Read Across Monrovia Oct 7
Read Across Monrovia is a semi-annual event (next one this Thursday, October 7) in which community volunteers spend 20 to 30 minutes reading their favorite literature to school children. If you'd like to be a volunteer, contact Joanne Spring at 626-358-1952 or jspring@altrionet.com.http://goo.gl/Ovg8- Brad Haugaard
City Council Agenda: Buy a Licence Plate Reader? More...
Tonight's (Oct. 5) City Council meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.
Among other items, the council will consider whether to ...- authorize the "purchase of one automated license plate reader from PIPS Technology in the Amount of $22,550" for the police department.- award a contract of $265,065 to Freeway Electric, Inc. for street and traffic signal improvements at Myrtle Avenue and Huntington Drive, and at Myrtle and Chestnut avenues.http://goo.gl/dq6L- Brad Haugaard
Need for Assistance 'Extremely High'
With the economy in sorry shape, many Monrovians are having a very rough time.
Joan Whitenack, executive director of the Foothill Unity Center, said today at the Monrovia Coordinating Council that demands on the Center's services are "extremely high."
New Series at First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church began new series Sunday called The Jesus Creed, based on the book of the same name by Dr. Scot McKnight.http://goo.gl/erJk- Brad Haugaard
Bear in Backyard
This bear-in-the-backyard thing is getting pretty routine these days. 200 block of West Greystone:http://goo.gl/jsG2- Brad Haugaard
City's Position on Rejected Tax-Repeal Measure
City Manager Scott Ochoa devotes a large part of his weekly report (click below) to describing the city's position relating to the petition to repeal a proposed ballot measure to repeal a long-standing property tax. Ochoa said, "This proposed ballot measure was not good public policy; but that is not why it was rejected. It was rejected because it was not carefully and correctly crafted."http://goo.gl/AGJD
Monrovia Community Policing Program Is Finalist
The Monrovia Police Department was named a finalist in an international Community Policing Award.http://goo.gl/b7u7
Big Book Sale
Friends of the Library is holding a book (and other media) sale next Friday through Sunday. (Oct. 8-10). Friday is for members of Friends of the Library only (noon-5 p.m.). Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5, it's open to all. Sunday 3-5 p.m. is the $2-per-bag sale. (I've been before. Some great deals!) For details, see:http://goo.gl/d46P- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Rejects Tax-Cut Measure Petition
Monrovia City Clerk Alice Atkins has rejected a petition to put a tax-cut measure on the city ballot due to the circulator's "failure to include on the petitions a copy of the Notice of Intention as required by Elections Code Section 9207."
The Star-News quotes (http://goo.gl/MZ9c) John Jogminas, the author of the Monrovia tax-cut measure, as saying the 591-signature petition to put the measure on the ballot was thrown out "on a technicality" and that he had asked the City Attorney to review the measure before it was circulated and the city rejected that request.
The city's press release confirms that the city refused to review the petition prior to circulation, and adds that the Municipal Law Handbook, published by the League of California Cities, says, "Compliance with statutory requirements is the responsibility of the initiative proponent. It is not the responsibility of the city attorney to advise the proponent or correct the proponent's errors...."
Here's the city's press release: http://goo.gl/LXYQ
- Brad Haugaard
Focus One Credit Union Merging
Monrovia's Focus One Credit Union is merging with First City Credit Union of Los Angeles.http://goo.gl/Z0Zm- Brad Haugaard
Police Activity - Sept 23-29
[Taken from the weekly Neighborhood Watch Report from the Monrovia Police Department - Brad Haugaard]During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 526 service events, resulting in 123 investigations. Following are the last week's highlighted issues and events:
RobberySeptember 23 at 6:27 a.m., an officer responded to Duarte and Myrtle regarding a robbery that had just occurred. A female victim reported that a male subject in his early 20's, thin build, buzzed haircut, no facial hair, and wearing a baggie gray sweatshirt exited a vehicle and punched her. The suspect grabbed her purse and got back into a black, four-door vehicle, possibly a Nissan Maxima, and fled southbound on Myrtle. The victim sustained a cut above her right eye. Investigation continuing.
Grand TheftSeptember 23 at 12:54 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of West Duarte regarding a theft. The victim parked his motorized bicycle in front of his door in the evening, but failed to secure it. The next day, he went outside to go to work and found his bicycle was missing. He did not hear anything suspicious during the night.
Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspects ArrestedSeptember 24 at 2:18 a.m., an officer observed a suspicious vehicle near a business in the 3000 block of Peck Road. As the officer approached the vehicle, the female passenger tossed a folded one dollar bill out the window. The officer retrieved the bill and found cocaine inside. Both female subjects were taken into custody, one for an outstanding warrant and the other for the possession of a controlled substance.
