Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, February 29, 2020

VOTING LOCATIONS

6

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 29, 2020 

To find the nearest vote center to your home, office or school, you 
can visit the County’s “Find Your Vote Center” page. As long as 
you’re registered in LA County, you can vote anywhere in the county 
and your ballot will still include your local contests. If you prefer, 
you can view theVote Center List, which also has handy search and 
sort features, showing up to 50 locations per page, along with dates 
and hours of operation.

SIERRA MADRE

First Church of the Nazarene

3700 E Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena CA 91107

Hours: February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Additional Info: Room 246 

Episcopal Church of Ascension

25 E Laurel Ave, Sierra Madre CA 91024

Hours: February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Additional Info: Parish Hall 

Victory Park

2575 Paloma St, Pasadena CA 91107

Hours: February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM Additional Info: Gymnasium

ARCADIA

Arcadia Public Library

20 W Duarte Rd, Arcadia CA 91006

Hours: February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM Additional Info: Auditorium

Our Savior Lutheran Church 

512 W Duarte Rd Arcadia 91007

Location: Fellowship Hall 

Hours: February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Rio Hondo Elementary School 

11425 Wildflower Rd Arcadia 91006

Location: Cafeteria

Hours: February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

MONROVIA

Calvary Grace Church 2520 Peck Rd Monrovia 91016

Location: Fellowship Hall

Hours: February 22 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Monrovia Community Center 

119 W Palm Ave Monrovia 91016

Location: Kay Dalton Room

Hours: February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Monrovia Public Library 321 S Myrtle Ave Monrovia 91016

Location: Community Room

Hours: February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Second Baptist Church 925 S Shamrock Ave Monrovia 91016

Location: Godfrey Baily Hall

Hours: February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

DUARTE

Duarte City Hall 1600 Huntington Dr Duarte 91010

Location: Community Room

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Pamela County Park 2236 Goodall Ave Duarte 91010

Location: Recreation Room

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Royal Oaks Park 2627 Royal Oaks Dr Duarte 91010

Location: Royal Oaks Park Building

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Santa Teresita Hospital 819 Buena Vista St Duarte 91010

Location: Madonna Hall

Hours:

February 22 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Valley View Elementary School 237 Mel Canyon Rd 
Duarte 91010

Location: Cafeteria

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

ALTADENA

Altadena Community Center 730 E Altadena Dr 
Altadena 91001

Location: Hall / Conference Room

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Charles S Farnsworth Park 568 Mount Curve Ave E 
Altadena 91001

Location: Auditorium

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Franklin Elementary School 527 Ventura St Altadena 
91001

Location: Auditorium

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Jackson Elementary School 593 W Woodbury Rd 
Altadena 91001

Location: Auditorium

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Loma Alta Park 3330 Lincoln Ave Altadena 91001

Location: Social Hall

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Eaton Canyon Nature Center 1750 N Altadena Dr Pasadena 
91107

Location: Auditorium

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

PASADENA AND SOUTH PASADENA

Allendale Elementary School 1135 S Euclid Ave Pasadena 
91106

Location: Auditorium

Hours:

February 22 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Armenian Cilicia Evangelical Church 339 S Santa Anita Ave 
Pasadena 91107

Location: Derian Hall

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

ArtCenter College of Design 870 S Raymond Ave Pasadena 
91105

Location: 870 Building - Lobby Area

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Assistance League of Pasadena 820 E California Blvd Pasadena 
91106

Location: Meeting Room

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Boston Court Performing Arts Center 70 N Mentor Ave Pasadena 
91106

Location: Lobby

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Cleveland Elementary School 524 Palisade St Pasadena 
91103

Location: Cafetorium

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

Eaton Canyon Nature Center 1750 N Altadena Dr Pasadena 
91107

Location: Auditorium

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM

First Church of the Nazarene 3700 E Sierra Madre Blvd Pasadena 
91107

Location: Room 246

Hours:

February 29 - March 2: 8AM - 5PM

March 3: 7AM - 8PM


ARCADIA ADOPTS COMPREHENSIVE 

PENSION MANAGEMENT PLAN, SAVING $85 MILLION

February 25, 2020 – On February 18, 2020, the Arcadia City Council 
unanimously adopted a comprehensive Pension Management 
Plan to address the City’s $154 million in unfunded pension liabilities. 
After several months of careful review and consideration, the 
Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee (CFAC) recommended a 
six-point strategy to reduce the City’s long-term pension costs by 
over $85 million dollars. 

“This plan is a comprehensive approach to tackling the biggest issue 
of our time,” said City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto. “It creates 
flexibility to address whatever surprises may come our way without 
exposing the City to excessive levels of risk.” 

The Pension Management Plan focuses on the following:

o Use of reserves to prepay existing liabilities

o Refinancing existing debt to lower interest rates to free up 
cash flow

o Prepaying costs with surplus funds from the voter-approved 
Measure A sales tax increase

o Financing long-term capital improvements

o Using pension obligation bonds to lower the overall costs of 
pensions

o Negotiating for more employee cost-sharing

In June 2019, Arcadia residents approved Measure A, a . cent sales 
tax increase to help address the City’s rising cost of services, primarily 
driven by increasing pension costs. The Citizen’s Financial Advisory 
Committee recommended the tax increase and voters overwhelmingly 
approved the measure. “Two years ago I recommended 
that we impanel an advisory committee to study this issue,” 

said Mayor April Verlato. “The City Council has unanimously supported 
the CFAC’s work and with careful planning and implementation, 
we can save the taxpayers $85 million. It’s a remarkable accomplishment 
for our City.” 

