Cleanup Money From State? | Monrovia Hillside Recommendation

~ City Manager Scott Ochoa reports that State of California "has finally recognized the magnitude of the windstorms" and "made the necessary declaration," which may result in some money from the state. http://goo.gl/FsAic

 

~ The Community Services Commission has recommended to the City Council the "minimalist" (5b) option for managing the hillside area above Monrovia. This essentially means leaving things as they are but adding some gates and direction signs and No Parking signs in the residential areas near the gateways. Also, the Commission recommended keeping Lower Clamshell Truck Trail closed pending further environmental study.  http://goo.gl/FsAic . Also, see the executive summary of the various plans here: http://goo.gl/wpDSP

 

Opinion: My concern is that all Monrovians paid for this hillside area, so all Monrovians should have reasonable access to it, but if the city reduces the amount of parking (by putting up No Parking signs), that would make this area less accessible. Homeowners near the gateways reasonably don't want cars in front of their houses all day, so I think the project should include at least some new parking so the homeowners are not imposed upon and so there is a net parking increase - not decrease - for visitors.

 

- Brad Haugaard

Drones by Monrovia's AeroVironment May Find Work in Oil Fields; Company Wins Award for Wind Turbine

People seem to find more and more uses for the little drones made by Monrovia's AeroVironment (military, police). Now oil companies want to use them to keep an eye on pipelines. http://goo.gl/t0zhj

Also, CleanTechnica has named AeroVironment's architecturally-attractive mini wind turbine, "Architectural Wind," as one of its five best micro wind turbines. http://goo.gl/Bbjka

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Hunt for Chubby-Cheeked Suspect

Monrovia Police are looking for a chubby-cheeked man suspected of attempting to force his way into a Monrovia apartment. Picture: http://goo.gl/iX4eY

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center - Looking for an Executive Director

Foothill Unity Center Executive Director Joan Whitenack is retiring and now the Center is advertising for her replacement. Here are the requirements: http://goo.gl/znPNU

 

- Brad Haugaard

Petition Seeks to Undo Portantino's Ban on Open-Carry of Guns

A petition is being circulated that would overturn a law that bans the open carrying of firearms, a law authored by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, who represents part of Monrovia. http://goo.gl/L685w

 

- Brad Haugaard

Gunman Forces Monrovia Woman from her Apartment

On Thursday, December 15, 2011, at approximately 11 p.m., in the 300 block of West Central, a woman answered a knock at her front door. The male on the other side of the door asked for a name she did not recognize. When she opened the door the male suspect pulled a revolver from his waist band and tried to force his way in the apartment. The woman screamed and the suspect pulled her from her doorway and onto a landing outside of her apartment. The victim fell to the ground causing abrasions to her hands.

 

As the victim continued to scream the suspect fled. The suspect is described as a male, Hispanic, 5’8”, medium build wearing a denim type, collared shirt and dark pants. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Monrovia Police Department at (626) 256-8000

 

The Monrovia Police Department would like to remind everyone to be alert to their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to the police.

 

- Brad Haugaard (from Monrovia Police press release)

Lunch at Taisho Teriyaki Grill

Lunch at Taisho Teriyaki Grill at 919 W. Huntington. Got the Combo Sushi Bowl with avocado. Restaurant is small inside but lots of room outside. Very fresh and tasty food. (That's seaweed you see on the left, by the way.)
- Brad Haugaard

Gold Line Greeting Card | Shop Locally | Lobbyists Help Portantino

~ This holiday snow-globe from the Gold Line folks includes the cheery information that the Pasadena-to-Azusa segment of line should be completed by 2015.

~ Star-News columnist Steve Scauzillo suggests local Christmas shopping, like in in Monrovia's Old Town, but, he adds, no pepper spray. http://goo.gl/6WIcN

~ Lobbyists helping Portantino in congressional race. http://goo.gl/vyU1i

- Brad Haugaard

Montgomery New Citrus Prez | Monrovia Kiwanian on Rose Float

~ Joanne Montgomery is new president of Citrus College board. http://goo.gl/skF2L

 

~ Monrovia Kiwanis reports that member Don Yost will be riding on the Kiwanis Rose Parade float on Jan. 1.