AssaultSeptember 24 at 2:41 p.m., an officer met with the victim of an assault who had come to the police station to file a report. The victim was in a wheelchair and was accompanied by a friend. The victim reported that he had been at a bar in 300 block of West Huntington on Friday, September 17. He said he had been drinking and that two subjects had assaulted him. He was driven to a hospital and admitted for injuries. The victim did not have much information to provide about the incident. Investigation continuing.
Residential BurglaryOn September 24 at 10:41 p.m., an officer responded to the 500 block of East Foothill regarding a residential burglary. Unknown suspects had entered the victim's residence and the victim's rear house through open bathroom windows. Once inside, the locations the suspects stole a television and power tools. The investigation is continuing.
Driving Under the Influence - Suspect ArrestedSeptember 25 at 2:34 a.m., an officer stopped a motorist at Evergreen and Mayflower for an unsafe turning movement. A subsequent investigation revealed the driver was intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence.
Grand TheftSeptember 25 at 10:41 a.m., an officer responded to the parking lot of a business in the 100 block of West Foothill regarding a theft. The female victim had pushed her shopping cart to her vehicle. As she opened the door of her car, a vehicle pulled up next to the shopping cart and a subject grabbed her purse from the cart and they fled in the vehicle. Investigation continuing.
BurglarySeptember 25 at 3:56 p.m., a business in the 500 block of West Huntington reported a theft. An officer responded and determined a subject had walked into the store, grabbed a mesh shopping bag, selected three men's electric shavers and exited the store without paying. As the loss prevention officers exited the store, they saw the suspect getting into a burgundy Toyota Camry that fled the scene. Investigation continuing.
Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspect ArrestedSeptember 26 at 3:55 a.m., an officer was on patrol and saw a suspicious vehicle parked on Ivy, south of Huntington. As he made contact with the occupant, he noticed the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The suspect admitted to having marijuana and ecstasy pills in his vehicle and consented to a search of the vehicle. The officer located a small amount of marijuana and 16 tablets of Ecstasy that were concealed in the door panel of the vehicle. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.
Grand Theft Auto Recovery / Mental EvaluationSeptember 27 at 8:52 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting that a mentally unstable, male subject had left a facility in Pasadena and was possibly in the Monrovia area, as his mother lives in Monrovia. He had gone to his grandparent's home in Arcadia, where he stole his grandfather's truck. His grandfather reported the truck stolen with Arcadia Police Department. Officers located the subject and detained him. They confirmed he had taken the truck without permission. He stated voices in his head told him to take the truck. The subject was taken to a hospital and held for mental evaluation. The truck was recovered and returned to the grandparents.
RobberySeptember 23 at 6:27 a.m., an officer responded to Duarte and Myrtle regarding a robbery that had just occurred. A female victim reported that a male subject in his early 20's, thin build, buzzed haircut, no facial hair, and wearing a baggie gray sweatshirt exited a vehicle and punched her. The suspect grabbed her purse and got back into a black, four-door vehicle, possibly a Nissan Maxima, and fled southbound on Myrtle. The victim sustained a cut above her right eye. Investigation continuing.
Grand TheftSeptember 23 at 12:54 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of West Duarte regarding a theft. The victim parked his motorized bicycle in front of his door in the evening, but failed to secure it. The next day, he went outside to go to work and found his bicycle was missing. He did not hear anything suspicious during the night.
Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspects ArrestedSeptember 24 at 2:18 a.m., an officer observed a suspicious vehicle near a business in the 3000 block of Peck Road. As the officer approached the vehicle, the female passenger tossed a folded one dollar bill out the window. The officer retrieved the bill and found cocaine inside. Both female subjects were taken into custody, one for an outstanding warrant and the other for the possession of a controlled substance.
AssaultSeptember 24 at 2:41 p.m., an officer met with the victim of an assault who had come to the police station to file a report. The victim was in a wheelchair and was accompanied by a friend. The victim reported that he had been at a bar in 300 block of West Huntington on Friday, September 17. He said he had been drinking and that two subjects had assaulted him. He was driven to a hospital and admitted for injuries. The victim did not have much information to provide about the incident. Investigation continuing.
Residential BurglaryOn September 24 at 10:41 p.m., an officer responded to the 500 block of East Foothill regarding a residential burglary. Unknown suspects had entered the victim's residence and the victim's rear house through open bathroom windows. Once inside, the locations the suspects stole a television and power tools. The investigation is continuing.
Driving Under the Influence - Suspect ArrestedSeptember 25 at 2:34 a.m., an officer stopped a motorist at Evergreen and Mayflower for an unsafe turning movement. A subsequent investigation revealed the driver was intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence.
Grand TheftSeptember 25 at 10:41 a.m., an officer responded to the parking lot of a business in the 100 block of West Foothill regarding a theft. The female victim had pushed her shopping cart to her vehicle. As she opened the door of her car, a vehicle pulled up next to the shopping cart and a subject grabbed her purse from the cart and they fled in the vehicle. Investigation continuing.
