[Full text of Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz' State of the City speech being delivered this evening, Jan. 28. - Brad Haugaard]
Good
evening. It is a pleasure for me to come here tonight to speak to
you about the State of our City.
I
have been in public service now for over 20 years,
as
a volunteer,
a business owner,
a service club member,
a neighborhood leader,
a Community Services Commissioner,
a City Council member
and now as your Mayor.
a business owner,
a service club member,
a neighborhood leader,
a Community Services Commissioner,
a City Council member
and now as your Mayor.
Yet
I am still in
awe of the
passion and community spirit alive in Monrovia.
What
an outpouring of support we have for our City, and our neighbors, our
businesses, and our friends!
In
my many years of service, this
has remained true:
Nothing
great happens in our City by the efforts of one person alone- it is a
collaboration,
a partnership.
Think
about our goals ten years ago:
- Build a new Library. DONE!
- Secure the Gold Line. DONE!
- Revive our Old Town District. DONE!
- Bring in new business and homes...
- Revitalize Monrovia neighborhoods….
- Preserve our Hillside…
DONE!
DONE! and DONE!
And
none of
those were achieved solely by the City.
- Thanks to all of our residents who voted and paid for Measure L to build our new LEED-silver Library, and Measure A & B to preserve our hillsides from being developed
- Thanks to previous Councils and Mayors and patient community supporters who made the Gold Line dream a reality,
- Thanks to business owners and their stubbornly loyal patrons who make our Old Town thrive,
- And Thanks to our Neighborhood Leaders and MAP activists who work tirelessly to create safe neighborhoods and places for our children to play.
Many
of you sitting here tonight played an integral part in those
achievements.
And
I believe many of you will be part of our future accomplishments.
_________
I
would like to take a moment to thank some of the exemplary members of
Team Monrovia, our Council Members.
Council
Member Tom Adams
for his support of the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses…
Council
Member Becky Shevlin
for her tireless efforts to clean up our parks and Old Town…
Former
Council Member Clarence Shaw
for his service…
and
Former Council Member Larry Spicer
who filled in for Clarence and continues to champion our MAP and
neighborhoods programs.
City
Clerk Alice Atkins
for maintaining our vital City records…and City
Treasurer Steve Baker
for overseeing our City’s finances…
I
have also had the privilege of serving with a great Monrovia leader,
my friend, Mayor
Pro Tem Joe Garcia.
We
have all seen the impact he has had on our great City.
Joe
was the driving force behind our skate park; through his efforts we
now have a reverse 911 system, improving our City’s emergency
response and safety; and he has pushed for something we can all
appreciate, a 24-hour City Hall with greater access to online
services.
He
has also left an indelible mark on our City landscape through his
patronage of the Arts in Public Places.
We
will miss his leadership on the Council.
Tonight,
I would like you to join me in recognizing the man who has provided
Monrovia with years of unfaltering service to the community.
__________
In
April, Monrovians have the opportunity to elect new members of Team
Monrovia.
We
have the chance to participate in the democratic process of choosing
who will lead our great City in the years to come, and I encourage
everyone here to take part.
Team
Monrovia is a shining example of how we work together to achieve
great things.
And
I know that moving forward, we will continue to collaborate for our
future.
Now,
more than
ever, is
the time to do that.
__________
One
year ago Monrovia was facing very distinct challenges:
Amidst
the greatest recession of our time, the State of California
eliminated the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency- a tool we had used over
the past 40 years to develop our City and promote business.
And
the State did so right as our former City Manager departed for
Glendale.
___________
Interim
City Manager Mark Alvarado, our Administrative Services Director,
took on the management of the City for several months through very
rocky and unknown territory.
I
would like to thank
him
tonight for taking on that monumental task.
He
did a wonderful job for us in the interim and deserves our sincere
appreciation for answering that call to duty.
___________
Last
spring, through an exhaustive three month search, we sought out a new
City Manager for Monrovia.
We
sought someone with the same level of compassion this community
requires…
and
the same level of expertise we have come to rely upon and expect.
We
sought someone who would not shy away from the challenges before us.
We
found that and more in Laurie
Lile.
I
would like to introduce you, if you have not already met her, to
Monrovia’s first
female City Manager,
Laurie Lile.
