Critical Monrovia Well-Pump Failed, Must be Fixed; Big Bucks from Feds | Second Lowest Bidder

At its Tuesday, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m. meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/aQNLn ) the Monrovia City Council will consider ...

- spending $90,939 to repair Well No. 6, which supplies a lot of Monrovia's water. It failed on Jan. 14; the pump shaft snapped and damaged the motor and pump. The staff report says that "repairing and reinstating it is imperative to the water system operations." http://goo.gl/Wk35y

- accepting a $906,765 grant fund from Homeland Security for the Fire Department. http://goo.gl/JvBFF

- selecting the second lowest bidder (because of the quality of its work) to produce the Monrovia Today magazine. That would be Printing Control, which would get $12,337 per issue. http://goo.gl/ywlFi

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Library Staffer Dies | Brewery Delayed | More Liquor | Class Cancelled | Liu Welfare Bill

~ Staff members at the Monrovia Library are mourning the loss of colleague, Jeff Lambert, who assisted at the reference desk. http://goo.gl/x6nNG

~ An application to put a microbrewery at 130 East Walnut Ave. has been withdrawn by the applicant, but the Monrovia Planning Staff is working with the brewmaster to find a suitable location in town. http://goo.gl/7L2bS

~ Mimi's, Oto Oto Japanese restaurant, and the upcoming Smashburger restaurant (at the old Acapulco site) have all asked for city permission to sell more types of alcohol. http://goo.gl/7L2bS

~ The Union 76 service station at Myrtle and Pomona is going to get a face lift, with an expanded convenience store and a repair facility. http://goo.gl/7L2bS

~ The Saturday class at the Library on how to make money with your computer has been cancelled.

~ Monrovia's State Senator, Carol Liu, has introduced a bill that would exclude second graders from the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program ( http://goo.gl/8W7cq ). Liu has also introduced a bill ( http://goo.gl/Q411T ) loosening the welfare-to-work provisions of CalWORKs for additional classes of pregnant women.

Monrovia Police: Graffiti, Stolen Cars

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Feb. 11-13. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 381 service events, resulting in 63 investigations.

Vandalism

February 12 at 4:06 a.m., an officer on patrol discovered several locations vandalized with graffiti. The graffiti was found in the 2000-2100 blocks of South Myrtle, 200 block of East Duarte and the 200 block of Kruse. The crimes occurred between 1:30 and 4:00 a.m. The suspect(s) used black spray paint to write the graffiti. Investigation continuing.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered

February 12 at 10:04 p.m., police received a call reporting a suspicious vehicle parked in the 600 block of Maryanna Lane. Two male subjects were seen walking away from the car. The vehicle, a 2004 BMW, was found to be a reported stolen vehicle. The vehicle identification number indicated this vehicle was one of 13 stolen from a dealer in Brea on February 7. The vehicle had a license plate on it that was stolen from a vehicle in Glendale. The suspects are described as two male African American's, 20-30 years old, approximately 6'0" tall, medium to large build. Brea Police Department was notified of the recovery.

Grand Theft Auto

February 14 at 5:09 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 200 block of South Sunset. The vehicle was parked in the victim's driveway and was taken sometime between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. The vehicle is a black, 2007 Acura TL. The investigation is continuing.

Mayflower PTA Provides 30 Computers | Help MHS Students Talk to Space

~ Monrovia's Mayflower School PTA buys the school 30 new computers. http://goo.gl/PMrB3

~ Help Monrovia High students talk to astronauts - in space. http://goo.gl/8AeNx

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia High Wins 6-Year Accreditation | Napolitano Introduces Mental Health in Schools Bill

~ Monrovia School Board member, Alex Zucco, reports on Facebook that the Monrovia High community is "celebrating a 6-year WASC accreditation." WASC is the "Western Association of Schools & Colleges."

~ Representative Grace F. Napolitano, who represents most of Monrovia in Congress, has introduced H.R. 628, the Mental Health in Schools Act, to fund on-site school-based mental health services for youth. http://goo.gl/zTiRX

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Youth of the Year | Holden Pharmacy Bill

~ Monrovia Boys & Girls Club names its Youth of the Year. http://goo.gl/JKkgW

~ Assemblyman Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, has submitted a bill (AB 299) that would prohibit any pharmacy - in-state or out-of-state - from requiring recipients to either a) get their meds by mail or, b) not get them by mail. http://goo.gl/2I0UF Comment: Not sure why this is necessary.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Senator Proposes Extension of Education Funding

