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Arcadia Council Takes Steps to Increase Public Safety
Arcadia Weekly Oct 17, 2018
Ring, LLC offers discounts on private security cameras for Arcadians. The camera shown is not one of the actual cameras. - Courtesy photo
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Ring, LLC offers discounts on private security cameras for Arcadians. The camera shown is not one of the actual cameras. – Courtesy photo
By Galen Patterson
The Oct. 16 City Council meeting opened in the usual manner with an invocation, this time provided by Reverend Terry Keenan of the Santa Anita Church, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by City Clerk Gene Glasco.
The city attorney spoke to the public about the contents of the previous closed session, in which the council reviewed a recommendation to add a measure to the ballot containing a ¾-cent sales tax, which is needed to help Arcadia with its current financial woes.
The Citizens Financial Advisory Committee reviewed the city’s expenditures and asked the council to declare a state of fiscal emergency as soon as possible, and no later than June of 2019. The vote to add the measure passed almost unanimously, with one council member recusing themself from the vote.
Councilman Roger Chandler delivered a public service announcement about the rapid spreading of mosquitos, highlighting that just one neglected pool can breed up to 3 million mosquitos.
Chandler points out that Arcadia is at particular risk because of the mosquito-borne illnesses affecting more than humans. At least one has been known to affect horses. Chandler noted that there may be fines attached to homes with unkept pools who fail to upkeep it after having been notified.
Councilman Tom Beck extended sincere appreciation to Public Works Services Director Tom Tate for saving the city approximately $680,000 on an upcoming water purchase. “If public works knows about a problem, they’re really good about fixing it,” said Beck.
Mayor Pro Tem April Verlato told a cautionary tale about a recent experience she had in her home. The recently-built home next to hers was broken into one evening, while her family was home and may have heard the person enter the yard next to them. The story was followed by a plea for residents to consider more carefully the type of homes they build, because they may be attractive to burglars, which has been something of an epidemic in the San Gabriel Valley in recent years. Among several points Verlato made, she stated “I know now that I am a little more afraid to live next to an empty house.”
The main item brought before the council that evening was a step toward the solution of the problem established by Councilwoman Verlato.
Arcadia had previously approved an agreement with Ring, LLC to help distribute private security cameras to residents in the city, and the funding had recently run out.
Ring, LLC therefore asked for an additional $25,000 to continue the program and extend it to help local businesses within the city. The item was approved by the council.
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