She
comes to us from Palmdale and we wholeheartedly thank them for not
realizing what they had.
___________
Laurie
has hit the ground running here in Monrovia.
As
the City’s CEO, Laurie sets the example.
In
her first act as City Manager, she willingly took on the full payment
of the employee portion of her retirement benefit, reducing the
financial burden on the City.
Soon
after, our Monrovia Municipal employees agreed to do the same,
understanding that it takes all
of us
working together to maintain a thriving Monrovia.
More
recently, our Fire employees have started contributing more towards
the cost of their retirement benefit.
We
hope to announce this year that our Police employees have
followed suit.
___________
The
loss of the Redevelopment Agency was far and away the biggest
challenge we faced in 2012.
Redevelopment
was the tool that we used to develop Huntington Drive, attract
businesses, and provide affordable housing.
It
allowed us to pay for the rehabilitation of low-income housing,
provide façade improvements in Old Town, and build the very theater
we sit in tonight.
Nothing
about its elimination has been easy, and tonight I want to thank our
Oversight Board for taking on the daunting task of winding down a
very complicated program.
Despite
the loss of Redevelopment, our goals remain the same:
Promote
and foster business within our City.
___________
So
on the eve of its demise last year, our economic Development team was
poised to announce a new strategy for economic development.
In
2011 we were awarded as LA County’s most business friendly City…
with
a proven strategy for attracting, retaining and growing business.
So
we drew upon what Monrovia does best:
Building
personal relationships.
Last
year, our economic development team, including myself, other Council
members, the Chamber of Commerce, and Old Town Advisory Members,
personally visited 220 Monrovia businesses.
We
came to hear their stories, to know their challenges, to meet their
employees, and to gain a greater understanding of how the City of
Monrovia and business community fit together to support one another.
Small
to large, retail to manufacturing… businesses and jobs are the key
to moving Monrovia, our State and our Nation forward.
We
understand this and so do our partners at the Monrovia Chamber of
Commerce, who have welcomed our new business owners with open arms.
With
the help of our Chamber, we brought people together to address issues
facing business owners with our annual CEO and Brokers reception.
Monrovia
received a grant to create a jobs hub at our Library, thanks to
efforts from Council Member Becky Shevlin, and also hosted two job
fairs last year.
We
know that Monrovia businesses create jobs and generate sales tax to
support City services.
We
also know that our local businesses are the foundation for how people
know our City.
It’s
why they
come to visit,
and a big part of the reason that they stay and make their future
here.
I
am proud to say that over the past year, we have welcomed over 200
new businesses to town, bringing with them jobs.
And
in an economy such as this, every
job
should be celebrated.
___________
As
we continue forward and look for new economic development
opportunities, I know many of you are thinking about the new Metro
Gold Line, which will extend the light rail from Pasadena to Azusa
and one day on to the Ontario Airport.
This
is a project 25 years in the making, and one that will have an
immense impact on Monrovia.
The
Gold Line currently serves more than 1 million riders every month…
and the extension from Pasadena to Azusa is projected to add
thousands
of riders to the system every
day.
Those
riders will be connected to our city in a way they have never been
before, bringing in more visitors to all cities along the foothills.
Recognizing
this positive impact on our entire region, in 2012 we sold land to
the Gold Line to construct the Gold Line Maintenance and Operations
yard, from
here on out known as the Gold Line Operations Campus.
It
was the key that unlocked the entire Gold Line project.
If
you drive by this site today, you will see that construction is well
under way for both the Gold Line and
the Operations Campus.
The
I-210 bridge is now completed, providing a connection between the
existing Pasadena Station and future Arcadia station.
For
most of this past year, our City Staff has been working alongside
Gold Line’s Construction Company to ensure that throughout each
phase of this project, residents and businesses are seeing the least
possible construction impact while creating the greatest
possible transit benefit.
___________
Completion
of the Monrovia Station is less
than two years away,
and I am incredibly excited to take our first ride from Monrovia to
Los Angeles in 2015.
With
the completion of the Gold Line in Monrovia comes our great
opportunity…
especially in the nearly 40 acres surrounding the station.
Station
Square is our vision.
There
will
be a Gold Line train.
There
will
be a train stop in Monrovia.
