Two Charter amendments will be on the April 9th ballot: 1. Would increase from 2 to 3 the number of consecutive 4 year terms a Councilman may serve and change the residence requirement from 2 years to 1. 2. Provides for a municipal election in February with offices to be filled by those candidates who receive the highest number of votes. However, if no candidate receives at least 40% of the votes cast, a run-off election would be held in April.
Arcadia voters will have an opportunity to vote for a change in the city charter at the April 10 election. A majority vote will be required to elect future members to the City Council of amendment is passed.
Former mayor Jim Helms proposed a charter change that would require a runoff election if no candidate for City Council received at least 50 percent of the vote. In the last election, no candidate received 50 percent.
Cautious concern is the reaction of public officials to a comment by Santa Anita Park race track spokesman, Robert Sweeney, that the track could go out of business if Proposition 37 passes this November. Jim Helms, chairman of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Committee said that his group opposes the Lottery Initiative in part because it could reduce revenue to Santa Anita and the city.
A charter amendment providing that council candidates in order to win must have a majority of votes cast or face a run-off will be on Arcadians' ballots in December 13 election, if there is an election.
Howard Jarvis, the father of Proposition 13, spent an hour in Arcadia, knocking down the "straw man" arguments he said were being put up against the property tax initiative. Prop. 13 would reduce property taxes in California to 1 percent of what market value was in 1975-1976, plus whatever is necessary to pay off current bonded indebtedness. A 2 percent annual inflation rate is written into the constitutional amendment.
Plan to consolidate elections debated. City Council and Board of Education informally discussing consolidating their elections, would require charter change.
City Council unanimously agreed to hold a June election to attempt to bail the school district out of its financial troubles. Proposition A would increase the utility tax by 2%, bringing in $550,000. Proposition B would raise the tax an additional 1% bringing $250,000 more. The funds would be for maintenance of school property and facilities used by the city.
The Arcadia City Council, school board and Chamber of Commerce have settled on a plan to consolidate city and school elections. City Attorney Michael Miller is coming up with legal wording for a measure to be placed on the next school board ballot, April 1987.
Candidates discuss their positions on charter change at a forum presented by the Arcadia Republican Women's Club last week. The amendment will be on the April 10 ballot.
City Council tabled a Planning Commission recommendation to limit new homes to 40% of their lot size after complaints that the restrictions would reduce property values.
James Domney, 49, is leaving his position as City Librarian after 11 years in this position and 18 years with the library. Kent Ross, 45, who started at the library at about the same time as Domney, was recently appointed as the new City Librarian.
Residential development in Arcadia will come to a virtual halt if a group called SOS (Save Our Suburbia) is successful in getting residents to adopt a no-growth initiative it plans to put on the next city ballot.
There has been some hassle over the lack of restroom facilities at Fashion Park. The City Council would like to see 2 restrooms on each level open at all times. Stores make their restrooms available, but some events take place when the stores are closed.
By a vote of 3-2, the City Council OK'd seeking Federal funds for the construction of an auditorium. The School Board has already voted to appropriate $4000 of the $6000 needed to update old plans.
The City Council approved an application for $9 million in state funds to build a new library. If the state awards the funds and the council accepts them, the city would have to contribute $7 million toward the new library.
A "doomsday" budget is being studied and capital improvements postponed until it is seen whether the Jarvis Amendment (Proposition 13) on the June ballot passes.