Arcadia calls for municipal electionon November 8, 2022 and seeks city council member candidates for electoral districts 2, 3, and 5. Eligibility, nomination period, and nomination petition qualifications are detailed.
Lost in translation: ballot error in Chinese language instructions on the mail-in ballot, directing voters to choose up to 3 City Council candidates, in the race for only 2 open seats in the April 10 election.
Arcadia City Council elections make history. For the first time, Arcadia City Council will have majority Asian and majority female representation. Unofficial results for Arcadia:
District 2--Sharon Kwan
District 3--Eileen Wang
District 5--Dr. Michael Cao
Creative Housing Options in Arcadia (CHOA). Local efforts to address the lack of affordable housing and homelessness. On Saturday, April 20, 2024, a group of about 30 community members met at The Hills Church in Arcadia for a 2-hour "Sharing Session" to learn about what is being done in the city to address these issues. Safe Parking Programs were discussed. Arcadia City Council member Eileen L. Wang and Arcadia Mayor April Verlato attended.
Arcadia declares fiscal emergency. Budget cuts may hurt city services. After an analysis of expenditures and revenues, Arcadia City Council adopted Resolution 7242 and declared a fiscal emergency.
City of Arcadia employee Tim Schwehr, Senior Economic Development Analyst, will talk to Arcadia Community Coordinating Council on February 3, 2020 about what's happening in Arcadia. In his role, he oversess efforts to attract new business and development, fosters economic growth and acts as liaison to the business community. Includes some biographical information.
Unanimous Arcadia City Council acts to place local funding measure, known as the “Arcadia Public Safety, City Services and Accountability Measure” on the June 2019 ballot to maintain public safety and other city services. City staff and the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee have indicated Arcadia has a multi-million dollar structural deficit.
Arcadia adopts comprehensive pension management plan, saving $85 million. It addresses the City's $154 million in unfunded pension liabilities. It focuses on:
-use of reserves to prepay existing liabilities
-refinancing existing debt to lower interest rates to free up cash flow
-prepaying costs with surplus funds from voter-approved Measure A sales tax increase
-financing long-term capital improvements
-using pension obligation bonds to lower the overall costs of pensions
-negotiating for more employee cost-sharing.
See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 3, February 27, 2020
Ed Andersen, president of Arcadia Historical Society, presents a local history program at Arcadia Public Library on March 11 at 2:00. The topic is The San Gabriel Valley in 1877: through the lens of Carleton Watkins (photographer).
Ed Andersen of Arcadia Historical Society will present a program about Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin to the Arcadia Community Coordinating Council on March 2, 2020.
Six Arcadia police recruits graduate from Rio Hondo Police Academy. They are pictured with Arcadia Police Chief Bob Guthrie and captains Larry Goodman and Paul Foley. They will be swon in as police officers and start their two week orientation on July 16. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 10-July 19, 2018.
Voters support incumbents. Turnout very low.* District 2 winner is Tom Beck with 982 votes out of 1857 votes cast and Roger Chandler won in District 5 with 704 votes out of 1627 cast. In District 3, Sho Tay ran unopposed so he was appointed. *semi-official results.
Racing returns to Santa Anita Park and another tragedy strikes as horse named Arms Runner fell on the dirt track crossover and had to be euthanized. This was the 23rd horse death since December 23. Trumpeter Jay Cohen was back after three months out with Bell's Palsy.
Lawsuit filed against the City of Arcadia seeking an injunction against Mayor Sho Tay running for re-election on the November 2022 ballot. The City of Arcadia Charter limits City Council to two consecutive terms. He was appointed to City Council in 2018 when he ran unopposed for District 3. The suit challenges whether or not the term limits apply to Mayor Sho Tay, who is running for a third time.
28 finalists selected for the 2024 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Royal Court. Winners will be named Monday, October 2, with crowning of the queen slated for October 27. It will be the 135th annual Rose Parade. The finalists from Arcadia are Niyat Haregot, Naomi Stillitano, Shivani Wadhwa, and Danielle Workman. (Photo).
Arcadians: "No" on Measure A, the repeal of Utility Users Tax (UUT) by Joan Schmidt. The utility tax is 12.5% of the city's $54.9 billion General Fund.
Elections in Arcadia: what you need to know. The election for Arcadia City Council members in District 1 and District 4 is on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. It is a mail-in ballot, which can be dropped off no later than 8:00 PM on Election Day. In District 1, incumbent April Verlato is seeking re-election and is being challenged by businesswoman Yuli Sira, a real estate agent and partner in a local engineering company. In District 4, incumbent Peter Amundson seeks re-election and his challenger is Paul Cheng, an attorney
Arcadia Host Town Committee met with the Trinidad-Tobago Head of Delegation Candy Berman-Harper and Trinidad policeman and fireman Ferdinand Bibby. Arcadia is one host town for the upcoming Special Olympics, which run July 25-August 2. There will be 100 Special Olympians, coaches, and mentors from Trinidad-Tobago and Kyrgyz Republic staying in Arcadia and enjoying meals, programs, and tours around town. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 16, March 12, 2015.
Gary Kovacic is Arcadia's mayor for the sixth time since 1998. Mayor Pro Tem is Roger Chandler. Mayor Kovacic is in the final year of a second consecutive four-year term. Due to term limits, he will have to step away from Arcadia City Council for at last two years after he concludes his current term as mayor, next April.