Board hears metropolis’s latest tourism, financial growth efforts

The Santa Clarita City Tourism Council held its quarterly meeting Tuesday to learn about the city’s tourism promotion, special events, and other current economic developments.

Tourism trolley

The Tourism Trolley returned to Santa Clarita on June 6 and will tour several hotels in the city through September 13, according to Marylin Sourgose, a city analyst.

“It goes from the Hyatt to the four properties in Wayne Mills (Place) … and then on to Six Flags,” she said. “Then (it) continues the route starting again at Embassy (Suites) and Courtyard and then back to the Hyatt.”

Special events

According to Sourgose, up to 900 swimmers and their fans will be in Santa Clarita for a swimming event in the USA at the end of July.

The USA Swimming Futures Championships will be held for the first time from July 28th to 31st in the Canyons Aquatics Club of the College of the Canyons in the SCV.

“If any of you would like to offer a discount, we’ll create a specials page for that group,” Sourgose told the board, noting that the specials from local businesses will be posted on the USA Swimming Events page.

The city of Santa Clarita will also host the SoundTraac Family Music Festival in Central Park from August 7th to 8th, city officials reported. The festival features two full days of music, family games, and food and drink from local restaurants.

Economic development

The advisory board received an update on Costco’s search for a second store in town.

“We’ve met with Costco representatives a few times now,” said Jason Crawford, city planning director. “They were looking for other locations in Santa Clarita. You want to open a second shop. ”

An agreement to move Costco to the former Sears site in Westfield had previously failed.

“I’m also a little hopeful that Westfield (Valencia Town Center) will be around as soon as we … get through COVID that Westfield may be ready to have these talks again, but we’ll see how that plays out,” he said .

Crawford said the Santa Clarita City Council is due to hear the appeal of the Sand Canyon Resort and Spa Project at its July 13 session, recently rejected by the Santa Clarita Planning Commission.

Crawford also said the city is in the process of reviewing bids to identify an operator for The Cube restaurant, which the city reopened earlier this year.