HomeMy WebLinkAboutABC Agenda: 10/19/23CITY OF ARCADIA
Arcadia Beautiful Commission
Special Meeting Agenda
Thursday, October 19, 2023, at 6:00 p.m.
Location: Council Chambers Conference Room, 240 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons with a disability who require a disability related modification or
accommodation in order to participate in a meeting, including auxiliary aids or services, may request such modification or
accommodation from the Recreation and Community Services at 626.574.5113. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting
will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to assure accessibility to the meeting.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL:
Burton Brink, Chairperson
Ethel Laczko, Vice Chairperson
Gary Brewer, Commission Member
Sheryl Hunter, Commission Member
Barbara Lyle, Commission Member
Bob Miller, Commission Member
Vivien Watts, Commission Member
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS (5 minute time limit per person)
Any individual wishing to speak before the Arcadia Beautiful Commission is limited to five (5)
minutes per person, unless waived by the Arcadia Beautiful Commission. Under the Brown Act,
the Arcadia Beautiful Commission is prohibited from discussing or taking action on any item not
listed on the posted agenda. The matter may automatically be referred to staff for appropriate
response or action or may be placed on the agenda of a future meeting.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and can be acted on
by one roll call vote. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless members of the
Commission, staff, or the public request that a specific item be removed from the Consent
Calendar for separate discussion and action.
a. Approve the Meeting Minutes of April 20, 2023, and July 13, 2023
Recommended Action: Approve
3. REPORT FROM CODE SERVICES ON DROUGHT TOLERANT LANDSCAPING,
PROTECTED TREES, AND ILLEGAL DUMPING
ARCADIA BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2023, at 3:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER – Chairperson Brink called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. in the Council
Chambers Conference Room.
ROLL CALL OF COMMISSIONERS
PRESENT: Burton Brink, Gary Brewer, Sheryl Hunter, Barbara Lyle, Robert Miller,
Lee Shimmin
ABSENT: Ethel Laczko
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS – None
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS – None
2. CONSENT CALENDAR – None
3. REGULAR ITEMS
a. Conduct Final Judging for the 2023 Spring Awards
A total of 36 properties were evaluated by the Commission. The following 16 properties
were selected to receive a 2023 Spring Home Award:
117 W Magna Vista Ave. (DT) 140 E. Camino Real Ave. (DT)
170 Sandra Ave. 255 W. Lemon Ave. (DT)
303 W Palm Drive 329 El Dorado St.
339 W Longden 414 E. Norman Ave.
426 Santa Cruz Road (DT) 427-433 W Duarte Rd.
517 San Luis Rey Rd. (DT) 917 Monte Verde Dr.
960 Monte Verde Dr. 1108 Monte Verde Dr.
1129 Paloma Dr. 1729 Alta Oaks Dr.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Brink adjourned the meeting at 6:30 p.m.
_________________________________ By:____________________________
Ethel Laczko, Vice Chairperson Justine Bruno, Staff Liaison
ARCADIA BEAUTIFUL COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, JULY 13, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER – Chairperson Brink called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. in the Council
Chambers Conference Room.
ROLL CALL OF COMMISSIONERS
PRESENT: Burton Brink, Gary Brewer, Sheryl Hunter, Ethel Laczko, Barbara Lyle,
Bob Miller, Vivien Watts
ABSENT: None
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION FROM STAFF REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS – None
1. PUBLIC COMMENTS – None
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
a. Approve the Special Meeting minutes of April 13, 2023
It was moved by Commissioner Hunter, seconded by Commissioner Lyle, and carried on
a roll call vote to approve the minutes.
AYES: Brink, Hunter, Brewer, Laczko, Lyle, Miller, Watts
NOES: None
3. INTRODUCTION OF NEW COMMISSIONER VIVIEN WATTS
Commissioner Watts introduced herself to the rest of the commission. She noted that
she lives in the Lower Rancho area and has been an Arcadia resident for over 25 years;
she oversees school nutrition for the Alhambra Unified School District; enjoys her home
life with her husband and two golden retrievers and has been a Winter Holiday Award
winner, twice.
4. DEBRIEF ON 2023 SPRING HOME AWARDS
a. Discussion on any recommended changes/improvements for 2024
The commissioners debriefed on the 2023 Spring Home Awards process. Commissioner
Laczko commented on the importance of recognizing winners at a City Council Meeting
and expressed her preference to use Home Depot gift cards for winners again next year.
Commissioners Miller and Brewer noted that the heavy rains from the winter and spring
season made judging difficult this year. The rain delayed the judging timeline because
many plants and flowers had not begun blooming yet. The commissioners recognized
that heavy rains are expected again next year, and this amended timeline for the Spring
Home Awards may be repeated.
