Arcadia-based "The Vons Cos" pays reservist employees who are called up for service the difference between their company salary and the military compensation they receive.
California's minimum wage increase is going to force some restaurants to hike food prices, cut back on employee hours and reduce advertising. McGrath's Fish House in Arcadia may be forced to reduce employee hours. The minimum wage is now $7.50 per hour. Another 50 cent increase goes into effect January 1, 2008.
Montecito Fine Arts College of Design, which had campuses in Monrovia, Arcadia, and Brea, has shut down, leaving 1200 students stranded and employees owed thousands in unpaid wages.
Arcadia City Council has accepted a grant for $42,026 from the MTA in Proposition C funds to help operate Arcadia Transit. Other City Council items were discussed.
The Arcadia City Council is considering changes to fees charged by the city through the Development Services Department. One change might be a $25 fee for new business license applications. The fees may increase for design review of new commercial projects and appeals from an architectural review board to the Planning Commission. The General plan amendment fee may drop and tentative tract maps for condos may drop. The city plans to increase fines for code violations.
Arcadia City Council unanimously voted to draft language that could potentially be inserted into future contracts that preserves the city's right to ask contractors for documentation of their employees at any point. The move could be considered a token gesture, since the city already requires contractors to generally comply with all state and federal laws, including the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
The Arcadia City Council unanimously approved a proposal to allow Santa Anita Park to broadcast televised horse races and other events indoors until 1:30 AM.
Arcadia City Council has approved a 10% increase in the amount of city funds allocated to the Chamber of Commerce. The total will be $55,000 this year. The Chamber also receives subsidized rental in a city-owned building.
Arcadia considers joining Monrovia in reviving the Blue Star Program, in which families of men and women in the armed forces can display a symbol of that fact on their home. The matter will be put on a city council agenda in the future.
Bruce Herman and Art Frye have opened a store specializing in military antiques. Grenadier Military Antiques is located at 125 E. Santa Clara St. in Arcadia.
The City Council will vote on approval of a property acquisition plan with Rusnak Arcadia tonight. The opposition, comprised of seven former mayors, don't want Redevelopment Agency money to help a private business buy five nearby properties.