Jan Corey, assistant city manager for economic development and city manager pro-tem in Arcadia, has resigned his position effective Jan. 14, 1983. He has accepted the position of deputy city manager with the city of Simi Valley, Ventura County.
Peter Kinnahan, former redevelopment project manager for the City of Carson, has been appointed assistant city manager for economic development in Arcadia by City Manager George Watts. Kinnahan succeeds Jay Corey.
George Watts has been appointed acting city manager until the City Council names someone to replace Lyle Alberg who recently resigned. Watts, the city's assistant city manager, has served as acting city manager before. This time he has applied for the position.
Arcadia City Council made three appointments to the Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association (AIA) board of directors. They are Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager and Development Services Director, Tim Schwehr, the city's Economic Development Analyst, and Peter Amundson, City Council member.
Assistant Superintendent of Business Services for the Arcadia Board of Education, Dennis Chuning, has announced his resignation in order to take a position as Director of Business Services at Pasadena City College.
City manager Lyle Alberg has submitted his resignation to the City Council effective the end of this month. He has accepted a position in Hemet. Alberg explains his reasons for leaving and reviews the city's accomplishments during the 3 years he had been here.
Arcadia's new city manager Dominic Lazzaretto is ready for the job. He starts March 26 and replaces Don Penman who retired last November. He comes to Arcadia from a City Manager position in La Palma.
Update on Jay Cohen and other Santa Anita news. Joan Schmidt writes that former beloved Santa Anita Park trumpeter Jay Cohen has Bell’s Palsy, which has caused paralysis of the right side of his face. Jay was born in Camden, NJ. Includes other biographical information. Jockey Ruben Fuentes was voted “Jockey of the Week” by Jockeys’ Guild Foundation Detox. Happy 98th birthday to Santa Anita Park worker John Shear, who still has no intention of retiring.
The Arcadia Redevelopment Agency (which is also the City Council) is considering whether to take steps toward acquiring several properties in east Arcadia that made up the parcel of land for the now defunct Target Shopping Center. According to Peter Kinnahan, assistant city manager for economic development, the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency is strongly in favor of acquiring property on 3rd Avenue, just north of Huntington Drive.
Arcadia Circa 2020. Economic Development Analyst Tim Schwehr (photo) will present a commercial development preview of City of Arcadia circa 2020 at the Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Forum.
Pete Kinnahan, assistant city manager in Arcadia, told City Council that Target Department Stores were interested in the Arcadia Datsun property and the adjacent city-owned property on Third Avenue.
According to Peter Kinnahan, Arcadia's manager for economic development, Arcadia needs to pursue redevelopment projects more aggressively or surrounding communities like Monrovia will take major businesses away. He cited the delay over location of the proposed Target Department Store in Arcadia as an example.
The salaries of city managers in the area have come under scrutiny following the city of Bell's scandal involving overpaid city officials. Bell's now-ousted city manager Robert Rizzo was earning close to $800,000. Arcadia city manager Don Penman's salary of $214,032 is shown in a chart along with other nearby city managers.
City clerks often earn six figure salaries. Pasadena has the highest paid clerk in the San Gabriel Valley with an annual salary of $143,006, and 10 cities have clerks that make more than $100,000. The City Clerk is responsible for all city records and for orchestrating city elections. Arcadia's city manager Don Penman said the role of city clerk as chief record keeper is essential and the pay is justified because of the level of responsibility the position demands. Arcadia's city clerk is paid $90,870 per year.
Arcadia was a finalist for the most business friendly city award from Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation but did not win. Winners are decided based on their demonstrated commitment to economic development, what programs they had to facilitate business, how they developed their economy over the last 3 years, business tax rates, fee structures, economic incentives, and communication with business clients.