There
will
be plenty of places to park.
What
gets developed in and around the station is not yet certain.
What
is
certain is that we will see $16
and a half million dollars
in public improvements surrounding that stop.
We
will see everything from sidewalks, streets, underground utilities
and freeway underpass improvements.
Plus
landscaping, lighting and better traffic controls.
What
I do
know is that when development does
come to
this area, Monrovia will be the premiere stop along the foothills.
The
tools of Redevelopment would have made the realization of our station
square vision easier, as we move through this year, it will be a
priority for this Council to ensure Monrovia is not
just a
stop along the line.
We
will be a destination.
___________
I
am confident because despite our tough economic times, building and
construction activities are up.
In
2013, not only will we see a more complete vision of the Gold Line,
but a remodel of our automall by the freeway, making us the best
place to
buy a car in the region.
This
represents a great
future forecast for Monrovia.
A
great forecast, but not without its challenges.
___________
This
year, decisions were made outside of Monrovia that will trickle down
and affect us.
Our
new Stormwater Permit is an unfunded and expensive Federal mandate to
improve the quality of water that enters our storm drains.
The
stormwater system leads straight to the ocean… and it is our
responsibility to
ensure that what goes into our gutters and storm drains is clean for
our neighbors downstream…
…We
play a part in keeping our beaches clean, our sushi fresh and
California’s tourism booming.
Stormwater
is an important issue in maintaining our water quality.
By
focusing on allowing more
water to
go back into the ground and not downstream, we can create more
groundwater and develop Monrovia’s own natural resources.
Without
funding, it will take all of us working
together as a community
to address this issue.
Recognizing
the need for partnership, for the very first time, a group of 45
cities in Los Angeles County came together, led by Monrovia, to lobby
for a more responsible Stormwater Permit that makes sense for cities.
While
the issue of stormwater will be one
we have to address for years to come, I would like to personally
thank Heather
Maloney in
the Public Works Department for her hard work and collaboration on
making sure that the issues facing cities were made evident in the
permit process.
___________
It
is this
kind of
collaborative leadership that we applaud here in Monrovia.
And
the wonderful thing is that we are preparing Monrovians every
year for
this kind of leadership, through our Monrovia Area Partnership.
MAP
celebrated six years in the community this past year with an
unwavering commitment to building healthy neighborhoods.
In
2012, MAP graduated 19 new neighborhood leaders with steadfast
enthusiasm on making a difference where they live.
And,
for the first time, MAP graduated 23 Youth
Neighborhood Leaders, representing the Quest Academy, the Teen
Advisory Board, local churches, the Boys and Girls Club, YLife, and
the Youth Commission.
For
all of the Neighborhood Leaders here tonight, I ask you to stand and
be recognized.
These
extraordinary residents spent their free time learning government,
problem solving and leadership skills that they will take to their
schools, their families and throughout the community.
We
now have more
than 100
Neighborhood Leaders organizing neighborhood events, clean-ups and
engaging their neighbors in discussion about important Monrovia
issues.
This
kind of civic invigoration is undeniable.
And
throughout the City, in all the ways we come together, these
Monrovians are inspiring us all to work together as a community.
___________
I’m
proud to report that this past year we refused to allow strained
budgets to strain our relationships, especially with our partners at
the Monrovia
Unified School District.
With
their support, we can add the opening of the Monrovia High School
track to the list of recreation sites for our community.
We
know that Monrovia will only continue to attract the best and
brightest if we create
the best and brightest through our school system.
The
Monrovia School District has consistently been recognized as a leader
in education in California, a leader in nutrition, and now, for the
third year in a row, CIF Champions in football.
We
have seen more kids go to college than ever before, including a 25%
increase at Canyon Oaks High School from just four years ago.
Mt.
Sierra College continues to graduate leaders with BA’s in Business,
Technology, Media Arts and Game Design… seeing a 130% rise in new
student applications from 2008.
These
bright students will go on to lead our City, build our businesses and
sustain our neighborhoods.
It
is only
natural
that the City supports our schools in every way possible.
___________
2012
was also a great
year for
our natural resources in Monrovia.
After
purchasing our Wilderness Preserve, we have finally approved a
Resource Management Plan- A plan that shows us how we will balance
protection and use of our land for generations to come.
