As part of Arcadia's 2003 centennial celebration, each council member has served as mayor for a three-month period of time. Mickey Segal will lead the city for the last three months until after the April 13 City Council election.
Public employees' retirement and pensions are costing cities up to 25% of the city budget. In March, CalPERS announced its stock portfolio had lost 39.8%. Costs for retirees are ballooning and El Monte and West Covina budgets have been hit hard from the recession. Arcadia, which had the fourth highest pension costs of the 24 cities surveyed, spent $6.7 million last year for its 357 current employees and retirees. The city's general fund budget is $46 million.
Local city governments in the San Gabriel Valley and Whittier are realizing the future costs of pensions and retirement benefits for their employees. The costs will be enormous and city governments need to save money for their future obligations. Arcadia's retiree medical cost is $375,062 this year and its unfunded health liabilities for current employees and retirees is $10.3 million. Unfunded health liability is the amount that would be needed to pay for all health obligations to current employees if they were to retire today, and for all retirees. Other cities' obligations are shown in a chart.
The candidacy filing period opens Dec. 22 for two seats on the Arcadia City Council and for a newly configured city clerk's position. The terms for Sheng Chang and Mickey Segal will expire.
There are seven people running for two seats in the April 11 Arcadia City Council election: Sheng Chang, Charles "Chuck" Chivetta, Mary Dougherty, Vincent J. Foley, John S. MacDonnell, Gino Roncelli and Mark "Mickey" Segal.
17-year-old Arcadia High School student Courtney Chou Lee has been named the 91st Rose Queen. Six other young ladies are princesses including another AHS student, Lauren Valenzuela. The Rose Queen and her royal court will reign over the 120th Rose Parade and the 95th Rose Bowl. Article contains some quotes from Courtney Lee's parents, Andrew Lee and Ulanda Lee.
Two incumbents, Sheng Chang and Mickey Segal, are seeking additional terms on the City Council. Businessman Sho Tay and former two-time Councilman Roger Chandler are hoping to unseat them.
Caruso Affiliated will give Arcadia $2 million in development fees and receive assurances from the city under the terms of a 63-page draft agreement released Friday. The agreement gives Caruso the assurance they can build what is approved. Caruso must dedicate a portion of the parking lot for City Hall to construct a water well. This was the topic of recent controversial closed session meetings held by City Council.
A Westfield poll shows four candidates in close contention for three seats in Tuesday's City Council election. The top four contenders are ex-Council members Sheng Chang and Bob Harbicht, current mayor John Wuo, and newcomer Peter Amundson.