The City Council approved a recommendation to hire Glendale-based Charles Walton Associates to prepare a library building program. The proposal will cost between $50,000 and $55,000 and the new library will cost approximately $7 million.
The City Council gave preliminary approval Wednesday to an expansion of the Arcadia Public Library that may add 15,000 square feet of space at a cost of about $3.5 million.
The City Council passed a resolution supporting the Arcadia Coalition for Education, a group of educators and community members demanding more state money for schools.
City Council members objected to the time it will take to complete plans for a new police station (7 months), but nevertheless approved a design agreement with the architect, Wendell Mounce and Associates.
George Fasching, owner of Fasching's Car Wash who joined the City Council two years ago, was chosen as the city's mayor on Tuesday, replacing four-time mayor, Charles Gilb.
The Board of Education has provided the Arcadia Educational Foundation with a list of priorities that amount to $400,000. The foundation is attempting to raise funds for these items. Top two priorities included adding Junior High teachers and maintenance.
Less than a month before the Arcadia Historical Society was going to open, the Arcadia City Council has voted to move its building to a new site, at the southwest corner of the Arcadia Public Library.
Preservation of existing businesses and drawing new business to Arcadia were goals stated by each of the Arcadia City Council candidates speaking at the Arcadia Business Association dinner meeting at the Moon Palace Wednesday evening.
After presentations by 3 architectural firms Tuesday night, the Arcadia City Council voted 4-1 to ask one of the companies back for further discussion on doing a master plan for the city's proposed civic center project. The proposed center would probably be located on the Huntington Drive median where the city hall and police station are now located. Mayor David Hannah indicated that this could be a long-term project, perhaps lasting as long as 20 years.
Raymond Brockus, City Council candidate, has been an Arcadia resident for 23 years. He is for streamlining government but would consider a new fire station near Sixth and Live Oak avenues, a pet project.
A consultant has recommended a sewer project that would cost Arcadia $180,000. The city's engineering division has come up with an alternative plan that will cost $55,000. Construction should be completed before the beginning of the Oak Tree racing meet.
The City Council approved an application for $9 million in state funds to build a new library. If the state awards the funds and the council accepts them, the city would have to contribute $7 million toward the new library.
Two major items on Arcadia City Council's last agenda have been continued until meeting of December 6. One relates to proposed development by Sam Falzone of the city-owned vacant property at First Avenue and Huntington Drive. The other with-exempt financing for the Santa Anita Inn.
Within the next few months several new developments will be cropping up along Huntington Drive: construction of a 7-story office building at 1st Avenue, erection of the Southland National Bank at 5th Avenue, and construction of a Target Department Store at 3rd Avenue. There are also plans to construct a new police station, city hall, senior citizens center and auditorium at a total estimated cost of $19 million.
The reapportion plan, upheld last week, moves H. L. Richardson away from his Arcadia base to a new district. Newton R. Russell's district picks up Arcadia. Richardson is threatening to oppose Russell in the next election rather than run in his own new district.