Monrovia Schools: Budget Woes, Labor Contract, Borrowing to Pay the Bills

Among other items at the Monrovia School Board's June 27 meeting meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/5bZZh ) are these ...

~ Here's the proposed budget for the school district. It assumes, perhaps a bit optimistically, 'flat' state funding and warns of a $2.5 million shortfall if the state tax proposal should fail. http://goo.gl/W9eLz

~ In the tentative labor contract with the Monrovia school district's non-teachers, employees will get a .47 percent increase in benefits, all in healthcare, over the next three years. The district will increase its contribution from $11,959.50 to a maximum of $12,423.90. http://goo.gl/Usnpr

~ The board will consider allowing the district to borrow from various district funds ( http://goo.gl/e6Wzx ) and from the LA County Treasurer ( http://goo.gl/BAB4H ) if necessary because a certain deadbeat state government (that's my opinion, by the way) is not paying its bills on time.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Closures and Firings if Tax Measure Fails?

What will happen to Monrovia schools if the November tax measure should fail?

According to a report to be discussed at the School Board's June 27 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/5bZZh ) the district needs to be ready for that, so the board will consider a contingency plan, which proposes these possibilities:

Since the district is paid by the state on Average Daily Attendance, the district might increase its revenue by improving attendance, adding Saturday school for (I think) students to make up missed days, and trying to attract international students.

Also, it would have to cut. Possible cuts include "school closure," letting go up to 14 employees go, reducing use of materials, energy, and transportation, cutting board meetings to once a month, eliminating contributions to "secondary" athletics, and maximizing class size. http://goo.gl/rdFj4

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Condo and Home Prices Up | Union Protests | Huff Protests

~ Since last year, the price of condos in Monrovia rose 14.8 percent. Single family home prices rose 7.3 percent. http://goo.gl/ZALKw

~ Electrical union protests that Monrovia's Green Dot is "cheating the community" because it says the company is not hiring a company that provides healthcare and pensions for all its workers. http://goo.gl/yKD5V

~ Video: A visibly annoyed Senator Bob Huff, who represents Monrovia, chews out his Senate colleagues for failing to bring Governor Jerry Brown's pension reform bill to the floor of the Senate and for excluding Republicans from budget meetings. http://goo.gl/uslE7

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at B & C Teriyaki

Lunch at B & C Teriyaki at Foothill and Madison. Got the chicken curry special, which comes with a huge 32 oz drink for $6.50. Also, there's a little covered patio I'd never noticed. Food was fine but the sauce seemed more like sweet-and-sour than curry. But a nice rice bowl kinda dish.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Library: Learn Social Media; Internment Camp Film

~ Learn to use social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.) 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday, June 27 in the Library Community Room. Call 256-8274 to sign up. Walk-ins welcome. http://goo.gl/eAmU6

~ Twenty-two minute film, Pilgrimage, Wednesday, June 27, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Library Community Room. "Shows how the abandoned WWII internment camp for Japanese Americans has been transformed into a symbol." Discussion after. http://goo.gl/mihzE

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Dave Guzman is Coach of the Year | Mosquito Spraying Next Door | Tiger's Wife

~ Monrovia's Dave Guzman named coach of the year. http://goo.gl/2on5G

~ San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District is going to be spraying for tiger mosquitoes next door in El Monte on June 22 ( http://goo.gl/qJoMF ). It appears the spray area is pretty far down in El Monte. http://goo.gl/maps/WauQ

~ Novel T's Book Club is meeting Tuesday, June 26, at 6:30 p.m. in the Library's Community Room to discuss the book, "The Tiger's Wife," by Tea Obreht. Open to the public.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Armed Robbery, Sunglass Smash and Grab, Stolen Batteries

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 18-20. - Brad Haugaard]

 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 472 service events, resulting in 86 investigations.

 

Commercial Burglary

June 18 at 8:06 a.m., police responded to the report of a commercial burglary in the 600 block of West Huntington.  The burglary occurred sometime between 5:00 p.m. on June 17 and 8:00 a.m. on June 18.  Suspect(s) smashed a window and took Oakley, Maui Jim and Rey Ban sunglasses from the business.  No alarm sounded.  Similar cases have been reported in Anaheim, Whittier and Montclair.  Investigation continuing.

 

Armed Robbery

June 16 at 8:00 p.m., an armed robbery was reported at a business in the 900 block of West Huntington.  Two suspects entered the store, produced handguns, and ordered the two employees to the floor.  While one suspect held the victims at gunpoint, the other stole cash and cell phones from the business.  The suspects were last seen northbound from the location on foot.  The suspects are described as male African-Americans, in their 20's, one with a goatee and the other had beard stubble on his face.  One suspect wore a black hooded sweatshirt, the other wore a gray one, and they both had on black pants.

 

Theft From a Vehicle

June 16 at 8:16 p.m., dispatch received a call reporting a theft from an unlocked vehicle in the 100 block of Stedman.  The victim parked her vehicle in her assigned space directly in front of her apartment in the evening, but left the vehicle unlocked.  When she returned to her vehicle the next morning, she noticed the vehicle had been ransacked.  The only thing missing was approximately three dollars in coins from a duffel bag that was in the vehicle.  Investigation continuing.

