SAN FERNANDO : Firm Reviewing Data for City Growth Plan

A development firm from Diamond Bar is pouring over San Fernando’s financial data, real estate records and crime reports in an attempt to help the 2.4-square-mile city come up with a new economic growth plan.

GRC Coppenhaver was awarded a contract not to exceed $37,600 by the City Council last month.

Funds for the study come from a federal grant administered by the Los Angeles Community Development Commission for areas struck by the Jan. 17 Northridge earthquake.

The report and plan will be finished in March.

“The study will look at our strengths and weaknesses,” said Sandra De La Riva, assistant city administrator. “They’re going to ask questions like: ‘Are we doing a good enough job marketing ourselves?’ Well, probably not. Maybe we need to look at different types of development or zoning changes, for example.”

De La Riva said the report will aid council members in setting priorities for future economic initiatives and will recommend certain action areas for the city to pursue.

In developing its proposals, the firm will examine the status of business licensing and housing data, retail sales, census information, building permits, land use, transportation and public works, officials said.