Arcadia business people apparently favor a no-smoking ordinance in principle, but might have difficulty with it in practice, according to a Chamber of Commerce survey recently delivered by City Manager George Watts. Sixty percent favored an ordinance controlling smoking. However, 60% also said they would not be able to provide segregated areas for smokers and non-smokers.
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.
Arcadia may follow the lead of Pasadena, Los Angeles and other communities by considering the possibility of adopting a no-smoking ordinance. According to City Manager George Watts, the council has not decided on any specific rules and probably will not receive a study report from staff until mid-November.
Eight Arcadia High School students stood in front of the city police station waving signs at motorists to protest Arcadia's teen curfew after one of them was stopped for roller skating on the street at night. The curfew ordinance has been in effect for more than 20 years and prohibits people under the age of 18 from loitering on streets and in public places between 10 PM and sunrise.
A proposed ordinance to control open parties calls for a permit to be secured from the Chief of Police at least three days in advance. It aims to control groups of 50 or more. Wedding receptions would be exempt.
The City Council will consider a proposed ordinance governing backyard sales on October 1, 1974. Regulations include: 1. A $1.00 permit would be required. 2. Sales would be limited to every 6 months. No sale could run longer than 2 consecutive days. 4. No signs could be placed on public property. 5. Sales must be between 8:00 A.M. and 6:00 P.M. 6. No merchandise would be allowed in the front yard.
Three new laws have been recently passed by the City Council: 1. Noise - aimed primarily to curtail amplified sound. 2. Garage sales - must be held in a rear yard and be able to establish title to the goods. No signs may be placed on public property.
3. smoking - banned in theaters, etc.
City Attorney Phillips warned residents that raising worms in their backyards would violate two city ordinances: 1. Operating a business in a residential area. 2. Keeping manure in quantities would constitute a nuisance and is prohibited.
Advocates of an ordinance advocating English as the official language for Arcadia squared off in heated debate with opponents before the Arcadia City Council.
Arcadia's City Council is having second thoughts about its regulation requiring the removal of burglar bars in town and has sent the whole ordinance back to staff for further study.
Some individuals and businesses in Arcadia who own satellite dish antennas will now have to screen them from view, following a unanimous vote by the Arcadia City Council. The ordinance, which may affect the Steerburger Restaurant, the 100 to One Restaurant, and the Santa Anita Inn, was devised to combat the proliferation of unsightly satellite dishes throughout the city.
The Arcadia City Council will review a study of a possible ordinance pertaining to commercial signs in foreign languages at its July 2 meeting. It has been suggested that foreign language signs be translated into English.
Arcadia is going to have to pay more money to fight a continuing legal challenge to its ordinance forbidding two-story newsracks commonly used by purveyors of sexually-oriented publications.
Dog owners could be fined up to $1,000 and their pet impounded or destroyed under an ordinance the City Council introduced to protect residents from dangerous or vicious dogs.
Arcadia's Planning Department is studying a city-wide ordinance to prevent private property owners from cutting down trees on their land. According to Mayor Charles Gilb, "there's a lot of people that move into town that because of their background . . . cut all the trees down so the spirits can't get in it."