In presenting the plan, City Manager Lazzaretto noted that the organization 
will need to continually manage and adapt the six strategies 
to ensure that the estimated savings become reality. “The plan 
lays out a viable framework to address our staggering pension debt, 
but there 

is no quick fix here. We will have to have discipline over a very long 
period of time,” he said.

ELECTIONS IN ARCADIA: WHAT YOU NEED TO 
KNOW By Kevin McGuire/MVNEWS

Arcadia residents will be heading to the polls to cast their votes for 
City Council Members on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. 

The election covers candidates within Districts 1 and 4 of Arcadia 
and registered voters can expect mail-in ballots by March 16. 
In order to have your vote count, ballots must post-marked by 
April 14. You can also drop off your ballot to City Hall at 240 W. 
Huntington Dr. on Election Day no later than 8 p.m. Here is a 
breakdown of the candidates:

In District 1, present Arcadia Mayor, April Verlato will be looking 
to regain her City Council seat as she makes way for Mayor Pro 
Tem Roger Chandler to take over mayoral duties. Mayor Verlato, 
an Arcadia native, has served on City Council since 2016. After 
graduating from UCLA with a political science degree, Mayor 
Verlato received her law degree from Southwestern University 
School of Law and went on to take over her father’s firm in Arcadia 
in 2000. In addition, she is a founding member and officer of the 
Downtown Arcadia Improvement Association (2012-present), 
a Community Benefits District focused on promoting and 
revitalizing Downtown Arcadia. Mayor Verlato sites securing 
$167,000 to help Arcadia homeless, introducing a home security 
program using Ring doorbells, and creating a Financial Advisory 
Committee, as some of her main accomplishments on her website 
located at voiceforarcadia.com. 

Mayor Verlato is challenged by businesswoman Yuli Sira, a real 
estate agent and partner in a local engineering company. Sira, 
who grew up in Arcadia where she attended elementary and high 
school, has two daughters who currently attend Arcadia schools. 
She has served on the PTA and worked as volunteer for both the 
Police and Fire Departments. According to her website, Sira’s 
main areas of focus include: public safety, eliminating waste and 
bringing unity in Arcadia. You can find out more about Yuli Sira at 
sirafor1arcadia.org.

Over in District 4, current Council Member Peter Amundson is 
running for reelection. Amundson is also an Arcadia native who 
served off-and-on as a Council Member and Mayor since 2006. He 
attended UCLA where he received a political science degree and, 
prior to being a Council Member, spent much of his time working 
with Arcadia’s youth. His current goal is “One Arcadia,” bringing 
Arcadia’s diverse community together in activities that keep the 
city thriving. You can discover more about Council Member 
Amundson on his website, keeparcadiagreat.com. 

One challenger looks to unseat Council Member Amundson. With 
his motto “Respect the Past; Embrace the Future,” Attorney Paul 
Cheng has jumped in this race for District 4. Cheng is a managing 
partner in a Pasadena law firm dealing with business law, employee/
employer relations and contract disputes, among other areas. After 
graduating from UCLA with a degree in Philosophy, Mr. Cheng 
went on for his law degree from Southwestern University School 
of Law. He is currently the President of San Gabriel Chamber 
of Commerce, and was former President of the Kiwanis Club in 
Arcadia, former Deputy City Attorney/City Prosecutor/Mediator 
for the City of Hesperia, and ran for City Council in Arcadia 
in 2010. Mr. Cheng’s goals in Arcadia include reducing crime, 
protecting youth and cracking down on businesses who aren’t 
paying their fair share in taxes. 

In addition to City Council positions, City Clerk Gene Glasco is 
running for re-election unchallenged. 

The deadline to register to vote in these elections is March 30, 2020. 
Not sure what District you are in? Visit ArcadiaCA.gov/elections. 

Arcadia School Board

On the same day as the Primary Presidential Election on March 
3, Arcadians will be able to vote for local School Board Members. 
There are three seats up for grabs in this race, and five candidates 
battling for those available seats. Here are the candidates.

Kay Kinsler, is an incumbent and current Vice President of Arcadia 
School Board. She has served on the board since 2011 and worked 
in manufacturing management before retiring to raise her children. 
Prior to the school board, Kinsler served on the PTA and many 
volunteer capacities. 

Second incumbent, Cung Nguyen is running to maintain his seat 
on the board. Mr. Nguyen has served on the board since 2007 and 
is also an active participant in the Los Angeles County Schools 
Trustees Association. He works as a civil engineer for Los Angeles 
and he and his wife have lived in Arcadia for 20 years and have 
three sons. 

Shirley Yee, is a parent of two in the Arcadia School District and 
has many years of experience as a volunteer including President of 
the PTA at Holly Elementary, and School Site Council member at 
Holly as well. According to her website, electshirleyyee.com, her 
focus includes: More open communication between families and 
the school board, more funding for technical programs, and more 
consistency in classrooms.

Raymond Cheung is an emergency planner for a municipal fire 
department. He grew up and went to school in Arcadia and has 
two children in Arcadia schools. He is a UCLA graduate and a 
United States Marine. His goals include building more equity, more 
transparency in leadership, better safety and seeing more students 
achieving excellence. You can learn more about Mr. Cheung at 
electraymond.com.

Roshan Akula is a special education aide at LAUSD. He attended 
Arcadia High School and received a B.A. in applied Mathematics 
from U.C. Riverside. Mr. Akula raised the issue of better special 
education programs at a school board forum on February 19. 
He also emphasized the need for better parent-student outreach 
programs. In January, Mr. Akula announced his intend to run for 
the U.S. House of Representatives. 

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