BurglarySeptember 25 at 3:56 p.m., a business in the 500 block of West Huntington reported a theft. An officer responded and determined a subject had walked into the store, grabbed a mesh shopping bag, selected three men's electric shavers and exited the store without paying. As the loss prevention officers exited the store, they saw the suspect getting into a burgundy Toyota Camry that fled the scene. Investigation continuing.
Possession of a Controlled Substance - Suspect ArrestedSeptember 26 at 3:55 a.m., an officer was on patrol and saw a suspicious vehicle parked on Ivy, south of Huntington. As he made contact with the occupant, he noticed the odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The suspect admitted to having marijuana and ecstasy pills in his vehicle and consented to a search of the vehicle. The officer located a small amount of marijuana and 16 tablets of Ecstasy that were concealed in the door panel of the vehicle. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.
Grand Theft Auto Recovery / Mental EvaluationSeptember 27 at 8:52 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting that a mentally unstable, male subject had left a facility in Pasadena and was possibly in the Monrovia area, as his mother lives in Monrovia. He had gone to his grandparent's home in Arcadia, where he stole his grandfather's truck. His grandfather reported the truck stolen with Arcadia Police Department. Officers located the subject and detained him. They confirmed he had taken the truck without permission. He stated voices in his head told him to take the truck. The subject was taken to a hospital and held for mental evaluation. The truck was recovered and returned to the grandparents.
What's Voting All About?
The Library - with the League of Women Voters - is sponsoring a workshop to help people understand basic voting procedures and what is on the November ballot. At the Library Community Room on Wednesday, October 6, 6 pm.Details here: http://bit.ly/cSM5CZ
City Hits at Property Tax Repeal Measure
The City of Monrovia has released a press release saying that a measure to repeal a 60-year-old property tax used to pay pensions "may be viewed as unconstitutional and counterproductive" and would, according to Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, "cut another $4.2 million from the budget or [force the city to] look for alternative funding sources."When city officials talk about the measure being unconstitutional, they seem to mean that it would be unconstitutional for the city to arbitrarily quit paying the contractually-binding pensions that the city owes. And since the pensions legally need to be paid in full, if you cut the tax used to pay the pensions then the money to pay them would have to come from cutting something else.Mayor Lutz suggested that this could mean "closing the new Monrovia Public Library or contracting with Los Angeles County for police and/or fire services." Full press release here: http://bit.ly/998KpN- Brad Haugaard
City vs. Property Tax Repeal
Will the City of Monrovia use a court challenge to try to keep a property tax repeal effort off the municipal ballot?http://tinyurl.com/2cofswg- Brad Haugaard
Aztec Stories Tonight
6:30 – 8 p.m. in the Library's Storytime Room. Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month through stories, song, and crafts honoring the Aztec Indians. Free.http://tinyurl.com/2astzax- Brad Haugaard
Mountain Lion Alert
The City of Monrovia reports that "a mountain lion has been sighted during the evening hours in the mountainous area from Gold Hills to Norumbega Avenue. California Fish and Game has been advised and is monitoring the situation. Residents in the area are encouraged to be alert to their surroundings and use appropriate precautions with their children and pets."
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Monrovia-CA/City-of-Monrovia/330697204437
- Brad Haugaard
Birthday Party at the Library
Starting October, children 3-10 can hold a birthday party at the Library, which can provide such themes as princesses, pirates, and dinosaurs. Call Youth Services at (626) 256-8274 for fees and details.http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/from-the-city-managers-desk- Brad Haugaard
New Stop Signs
The Monrovia City Council approved the installation of stop signs at Mayflower and Court, and at Canyon and Lemon.http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/from-the-city-managers-desk
SHOP in Monrovia Showcase
Presents SHOP in Monrovia Showcase
On Friday, October 8, 2010 in the 700 block of Myrtle Ave., at the Friday Night Family Festival 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The SHOP in Monrovia Program, a partnership between the City of Monrovia, Old Town Merchants and the Monrovia Chamber premiered at the Neighborhood Conference in April, since that time, the program has kept up momentum encouraging locals to do their shopping in Monrovia to keep the tax dollars local to support local services.
The next step for the SHOP in Monrovia Program is taking to the street to showcase the many fantastic businesses and services available right here in town. Learn more about the program at www.SHOPinMonrovia.com or on facebook www.facebook.com/SHOPinMonrovia and sign up to receive email updates and specials by clicking on "Join my list" at the top of the page.
The entire community is invited to attend.
On Friday, October 8, 2010 in the 700 block of Myrtle Ave., at the Friday Night Family Festival 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
- From Karin Crehan, Monrovia Chamber of Commerce
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