Arcadia City Council approves $30,000 for officials' trip to China and Taiwan. The purpose is to foster a better understanding of Asian culture in order to better serve Arcadia, which is heavily populated by residents from China and Taiwan. Establishing sister city relationships with Chinese and Taiwanese municipalities is another goal of the trip. See VF Sister City.
After a five-year hiatus, Arcadia City Council is considering reinstating a policy that would let property owners pay to be assigned a more auspicious house number, which some believe would improve the value of their home. The number 4 in a street address is considered a bad omen in many Asian cultures. In Mandarin language, the word "four" sounds like the word for death, while the number eight is considered lucky, because it sounds like the word for prosper. Arcadia's Asian population is approaching 60% and most potential buyers will be Asian. In a 3-2 vote, Arcadia City Council endorsed the move in principle and directed staff to report back on the costs involved.
Unanimous Arcadia City Council acts to place local funding measure, known as the “Arcadia Public Safety, City Services and Accountability Measure” on the June 2019 ballot to maintain public safety and other city services. City staff and the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee have indicated Arcadia has a multi-million dollar structural deficit.
Arcadia City Council tightens regulations on water use. Outdoor irrigation citywide is restricted, by a newly passed ordinance, to 3 days a week-Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Watering is prohibited between 9 AM and 6 PM, in addition to "during and 48 hours after measurable rainfall." Arcadia City Council approves purchase of replacement water ahead of time. See hard copy in VF "Water."
Arcadia City Council Recap: Council ends tutor feud and moves future elections. Arcadia Police Chief Robert Guthrie was honored for his exemplary performance, two Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade princesses from Arcadia, Lauren Buehner and Sidney Grace Pickering, were recognized, and Arcadia man Roshan Akula (pictured) announced his campaign to run for U.S. House of Representatives.
Arcadia City Council appoints ex-mayor Mickey Segal to fill seat vacated by John Wuo's resignation, until the municipal election in April. Wuo, who served on City Council for 12 years, resigned two weeks ago amid mounting allegations over his endorsement of USFIA and Gemcoin, in addition to an ethics investigation launched in September by the Fair Political Practices Commission. Segal is a CPA. Also the zoning code update resumes.
Arcadia aims to increase tourism and makes breakthrough in residential burglaries. Recap of Arcadia City Council meeting. New Arcadia tourism video was presented to promote Arcadia, with the goal of bringing new business investment to the city. Arcadia Police Chief Bob Guthrie gave a report on crime in the city and has recently uncovered a ring of burglars in the county through the cracking of codes on a captured burglar’s cell phone and has a couple of those criminals in custody.
Arcadia plans for the future. Arcadia City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto presented the City's Fiscal Year 2018-2019 budget. Fiscal year 2018-2019 budget maintains existing levels of public services, but the City can no longer guarantee that services will remain at current levels over the long term. Due to recent changes in state law and other fiscal constraints, the City's proposed budget has a structural deficit of nearly $13.1 million in expenditures in excess of revenues.
Arcadia City Council approves $80,000 for street repainting and striping, El Nino flood prevention and preparedness and Youth Council (or Youth Committee).
Is historic preservation important to Arcadia? Arcadia City Council recently met and considered the most recent historic preservation proposal. It did not pass but was not entirely dismissed. Several city council members agreed that the City should adopt some sort of historic preservation policy, but the citizens fear homeowner's rights will be infringed upon. See hard copy in VF City Council 2010-2019.
Arcadia announces City Council redistricting mapping tool and public hearing schedule. Residents can use this portal to draw a map and a community of interest for the city and submit it to City Council.
1. Program and invitation from Annual Mayor's Community Breakfast, John Wuo, Mayor. April 8, 2010. Guest speakers Carolyn Conley (Horseracing Television), Mike Smith (Hall of Fame jockey), David Milch (television writer, producer and creator). 2. Memo from City Manager Don Penman to Mayor and Cit…
1. Program and invitation from Annual Mayor's Community Breakfast, John Wuo, Mayor. April 8, 2010. Guest speakers Carolyn Conley (Horseracing Television), Mike Smith (Hall of Fame jockey), David Milch (television writer, producer and creator).
2. Memo from City Manager Don Penman to Mayor and City Council, January 18, 2011 requesting council's direction on matter of coyote management program.
3. 2011 Mayor's Community Breakfast "Inspired by the love and strength of family." Mayor Peter Amundson. Guest speakers Tatyane Berrios, Kay Kinsler, Edward Wong, Dorothy Denne, Rev. H. B. London, Jr.
4. Peter Amundson biography. City council member term April 2010-April 2014. Retrieved from www.ci.arcadia.ca.us on September 27, 2011.
5. Roger Chandler biography. City council member term April 2010-April 2014. Retrieved from www.ci.arcadia.ca.us on September 27, 2011.
6. Bob Harbicht biography. City council member term April 2010-April 2014. Retrieved from www.ci.arcadia.ca.us on September 27, 2011.
7. Gary Kovacic biography. City council member term April 2008-April 2012. Retrieved from www.ci.arcadia.ca.us on September 27, 2011.
8. Mickey Segal biography. City council member term April 2010-April 2014. Retrieved from www.ci.arcadia.ca.us on September 27, 2011.
9. John Wuo biography. City council member term April 2012-April 2016. Retrieved from www.ci.arcadia.ca.us on June 4, 2012.
10. Invitation to a meeting to recognize the reorganization of the Arcadia City Council, April 20, 2011. Invitation on gold card stock with a postcard graphic of the City of Arcadia-Community of Homes city crest.
11. Program from City of Arcadia 2012 Mayor's Community Breakfast, Gary Kovacic, Mayor.
12. Invitation and Program from 2013 Mayor's Community Breakfast. Mayor Robert C. Harbicht. List of former mayors on back of program. Keynote speaker was Tim Conway, Jr.
