The State of California has required cities throughout Los Angeles County to adopt a program that will reduce trash and other pollutants in urban runoff. Arcadia's municipal code prohibits the dumping or discharging of water containing harmful chemicals or materials into city streets, catch basins, and storm drains.
Arcadia will join a coalition of 39 other cities in suing the federal and state governments over a new program regulating storm water runoff from local streets. The federal and state program requires cities to reduce trash runoff by 10 percent a year, until it reaches zero, or pay a fine.
City of Arcadia lost its lawsuit against the county to establish a redevelopment area in South Arcadia. The county determined the area did not fit legal definition of a blighted area.
City officials of Arcadia and Monrovia are keeping an eye on the financial struggles of Adelphia, one of two cable television providers in the two cities.
New estimates of the population released by the California Department of Finance report that the population in Arcadia was 55,500, an increase of 1.1% over the year before. Estimates of other cities are also listed.
The Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum is now in a city-owned building, with a curator paid through the city, and is managed by the library and museum director Janet Sporleder. The Arcadia Historical Society owns the collection and a new agreement commits the city and the society to jointly pay for an insurance policy.
The Arcadia Board of Education will vote on a policy change regarding the release of students' personal information to military recruiters, colleges or prospective employers. In the past, Arcadia has had an "opt-in" policy, in which parents must specifically request information be made available, particularly to military recruiters. This policy is no longer allowed under federal guidelines, so the district will adopt an "opt-out" policy, putting the burden on parents to decide when information will be withheld.
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.
City Manager Bill Kelly is concerned about a new measure to penalize cities that are not meeting state affordable housing rules. The Dunn Measure could penalize cities as much as $1000 per needed unit and take away up to 60 percent of gas tax funds. Bill Kelly says Arcadia already has a number of senior citizen projects in planning.
Arcadia resident Anjali Agrawai, 17, a senior at La Salle High School, was named one of the members of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Royal Court for 2003.
New regulations require that Arcadia, among other cities in the Los Angeles River basin, reduce the amount of trash put into the system to "zero tolerance" in twelve years. Arcadia has joined other cities in the Coalition for Practical Regulation to appeal the order.
Arcadia and Monrovia will be split into two assembly districts in the redistricting plan signed by Governor Gray Davis last week. Under the new plan, the 59th District, currently represented by Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy, will move 84% of Arcadia and 40% of Monrovia to Assemblywoman Carol Liu's 44th District. The new plan is still being challenged in court. Senate district boundaries were also modified but did not affect Arcadia.
Dave Hinig, Arcadia Police Chief, discusses changes in the department over the last thirty years, including new technology, new crimes, community composition and new hires.
Groundbreaking for expansion of the Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita mall will be held Wednesday, June 4, 2003 at 9:00 AM. The $98 million expansion will include a 16-screen movie theater, Borders Bookstore, Sports Chalet, a new food court, 30 new shops, and two parking structures. The expansion is Phase One of a possible two-part expansion of the mall, which originally opened 29 years ago.
The Arcadia Board of Education adopted a policy to prohibit the use of anabolic steroids and other controlled substances. It goes further to hold coaches responsible for educating students and parents about the dangers of using uncontrolled substances and diet supplements.