Arcadia City Council candidates Roger Chandler, Bob Harbicht, Gary Kovacic, Gail Marshall, and John Wuo answer the question, "What one or more issues are you interested in tackling during the next 4 years on the council?"
The Arcadia City Council debated the issue of more parking on the west side of Baldwin Avenue, next to the Hub Center, between Duarte Road and Naomi Avenue. The Council approved the revision to the adult business ordinance, adopted an anti-loitering measure for gang members, and more.
Arcadia City Council has approved a new contract with the Pasadena Humane Society (PHS) to provide animal services to Arcadia. The contract is for $69,838, a 3% increase over the current year's agreement. The city has contracted with PHS since 1994. PHS handles dog licensing, answers calls for service and offers low-cost spay and neuter clinics. Other items were approved, including a contract with Engineered Plumbing Inc. for water mains and valves, the purchase of Mobile Data Terminals for the Arcadia Fire Department from Nida Companies, and massage therapist permits.
Arcadia City Council has voted to impose fees on developers to pay for intersection-widening projects. A chart shows the traffic count at developments, at intersections, and the fee structure.
The Arcadia City Council is considering changes to fees charged by the city through the Development Services Department. One change might be a $25 fee for new business license applications. The fees may increase for design review of new commercial projects and appeals from an architectural review board to the Planning Commission. The General plan amendment fee may drop and tentative tract maps for condos may drop. The city plans to increase fines for code violations.
Arcadia City officials plan to update the city's sign ordinance to prohibit certain types of signs, but merchants are concerned the proposed rules will hurt their business or be expensive.
Arcadia considers joining Monrovia in reviving the Blue Star Program, in which families of men and women in the armed forces can display a symbol of that fact on their home. The matter will be put on a city council agenda in the future.
At a candidate forum, Arcadia City Council candidates Roger Chandler, Bob Harbicht, Gary Kovacic, Gail Marshall, and John Wuo discuss issues such as Arcadia's sign ordinance that governs the use of multi-language material, school crowding, firefighters, mansionization, the city's budget, and a bond issue for a Performing Arts Center.
City councils from Arcadia and Sierra Madre met in a joint session to discuss federal lobbying efforts, the Gold Line Rail project, water and open space.
The city has taken its first step toward condemning part of a desirable downtown block to make way for the expansion of the Rusnak Mercedes Benz. The City Council voted unanimously to move forward with eminent domain proceedings against Arcadia Self Storage, a four-story building on Huntington Drive just west of Santa Anita Avenue. This building is one of five under threat of condemnation.
City Manager Bill Kelly outlined his proposed budget for the 2003-2004 fiscal year which begins July 1. The Arcadia City Council will hold a public hearing and is scheduled to adopt it at its June 17 meeting.
City planners will try to preserve Rosemarie Drive in Arcadia, as they work with a developer and neighbors on the possibility of a split lot for Joseph Winn's property at 460 W. Walnut. Currently the street has a cul-de-sac to the west and dead ends to the east.
Five candidates are running for Arcadia City Council on the April 9 ballot. They are Roger Chandler, Robert Harbicht, Gary Kovacic, Gail Marshall, and John Wuo. Biographies given.