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.
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.
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 of Arcadia to place three measures on November 8, 2022 ballot. 1. Proposed City Charter Amendment Measure. The City Charter was last amended in 1998. The citizen-led Charter Review Committee recommends updates to mirror changes in state laws since 1998 and to reflect current local government standards, to include a) mirroring changes in state laws to increase voter turnout by moving the date of regularly scheduled city council elections from April in even-numbered years to the November Statewide General Election in even-numbered years. b) recognizing the city's change to by-district elections as required by California Voting Rights Act. c) Creating a rotation of mayor and mayor pro tem positions every 9.5 months to allow all council members to serve during their term. d) Change position of City Clerk from elected to appointed. e) other amendments to streamline government, utilize technology and increase transparency. 2. Two measures to increase locally controlled funding. One measure would increase Arcadia's local tax on stays at hotels and motels from 10% to 12%--similar rate to many neighboring cities. The other measure would enact a local tax on sports wagers if sports betting becomes legal in California through State Proposition 26, also on the November ballot
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.
1. Arcadia Charter Revision. League of Women Voters of Arcadia, September 1968. 2. Charter copy, date stamped December 9, 1953. Two copies. 3. Charter certified by the Secretary of State of the State of California, May 14, 1951. 4. Charter, 1968. 5. Charter, January 1, 1969. Two copies. 6. …
1. Arcadia Charter Revision. League of Women Voters of Arcadia, September 1968.
2. Charter copy, date stamped December 9, 1953. Two copies.
3. Charter certified by the Secretary of State of the State of California, May 14, 1951.
4. Charter, 1968.
5. Charter, January 1, 1969. Two copies.
6. Charter revisions aim at key offices. Arcadia Tribune, April 30, 1967.
7. "Adoption of new city charter expected." Arcadia News Post, August 16, 1968.
8. California Assembly Concurrent Resolution Number 49 approving an amendment to the Charter of the City of Arcadia regarding the control, management and administration of the public schools of the City of Arcadia, 1965.
9. California Assembly Concurrent Resolution Number 18 approving an amendment to the Charter of the City of Arcadia regarding compensation and other expenses of the members of the City Council, 1956.
10. Proposed Charter change to section 709.1. Library Board Election, Powers and Duties, July 29, 1963.
11. Charter Revision Committee Agenda, September 27, 1995.
12. Councilman indicates Charter change vote will be approved, 3-2. Arcadia Tribune, October 10, 1963.
13. Charter vote plea fails. Arcadia Tribune, October 13, 1963.
14. Council to act on library issue. Arcadia Tribune, October 13, 1963, page one.
15. Charter Revision Committee Agenda, October 11, 1995.
16. Charter Revision Committee Agenda, August 30, 1995.
17. Letter from the Library Board of Trustees entitled "Citizen Advisory Committee for Revision of the City Charter, September 22, 1995.
18. Charter Revision Committee Agenda, October 4, 1995.
19. Charter Revision Committee Agenda, October 18, 1995.
20. Memo from City Manager William R. Kelly and City Attorney Michael H. Miller to the Honorable Mayor and City Council regarding the Charter Revision Committee - Council Action, October 31, 1995.
21. Memo from the Charter Revision Committee, City Manager, City Attorney, and School District Superintendent to Mayor and Members of the City Council regarding consideration of suggested revisions to the City Charter, November 11, 1995.
22. City Council of Arcadia Minutes, including revisions to the City Charter, November 7, 1995.
23. Statement by City of Arcadia Mayor Dennis Lojeski regarding proposed City Charter Amendments on the April 9, 1996 ballot, dated March 25, 1996.
24. Impartial analysis of City Attorney to Proposition D, regarding the City Library, of the regular municipal election of April 1996, dated December 26, 1995.
25. Argument in opposition to Proposition D, Arcadia Municipal Election in English and Chinese, 1996.
26. Statement by the Library Board of Trustees in opposition to Proposition D, 1996.
27. Arguments against Proposition D, 1996.
28. Proposition D anything but routine. Article by Betty Rochefort, President of the Arcadia Friends of the Library, 1996.
29. City Charter of the City of Arcadia, California, as amended, 1996. Two copies.
30. Charter as amended, 1992.
31. City Charter as amended, 1998. 2 copies.
32. Proposed Arcadia City Charter. 1903.
33. City Charter of the City of Arcadia, California, as amended, 2022.
Advocates and opponents of a proposed Target Department Store are having their arguments for what should be a lively discussion before the Arcadia Redevelopment Agency on December 4. The most controversial aspect of the proposed project is that, if approved, the city would buy property in the development area for $16-18 a square foot and resell it to the developer, Beech and Associates, as $12 a square foot.
Arcadia seeking volunteers for charter review committee to update the City's charter, a document that defines the organization, its powers, functions and essential procedures. Last review update was 1998.
Council balks at ramp metering plan. Arcadia City Council Tuesday night approved a staff recommendation to file an amendment to the Regional Transportation Improvement Program with the county Transportation Commission. Council will ask that instead of proposed ramp metering on 210 Freeway, a fifth lane should be installed.
Op-ed on the South Arcadia redevelopment and why the County should not be challenging the city's request for the area to be changed to a redevelopment zone in order to qualify for county funds.
The Arcadia City Planning Commission voted 6-0 to reject the zoning change for the Santa Anita Park property from "horse racing uses" to "commercial/entertainment," saying it could not approve any changes until it sees a specific proposal.
Proposition D is a ballot initiative scheduled for the city's April 1996 ballot. It is designed to update the City's charter and would make the library a city department. If passed, Proposition D would reduce some of the library board's power and make the city librarian responsible to the city manager.
More than 500 residents packed the Community Center last week regarding a proposed entertainment complex at Santa Anita Park. Opponents of the project have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks.
The Planning Commission has rejected proposed General Plan changes that would have permitted hi-density zoning in the Naomi-Camino Real-Golden West area and left it medium density. The General Plan and the zoning map are still not in conformity, which was one reason the hearing was called.
Plan to consolidate elections debated. City Council and Board of Education informally discussing consolidating their elections, would require charter change.