A package of new and increased city service fees designed to eliminate a potential budget shortfall will take effect on September 1, 2008. The higher fees are expected to bring Arcadia nearly $512,000 in the new fiscal year, by increases in fire services, swim classes, business licenses, plan checks and library services.
New law classes will be given at Arcadia High School. A list of other new classes and other points of discussion from the Board of Education meeting are included.
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.
Massage therapists will have to pay a $265 fee to be licensed in Arcadia under a new city ordinance. A background check will be done on applicants and they will be fingerprinted.
Arcadia city officials have approved across-the-board fee increases that are expected to generate $500,000 in revenue this year. Parking tickets will go up from an average of $40 to $50. Other fees going up include building permits, towing fees, business license fees, water, street, and engineering services.
Westridge School is one of the first San Gabriel Valley private schools to offer Mandarin Chinese language classes. Parents and educators believe a knowledge of Chinese makes their students competitive in the marketplace. Arcadia High School already offers five Mandarin classes.
Arcadia City Council has voted to impose fees on developers to pay for intersection-widening projects. A chart shows the traffic count at developments, at intersections, and the fee structure.
Arcadia establishments that serve food will be required to post the health grades they receive from the county under a new ordinance adopted by the City Council.
The gated complex for low-income senior citizens to be called Heritage Park at Arcadia is under construction with hundreds of people entered in the lottery to rent one of the 54 units.
Low-income senior citizens interested in living at the 554-unit apartment complex now under construction at 150 W. Las Tunas have one month to submit an application to American Senior Living. A lottery will be held on March 24.
The City Council will loan developer American Senior Living $1.8 million to build Arcadia Heritage Park, , an affordable housing 54-unit apartment complex for low-income senior citizens.