I
want to thank our Monrovia Fire Department for undergoing a Community
Wildfire Protection Plan, and those residents who have agreed to sit
as committee members to provide feedback.
This
plan, led by residents themselves, will help to ensure that we remain
good stewards of our land in the foothills.
That
was the intent years ago when we purchased the property and it is our
intent now
as we put measures in place to safeguard our wilderness.
I
am as eager as all of you to announce an opening day to our
Wilderness Preserve, but there are still many steps we need to take
before that day comes.
I
promise that we are working as hard as possible to open up our land
for those who want to share in it.
___________
Our
environment is part of what makes Monrovia such a wonderful place to
be, and preserving it takes more than just City efforts.
It
comes from your efforts in our Wilderness, our parks and water
conservation.
In
keeping with our Environmental Accords, I am happy
to announce that starting last year; every single commercial business
in Monrovia is now recycling at least 50% of their trash!
That
means half
of the waste produced is diverted from a landfill and recycled back
into our economy to create quality products and jobs.
We
took advantage of grant
funding to
further reduce our energy output, installing energy-efficient
lighting and replaced air conditioning units at our Community Center,
Police Station and Fire Station.
And
using LED lights at some of our traffic intersections, dramatically
cut down our operating costs.
___________
As
Monrovia continues to lead the region in our green efforts, we have
put together a strategy to lead in technology as well.
While
it is nice to come here, face-to-face, and talk without our
smartphones, we understand that online
technologies
are the new way of doing business-
The
way you
like to do business.
So
with our brand new redesigned website being launched this year, we’ve
streamlined our information so you can find what you need more
quickly.
We
are also taking a look at how we can make interacting and doing
business with the City easier.
Things
like online bill payment, plan tracking, online applications.
And
we’ve started.
Already
you can find zoning online… report errant shopping carts with an
iPhone… subscribe to weekly email updates… text in answers to
surveys… and scroll through a list of information you need to open
a business.
We
are committed to not just providing these services, but access
to services,…
Which
is why you will now find free Wi-Fi at all
of our City facilities!
We
are proving ourselves as an innovative
and active City.
___________
2012
was an outstanding year, thanks to some outstanding people and
programs.
Thanks
in big part
to our community members… who saw value in the programs Monrovia
supports… but the City can no longer fund.
Community
events can only succeed when they are championed by someone who
cares.
I
want to thank these community members who did
not hesitate
to take on these events themselves, springing into action and
bringing a deeper dimension to Team Monrovia.
Monrovians
have come together on so many levels this past year, from community
events like the 4th
of July, Monrovia Day, the Holiday Parade, Concerts in the Park, to
our Annual Spring Egg Hunt and the Holiday Tree lighting of our new
California Christmas tree donated by Home Depot.
The
reality is, these events require more than just volunteers.
Last
year alone, the community donated over
$400,000
to support these events.
Why?
Because
we believe in the value
of coming together.
We
believe
that a healthy community gets together to celebrate one another.
Quite
honestly, this kind of coming together only happens when you feel
safe.
Monrovia
is a safe city.
Since
2008, gang violence has dropped 64%.
Our
Monrovia SWAT team is part of the Foothill Special Enforcement Team
named #1 in the State of California.
In
March 2012… we received the James
Q. Wilson Award
as a finalist in excellence in Community Policing.
Since
1991… our Police Department has acted as more than just enforcement
officers…
but
activists
who affect change and solve long-term problems using resources within
our community.
It’s
a strategy that has been incredibly effective.
Yet
even as I say that, new challenges arise.
This
year the State Realignment program, which was implemented to fix
their prison overcrowding issues, resulted in the release of over
11,000
prisoners
to Los Angeles County.
These
prisoners are now the responsibility of the local jurisdictions.
Subjects
previously monitored by State parole officers are now the
responsibility of County probation and local police.
Newly
convicted felons of Non-Violent, Non-Serious and Non-Sex crimes now
serve their time in county
jail
instead of state prisons.
This
has placed a tremendous
burden on
our already overcrowded county jail system, and resulted in many
misdemeanor offenders not having to serve their full sentences.
I'm
sad to say that since the state implemented Realignment, we have seen
an increase in crime in the San Gabriel Valley.