5. DEBRIEF ON PARTICIPATION IN THE DAIA PATRIOTIC FESTIVAL & SUMMER
CONCERT SERIES
Commissioners unanimously agreed that due to the attendance and foot traffic, it is
worthwhile for the ABC to have a booth at the event next year; however, commissioners
also noted that having a booth at a Summer Concert and the Patriotic Festival in the
same week should be avoided. Giveaways at the Patriotic Festival were gone by 7:00
p.m. and the commission discussed adding bubbles for kids, dog waste bags, and
succulents as giveaways for future events.
6. DISCUSSION OF 2023 WATER SMART HERO AWARDS
a. Review selection of Water Smart properties.
b. Select City Council date for Awards Presentation
There will be a maximum of seven winners for the Water Smart Hero Awards, similar to
prior years. Public Works gathered data on the corresponding water reduction rates for
each property and those were shared with the commission. The commission agreed to the
list of winners and to recognize them at the August 15, 2023, City Council Meeting with a
certificate and swag bags from Environmental Services.
7. ELECTION/RE-ELECTION OF COMMISSION CHAIR
A motion was made by Commissioner Lyle and seconded by Commissioner Hunter to
reelect Burton Brink to the role of Chairperson, which carried on a role call vote.
AYES: Lyle, Hunter, Brewer, Brink, Laczko, Watts, Miller
NOES: None
A motion was made by Commissioner Miller and seconded by Commissioner Hunter to
elect Commissioner Laczko as the Vice Chairperson, which carried on a role call vote.
AYES: Miller, Hunter, Watts, Brink, Brewer, Laczko, Lyle,
NOES: None
8. REPORT FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER LIAISON
Council Member liaison Sharon Kwan was not present for this meeting.
8. REPORT FROM COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Laczko expressed her interest in receiving an update from Environment
Services regarding educational outreach/partnership with the Arboretum.
Several commissioners expressed their interest in learning more about the City’s drought
tolerant landscaping guide as well as more information about Arcadia’s protected trees
and the process to remove and replace.
Commissioner Brewer and Miller expressed that the final judging for Holiday Awards
occurred too late last year. For 2023, the ABC discussed December 5 as the submission
deadline; December 14 as the date for group judging; and December 18 for presentation
of the awards by the ‘Santa Squad’. Furthermore, the commission discussed the desired
promotion and advertising for the Holiday Awards, which included promotion in a City
newsletter or other printed publications, inclusion in the digital message board at the
Chamber of Commerce, and added to digital message boards the City owns.
ADJOURNMENT
Chairperson Brink adjourned the meeting at 6:07 p.m.
_________________________________ By:____________________________
Ethel Laczko, Vice Chairperson Justine Bruno, Staff Liaison
November 8, 2023
Name
Title
Address
Dear {insert name},
Since 1996, the City of Arcadia has recognized property owners who embrace the
spirit of the holidays by decorating their home or business for all to enjoy. The
City’s Holiday Awards program serves to recognize properties that display festive
decorations, ornaments, and lights in December.
For the first time, Arcadia schools are invited to join the festivities by decorating
the primary exterior entrance of the school building. Members of the Arcadia
Beautiful Commission (ABC) serve as ‘judges’ for this program and will be visiting
participating properties on {insert date}to rank and score each display.
The Arcadia Beautiful Commission has seven members and oversees several other
beautification programs in the City like the Spring Home Awards, Water Smart
Hero Awards, and Arbor Day Celebrations. More information on their efforts can
be found by visiting:
www.ArcadiaCA.gov/discover/boards_and_commissions/arcadia_beautiful_commi
ssion.php
Decorations should be innovative, creative, and show craftsmanship and effort. The
lawn, landscaping, windows, roofs, doors, fencing, walls, and other hardscape can
be used for decorations. A maximum of one elementary school, one middle school,
and one high school will be selected as a winner.
Winning properties will awarded a Mayor’s certificate, yard sign and a holiday gift
that will be delivered by the ‘Santa Squad’, consisting of Arcadia’s Mayor, Arcadia
Beautiful Commissioners, members of the Fire Department and Public Works
Services Department, and Santa in his sleigh, all on the evening of {insert date &
times). Group photos will be taken that evening, so you are welcome to invite your
friends and community members to this fun and memorable night.
Please contact Justine Bruno, Deputy City Manager at (626) 574-5433, or
jbruno@ArcadiaCA.gov, with any questions about the program, and to confirm if
you intend to participate. We hope you will help us celebrate this wonderful
tradition that illuminates the spirit of Arcadia!
Wishing you a joyous and warm holiday season,
Burton Brink,
Chair of the Arcadia Beautiful Commission
240 West Huntington Dr.
Post Office Box 60021
Arcadia, CA 91066-6021
(626) 574-5403 City Hall
www.ArcadiaCA.gov