Arcadia City Council approved the first of a projected series of ten annual 5% increases in the city water rate. Sewer and trash rates will also increase.
Arcadia's City Council approved design guidelines for expansion of the Westfield Shopping mall. The expansion will increase the mall size by 276,000 square feet, in a two-level extension and an open-air mall, in the northeast quadrant of the center.
Adam Schiff has proposed a plan under which ten cities along the planned Gold Line extension route would gain effective control over the project's construction.
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.
Arcadia City Council has approved a new contract with the Pasadena Humane Society (PHS) to provide animal services to Arcadia. The contract is for $69,838, a 3% increase over the current year's agreement. The city has contracted with PHS since 1994. PHS handles dog licensing, answers calls for service and offers low-cost spay and neuter clinics. Other items were approved, including a contract with Engineered Plumbing Inc. for water mains and valves, the purchase of Mobile Data Terminals for the Arcadia Fire Department from Nida Companies, and massage therapist permits.
The City Council approved a contract with Rokni Electric for a new 800 Kilowatt generator and a new telephone system (not to exceed $342,251) from SBC-Pacific Bell for City Hall. A contract with Systems Source Inc. for furnishings for the new police station was also approved. The City Librarian job title was changed to Director of Library and Museum Services.
Arcadia City Council has approved a contract with Bucknam and Associates to continue consulting on a joint effort with the city of Sierra Madre. The company will ensure local water supply is protected from interruption by earthquakes.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board approved $10 million for the 24-mile Gold Line Foothill Extension that is going through Arcadia to Claremont. The money comes from Measure R.
The City Council has approved a contract with Keyser Marston Associates to analyze city housing projects, including senior housing on the Marketowne site on Las Tunas and another senior project at the Elite Westerner site on Colorado Street.
City administrators and negotiators for the Arcadia Police Department have not yet reached a contract agreement. Officers want an immediate 10% raise for the first year and 4% increases the second and third years. City council has offered salaries that would make Arcadia police the second or third highest paid in cities surveyed.
A package of new and increased city service fees designed to eliminate a potential budget shortfall will take effect on September 1, 2008. The higher fees are expected to bring Arcadia nearly $512,000 in the new fiscal year, by increases in fire services, swim classes, business licenses, plan checks and library services.
The Board of Education of the Arcadia Unified School District has approved a one year contract with the teachers union that includes a 5 percent pay raise.
Arcadia City Council has approved a 10% increase in the amount of city funds allocated to the Chamber of Commerce. The total will be $55,000 this year. The Chamber also receives subsidized rental in a city-owned building.
The Arcadia City Council has approved increasing the funding and total service hours for the Arcadia Transit System. The transit program is funded through federal, state and local money distributed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
The City Council decided to ask voters to approve $8 million in bond funding for a bridge at Santa Anita Avenue. If 2/3 of voters support this bond, Arcadia would be the only city on the Gold Line extension route to finance its own grade separation.
The lockup at Santa Anita Superior Court in Monrovia will close at the end of the month. The closure, due to budget cuts, will have a direct effect on the Monrovia and Arcadia police departments.
A draft report on the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension proposes stops in Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale, Azusa, Glendora, San Dimas, LaVerne, Pomona and Claremont. City hearing will be held at Arcadia City Hall on June 14.