 

- Brad Haugaard

A Temporary Replacement for Shaw? | Friday Night Live | Rental Inspections | Recycling | Street Fair

A few items on the Monrovia City Council agenda ( http://goo.gl/J14C3 ) for Dec. 20:

 

~ Consider whether to find a temporary replacement for Councilman Clarence Shaw during his active duty for the Army. http://goo.gl/dOJrH

 

~ The City Council will hear a report on an experimental Friday Night Live program designed to reduce the number of youth loitering problems during the street fair and consider whether to continue it. Opinion: The data ( http://goo.gl/D1Iol ) seems ambiguous. Also, the city increased police bike patrols at the same time as it added the youth program, which makes it a harder to untangle cause and effect. Change one variable at a time.

 

~ Consider a pilot Rental Housing Inspection Program in the 700–900 blocks of West Walnut and Olive Avenues. Rental properties result in the most service calls. Maybe more inspections will help. http://goo.gl/rFOoN

 

~ Some reports on recycling. http://goo.gl/o6AW5  and http://goo.gl/MM3rc

 

~ Consider a three-year contract with Family Festival Productions to continue putting on the street fair. City staff recommends approval. http://goo.gl/Tq9Jt

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Finances: Better But Worse

Despite some bright economic news, Monrovia calculates that it will have $137,536 less money to work with this fiscal year, according to a report to the City Council by Mark Alvarado, Director of Administrative Services.

 

The good news: In the first five months of the 2011-12 fiscal year there has been an increase in sales and property taxes, and city staff expects this to continue.  "Revenue from auto sales and leasing are strong again," Alvarado writes, "after two years of huge decreases. Building and construction activity is still flat, as the housing market muddles through more foreclosures and high unemployment."

 

Earlier, the city projected a 5 percent increase in sales tax. Now it's thinking it'll be 8 percent.

 

Also, property tax revenue is up about 4 percent from last year, but - and here's the main problem - last year the city expected more revenue but got less, so it is behind by $289,147.

 

And the other negative is the state. In an attempt to balance its own budget, the state is not passing through $110,000 in motor vehicle license fees the city usually gets.

 

Lots more details here: http://goo.gl/tuHZY

 

- Brad Haugaard

Will Monrovia Move to Merit-Based Pay System for Employees?

Monrovia needs to switch to a merit-based, rather than seniority-based, compensation system for its employees, according to a report to the City Council by Mark Alvarado, Director of Administrative Services.

He writes:

The focus must also be on restructuring the current compensation model so that the City pays only what it can afford. As a service delivery organization, personnel is the largest cost factor in the operating budget. Compensating employees for a job well done, as opposed to how long they have been employed, is a sound financial model to follow. All current labor contracts expire no later than the 2012-13 fiscal year. All future budget projections regarding labor costs are based on pension cost sharing and reasonable merit salary increases.

The City Council will decide on his recommendations at its Dec. 20 meeting.

Source: http://goo.gl/tuHZY

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Bean Bag Motivates Mountain Lion, Burglary, Grand Theft Lexus and Silverado

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department’s Neighborhood Watch Report for December 12-14 – Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, December 8-14, 2011, the Police Department handled 496 service events, resulting in 96 investigations.

Residential Burglaries

On December 13 at 8:23 p.m., two residential burglaries were reported that occurred on a lot in the 500 block of West Maple. In both cases, the unknown suspect(s) gained entry by prying open the rear door of the residence. The front house was ransacked and jewelry was stolen. There was minor ransacking in the back house, but nothing was taken.

Mountain Lion

On December 14 at 2:37 a.m., police received a call reporting a mountain lion in the 800 block of East Lemon. Officers responded and found an adult mountain lion, possibly a female, in a yard in the 800 block of East Lemon. It appeared to have an open wound next to its left eye. The officers fired two beanbag rounds, which motivated the mountain lion to move back into the hills.

Drug Violations

On December 14 at 2:56 p.m., Monrovia Special Enforcement Team officers on patrol stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. This encounter led to the officers conducting a search of the vehicle, which revealed hidden drug contraband under the pad of a child seat. The driver was arrested and booked for numerous drug violations.

Grand Theft Auto

On December 14 at 5:51 p.m., police responded to Mckinley Place and Foothill regarding a stolen vehicle. The victim reported that he parked his vehicle on the street. When he returned to where he had parked it, the vehicle was not there and he could not find his keys. The vehicle is a white, two-door, Lexus SC300. Investigation continuing.

