Arcadia resident David Arvizu to challenge city on open meeting law. His letter gives city officials 30 days to respond to alleged open meeting law violations before he files a complaint with the D.A. or a lawsuit against the city. He offered two alternatives to litigation: the Council would either set aside the decisions made in closed session on May 5, or make the meeting minutes available to the public. In a closed session May 5, City Council voted to suspend comprehensive updates to the city's residential and commercial zoning codes, postpone the Neighborhood Impacts Committee, and move forward with a citywide historic preservation survey, excluding the Highland Oaks Homeowners Association. City Attorney Stephen Deitsch said officials did not violate the Ralph M. Brown Act when they voted on three "procedural" items in closed session because they were tied to pending litigation against the city.
Sierra Madre and Arcadia engaged in water fight. Sierra Madre accused Arcadia of stealing water from a shared East Raymond Basin. Holly Whatley, Sierra Madre's assistant city attorney, said the California Supreme Court divided the east and west Raymond Basin in a 1944 judgment. Arcadia spent $2.8 million to build its Anoakia Well in 2001 and its Colorado Well in 2007. Hydrogeology expert Tim Thompson said although Arcadia's two wells reside on the eastern side, the wells actually draw ground water that originates from the West Raymond Basin. He said there is very little water traveling from the east and west basins because of a hydrogeological barrier, and a scientific look at the ground shows that Arcadia is taking adjudicated water from the West Raymond Basin. See hard copy in VF Water.
Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) Deputy Superintendent Robert Leri has resigned. Arcadia High School Principal David Vannasdall will take on the additional role of Deputy Superintendent March 1 and leave his job as principal at end of school year to become Deputy Superintendent. Other personnel changes within the school district. AUSD is trying to cover a projected $7 million annual budget deficit with a proposed 5-year parcel tax. Arcadia Educational Foundation is doing its annual solicitation.
Arcadia Unified School District adds Common Core Days to the 2014-2015 school calendar. This means students will be released at 11:40 on 9/18, 10/9, 11/6, 1/8, 2/5, 3/5, and 5/14.
Arroyo High School (El Monte) assistant coach of the junior varsity softball team Raymond Daniel Yniquez, 21, of Pomona, died in a car crash on Live Oak Avenue near Las Tunas Drive, along with two others dead.
All aboard: Arcadia gets into training. The Metro Gold Line Station in Arcadia will have a grand opening on Saturday, March 5. The light rail Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa will be offering free rides on March 5.