The International Institute of Municipal Clerks has proclaimed the week of April 19- May 5, 2012 to be 43rd annual Municipal Clerk's Week. This week features a weeklong series of nationwide activities aimed at increasing the public's awareness of Municipal Clerks and the vital services they provide for local government and the community. In honor of Municipal Clerk's Week, Monrovia City Clerk Alice Atkins will be recognized at the Monrovia City Council meeting on May 1, 2012.
Monrovia's City Clerk is just one of seven elected officials who serve the community every day. Her role is to encourage the public to participate in the democratic process and help ensure that government remains transparent and accessible.
Alice Atkins has worked in the City Clerk's Office since 2001, and has served as City Clerk since October 2009. "It started as a job, and very quickly became a career I love. When all else fails and people don't know where to go for help, they seem to call the City Clerk. It's a perfect fit for someone who loves helping people – and if I don't know the answer, I love the challenge of finding it for them," said City Clerk Akins.
One of local government's oldest positions is the Municipal Clerk. Their duties have expanded over the years and, today, modern technology assists them with their increasing responsibilities. Last week, Sacramento City Manager addressed a meeting of the City Clerks Association of California (CCAC) saying "You are in the information business," he said, "and need to maximize the use of technology." Clerk Atkins has done just that by placing an interactive presentation tool on the City's website to help provide information on just what the Monrovia Office of the City Clerk does.
Municipal and Deputy Clerks' main function is to serve as the council's foundation. Other duties include, but are not limited to, preparing agendas, taking minutes, maintaining ordinance and resolutions files, keeping the municipality's historical records, processing permits and serving as the clearinghouse for information about the local government. They also record the actions of the various commissions and committees appointed by the council. Another important responsibility is administering part or all of the local election functions.
During this week, Municipal Clerks throughout the world will host open houses and tours of the Municipal Clerk's office, visit local schools and participate in other various events. We encourage residents to stop by City Hall or visit our website to see all of the services the Office of the City Clerk has to offer, www.cityofmonrovia.org.
[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 26-29 – Brad Haugaard]
Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.
April 26 at 11:03 p.m., dispatch received a call from the California Highway Patrol advising that a male subject had been shot in the shoulder and was at a location in the 300 block of West Central. Officers responded and contacted the victim. The victim reported that he and a male friend were in the front yard of the location, and he was making his way to the front door when shots rang out. He was struck in the shoulder and immediately went inside the location. The friend saw two male subjects run east on Central toward Magnolia and out of sight. The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released. Investigation continuing.
April 26 at 11:36 p.m., a motorist reported a driver slumped behind the wheel of a vehicle at Duarte and Sixth. Officers responded and located the vehicle. The male driver was slumped over the wheel, the engine was running, and the vehicle had struck a fence in the 800 block of West Duarte. The driver did not have any visible injuries, but he appeared to be quite intoxicated. He was taken to a hospital to be checked for injury and charges will be reviewed by the District Attorney for filing consideration.
April 27 at 3:52 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of Poinsettia. The suspect(s) entered an unlocked window and stole cash and coins from an unlocked safe. The victims are elderly and had left the residence for only for a few hours to visit family. Investigation continuing.
April 27 at 2:05 p.m., a bear was sighted in the area of Sunset and Highland. Officers worked to get the bear to move north toward the foothills. The bear went up a tree at Highland and Hillcrest. The officers continued to observe the bear from a distance until it came down out of the tree. The bear then went back up into the mountains.
April 27 at 9:07 p.m., officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of North Alta Vista regarding a large party. When officers arrived, they assessed the number of people at the party to be several hundred. The only resident present was a 16-year-old male subject and there was no adult supervision. Alcohol and marijuana consumption had been taking place. Additional officers responded, including the Special Enforcement Team, the Foothill Air Support helicopter, and several officers from Arcadia Police Department. It took some time to clear the property of all the party goers. Several minors were cited for possession of alcohol. An adult sister of the 16-year-old resident responded and both were cited.
On April 28, the adult sister called police to report that a camera and a laptop computer were stolen from the house during the party. A young man was seen carrying a laptop from the party. Investigation continuing.
April 28 at 1:59 a.m., an officer saw a vehicle driving out of a parking lot in the 400 block of Foothill with one of its doors open. The officer notified the driver, but the driver ignored him and drove away at a high rate of speed. The officer followed the vehicle and made a traffic stop in the 100 block of Acacia. Although the driver was found not to be under the influence, a full box of syringes and a package of anabolic steroids were found in the vehicle. The subject was arrested and taken into custody and a search warrant was written for a residence in Arcadia.
At 7:13 p.m., officers, assisted by the Special Enforcement Team, went to a residence in the 1200 block of East Magnis in Arcadia to serve a search warrant. The search warrant resulted in finding quantities of mushrooms and marijuana. Additional charges of possession of controlled substance and possession of marijuana for sales were added to the suspect's offenses.
April 29 at 9:14 p.m., an officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Colorado regarding a woman who was not breathing. When the officer arrived, he checked the woman's vital signs and determined she was not breathing and did not have a pulse. The officer directed the woman's fiancé to begin rescue breathing while he administered chest compressions on the woman. CPR was continued on the woman for several minutes until paramedics arrived and took her to a local hospital, where she received advanced medical treatment and was successfully brought back to life.
One of the methods the Monrovia Police Department is using to combat graffiti in the community of Monrovia is the Stop Graffiti Bounty Program. If a citizen reports an incident of graffiti in the City of Monrovia that leads to the arrest of the suspect, the citizen will receive a $100 bill. Help keep Monrovia looking great!