Grand Theft Auto

On December 14 at 6:12 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 700 block of East Central on the report of a stolen vehicle. The theft occurred between 6:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The victim parked and locked his vehicle on the street and went into work for the day. When he returned at the end of the day, his vehicle was missing. The vehicle is a black, 2004, Chevy Silverado pickup truck. The victim reported that there was an unloaded handgun in the vehicle at the time it was stolen, but there was no ammunition in the truck. Investigation continuing.

Downtown Mountain Lion | $10K Reward in Arcadia Killing

~ A Twitter report by Nancy Casanova says that a Mountain Lion has been spotted near Lemon and Mountain. Careful.

~ Antonovich offers $10k reward for information on killer of Arcadia father. http://goo.gl/TYKDN

- Brad Haugaard

Santa Tours Monrovia | Unity Center Needs Helpers

~ Santa makes the rounds in Monrovia. It's not every day you see a pickup truck with antlers.

~ Foothill Unity Center, of Monrovia, is still short of volunteers (adults only) for its Holiday Distribution for families this Sunday, December 18, in Ayres Hall at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia. If you'd like to help, email raina@foothillunitycenter.org for a sign-up form.

- Brad Haugaard

Progress in School-Baseball League Negotiations; New MYBL Initiatives

Monrovia Youth Baseball League board vice president, Jack Taylor, says he believes the MYBL and the Monrovia School District are making "good progress" and will successfully complete fee negotiations for field usage by February, when the league's season opens.

 

Previously, he said, the league was able to use the fields for free, and he'd like that to continue that for community groups such as MYBL, but he also understands the district is in a tough financial position. But, then, so is the MYBL. He said he has met with numerous school and city and officials and feels everyone is trying to be helpful.

 

If there must be fees, he said, he hopes they can be offset by work that the league could do at the schools, such as reseeding the fields.

 

Taylor said the league also has several new initiatives:

 

- Instituting a curriculum and increasing the number of training classes for coaches at each of the league's five levels, both in technical aspects of the game and in management of players and - ahem! - parents. The goal is for the players to be able to move directly to high school baseball when they graduate from MYBL.

 

- Recruiting a lot more Monrovia district students - at least 10 percent - to increase league membership to about 500, up from the current 370. Taylor said scholarships are available for students who cannot afford the fee. 

 

- Developing tighter relationships with the Monrovia community. He said MYBL is making a more determined effort to distribute flyers at schools, participate in the street fair, in Chamber of Commerce events, and develop relationships with city and school officials and civic organizations and give priority to Monrovia businesses. At its opening day fair, for example, he said the league wants Monrovia businesses to have the first crack at displaying their services and goods.

 

For more information about MYLB: myblpony.clubspaces.com

 

- Brad Haugaard

Former Monrovia Newspaperman Dies | New Senior VP at AeroVironment

~ Former Monrovia newspaperman, Stuart Bonham, dies. http://goo.gl/GP5xZ

~ Wahid Nawabi, an executive from the power technology industry, has joined Monrovia's AeroVironment as senior vice president and general manager of its Efficient Energy Systems. http://goo.gl/LRJFh

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Robocats in the Finals | Townloop

~ Despite a broken lifter, Monrovia High's Darkmatter robot battled its way into the finals at the LA FTC Robotics Championship Tournament held at MHS. The Robocats hosted 37 other teams. The Cats other 'bots were Thundercat and Banana Pudding. http://goo.gl/lhgMe

~ Townloop (started in Pasadena by a friend) now has what I believe is its first deal with a Monrovia company, BigShrimps. The deal is you buy a discount coupon for a meal at BigShrimps and a school of your choice gets a kickback. http://goo.gl/zVmve

- Brad Haugaard

Snows Over Monrovia

The snow-capped mountains above Monrovia, as seen from Home Depot.

Monrovia Football Parade Postponed | Collecting Canned Goods

~ A report that the Wildcat victory parade will be postponed due to rain. http://goo.gl/YVQCZ

  

~ Monrovia Municipal Employee Association is collecting canned food for needy families. Donations can be brought to City Hall. For more information call 932-5550 during regular business hours Monday-Friday. See flyer: http://goo.gl/LiJej

 

- Brad Haugaard