We
are working with the county and our neighboring cities to find
regional solutions to this problem.
It
is up to us to remain vigilant, keep an eye out for each other, and
support our local Police officers as we stay on top of these
important issues.
___________
The
City and the Community need each other, now
more than ever.
In
2004, we reported to you a balanced budget… but announced that the
State of California would take $1.1 million dollars.
Again
in 2005, we reported the same.
In
2008 came the housing market crash, followed closely by the greatest
recession of our time.
And
then,
we were hit with a windstorm.
As
we were picking up the remnants of fallen trees and bearing the cost
of the cleanup, the State of California took our greatest economic
development tool.
I
am proud
to announce that Monrovia still claims a balanced budget, not an easy
task for many cities across the nation right now.
But
for the third year in a row, we are not adding to our reserve funds.
Even
though our sales tax revenues are rebounding and our property tax
revenues are showing modest growth, our overall revenue growth cannot
sustain
contributions to our reserves right now.
For
a fiscally responsible community like Monrovia, that is not
acceptable.
___________
The
simple and easy answer to solve this would be to say
“we
should cut back.”
I
want you to know, we have
been
cutting back- for years now. You’ve heard me say this.
Since
2008 we have eliminated 47 staff positions… which is 17% of our
overall staff… and cut $2 million dollars from our expenditures.
It
isn’t enough.
The
time for simply cutting back existing programs is over.
We
can no
longer
effectively provide quality service to our community at such reduced
levels.
Monrovia
can do anything,
but it’s everything
we can’t do.
It
is time now for a new way of government.
Challenge
accepted.
Over
the past three months, you have heard us ask this question: What are
the most important things the City should focus on over the next five
years?
What
are the programs you love?
What
provides the most service to the most people?
How
do we make the best use of our resources?
We
asked, and you answered.
Over
the past several months, hundreds
of
Monrovians have joined us at community workshops, started an online
discussions, mailed in surveys, and emailed or texted us with your
ideas about where the City should focus our limited resources.
It’s
all part of our Strategic Planning process: Plan Monrovia.
I
cannot describe how exciting it is to see so
many people
get involved and invested in our future.
You
spoke from your heart, and your experience.
And
we have listened.
All
of your voices and ideas are critical in how we shape our priorities
moving forward.
Plan
Monrovia
answers serious questions on how to emphasize programs and services
that have the biggest impact on Monrovia … and maintain our quality
of life.
It
will shape our 2013-2015 City budget.
The
process over the next several months will be tough, but we know that
doing the hard thing today
will lead to a better future.
So,
starting
tomorrow,
January 29, the City Council and I will sit down at our first
goal-setting workshop and take in all that you have said, all that
our Monrovia community has voiced, every sentiment that was made
about what you believe are the biggest priorities for our City.
Starting
tomorrow,
we develop a plan for the next five years that focuses our resources
and puts the weight
of the City
behind projects the community most loves and supports.
Starting
tomorrow,
we begin creating a new way of doing business,with your
voices
ringing loud and clear as we make these decisions for our future.
Starting
tomorrow,
I invite you to come to the City Council chambers for our first
planning session at 6pm as we write our new
way
of government.
A
government that sees you as not
just as
customers in the City’s vending machine of services, but as
partners in a greater goal.
Tonight,
as I leave this Monrovia business, step out onto the sidewalk in a
vibrant Old Town…
As
I pull up to my home along my thoughtfully planned street, turn on my
lights, and set out my trash…
Tomorrow,
as I see residents play in our parks and spend time at our Library, I
will be reminded of all
the work
that goes into creating and maintaining our great City.
The
work we ALL
put in.
As
you go home tonight, I ask that you be reminded of what is at stake,
and envision your
role in
Monrovia as we move forward in this new way of government.
We
have, all
of us,
been dealt a tough hand over the past several years.
But
I believe that no
one hear
listening tonight, no
one
watching from their homes, and no
one
reading this tomorrow are ones to shy away from a challenge.
We
must think and act anew.
Our
City may face unprecedented financial challenges, but our capacity is
not
determined by our bottom line.
It
is determined by the resourcefulness, passion, and innovation of our
community.
Monrovia’s
capacity is determined by you.
