PLACENTIA
NEWS-TIMES
AN EDITION OF
THURSDAY, SEPT. 5, 20 1 3
OCREGISTER.COM/PLACENTIA
NUMBER OF CRASHES HOLDS STEADY Figures show total of 33 reported accidents last year. BY LOUIS CASIANO JR. ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
M
otorists weave their way in and out of Placentia traffic every day. It’s only natural to expect an accident here and there. But in 20 1 2, there were only five accidents at Alta Visa Street and Kraemer Boulevard, an intersection that in recent years has averaged the most incidents. Statistically, the top three intersections with reported accidents were:
●
Chapman Avenue at Placentia Avenue
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Alta Vista Street at Kraemer Boulevard
Alta Vista Street at Jefferson Street Since 2008, accidents at Chapman and Placentia avenues have averaged six per year. That intersection was followed by an average of five for Alta Visa Street and Kraemer Boulevard and three for Alta Vista and Jefferson streets. Last year, for the entire city – home to 50,000 people – there were 33 reported accidents in all. ●
S E E S T R E E T S ● PA G E 3
Intersections with the most accidents 1 Chapman Avenue at
Map area
3
Strip mall
4
Placenti
a Ave.
Yorba Linda Blvd.
Palm
FULLERTON
Madiso n Ave.
1/2 mile
Sports complex
Golf Club
Alta Vista St. Rose Dr.
an Ave .
Kraemer Blvd.
Middle and 2 high schools
Chapm
5
PLACENTIA
4
1
Dr.
. e Ave thorp e g n Ora
Source: Placentia Police Department
3
Jefferson St.
Elementary school
57
2
Bastanchury Rd.
5
Placentia Avenue Alta Vista Street at Kraemer Boulevard Alta Vista Street at Jefferson Street Madison Avenue at Kraemer Boulevard Bastanchury Road at Placentia Avenue
The Register
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Local schools see increases, drops City may have to make cuts in state’s recently released scores to trim $ 1.5 million deficit BY SARAH TULLY AND FERMIN LEAL ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
State test results for the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District showed an overall improvement in the Academic Performance Index score. Among elementary, middle and high schools, 15 schools increased their API scores. Sixteen schools reported drops. Bryant Ranch Elementary School’s scores stayed the same. Yorba Linda schools’ individual scores, released last week, are on Page 4. API scores show how students fare on a scale of 200-1,000 and are taken
The state has released the latest API scores, which show how students fare on a scale of 200 to 1,000.
FILE PHOTO: ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
from state test scores and – for high schools – graduation rates. The state’s API accountability system measures improvement in student achievement each year. All schools are expected to boost scores by
2 to 5 points annually until they reach 800. California also released scores showing how many students are proficient in English and math at each school; these numbers also can be found on Page 4.
BY LOUIS CASIANO JR. ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Placentia budget
City leaders are considering major budget reductions if an outdoor billboard proposal or concessions from the city’s labor unions are not in place by Oct. 1, a deadline leaders gave themselves to find more revenue before looking at where cuts can be made to reduce the city’s $1.5 million budget deficit. A third-party consulting firm contracted by the city in June studied the city’s financial outlook for the next five years and found that the city will operate with a deficit even if expenditures remain the same. Officials have been in discussion with labor unions, and based on the city’s financial state, need at least
Deficit: $ 1.5 million
S E E D E F I C I T ● PA G E 3
Potential ways to trim the budget: ● Labor union concessions sought: $370,000 (savings) ● Billboard displays: $725,000 (potential annual revenue) Current initiatives: Business license amnesty program: Allows businesses operating without a license to obtain one without incurring any past fees or penalties ● Retail incentive program: Reduces planning and building permit fees by 25 percent for qualified retail companies ● New business start-up fees: Reduces start-up fees to $98 from $2 1 1 ●