Safety Spotlight: Upcoming Fire Hazard Workshop

Save the Date: Arcadia to host America’s 250^th Celebration

Mark your calendars to join the celebration commemorating America’s 250th anniversary! Arcadia’s celebration will take place on Saturday, July 4 at Santa Anita Park, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. The event is free to attend and will feature live music, games, giveaways, delicious food, beverages, and more. Everyone is invited to attend the region’s biggest birthday party that will conclude with a special patriotic-themed drone show. For those wanting a more comfortable seat at the event, suites and box seats will be available for purchase. RSVP and get more event information at ArcadiaCA.gov.

Leading up to the event, Arcadia will be celebrating America’s 250th with a Patriotic Home Decoration competition, a patriotic-themed Concert and Movies in the Park, and other special programs hosted by the Library and Museum, and the Recreation and Community Services Departments.

For-Sale Affordable Housing in Arcadia: The Colorado Collection

The Arcadia City Council approved plans for a new 86-unit, three-story condominium development known as the “Colorado Collection,” marking a significant addition to the City’s housing supply, including nine affordable for-sale units.

The project will be situated on 3.7 acres at 201 and 225 Colorado Place, currently occupied by Motel 6 and a vacant single-story office building formerly used by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Designed in a blend of Spanish Colonial and Santa Barbara architectural styles, the development will reach a height of 39 feet and will feature a mix of two- and three-bedroom units.

A key component of the approval is the inclusion of nine deed-restricted affordable units, for moderate-income households earning between 80% and 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Los Angeles County. These units will remain affordable for a minimum of 45 years, in compliance with Arcadia and state housing regulations.

The project has more than 10,000 square feet of shared open space, including a pet-friendly park, an active recreation area with play lawn and table tennis, and a central gathering space equipped with seating, barbecue facilities, and shaded areas.

The development will provide 177 parking spaces, including a two-car garage for each unit, guest spaces, and the relocation of two driveways to improve access and site circulation.

Construction will be broken into several phases, with model homes to be completed in early 2028 to begin the sale process. Build out for the entire project is expected to be finished by 2030.  

Lisa Flores Selected to Lead Arcadia’s Development Services Department

After a nationwide search, Lisa Flores has been selected as Arcadia’s next Development Services Director. A dedicated member of the Arcadia team since 2003, Lisa brings more than 30 years of planning experience, including prior service with the cities of South Pasadena, Rancho Palos Verdes, Commerce, and Chino Hills.

The position became vacant following the retirement of former director Jason Kruckeberg, with Lisa serving in the role on an interim basis since December 2025. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from Cal State Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from Cal Poly Pomona. Flores also oversees the Planning Commission and assists the City’s five designated Architectural Review Boards.

Within the Development Services Department is planning and zoning, building services, business licensing, engineering, code enforcement, economic development, transportation, and housing. During her tenure with the City, Flores has played a key role in major projects including the Hilton Hotel and Le Méridien, residential developments such as the Alexan Azalea and the Derby Mixed Use project, and she will also support upcoming efforts at Santa Anita Park in preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Development Services Director. After more than 22 years with the City, I’m proud to continue working alongside our team and community to thoughtfully meet the evolving needs of our residents and businesses,” said Development Services Director Lisa Flores.

Monday, April 6 marked her first official day in the role.

Arcadia Awarded $500k for Wilderness Park Debris Removal Design

Following the Bobcat Fire in 2020, rainstorms in 2021 and 2023 covered Wilderness Park in 8-13 feet of debris and compacted mud. Safely removing debris and mud of this magnitude requires advanced planning, heavy machinery, and a thoughtful design. In mid-February, the City Councill approved a design contract for debris removal from Wilderness Park. By mid-March, Arcadia was notified that its Measure A grant application to the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District (RPOSD) for the debris removal design had been accepted.



The $500,000 grant award will fully reimburse the City for the cost of the debris removal design project, which will include the development of topographic surveys, geotechnical and environmental testing, conceptual designs, construction documents, permitting work, and cost estimates for the debris removal. On March 17, Public Works Services Director Paul Cranmer and Management Analyst Daniel Vargas attended LA County’s Awards Ceremony in Downtown Los Angeles, where Supervisor Kathryn Barger presented Arcadia with the grant award.

Safety Spotlight: Upcoming Fire Hazard Workshop

The Arcadia Fire Department is offering a workshop for residents located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ). Each year, the Fire Department performs inspections of homes located in the VHFHSZ, as these homes are at an elevated risk for wildfire and must follow mitigating actions. There are more than 700 parcels in north Arcadia that fall into the VHFHSZ and require annual property inspections to ensure buffer zones from structures, brush and vegetative clearance, and non-hazardous material use. While this workshop is geared towards impacted properties in north Arcadia, community members are invited to attend to hear more about how they can strengthen their properties against fast-moving wildfires. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, April 29, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers (240 W Huntington Drive). Please RSVP your interest in attending to fireprevention@arcadiaca.gov.