Arcadia is the only city in which residents voted overwhelmingly to tax themselves $8 million to help pay for a bridge to carry the Gold Line train over the major artery of Santa Anita Avenue, and the only city along the 11.5-mile foothill extension line to exercise the option of creating a customized station in Arcadia. (Photo gallery below.)
The City of Arcadia‘s Deputy Director of Development Services/City Engineer Phil Wray provided a thorough, informative, and fascinating description of the history of the upcoming bridge to be built over Santa Anita beginning this summer at this morning’s monthly meeting of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Forum, co-chaired by Peter Ulrich and Mary Doughtery.
Wray said work on flattening out the 4-foot rise in Santa Anita Avenue at the current track crossing (soon to be the bridge) will begin in May and the entire $12 million project should be complete in October prior to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita Park. He also described other elements of the massive project through town, and other projects unrelated to the Gold Line. Representatives from Assemblymember Ed Chau (Olivia Lee), County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich (Brian Mejia), the City of Arcadia (Economic Development manager Jerry Schwartz), Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Authority (Rodrigo Gonzalez) each presented monthly reports.
The Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte Town Council members (Linda Sells & John Nicoloro) spoke about the Arcadia County Live Oak Library which has been serving the community of South Arcadia – especially the children who live there – for the past 49 years. Linda is the new president of the Friends of the Live Oak Library Board and the group is inviting volunteers to join and help improve the facility. The dynamic little Library is located at 4153-55 Live Oak Ave., Arcadia. 626-446-8803 <Story continues following photo gallery below…>
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Lee encouraged everyone to submit their nominations for Woman of the Year (see flier at right – click to enlarge) and called attention to multiple pieces of legislation being introduced, especially Assembly Bill (AB) 242 – Internet Privacy Poilcies, which aims to simplify the lengthy and arcane forms that Internet users are often required to click to agree before proceeding.
Mejia noted that the County Supervisors will revisit the controversial proposed water parcel tax (fee) at their meeting on Tuesday, March 12, noting that support for the effort is waning and therefore the Supervisors, including Michael D. Antonovich, are questioning the wisdom of staging a $2 million voter election. Already proponents have tentatively agreed to add a “sunset clause” to end the fee after 30-years instead of having it proceed in perpetuity.
Join us to hear informative presentations at the monthly Government Affairs Forums held on the first Thursday of each month at 8 a.m. at the Chamber.