In a 5-0 decision, City Council gave Santa Anita Park the land-use designation it needs to develop movie theaters, restaurants and retail stores on its property.
The City Council skipped over five runners-up in April's council election and instead named Planning Commissioner Gary Kovacic to replace the late Councilman Dennis Lojeski.
City Council is looking at fee increases, proposed elimination of as many as 14 full-time positions and other controversial alternatives to balance the 1996-97 budget.
The city budget passed unanimously on Tuesday night and included the elimination of 9 full-time employee positions, an increase in paramedics fees and a one-year, 1 percent utility tax increase.
The Arcadia City Council voted to request an analysis of the initiative petition submitted by the citizens group Neighbors for Arcadia. The measure would keep the Santa Anita Park race track property zoned for horse racing unless Arcadia residents voted for a change.
The City Council voted 3-1, with Councilman Sheng Chang dissenting, to do nothing with a request from an Arcadia resident to enact a citywide ban on leaf blowers.
Tuesday's City Council meeting saw a 4-1 approval of a recommendation to direct staff to prepare to place a 2% utility tax on the ballot in April 1998.