State Senator Carol Liu, who represents Monrovia, has proposed a bill to extend specialized state funding for schools for five years, from the 2015-16 fiscal year through the 2019-20 fiscal year. http://goo.gl/wSWDW

- Brad Haugaard

Big Lawsuit Against Monrovia Settled | Class: Make Money on Your Computer

~ Big lawsuit against city by developer of property around Gold Line settled. http://goo.gl/VE8Y9

~ Saturday, Feb. 16, 1-4 p.m. in the Library. Seminar. Learn how to make money with your computer. 120 businesses you can run from your computer. Free. http://goo.gl/M3NQu

- Brad Haugaard

Filing for Monrovia Write-In Candidates Begins

If you want to run for the Monrovia City Council as a write-in candidate, filing period started today. http://goo.gl/wACJs

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Sleeping in the Playground with Stolen Items, Burglary, Threats, Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Feb. 7-10. - Brad Haugaard]

 

Following are the weekend's highlighted issues and events.

 

Residential Burglary

February 7 at 4:03 p.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 2600 block of Rochelle regarding a burglary.  The residents left their home and locked all the doors and windows when they left.  When they returned the next day on February 7 at about 4 p.m., they discovered the rear sliding glass door had been pried open and the house had been ransacked.  The property loss was unknown.  The suspect left a metal pry tool inside the home, which was most likely used to pry open the sliding door.  The investigation is continuing.

 

Trespassing / Possession of Stolen Property - Suspect Arrested

February 8 at 7:46 a.m., police responded to an elementary school in the 900 block of East Lemon regarding a transient subject possibly sleeping in a covered playground slide.  Officers responded, but the subject had already left the area.  Officers located the subject nearby, but he ran when he saw them.  He was quickly apprehended and found to be in possession of recently stolen property.  A short time later, school staff reported additional discarded property they had found on the school grounds.  The property was recovered and found to be stolen.  Based on the time and proximity to the known original location of the suspect, the additional property will be investigated as associated to the arrested suspect. 

 

Outside Assist - State Parole / Wanted Fugitive Parolee - Suspect Arrested

February 8 at 1:27 p.m., a state parole agent called to report he had located a subject wanted for failure to register for many years as a sex registrant.  The suspect had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest for $160,000 bail.  The suspect was detained by the parole agent and then arrested by an assisting Monrovia officer.  He was booked for the warrant and transferred to the custody of the Los Angeles Police Department.

 

Criminal Threats - Suspect Arrested

February 9 at 11:31 a.m., police received a call reporting a family disturbance in the 300 block of Genoa Street.  The incident involved a male adult subject who was threatening his uncle.  Officers responded and detained the suspect.  He admitted he was mad at his uncle because of something his uncle did when he was younger.  He stated to his uncle that he was going to kill him.  The suspect was verbally abusive toward the officers, but did not physically resist them.  He was taken into custody without further incident.    

 

Criminal Threats / Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia - Suspect Arrested

February 9 at 5:02 p.m., a resident called police to report a subject trespassing on an abandoned property in the 700 block of South Shamrock Avenue.  When the resident confronted the subject and asked him to leave the property, the subject began to threaten him.  The resident told the subject he was going to call the police, and the subject threatened to come back and kill him.  Police arrived and detained the suspect.  He was found to be in possession of narcotic paraphernalia.  The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Monrovia Y Fundraiser Tonight

Fundraiser today for Santa Anita Family YMCA (the Monrovia Y) at Jake's Roadhouse, 622 S. Myrtle, from 4-9 p.m. Dine in or take out. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Y.

- Brad Haugaard

This Car Wash

A recent post ( http://goo.gl/2Awmp ) mentioned that a Del Taco restaurant may go in next to a planned new car wash on Huntington. A couple readers asked, "What car wash?" Fair question. Thanks to Planning Division Manager Craig Jimenez for enlightening us:

"Last September, the Planning Commission approved a CUP [Conditional Use Permit] to build a new automated car wash, which will be located on the western portion of the vacant lot in the 900 block of East Huntington Drive. Here's a link to the staff report: http://goo.gl/14aAt

"Since the signal/intersection (into the Target center) is shared with the City of Duarte, the coordination related to the intersection improvements have taken a little longer than anticipated. However, they should begin construction in this spring."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Senator Liu Introduces a Variety of Mostly-Education Bills

I have been remiss in following the bills introduced by Monrovia's Senator, Carol Liu. Here they are:

~ SB 116. "The Personal Income Tax Law allows taxpayers, until January 1, 2014, to designate on their tax returns that a specified amount in excess of their tax liability be contributed to the Emergency Food Assistance Program. This bill would extend the operation of these provisions until January 1, 2019." http://goo.gl/yj38j

