Arcadia city staff asked the City Council on Sept. 17 to award a $500,000 contract to SmithGroup to provide planning, community outreach and preliminary concept design for the Reconnect Arcadia project, a long-range effort to reconnect neighborhoods divided by U.S. 101. The council heard staff presentations describing the project as a multi‑decade effort tied to state and federal grant opportunities but did not vote and instead directed staff to return with options after additional financial review. "This is a long-term, 10- to 20-year project," said a staff presenter, describing concepts such as building a cap over a stretch of U.S. 101 between 14th and 17th streets to recover roughly five acres for housing or community uses. Council members praised the vision and extensive staff work but worried about the timing and the source of funds. "Half a million dollars is a lot of money for a small city," one council member said, noting the sum would come from general fund reserves. Several members said putting city money forward could strengthen future grant applications; another said the council should be cautious while the city manages budget pressures and competing capital priorities. No final award was made. Instead, the council agreed to return the item in about two weeks with options that could scale the city commitment or delay action until the state budget situation is clearer. Staff described the proposed $500,000 as a local match and planning advance that would position Arcadia to compete for larger state or federal construction funds if and when those funds become available. The presentation said the project originally was part of a state Reconnecting Communities selection that envisioned large capital investments but that available state funding has been reduced and reallocated among participating cities. Council discussion also noted related, ongoing projects such as an Annie & Mary Trail effort and other capital work that compete for staff time and one-time funds. The council instructed staff to return with specific options — including smaller initial appropriations and clearer finance projections — at the next regular meeting.