 

Grand Theft / Conspiracy to Commit Grand Theft - Suspects Arrested

June 19 at 11:01 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Foothill and California when he observed a silver Lincoln.  The vehicle matched the description of a suspect vehicle from a battery theft incident the previous day.  The suspects stole batteries from a cable box in the City of Monrovia.  The occupants of the vehicle, a male and female, matched a witness description of the suspects in the case.  The officer noticed that the vehicle registration was also expired.  He stopped the vehicle and contacted the suspects.  When he spoke to the driver, he observed batteries and a yellow safety vest in the vehicle.  A short time later, a call was received in dispatch regarding a theft of batteries from a cable box on California that had just occurred.  It appears the officer contacted the suspects just after they completed another crime.  The stolen batteries were recovered and confirmed stolen by cable company employees.  Both suspects were arrested and taken into custody.  The vehicle was stored as evidence.

 

Grand Theft Auto

June 19 at 5:05 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 300 block of East Olive.  The vehicle, a 2005, black Nissan Altima, was taken sometime between midnight the night before and 5:00 p.m.  on June 19.  Investigation continuing.   

 

Monrovia Takes $1 Million Hit From Loss of Redevelopment

Monrovia City Manager Laurie Lile reports that this year Monrovia has taken a $1 million hit because it has had to absorb the costs associated with the loss of the City's Redevelopment Agency. But, still, the city came up with a balanced budget.

Of the state's budget process, she writes that:

It's unsettling, to say the least, that these important decisions are made in the opacity of the legislative conference room, with little to no input from the constituencies that will be most affected.  We are expending a considerable amount of staff time and energy to monitor the progress of these bills so that we can respond immediately to the actions proposed by the legislature - just as soon as those actions are revealed to anyone beyond the inner offices of the State Capitol building. ...

This balanced budget was achieved through pension cost-sharing with employees, a new two-tier retirement system and no increase in staffing.

Some more budget numbers from Lile:

Of the $31.97 million in projected General Fund revenues, the majority (58%) comes in through property tax and sales tax revenues.
The greatest expenditure from the City General Fund comes from Public Safety: 40% from Police and 29% from Fire.

General Fund personnel costs are budgeted for $22.46 million, however, in accordance with the Council priorities, total cost should not exceed 75% of net operating costs.  In order to meet long range financial targets, the City will continue to negotiate with employee groups to pick up their full the share of PERS employee pension costs by the 2013-2014 budget.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is being reduced by 21%, or $66,000, scaling back programs for safe and healthy neighborhoods.

Annual street resurfacing will continue through 2013 using Prop C funding.

After the loss of Redevelopment, the City had a net loss of $1 million.  As a result, 4 vacant positions within the City were eliminated, overhead charges to all City operations were increased by 1%, phone and computer replacement allocations were reduced, and vehicle and equipment replacement was deferred.

- Brad Haugaard

Rotary Club of Monrovia Supports Olympic Shooter Kim Rhode

Olympic shooter Kim Rhode

Rotary Club of Monrovia will be presenting Olympic athlete Kim Rhode with a donation check at its next meeting to help fund her training for this summer's Olympic games.

Rhode, a Monrovia resident, will be attending the 2012 Summer Olympics, and if she medals, she will be the first U.S. athlete in an individual sport to medal in five consecutive Olympics. Kim is a two-time Olympic gold medal winner and six-time national champion in double trap. She was the youngest member of the U.S. Olympic team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Most recently she won a silver medal in skeet shooting at the 2008 Summer Games.

Source: Rotary Club press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Mayor Supports Medical Marijuana

Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz joins U.S. Conference of Mayors' call to allow medical marijuana. http://goo.gl/ub79d

- Brad Haugaard

Time-Lapse Video of Concrete Pouring for Bridge | Monrovia's Merengue Bakery Turns Four | Clean Up Day | Huff Bond Measure Defeated | Winner of Goodies

~ Time-lapse images of the pouring of the concrete for the 210 Freeway bridge. http://goo.gl/BIYy4

~ Merengue Bakery and Cafe at 111 E. Colorado is celebrating its fourth birthday today, the Chamber of Commerce reports.

~ Kiwanis and Rotary clean-up day this Saturday at Recreation Park, Library Park and Old Town. Details: http://goo.gl/MgYxB

~ Video ( http://goo.gl/X9oNb ) of Senator Bob Huff (who represents Monrovia) pushing for a measure he says would ensure bond money is properly spent. It was defeated. And Huff's written comment: http://goo.gl/LniFz

Tiger Mosquitoes Next Door to Monrovia

In next-door El Monte, the invasive Tiger Mosquitoes are back and spreading. http://goo.gl/QxmAF

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovian Chris Shevlin Receives Citrus College Alumni Achievement Award

Monrovian Chris Shevlin (right) and fellow honorees Bobby Pedroza and Cynthia Cervantes McGuire.

