Arcadia Council Censures Mayor Sharon Kwan in First-of-Its-Kind Vote

Arcadia Council Censures Mayor Sharon Kwan in First-of-Its-Kind Vote, Adopts Decorum Rules Amid Turmoil

By Staff Writer

Arcadia, CA — In a tense and unprecedented session Tuesday night, the Arcadia City Council voted 4-0 to censure Mayor Sharon Kwan for conduct that colleagues said disrupted the city’s ability to govern effectively. The vote, which took place on September 2, 2025, marked the first formal censure of a sitting mayor in Arcadia’s history.

The censure resolution stemmed from allegations discussed during the previous council meeting on August 26, 2025. While initial drafts had included penalties stripping the mayor of her authority to preside over meetings, serve on committees, and represent the city, the council opted for a revised version. Under the amendment proposed by Councilmember David Fu and seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Eileen Wang, the penalties were placed on hold. They will only be enforced if the mayor’s future conduct violates the city’s newly adopted policy on decorum or repeats the behavior outlined in the original findings.

Kwan, who retains the ceremonial title of mayor and her role as District 2 council representative, did not cast a vote. Councilmembers Michael Cao, Paul Cheng, Wang, and Fu all supported the measure.

New Rules of Procedure and Decorum

In tandem with the censure, the council unanimously adopted Resolution 7652, a 25-page policy establishing detailed rules of procedure and decorum at City Council meetings. Spearheaded by Cheng in earlier sessions, the rules codify respectful conduct, prohibit personal attacks, and reinforce compliance with California’s Brown Act governing open meetings.

According to an official city statement released Wednesday, the policy is designed to “promote mutual respect, civility, and orderly conduct among the City Council, as well as guide their interactions with City staff and the public while in office.” While past meetings followed general parliamentary procedures, the new rules create clearer enforcement standards, including motions to restore order, censures, and the potential removal of committee assignments.

The joint statement also clarified the effect of the amendment to the censure: “The consequences will not be enacted unless the Mayor’s actions violate the new policy or fall within the scope of the original censure findings. Before any consequences are enforced, a motion to lift the hold must be made and put to a vote on a future meeting agenda.”

Chaos in the Chambers

Despite the effort to impose order, the Sept. 2 meeting was marked by repeated clashes between Mayor Kwan, her colleagues, city staff, and her private attorney, Cory Briggs.

At several points, Kwan refused to recognize procedural motions from Fu, declaring them “disruptions” and ordering Arcadia’s police chief to remove him from chambers. City Attorney Michael Maurer repeatedly intervened, stating Fu’s actions were lawful and within his rights as a councilmember. Kwan insisted her authority as presiding officer overrode staff guidance.

Briggs also attempted to address the dais directly without authorization, prompting sharp objections from Maurer. Later in the evening, Kwan declared she wanted to place individuals “under oath” and hold an evidentiary hearing — a move council and staff said was procedurally improper since evidence had already been received at the August 26 session.

Tensions forced multiple recesses, but disruptions continued until the censure vote was taken. Kwan abstained, signaling to Briggs to speak on her behalf. Moments later, the meeting was abruptly adjourned to September 16.

Community Voices and Political Pressure

Public comment reflected sharp divides, though Councilmember Wang noted that she received more than 50 emails from residents supporting the censure, far outweighing the smaller group of repeat speakers defending the mayor.

In a dramatic revelation, Wang disclosed that she and Cheng had faced pressure from former mayors Tom Beck and Mickey Segal. One email, later forwarded to city department chiefs, cast doubt on the city’s first majority-Asian council, claiming that “mixed cultural councils have never had this problem.” The remark, widely criticized as racially insensitive, underscored the fraught backdrop against which the current council is operating.

Behind the Scenes Before the Meeting

According to city sources, staff attempted to resolve matters hours before the council convened. A 2:00 p.m. meeting was scheduled between Briggs and City Attorney Maurer to discuss the allegations against Kwan, but Briggs canceled just 15 minutes prior. At 5:00 p.m., the four councilmembers attended a special meeting to discuss the lawsuit Kwan had threatened to file; Kwan did not appear and provided no notice of her absence.

Shortly before the 7:00 p.m. regular meeting, Briggs issued a letter on Kwan’s behalf claiming the 5:00 p.m. meeting notice was “falsified” and unauthorized, further inflaming tensions

Questions of Budget and First Responders

During debate, Kwan raised questions about employee compensation and the city’s budget, particularly first responder salaries. The council addressed these concerns by reaffirming that recently approved labor contracts were designed to remain competitive and attract skilled workers.

“As with the most recent budget adoption, the city is confident that a balanced budget will continue to be put forward without drawing down on emergency reserves or impacting service levels,” the city’s official statement noted.

A Precedent for Arcadia Governance

While the censure does not remove Kwan from office, it represents a precedent-setting moment in Arcadia. For the first time, the council exercised its authority to formally discipline a sitting mayor — a step that councilmembers say was necessary to restore professionalism and ensure effective governance.

Residents will now watch closely as the council reconvenes September 16, when tensions are expected to remain high but where the newly adopted rules of decorum will face their first test.