In this story from today’s Bee the growth towards Arden Arcade becoming a city, which could play a huge role in the future new and more effective governance for the Parkway, is reported on.
Based on the great experience the other cities in the county are having since incorporating, this is surely the right way to go and the many volunteers who are leading the effort should be applauded heartily.
Here is an excerpt.
Push for city status grows
Arden Arcade backers enlist help for ballot bid; county raises doubts about viability.
By Bill Lindelof -- Bee Staff Writer Published 2:15 am PDT Thursday, May 18, 2006
Arden Arcade cityhood proponents are marshaling their forces to place an incorporation vote on the November 2008 ballot.
Backers want Arden Arcade to become a city by July 1, 2009 - although Sacramento County officials contend that incorporation is not financially viable.
Proponents will seek to persuade a majority of Arden Arcade residents to approve the incorporation measure.
And to have the cityhood question on the 2008 ballot, enough signatures must be submitted to the Sacramento Local Agency Formation Commission by Jan. 1, 2007, proponents said.
"We would shoot to get about 18,000 signatures," said Barbara Weiss, Arden Arcade Incorporation Committee vice chairwoman.
With the deadline six months away, the incorporation committee has sent an e-mail to potential supporters asking recipients if they would like to help.
"We have a nucleus group, but in order to really move forward, we need additional people as we start our petition drive in the late summer and as we continue our education process," Weiss said.
Among the questions asked in the e-mail include what skills and experience volunteers could contribute. Among other talents, the committee seeks citizens who have legal, computer, writing and fundraising skills.
The e-mail also asks in what areas cityhood supporters might want to volunteer: outreach, fundraising, petition drive, election campaigning or several other endeavors.
According to the e-mail, volunteers will be asked to inform and educate residents about cityhood's benefits. In addition, money needs to be raised to pay the costs of an environmental impact report and campaigning.
For more than two years, a core group of Arden Arcade residents has explored the idea of incorporation.
If Arden Arcade incorporates, it would become the eighth city in Sacramento County. At the heart of the drive is the thinking that Arden Arcade does not get as much in county services as it provides in tax revenue.
