SIERRA MADRE EDITION

 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 

VOLUME 12 NO. 48

SIERRA MADRE CONSIDERS CREATINIG A CONSOLIDATED 
DOWNTOWN BUSINESS ASSESSMENT DISTRICT By Kevin McGuire

SO LONG MR. PRESIDENT


With two Sierra Madre districts hurting for money, 
and the other two districts at a healthy surplus, 
City Council agreed to a study to see if combining 
the four districts to form one Downtown Business 
Assessment District will make sense for the city. 

The city will hire the outside firm, NBS, to conduct 
the study. NBS has close to two decades of experience 
and has administered 30 special financing districts 
throughout California. The study will cost the 
city around $65,000, but will save the city money 
in the long run as, currently; two of the districts 
are depending on the General Fund to cover costs 
of general maintenance. Combining the current 
districts (which consist of two lighting districts, one 
landscaping and one parking district) would allow 
hurting districts to benefit from surplus funds from 
the other two districts. In addition, this may open 
up opportunities to make needed improvements 
and beautify the downtown area. 

 The new district would be either be based on 
property ownership, or assess businesses. If it 
is based on property ownership, NBS will also 
oversee Proposition 218, known as “The Right to 
Vote on Taxes Act.” This would mean property 
owners would receive ballots in the mail and a 
public hearing would take place. If more ballots 
are received in favor, then the districts will be 
combined. If more ballots oppose, then the four 
districts in place currently will remain intact. 

Alternatively, if the new district will assess 
businesses, the NBS will oversee the notice and 
protest requirements under the Streets and 
Highways Code (section 54954.6). In this scenario, 
business owners will be mailed notices, there will 
be a public hearing and if business owners who 
would pay more than 50% of the new assessment 
file a written protest, the new district can’t be 
formed and the four districts will remain as is. NBS 
will make the recommendation on which of the 
two options will work better for the city. 

 The combinations of the four districts would 
eliminate deficiencies and surpluses among 
districts and the study assessment will be broken 
down into two phases. Phase one, set for December 
2018, will include a logistics checklist, scoping 
meeting, and community/stakeholder outreach 
and participation. Phase 2 will include a downtown 
management plan, petition campaign/ballot 
process, and public hearing. Phase 2 is expected to 
wrap up in June 2019. 

 City Council agreed unanimously (Pro Tem John 
Harabedian was not present) to the deal with NBS 
at their regular scheduled meeting on Tuesday, 
November 27.

George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president 
of the United States, died Friday at age 94.

 In declining health over the last few years, his 
death came just six month after the passing of 
his beloved wife Barbara Bush to whom he was 
married to for 73 years.

 A statement from the former president’s office 
reads, in part, “George Herbert Walker Bush, 
World War II naval aviator, Texas oil pioneer, 
Vice President, US Ambassador, head of the 
CIA and 41st President of the United States of 
America has died. He is survived by his five children 
and their spouses, 17 grandchildren, eight 
great grandchil-dren, and two siblings.” 

 His son, former president George W. Bush issued 
a statement about his father’s passing 
through a family spokesperson.

“Jeb, Neil, Marvin, Doro, and I are saddened to 
announce that after 94 remarkable years, our 
dear Dad has died,” the statement said. “George 
H.W. Bush was a man of the highest character 
and the best dad a son or daughter could ask 
for.”

 As President, Bush strived for, “….a kinder, gentler 
America”. Among the accomplishments of 
his term of office the Berlin Wall came down, he 
freed Kuwait from occupation via the Gulf War 
in just 6 weeks, and reached across the aisle to 
get the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 
Clean Air Act passed. After leaving office, he 
and his wife Barbara raised more than a billion 
dollars for charity.

 President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump 
said Bush “always found a way to set the bar 
higher.”

 “Through his essential authenticity, disarming 
wit, and unwavering commitment to faith, 
family, and country, Presi-dent Bush inspired 
generations of his fellow Americans to public 
service—to be, in his words, ‘a thousand points 
of light’ illuminating the greatness, hope, and 
opportunity of America to the world,” said the 
Trumps in a statement.

 The Office of Former President Barack and 
Michelle Obama said that “America has lost a 
patriot and humble servant in George Herbert 
Walker Bush. While our hearts are heavy today, 
they are also filled with gratitude. Not merely 
for the years he spent as our 41st President, 
but for the more than 70 years he spent in devoted 
service to the country he loved – from a 
decorated Naval aviator who nearly gave his life 
in World War II, to Commander-in-Chief of our 
Armed Forces, with plenty of posts along the 
way.”

 The Obamas added “George H.W. Bush’s life is 
a testament to the notion that public service is 
a noble, joyous calling. And he did tremendous 
good along the journey. Expanding America’s 
promise to new immigrants and people with 
disabilities. Reducing the scourge of nuclear 
weapons and building a broad international 
coalition to expel a dictator from Kuwait. And 
when democratic revolutions bloomed across 
Eastern Europe, it was his steady, diplomatic 
hand that made possible an achievement once 
thought anything but – ending the Cold War 
without firing a shot.” S. Henderson/MVNews


FATAL TRAFFIC COLLISION, 

AUTOMOBILE VS. PEDESTRIAN 

The Arcadia Police Department responded to the 1100 Blk. of West Duarte Road at approximately 
3:27 PM., on November 30, 2018 to investigate the report of a traffic collision involving a pedestrian. 

Investigation determined a vehicle traveling on Duarte Road struck a pedestrian attempting to cross 
the street. Arcadia Paramedics treated the pedestrian at the scene and transported her to a local 
hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. The pedestrian is a 52-year-old female resident of 
Arcadia. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. 

The case is currently under investigation. Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged 
to contact the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5151, case number 18-5508. If you prefer to 
provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), 
use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App 
Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Robert T. Guthrie, Chief of Police 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com