13. A Good Day in Arcadia, Mountain Views News, p. 7, April 20, 2013. By Joan Schmidt. Recaps dedication of the "Lucky Baldwin" statue titled "A Dawn in the West" and Arcadia City Council Reorganization meeting, at which Mickey Segal was chosen as Mayor and John Wuo was chosen Mayor Pro Tem.
14. List of members-Arcadia City Council and Boards and Commissions Roster, revised July 2013.
15. Mickey Segal not running; four new candidates. Mountain Views News, January 18, 2014.
16. Mayor Mickey Segal won't seek re-election. 3 open seats in council face. Pasadena Star News, January 15, 2014.
17. Invitation and program Mayor's Community Breakfast with keynote speaker Dr. J. Michael Ortiz. March 28, 2014. With list of past mayors.
18. Methodist Hospital Health Smart magazine, Fall 2013-Winter 2014. Features the article "We're Here to Serve the Community" about Arcadia City Councilman and past mayor John Wuo and his wife Jane Wuo (in photo), the 2013 Crystal Ball gala honorees. Pages 32-33.
19. Arcadia City Council rejects petition to repeal utility tax. If utility tax repealed, city services would suffer. Retrieved July 10, 2014 from www.pasadenastarnews.com.
20. City of Arcadia 2015 Mayor's Community Breakfast invitation and program, featuring John Chiang, the California State Treasurer, as keynote speaker. List of all past mayors.
21. Lawsuit halts City projects, not history. Arcadiasbest.com, May 6, 2015 by Scott Hettrick.
22. Arcadia City Attorney responds to criticism of Council's nonpublic decisions (zoning, historic preservation, Brown Act). Arcadia Weekly, May 21, 2015.
23. Residents, ex-mayor threaten to recall three city officials over zoning code updates, historic preservation, mansions, and a lawsuit from Arcadia Highlands Homeowners Association (HOA). Pasadena Star News, July 9, 2015.
24. City Council Minutes May 29, 2015. City Attorney Deitsch addressed erroneous conclusions and opinions which appeared in a newspaper article titled "Arcadia Officials violated the California Open Meetings Law (Brown Act)"re: discussion of Save the Arcadia Highlands v. City of Arcadia.
25. Document illuminates official's (John Wuo) ties to Gemcoin founder Steve Chen. Arcadia Weekly, September 3, 2015.
26. Wuo resigns; Segal back? Lawsuit settled by Scott Hettrick. October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015 from Arcadiasbest.com.
27. Mayor's Community Breakfast invitation and program, April 1, 2016 with keynote speaker Alex Kajitani.
28. Mayor Tom Beck plans for Arcadia's future. Arcadia Weekly, May 12, 2016.
29. Arcadia City Council OKs 107 fee hikes, adds 9 new ones for city services, Pasadena Star News, January 19, 2017.
30. City Council Reorganization, reorganized as follows: Mayor Peter Amundson, Mayor Pro Tem Sho Tay, Council Members Tom Beck, Roger Chandler, April Verlato.
31. Invitation to Mayor's Community Breakfast featuring U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff as the keynote speaker. February 24, 2017.
32. A. Invitation. B. Program-2018 Arcadia Mayor's Community Breakfast "Leaving a Legacy" with keynote speaker Michael D. Antonovich, Former L.A. County Supervisor. C. Handouts recap of city services.
33. Notice of City Council reorganization, dated June 6, 2018. Mayor is Sho Tay, Mayor Pro Tem is April Verlato and Council Members are Peter Amundson, Tom Beck, Roger Chandler. From City of Arcadia, Office of the City Clerk, Lisa Mussenden.
33. 33A-33D/ Four articles. 33A. Tale of two cities: Arcadia and bygone Arcadia. Noted historians slighted by longtime councilman's remarks. By Terry Miller. Arcadia Weekly, February 28, 2019. 33B. Why is historic preservation important to Arcadia? By Galen Patterson, Arcadia Weekly, February 28, 2019. 33C. Arcadia's potential historic districts, Part 1: Santa Anita Village by Isabelle Cruz. Arcadia Weekly, March 14, 2019. 33D. City Council makes changes to historic preservation ordinance by Galen Patterson. Arcadia Weekly, March 21, 2019.
34. City Council Reorgnization, April 16, 2019. Mayor is April Verlato. Mayor Pro Tem is Roger Chandler. Other Council Members are Peter Amundson, Tom Beck, and Sho Tay.
35. Fair political practices commission agenda item faults Chandler/Harbicht 2018 campaign mailers. Mayor Pro Tem Roger Chandler is facing some additional heat this week from the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) with a two-count complaint filed after the 2018 Arcadia municipal election. From Arcadiaweekly.com September 11, 2019.
City okays $15,000 contract for coyote trapping, euthanization with Animal Pest Management Services. The City Council vote was 4 to 1 to approve the contract.
Arcadia City Council chooses to hold a comprehensive zoning code update, which backers said would have included changes to create a more business-friendly atmosphere, encourage economic growth, and curb overdevelopment in the sprawling foothills community.
Arcadia City Council denies consideration for first application in the Friendship Cities Program, proposed by council member Sho Tay for a friendship between Arcadia and Dongfang City, Hainan Province, China. A majority of council members are concerned about the politics in supporting a city in China that is currently embroiled in the South China Seas protests, such as Hong Kong.
Arcadia officials project a $1.2 million budget deficit and have approved a combination of using reserve funds, hiring freezes, and other budget mechanisms to offset it. In order to avoid deep cuts in city services, the City Council has approved a plan to defer the city's slurry sealing program (street surface maintenance) for one year.