guests gathered for the annual State of the City address last Friday at the Grand Vista Hotel. Councilmember Michelle Foster also spoke.

Speaking in the shadow of the current economic crisis, Mayor Paul Miller's words on the state of Simi Valley revealed a determinaion to see the city through its latest series of challenges.

"As I look back at the past year, I see that this community has faced difficulties, both big and small, and I see a community that has and will continue to rise to meet the challenges of the future," he said during his State of the City address Feb. 20.

Miller delivered the annual address to about 120 Chamber of Commerce members and community leaders who filled a banquet hall at the Grand Vista Hotel.

He spoke with pride about the way the community responded in the wake of the Sept. 12 Metrolink train crash that killed 25 people, 10 of whom were Simi residents.

The mayor said the city showed its true colors during tough times, banding together to donate 11,000 food and toiletry items to the Care & Share food bank and to replace tools stolen from the city's first Habitat for Humanity home build on Royal Avenue.

The city has also made progress on the 23 Freeway widening, moved forward on plans for the Arroyo Simi Greenway, won grants to help local families obtain affordable housing and delivered more county services to residents via a new community prosecutor.

Moving forward, Miller said, the city will work diligently to secure funds and resources for Simi under the recently signed economic stimulus bill, including infrastructure funds for roads, transit, water, sanitation, energy, law enforcement and housing.

The mayor also addressed the state budget, which was passed the day before his speech. Miller said the budget will cost the city about $500,000 or more in revenues, and the state may borrow more money from the city in the future.

"Whatever the case, I can assure you that your City Council will do its best to minimize the impact that it will have on our businesses and residents," he said.

At the lunch-hour chat, all five City Council members took turns giving overviews of various city functions.

Councilmember Michelle Foster addressed economic development and public works.

During the first four months of 2008, the unemployment rate was about 4.5 percent, Foster said. But by the end of the year, that number had jumped to more than 6 percent, the highest its been since 1997.

Still, the community welcomed more than 20 new businesses and employers last year, including Red Fish, Fresh & Easy and Massage Envy. Construction of a new Target at the site of the former Kmart and redevelopment of Oakridge Athletic Club were also approved.

The most visible public works improvement project was the repaving and realigning of Erringer Road between Royal Avenue and Fitzgerald Road. In addition, five traffic signal synchronization projects are under construction, and a Bicycle Master Plan was adopted to improve local bike routes.

"Having personally traveled to places around this world where government doesn't meet their daily duty to provide basic public infrastructure, we are all very fortunate to live in a community where that obligation is not only a major priority, but it's executed at the highest level of expertise," Foster said.

Mayor Pro Tem Barbra Williamson, who spoke about the department of community services, was most pleased with the work done by the Task Force on Homelessness. Under the committee, the Simi Valley Alliance to House the Homeless assisted 94 individuals in acquiring housing last year and helped prevent another 97 from becoming homeless.

"That is absolutely incredible for this city," said Williamson, who co-chairs the task force. "Of all the committees I sit on, I find that this committee is one that has really gone heads and shoulders above the other cities in our county."

While discussing the city's progress toward promoting sustainable business practices and securing funds for affordable housing, Councilmember Glen Becerra took time out to encourage residents to give their thoughts on how the city can improve its services.

"We can't improve if we don't hear from you," he said. "If something hasn't worked, let us know."

Councilmember Steve Sojka discussed police and the city's crime rate. Overall, crime is down nearly 16 percent from '07.

While the rate is the lowest since 2002, Sojka said residents and law enforcement must remain diligent.

"We enjoy that (safety) here in Simi Valley, but we never rest on our laurels," he said.

The mayor closed the luncheon by saying that the city is doing as well as can be expected given the circumstances and that it is faring far better than many other cities.

Linda Baker, vice president of medical management for Regal Medical Group, applauded efforts to improve parks and bikeways.

"We understand that business is important, but the families make the community as well," she said.

Simi business owner Jim Harrison, who runs Boregyde Inc. with his wife, Laurie, said he was also encouraged by the council's comments.

"I was expecting to hear a little more doom and gloom, and we didn't hear that, so that was reassuring," he said.

The full presentation can be viewed at www.simivalley.org.