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Statue of Liberty to Speak

Learn about the history of America's Golden Age on Thursday, October 14, at 10 a.m. at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W Palm Avenue. The speaker will present her program dressed as the Statue of Liberty. This event will be entertaining and educational. Forest Lawn presents these free educational programs at the Community Center on the third Thursday of each month. For additional information and reservations please call the Monrovia Community Center at (626) 256.8246.

- Brad Haugaard

Make a Difference Day, October 16

The City of Monrovia and the Public Works Department will be sponsoring another volunteer clean-up along the 210 Freeway from Magnolia to Mayflower. If you or your group or organization is able to assist from 8 a.m. until noon, please contact the Volunteer Center of San Gabriel Valley at (626) 256-8187, or visit www.volunteercentersgv.org. Participants must be 18 years or older to be allowed on the Cal Trans right-of-way.

http://goo.gl/AGJD

- Brad Haugaard

School Board to Consider Hiring Construction Overseer

At a special meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 6), the Monrovia School Board will discuss hiring BRJ Associates as a consultant to oversee continuing construction at Monrovia High School, and to do "an audit of work performed thus far."
The board will also discuss the cost of new architectural renderings to show exterior colors of high school buildings and new construction, plus colors for the inside of the new gymmasium.
Board agenda here (PDF): http://goo.gl/q3m2

Monrovia Is Very Business Friendly

Monrovia is one of LA County's six most business-friendly small cities.

The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation lists Monrovia (along with neighbors Duarte and Azusa) among its six finalists for cities with less than 60,000 population.

The winner will be announced November 10.

Here's the blurb from the press release about Monrovia:

"Monrovia public officials and staff work tirelessly to attract and retain businesses in this city of nearly 40,000 residents. With a diverse portfolio of businesses ranging from nationally known technology firms to small businesses, Monrovia offers an array of services and incentives for businesses including financial relocation assistance, lease/tenant subsidies, broker bounties, the Old Town business development assistance and facade improvement programs, two redevelopment project areas, no utility user tax assessment and city fees that are well below the average of other San Gabriel Valley cities. Monrovia was also named a finalist in 2008."

And here's the full press release: http://goo.gl/xdXk

- Brad Haugaard

Vision 2015 to be studied by the City Council tonight.

Tonight at the Monrovia City Council Meeting.


AR-1 is the submission for Council review of the Vision 2015 Strategic Planning document. Going back to 1995, Monrovia has pulled together a diverse set of stakeholders in the Old Town district to try to map out a future direction. Back then, it was Vision 2000 – which focused on attracting new restaurants, providing outdoor dining opportunities, and, of course, securing a multi-screen cinema. In 2000, we had Vision 2005 – which focused on new infrastructure downtown, attracting mixed-use development, providing new parking, and even planning for a new Library. Of course, Vision 2005 took us a little longer to achieve. But the idea remains the same – chart a course based on the collective wisdom of informed stakeholders, and then move forward.


 


Vision 2015 was constructed over the past year by a diverse mix of Old Town stakeholders – merchants, property owners, residents, public officials, real estate professionals, developers, etc. The plan focuses on four areas: Land Use Planning, Marketing & Promotions, Place-Making & Image, and Redevelopment. Additionally, each section is accompanied by specific actions and steps to help move the agenda forward. If past history is any indication, Vision 2015 will provide a valuable blueprint for the future of Old Town Monrovia. Staff recommends approval of this strategic planning document.


Tom Adams


Mayor Pro Tem

Rainy Days Picture

A beautiful picture of a pine tree in the mist at Monrovia Canyon Park.

http://goo.gl/yzTP

- Brad Haugaard

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."

"As the economy nosedives," she said, "we skyrocket."

However, she said, "Monrovia cares about meeting needs," and the Center has been able to meet the needs of people who have have come it for help.

- Brad Haugaard

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

Wildcats Win :-)

Monrovia 28, South Hills 25.

Star News story: http://goo.gl/EQJd

- Brad Haugaard

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:


Robbery

September 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 Theft

September 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 Arrested

September 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.


Assault

September 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 Burglary

On 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 Arrested

September 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 Theft

September 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.


Burglary

September 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 Arrested

September 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 Evaluation

September 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