 

Christopher B. Shevlin was supposed to play basketball during his tenure at Citrus College in the early 70s, but an injury to one of his hands forced him to sit out for a year. When his coaches suggested he try officiating because he knew the game so well, accident turned into good fortune for the long-time Monrovia resident, and eventually led to a 35-year career officiating high school and college basketball.

Shevlin returned to Citrus College to receive an Alumni Achievement Award, along with fellow alumni Cynthia Cervantes McGuire of Claremont and Bobby Pedroza of Azusa, on Saturday, June 16, at the college's 96th commencement ceremony. The honoree spent many years officiating Division 1 college games and served as an NCAA official for five years, but he said he never imagined he would take part in so many memorable events, including meeting great players such as Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, members of the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball "Dream Team."

 

The Citrus College alumnus has also earned a stellar reputation for his service to the Monrovia community. Shevlin has been a member of the Monrovia Kiwanis Club for 19 years, earning the organization's Super Distinguished Past President designation in 1999-2000. He has also served as a board member of the Santa Anita Family YMCA (SAFYMCA) since 1996, and he was named the organization's 2010 "Humanitarian of the Year." Shevlin's list of accolades increased when the Foothill Boys and Girls Club presented him and his wife, Becky, with the "For the Love of Youth Award" earlier this year.

 

In addition to his experience as a basketball referee, Shevlin has worked as an account executive for Chicago Title for the past 16 years. Before becoming a professional success and a philanthropist, however, Shevlin was a student at El Monte's Arroyo High School, Class of 1970, and he attended Citrus College. After studying at Citrus College from 1970 through 1972, he transferred to California State University, Long Beach where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1976.

 

On accepting his award, Shevlin reminded the class of 2012: "Once an Owl always an Owl."

 

Source: Citrus College Press Release

 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Frazier to Colorado | Spicer 'Not Bully' | Car Wash | Democrats to Hear About Local Climate Change Lobby

~ Monrovia football player George Frazier expected to play football for Colorado. http://goo.gl/7aJg4

~ Councilman Larry Spicer's wife says he's not a neighborhood bully. http://goo.gl/EwrGp

~ Support Monrovia High Marching Band and Color Guard. Car wash and newspaper recycling June 23, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Walgreens on Foothill in Arcadia. Suggested donation: $5 car, $8 truck or SUV.

~ Monrovia's Foothill Community Democrats will hear about the Pasadena/Foothills Chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby - "a national organization that is working to implement a carbon fee dividend program to address climate change." http://goo.gl/FIdSM

- Brad Haugaard

Ellis McCarthy Fundraiser

Fundraiser for Monrovia football star, Ellis McCarthy, as he heads off to UCLA ( http://goo.gl/9bHoo ), but Star-News reporter J. Brian Charles wonders if it is legal: http://goo.gl/Znxat

- Brad Haugaard

Concrete Poured for 210 Freeway Bridge

Gold Line Extension spokesman Habib Balian writes: 

Skanska is nearing completion on the 18-hour concrete pour for the I-210 Gold Line Bridge. Since 11:00 p.m. last night (when the eastbound lanes of the I-210 Freeway were fully closed) crews have been non-stop placing 2,100 cubic yards of concrete into the superstructure and main outrigger beam that crosses the freeway. More than 200 truckloads have accessed the site from the freeway, center median and southern shoulder to strategically place what amounts to 50 typical swimming pools of concrete.
 
This important activity was planned over several months and took the coordination of multiple agencies. Skanska has done an outstanding job in the design and execution of this activity that went off smoothly and will result in the architectural elements of the superstructure permanently formed on the exterior of the structure.

- Brad Haugaard

Learn About Gold Line Construction

Open House meetings on the Gold Line tomorrow (Azusa), 26th (Arcadia), and 28th (Duarte). Details: http://goo.gl/wwauH

- Brad Haugaard

Portantino Tatoo-Removal Bill Advances

The state Senate has advanced a bill authored by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (who represents part of Monrovia) which provides a new start for young women branded or tattooed by pimps. The Senate Public Safety Committee unanimously and with bi-partisan support approved Portantino’s AB 1956 today (7 to 0). The bill provides a first step in breaking the bonds of prostitution by allowing young women branded by pimps to take part in free tattoo removal programs. These women were left out of a federal program designed to offer young people the opportunity to remove gang tattoos.

"This bill helps generate a new start for young women who need to break free from the intimidating and troubling world of trafficking and prostitution," Portantino said.

Source: Portantino press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monday Night Holdup at Monrovia Cell Phone Store

Gunmen in hoodies rob Verizon store. http://goo.gl/qjW7d

- Brad Haugaard

De'Shawn Ramirez Plays Friday | Fire Weather | Monrovia High Painting? | Job Fair

~ Monrovia football player, De'Shawn Ramirez, will be playing in the Hall of Fame All-Star Game on Friday. http://goo.gl/bwGgH

~ Foothills fire-weather warning until 8 p.m. Tuesday. http://goo.gl/Z6HGI

~ Exterior painting on Monrovia High? http://goo.gl/M7K0P

~ Job fair tomorrow, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm. http://goo.gl/6OBNf

- Brad Haugaard