A draft ordinance has been submitted to the City Council that would allow Arcadia residents to conduct businesses out of their homes if certain criteria are met and a permit is approved. According to current law, such businesses are illegal.
The City Council has turned down Bob Margett's request to build a skate board park with 60 person capacity on Live Oak Avenue. Noise and congestion were the reasons given.
Mayor Bob Margett, in a speech to the Chamber of Commerce, suggested that the city start checking up on businesses operating out of homes within the city.
A new defensive weapon which shoots darts capable of inflicting 50,000 volts of electricity lasting about a micro-second is being manufactured in Arcadia. It is being marketed by Glen Mead and is called the Taser Gun.
Three city-owned lots at 521 N. First Avenue, adjacent to the Foothill Freeway, were sold last week by the Arcadia City Council to the W. D. Wilson Co., which will construct a building on the site and move from its present location in South Pasadena. James J. Melas, president of the W. D. Wilson Co. and an Arcadia resident said his firm deals in sophisticated biomedical supplies and unusual alloys and fittings for medical instruments. Selling price was $41,500. The city originally purchased the lots from the state Department of Highways for $33,000.
The Board of H.O.Y. has decided to close the Temple City branch counseling offices July 1, 1977 due to a lack of funds. The Temple City Council failed to appropriate the $5000 needed to deep the facility open.
The City Council voted to start a Worker's Compensation self- insurance program. The city has used state compensation in the past, but self-insurance will save approximately $480,000 in the next 5 years.
Paul Gann and his People's Advocate have withdrawn from the lawsuit pending against the city of Arcadia. The Arcadia Tax Reform Committee has not yet decided whether to file an amended complaint.
Marquee West use permit: new hurdle. Operators of the Marquee West teenage night club at 30 S. First Avenue will face a new hurdle when Planning Commission will reconsider the conditional use permit under which the center operates. The staff recommendation will be to revoke the permit, "due to the inability to control irresponsible behavior and the apparent inability of Marquee West to comply fully with all the conditions of the permit." See hard copy of newspaper in Box 51.
The Arcadia Police Department has decided against a strike at this time, but vowed to fight City Hall over a contract dispute. A 5% salary increase was approved, but not the extensive retirement benefits which were sought.
The dancing permit granted to the Westerner has been causing headaches. Residents adjacent to the restaurant have been complaining of noise and spillover parking. The City Council has extended the permit only until the next regular meeting on January 7, 1975.
The City Council on December 16 by a 3-2 vote decided not to apply for federal funds under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, even though the Council-appointed committee recommended that it apply.