In search of $50,000 in additional money for education, the Arcadia Unified School District has kicked off a district-wide energy conservation program in an effort to cut energy usage for each school by 10% compared with last year.
City contemplates approval of Phase Two of Arcadia Public Library's Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan outlined the current budget, proposed budgetary increases, and proposed plans for improvement of the library's facilities and staffing needs.
Arcadia City Council will vote on a modest water conservation plan that will ban water usage in fountains, restrict water service at restaurants, and ban outdoor watering between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The City's plan is not as drastic as measures taken by many other California cities amid the state's severe drought conditions. The City is required to adopt a conservation plan following the State Water Resources Control Board's decision to impose emergency conservation regulations.
Arcadia gets new power provider Clean Power Alliance. Arcadia has selected lean power as the default for all customers. Lean power provides 36% renewable energy at a 1-2% discount. Southern California Edison will continue to provide billing and customer support.
Inflation and the energy shortage are causing the city management grave concern about meeting the budget. City Manager Lyman Cozad expects a $120,500 increase in sales tax from Fashion Park for the 1974-75 fiscal year. He also expects an $84,000 rise in property taxes.
City Manager Bill Kelly outlined a $16 million program to finish all public building projects for Arcadia in three years, as part of the city's five-year capital budget. The spending would include a new $6.5 million City Hall, a $1.3 million upgrade to Fire Station 106 on Baldwin Avenue. The city plans to build a new fire station to replace Fire Station 105 on Santa Anita Avenue. A city gym for the civic center property is in planning stages. The city plans to re-roof the community center for $150,000 and to put up 1/2 of the $800,000 cost to make the high school sports field an all-weather facility.
City Manager Bill Kelly outlined his proposed budget for the 2003-2004 fiscal year which begins July 1. The Arcadia City Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to adopt it at its June 17 meeting.
Speaker of the House John Boehner disagrees with Arcadia's water conservation policy. He posted on his Facebook page that Arcadia government's sign "It's green to go brown" is an example of "liberal environmentalists' backwards priorities and regressive ideology of restriction and scarcity." City manager Dominic Lazzaretto has a retort that Arcadia would happily accept thousands of acre-feet of water to keep our lawns green if he sent it but that our priority is drinking water during this drought.
The first reading of a water conservation ordinance was undertaken at the City Council meeting June 8. Five phases of the measure are given. Water rates will increase $.06 per 100 cubic feet as of August 1.
Tabulation of returns from a planning survey questionnaire sent to every 4th home in Arcadia shows that crime prevention is the #1 priority of Arcadia citizens. Next in line was street lighting. About 700 of the mailed questionnaires have been returned.
Sustainable Arcadia: officials talk water conservation and climate change initiatives, such as regional stormwater reuse, tiered water rates, drought tolerant landscaping, energy efficiency Clean Power Alliance, CNG facility, EV chargers and electric vehicles, renewal diesel, trash and recycling, compost to mulch.
Arcadia enacts water limits. City pushes 20% reduction goal by 2020 as other cities ease restrictions. The City's water conservation program is mandatory.