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Politics & Government

Arcadia Supports Special Events at Santa Anita

The City Council unamimously approves an ordinance making it easier to stage special events on the property, mainly the south parking lot.

Recognizing the historical and economic importance of Santa Anita Park to the community, the Arcadia City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday night that will make it easier for special events to be held in the racetrack’s parking lot.

“We are very pleased,” said Pete Siberell, director of community services and special projects for Santa Anita. “We got what we wanted.”

Special events within the racetrack facility have been commonplace for years. What Siberell and other Santa Anita officials were seeking was the ability to stage special events outside the facility, mainly in the south parking lot, without having to obtain a special permit every time.

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The events covered by the new ordinance are those limited to five consecutive days (10 overall during one year) that attract fewer than 5,000 people.

So, yes, a circus may be coming to town, but not a three-ring Ringling Brothers production featuring elephants, more like Circus du Soleil, the kind of the show that draws crowds in Las Vegas and has done well in downtown Los Angeles.

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In addition to Circus du Soleil, events discussed include seasonal concerts by local orchestras and symphonies in the south parking lot, Christmas tree and pumpkin sales, ride and drive-car testing and demonstrations, safety and defensive driving schools, specialty auto shows and sales, recreational vehicle shows and sales, farmers’ markets, antique shows and cultural festivals, such as the Greekfest coming up September 16-18.

Siberell said nothing specific is planned for the immediate future besides the Greekfest, which will be held in the paddock area inside the facility.

Only four residents of the racetrack area got up to speak at Tuesday night’s council meeting, and three were very supportive of the ordinance while one wanted assurances that disruptive events wouldn’t be held in the north parking lot.

Siberell said that of the 124 events at Santa Anita last year, only eight were held in the north parking lot and none were noisy or held at night.

Mayor Gary Kovacic also expressed concerns about wording in the ordinance involving the north parking lot, but Councilmen Mickey Segal and Roger Chandler assured him that this overall was a good thing.

Steve Byrne, in expressing his support, pointed out a developer might come in a construct something nobody wants if the council did not approve the ordinance.

“We want to help Santa Anita survive,” said resident Vince Foley, a member of the Arcadia Historical Society.

The council vote was 4-0 in favor of adopting the ordinance.

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