About 95% of the more than 2,700 security alarms the Arcadia Police Department responded to last year turned out to be false alarms. Arcadia police Chief Bob Sanderson is asking the City Council to implement a $100 fine for a third false alarm issued in a 365-day period. A $200 fine for the fourth false alarm and $300 for the fifth and all subsequent false alarms would be part of the new ordinance that City Council will consider next month.
Advocates of an ordinance advocating English as the official language for Arcadia squared off in heated debate with opponents before the Arcadia City Council.
An ordinance has been adopted to regulate adult entertainment facilities as Arcadia faces the opening of a juice bar/alcohol free nude dancing club planned for 1580 Clark Street. A possible lawsuit was planned if the City denied the business from opening.
Arcadia business people apparently favor a no-smoking ordinance in principle, but might have difficulty with it in practice, according to a Chamber of Commerce survey recently delivered by City Manager George Watts. Sixty percent favored an ordinance controlling smoking. However, 60% also said they would not be able to provide segregated areas for smokers and non-smokers.
Arcadia City Council adjusts an ordinance pertaining to massage therapists. The ordinance originally required 500 hours of training for a massage therapist to have a license in the city. The council decided to let currently employed therapists substitute on the job hours for any shortage in training under 500 hours. The Council also dropped a requirement for windows in rooms where therapy is provided and decided therapists will not be required to wear white. The therapist will be required to have an identification card in his/her possession but will not be required to display it.
The Arcadia City Council approved an ordinance amendment loosening store display restrictions and decided to maintain the first floor retail restrictions on buildings in the downtown business district.
The Arcadia City Council has approved an ordinance specifically laying out the responsibilities of property owners to assist in the maintenance of street trees.
Arcadia City Council introduces an ordinance to collect DIVCA fees. DIVCA stands for Digital Infrastructure and Video Competition Act. City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto said this ordinance will update things to ensure that as state franchises get renewed, that our local fees continue to be paid.
The Arcadia City Council will review a study of a possible ordinance pertaining to commercial signs in foreign languages at its July 2 meeting. It has been suggested that foreign language signs be translated into English.
Arcadia city council will vote on an ordinance prohibiting loitering by members of street gangs. The ordinance defines a "criminal street gang" as three or more people with a primary activity to commit offenses, such as murder, assault, robbery, or drug-related crimes. There are eight active Asian gangs within the city.
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 establishments that serve food will be required to post the health grades they receive from the county under a new ordinance adopted by the City Council.
Arcadia has won a round in court to force the owners of 2-deck newsracks featuring sexually orients publications to remove them. The same publications could still be sold, however, if placed in single-deck racks.
Arcadia homeowners welcome city ordinance, which creates a registry of homeowners' contact information. Ordinance 2346 overhauls regulations the City has on "nuisances" such as weeds, vermin, and squatters.
Arcadia is going to have to pay more money to fight a continuing legal challenge to its ordinance forbidding two-story newsracks commonly used by purveyors of sexually-oriented publications.
Arcadia is in the process of developing a comprehensive hillside building code to cover the integrity of the hillsides as well as safety from fires, mud slides, etc.
Arcadia may follow the lead of Pasadena, Los Angeles and other communities by considering the possibility of adopting a no-smoking ordinance. According to City Manager George Watts, the council has not decided on any specific rules and probably will not receive a study report from staff until mid-November.