The peacock is the official bird of Arcadia. The designation happened last week.The city has had an official flower, the azalea, since 1963. City Council selected the oak as the official tree.
Arcadia officials project a $1.2 million budget deficit and have approved a combination of using reserve funds, hiring freezes, and other budget mechanisms to offset it. In order to avoid deep cuts in city services, the City Council has approved a plan to defer the city's slurry sealing program (street surface maintenance) for one year.
Controversy surrounds the appointment of a new principal at Arcadia High School as the district interview committee forwarded only one candidate to the school board for approval. The contract requires 2-4 candidates be reviewed. The teachers' union protested.
Arcadia's Centennial (1903-2003) approaches and the Arcadia Centennial Celebration Commission is planning on a year-long, citywide celebration for the city's 100th birthday. In photo, a baseball cap to commemorate the centennial, is on sale at Arcadia Public Library.
Arcadia government officials and centennial committee members are planning a yearlong civic celebration beginning January 1, 2003. On January 18, a gala event will honor people who have served the city. The history of Arcadia's incorporation, including the decision to use August 5, 1903, as the official date, is included.
Church in Arcadia will move to land formerly occupied by the city's mounted police at 630 E. Live Oak Avenue. Church in Arcadia is currently at 21 Morlan Place, the former site of Arc Bowl and Arcadia Bowling, which closed in the late 1970s. This deal was done to try to keep neighbor Rusnak Mercedes Benz, the city's largest sales tax generator, from moving to another city.
Arcadia police officers honor Albert Matthies, the city's only police officer killed in the line of duty, with a ceremony and a plaque, 80 years after his death. The plaque is on the 1000 block of North View Avenue.
City of Arcadia's Housing Element receives state certification. The Housing Element is one of seven state-mandated elements to address specificities in housing requirements, based on four income level categories, as illustrated in the city's General Plan.
Arcadia celebrates its 100th birthday on August 5, 2003. The date reflects the anniversary of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors certifying the results of the cityhood election. Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin was talking about creating a city as early as 1886. He wanted to name the city Baldwin. On July 27, 1903, thirty-nine residents voted for cityhood.
Using the theme "100 Years of Good Health, Happiness and Prosperity," an Arcadia Rose Parade float commemorates the city's centennial. Riding on the float will be a doctor, a nurse, a graduate of Arcadia Methodist Hospital's neonatal program, US Army Captain Jon Shafer, a horseracing figure, and two local children. The two children will be chosen by random drawing.
Arcadia police and firefighters have voted to defer a portion of their salaries and health benefits to help close the city's budget shortfall. In total, employee pay and benefit deferments will free up about $300,000. The city is trying to close a $600,000 deficit this fiscal year in its $48 million general fund budget.
Judge Dzintra I. Janavs said she will likely hold a non-jury trial on the two petitions, one by Westfield, another by Arcadia First!, against Caruso Affiliated next April. The two legal challenges will not be consolidated but will have joint hearings to save time. Plaintiffs allege the environmental study for the proposed The Shops at Santa Anita mall is flawed.
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles) has reintroduced her bill to ban the use of Native American names for school mascots. The bill was defeated in the last session, with opposition from the city of Arcadia and the Arcadia Unified School District. The act lists only two tribal names as specifically banned - Apaches and Comanches -- along with terms such as Redskins, Chiefs, Braves and Papooses. Under AB858, the only schools exempted from the ban are those under the regulation of tribal councils.