More than 400 people crammed City Hall and an adjacent outside courtyard Tuesday, as City Council wrestled with ways to slash $2 million from its annual budget.
The city budget passed unanimously on Tuesday night and included the elimination of 9 full-time employee positions, an increase in paramedics fees and a one-year, 1 percent utility tax increase.
City Council voted to appoint a financial advisory committee to examine the city's financial policies and the size of its reserve fund, then report back to the Council by December.
Arcadia's City Council was unable to elect a Mayor at Tuesday's Council meeting, with 5 members splitting their votes 3 ways. Several council members are interviewed.
City Council voted Tuesday night to spend $804,380 in transportation funds to purchase land for a rail station on the northern edge of downtown Arcadia.
The City Council approved a proposal Tuesday that would place a voluntary cap on the amount candidates spend in the April municipal election. The limit will be 50 cents per resident.
Arcadia City Council on Wednesday called for a study on whether it should contract with Los Angeles County for its fire protection services. The decision came after a marathon 5 1/2 hour session on the budget that attracted more than 400 spectators.
The Arcadia City Council voted Tuesday night to keep television cameras away from its study sessions. Citing cost as the major factor, the vote was 4-1 with Councilman Sheng Chang dissenting.
The City Council skipped over five runners-up in April's council election and instead named Planning Commissioner Gary Kovacic to replace the late Councilman Dennis Lojeski.
City Council is looking at fee increases, proposed elimination of as many as 14 full-time positions and other controversial alternatives to balance the 1996-97 budget.
Though Arcadia's 1968 term limit rule forces council members to step down after two four-year terms, it allows them to come back two years later. Robert Harbicht is the latest former council member planning to make the two-year rebound.