Arcadia City Council on Wednesday called for a study on whether it should contract with Los Angeles County for its fire protection services. The decision came after a marathon 5 1/2 hour session on the budget that attracted more than 400 spectators.
The Arcadia City Council voted Tuesday night to keep television cameras away from its study sessions. Citing cost as the major factor, the vote was 4-1 with Councilman Sheng Chang dissenting.
In an attempt to produce permanent revenue enhancement, the City Council has agreed to go to ballot with a Fire Suppression District assessment which would ask property owners to tax themselves to achieve a balanced budget.
The Insurance Services Office, which rates fire departments, awarded the Arcadia Fire Department a "Class One" rating, making them one of only 16 departments in the country with that rating.
City Council voted to appoint a financial advisory committee to examine the city's financial policies and the size of its reserve fund, then report back to the Council by December.
The Los Angeles County report on consolidation of the Arcadia Fire Department into the Los Angeles County Fire Protection District raises many questions.
The City Council is split over who should serve as its liaisons to Santa Anita Park, as new owner Frank Stronach prepares a blue print for a massive development at the race track.
More than 400 people crammed City Hall and an adjacent outside courtyard Tuesday, as City Council wrestled with ways to slash $2 million from its annual budget.
The Arcadia City Council made good Tuesday night on its pledge to not let the budget sit for another 6 months, making cuts which will total approximately $300,000 annually.
A Los Angeles County proposal to take over fire and ambulance service from the Arcadia Fire Department would cost the city as much as $8 million more than present costs over 10 years, according to a city report.
The Arcadia and Monrovia fire departments have merged dispatch services, earning Arcadia $60,000 the first year and $80,000 a year in subsequent years.