~ SB 174 specifies the types of adult education that can receive State education funds. http://goo.gl/mJFlG

~ SB 177 would require that children in foster care who are shifted around by law be immediately deemed to have met residency requirements for school extracurricular activities. http://goo.gl/k4pfL

~ As best I can figure out, SB 188 would allow counties to set up "conservation camps" for prisoners, like those operated by the state. http://goo.gl/dbjTl

~ SB 192 would "require child care resource and referral programs" to "provide information about certain child care services" to families that qualify. http://goo.gl/WQbPl

~ SB 195 would require the Governor's Office of Planning and Research to set goals for state colleges and universities. http://goo.gl/CQdeg

~ SB 201 would tax school textbook publishers and manufacturers for the cost of the the State Board of Education adopting a basic curriculum for "language arts and English language development" for K-8 California schools. http://goo.gl/OgyzO

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Whistler | Medical Records

~ An old Huell Howser video has popped up on YouTube. It's of champion whistler, Carole Anne Kaufman, of Monrovia. http://goo.gl/36rOk

~ A new bill by Monrovia's assemblyman, Chris Holden, would allow a representative of a patient to have the same access to the patient's medical records as the actual patient ( http://goo.gl/hXZfJ ).

- Brad Haugaard

Frosty Night

Frost warning for the whole county tonight, which means bring in or protect any sensitive plants, and of course, let the dog and cat in. http://goo.gl/SuZ4w

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Employees May Get Pay Restored

At its next meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/i5t4B ), the Monrovia School Board will consider approving an employee contract for the 2013-14 fiscal year. All three of its bargaining units - teachers, support, and administrative - would get ...

- A 3% salary increase, which is a reinstatement of an earlier pay cut.

- A 2.78% increase in benefits.

- Five more instructional days per year, from 175 back up to 180.

Total cost will be $1,118,621.

The cost increase for the 2013-14 year will come out of reserves (though the district will not drop below its 3% legal reserve minimum) and for subsequent years it will be paid for from "Existing reserves and future cost reductions as necessary."

Comment: Hmmm. I'm happy for everybody's pay to be restored, but dipping into reserves for a continuing expense seems a bit dicey in the long term. But maybe I'm missing something.

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at King Hao Chinese Restaurant

Had lunch at King Hao Chinese Restaurant, formerly Shanghai Dumpling, in the Certified Market center, at Foothill and May. Got the Sizzling Plate Beef for $8.95 and a cup of tea. It came with egg flower soup and ... kimchi? It was good.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Goals Meeting | Marshmallow Shooters | Valentine Stories

~ City of Monrovia goal-setting workshop for Plan Monrovia, which will influence the city's strategic plan and 2013-2015 budget. Feb. 9, 8:30 a.m. for refreshments, 9 a.m. start time, at the Police Department at Lime and Ivy.

~ Marshmallow Shooters, Saturday Feb. 9, 7-9 p.m. at the Library. Use physics to catapult marshmallows into the sky. For 6th-12th graders only. http://goo.gl/rcEtG

~ Valentine stories, Saturday Feb. 9, 2-3 p.m. at the Library. Favorite Valentine stories, songs, crafts and film. Snacks. Ages 4 years through 5th grade. http://goo.gl/na2Nz

- Brad Haugaard

Details of Proposed Settlement Between Monrovia and Developer

At a special meeting on Monday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. (agenda: http://goo.gl/su0F7 ) the Monrovia City Council will consider a proposal to end some lawsuits against the city related to development around the Gold Line.

The proposed agreement is a bit of a monster, but here it is if you want to look ( http://goo.gl/g1kmY ), however, the main points seem to be that Samuelson & Fetter, LLC, will ...

- Get to buy a chunk of land near the new rail station for $2,780,000.

- Get $510,000 from the city, of which $110,000 will go to pay city development fees.

- Be reimbursed by the city for its environmental insurance costs on the land.

- Get street improvements from the city on the streets around the property.

- Brad Haugaard

Mexican Restaurant at Monrovia's Aztec Hotel Open in a Month? | Holden's Innovation Bill

~ When will the new Mexican restaurant at the Aztec Hotel open? On Facebook, the Aztec folks say: "So how does St. Patricks day sound??? I cannot think of a better day to crack a few." That's tentative, though.

~ Monrovia's Assemblyman, Chris Holden, has introduced a bill (AB 250) to create a "California Innovation Hub Program." The program - which is authorized to use underused state properties - will create "iHubs" to assist innovative start-up businesses. http://goo.gl/PoV9x

- Brad Haugaard