Homeless initiative takes a back seat to home improvement grants. Arcadia City Council approved Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program funds for 2017-2018 fiscal year for home improvements and repairs to low and moderate-income residents, about $230,000 and only $20,000 on the Homeless Initiative Program. Mayor Tom Beck expressed concern for the disparity.
How can you help the Arcadia Educational Foundation? The Arcadia Educational Foundation (AEF) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1981 in response to substantially reduced federal and state funding for California public schools, administered by parent and community member trustees, to raise funds for Arcadia Unified School District. AEF runs the annual summer school program, offers $25000 in teacher grants each year, funds district-wide phone and text communication system, and has also funded teacher positions due to state-wide budget cuts.
Block grant funds available for Arcadia to become compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Arcadia disabled citizens can expect $175,000 of ADA improvements to Arcadia City Council Chambers and other parts of City Hall, Community Center, Library, access ramps, hardware on doors and handicap parking stalls and $50,000 to ADA improvements to transit stops.
Arcadia Rotary uneils monument to Veterans at Arcadia Community Center. Funds to build it came from Arcadia Field of Honor (temporary flags at Arcadia County Park) put on by Arcadia Rotary Club, a generous gift from Mary E. Hansen, as well as funds from Santa Anita Park Race Track. The monument consists of seven pillars of granite, each dedicated to the various branches of service: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines.
Assistance League of Arcadia celebrates 60 years of service to the community with Open House at their chapter house at 100 South Santa Anita Avenue on March 19, 2014. Their programs are funded through grants, donations, and the operation of The Bargain Box Thrift Shop at 64 East Live Oak Avenue, Arcadia.
Arcadia city council agrees to accept gift statue of Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. His great-great-great granddaughter, Margaux Viera, 34 of Pasadena, will commission a bronze statue for display next to Arcadia Community Center. The statue will be worth close to $60,000. The city will pay for pedestal, lighting and landscaping, up to $25,000.
Arcadia City Council approves $55.7 million General Fund budget for fiscal year 2015-2016. Officials anticipate revenue totaling $59.7 million, enabling $4.5 million in funds transfers toward road and park improvements, staff equipment upgrades, a boost to the general liability and workers' compensation fund, establishing a reserve fund for building a new City Hall and nearly $500,000 in new programs and employees.
Arcadia City Council voted to weed private properties. The motion allowed the Council to direct the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commission to remove "weeds, brush, rubbish and refuse from various private properties" within Arcadia. The council's aim was to remove flammable and noxious material. It is a fire prevention method and a way to fight blight.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has voted to fully fund the $690 million Gold Line Foothill Extension, from Pasadena to Azusa, and to complete it by 2014, with money from Measure R. Measure R was approved by voters in the November 2008 election. It created a half-cent county sales tax intended for transportation projects. The MTA has the funding for the first phase of the Gold Line light rail to Azusa. The first phase is an 11-mile extension that includes stops in Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa.
Arcadia City Council announces goals for future. In addition to budget deficit, "community building" with the city's Asian population, to be primary focus.
Arcadia aims to upgrade city library. The library is getting community feedback at a community needs assessment forum tonight and has hired an outside party to create a survey written in three languages. The goal is to determine what barriers they need to overcome to bring more people to the library and which programs and services need improvement, particularly in the technology sector.
Arcadia joins Clean Power Alliance of Southern California (formerly Los Angeles Community Choice Energy Authority). The alliance is made up of 31 member jurisdictions in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties that will purchase electricity for sale to their communities. Clean Power Alliance intends to purchase cleaner, more renewable electricity.
Lee Shimmin honored by Arcadia Rotary Club and Arcadia City Council as City of Arcadia 2019 Senior of the Year for his contributions and service as a volunteer to the community.
Six years ago after severe winter rains, Cal FEMA gave several grants to cities responsible for the maintenance of the road to Chantry Flats north into the foothills from Arcadia. Monrovia is responsible for a small segment of that road, but it has not yet been repaired. Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa explained that the initial grant was insufficient to pay for the repairs.
Arcadia Chinese Association's biggest fundraiser of the year to benefit the Arcadia community takes place November 5 with the theme "That 70s Show." Funds raised are donated to Arcadia High School, Arcadia Public Library, Arcadia Police Department, Arcadia Fire Department, Arcadia Methodist Hospital, Assistance League of Arcadia, Foothill Unity Center, Arcadia Historical Museum and more.
Downtown Arcadia business owners establish a Community Benefit District, mandating they each pay an annual assessment on their property taxes to fund marketing programs and activities in hopes of bringing more people to the area. It is called a Property-Based Business Improvement Model. It is a private-sector initiative that bills local businesses by the same criteria used in Old Pasadena--according to their frontage, lot size and scope of any buildings on a given property. 60% of downtown Arcadia owners chose the plan, the result of a three year effort.