The Arcadia City Council has approved a 12-month pilot program to expand its Dial-a-Ride service to include a new non-emergency medical appointment transportation program for seniors and disabled persons. The program includes service to five hospitals outside the city limits--Huntington Hospital, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park, City of Hope Medical Center and Santa Teresita Hospital, both in Duarte, and Mountainview Dialysis Center in Monrovia.
New City Manager Don Penman will promote Public Works Services Director Pat Malloy to the Assistant City Manager position and will promote Community Development Administrator Jason Kruckeberg to the job of Development Services Director. The City Council still needs to approve these appointments.
Arcadia's transportation program has just put into service four new 20-passenger Dial-A-Ride buses. Four additional new buses will be added later this month.
The City Council approved three members for the Planning Commission. They are attorney Craig Lucas, architect Frank Hsu, and manager-consultant S. H. Wen.
The City Council decided to ask voters to approve $8 million in bond funding for a bridge at Santa Anita Avenue. If 2/3 of voters support this bond, Arcadia would be the only city on the Gold Line extension route to finance its own grade separation.
City of Arcadia renews a contract with lobbyists, The Ferguson Group, for national legislative advocacy representation. The contract is $65,000 annually for unlimited service each month.
City Manager Bill Kelly presented a "flat line budget" to the city council. Kelly said current uncertainties in state funding will not be resolved until after the election. The city will revisit the budget at midyear.
The Arcadia City Council has approved increasing the funding and total service hours for the Arcadia Transit System. The transit program is funded through federal, state and local money distributed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority.
Arcadia City Council has approved a new contract with the Pasadena Humane Society (PHS) to provide animal services to Arcadia. The contract is for $69,838, a 3% increase over the current year's agreement. The city has contracted with PHS since 1994. PHS handles dog licensing, answers calls for service and offers low-cost spay and neuter clinics. Other items were approved, including a contract with Engineered Plumbing Inc. for water mains and valves, the purchase of Mobile Data Terminals for the Arcadia Fire Department from Nida Companies, and massage therapist permits.
Traffic conditions at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Fifth Avenue have caused the city councils of Arcadia and Monrovia to approve a resolution for $30,670 to widen the intersection.
Air quality concerns were raised by track employees over fumes and breathable fibers being emitted by the artificial track known as the Cushion Track, which was treated for drainage problems by Pro-Ride Racing in late August. Cal/OSHA hired Colin Young, a certified industrial hygienist to study health risks posed by the track. Young will recommend the artificial race track poses "absolutely no health risks."
Arcadia City Clerk June Alford, who has served in the elective office since 1988, will retire at the end of her current term in April. City Council approved the creation of a new job of Chief Deputy City Clark with a salary of $5600/month.
The City Council will likely approve Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita's mall expansion for the outdoor section known as The Promenade if Westfield can resolve parking issues that will arise during construction.
The Arcadia City Council has approved an ordinance to upgrade the recycling efforts of commercial haulers in the city. The ordinance decreases the number of permitted commercial haulers in the city to 3. The ordinance adds language to clarify how recycling diversion is calculated, and requires free recycling containers and public education.
Arcadia City Council has gone on record as supporting the building of a new city hall that would be built on the other side of the Civic Center property. Out of three options presented by city manager Bill Kelly, the council consensus was for a new building at a cost of $6.6 million and adjacent to Huntington Drive West.