Monrovia Albertsons Supermarket Closing

The Monrovia Planning Department reports that the Albertsons supermarket on East Huntington will be closing in February. Details: http://goo.gl/DNTQOw . A web search suggests that Albertsons is closing a lot of stores.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Fire (and Rescue) Department to Get New Logo

Proposed new logo. Comment: I like it! Classy.

At its next meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/TX1W1V ), the Monrovia City Council will consider adopting this new logo for the Fire Department.

In his report ( http://goo.gl/JGfuYv ) Fire Chief Christopher Donovan writes that the Fire Department also performs rescues, and the new logo emphasizes that.

- Brad Haugaard

AOL Mostly Sells Its Patch News Websites

A company called Hale Global is taking over the Patch family of news websites. Monrovia has a Patch website. AOL will keep a minority ownership. Hale specializes in turning around online media companies. http://goo.gl/Nlkv65

- Brad Haugaard

Panera Bread Holds Its Official Grand Opening

Panera Bread has been open for a while, but held its official grand opening today. Lots of city and Chamber if Commerce folks showed up. The company is going to be donating to Foothill Unity Center. 

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assembly Member Introduces Bill to Let More High School Students Take College Courses

Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, has introduced AB 1451, which would expand opportunities for high school students to enroll in community college courses. It would also encourage students who need help passing the California High School Exit Exam and students who traditionally do not attend college. Details: http://goo.gl/ZW1yX6

Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Assemblyman Introduces Tax Hike Bill

Monrovia's assemblyman, Chris Holden, has introduced a bill into the legislature that could increase the taxes on employers in enterprise zones who do not pay their "qualified" employees over $2,000 a month. Because it is a tax increase, it will require a two-thirds vote. http://goo.gl/DtZEdX

- Brad Haugaard

Historic House No. 1 Goes on Sale in Monrovia

Real estate broker, Century 21 Adams & Barnes, notes that the house designated "Historic Landmark #1" is going on sale in Monrovia tomorrow. If I'm not mistaken, this house is at the corner of Primrose and Oaks. Here it is. http://goo.gl/DDxufv

- Brad Haugaard

Holden Bill on Mentally Ill Gets Bipartisan Support | Holocaust Survivor at Monrovia VFW

~ Assemblymember Chris Holden's measure to prevent last-minute dumping of seriously mentally ill inmates on county streets, passed its first committee test today. This measure passed with unanimous bipartisan support out of the Assembly Committee on Public Safety. Holden represents Monrovia. AB 1065 provides county probation departments with more time to identify, and plan for more intensive treatment and supervision of released offenders who were formerly classified as a mentally disordered offender.

~ Holocaust survivor to speak at Monrovia VFW Post. http://goo.gl/FMctKu

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Restaurant: Copper Still Grill to Replace Sam's Kabob Room

A new restaurant called the Copper Still Grill will be going in at 608-610 S. Myrtle, the site of the former Sam's Mediterranean Kabob Room. At its next meeting the Monrovia Planning Commission was going to consider granting a conditional use permit for the restaurant to serve alcohol, but the floor plan isn't ready, so the item is being continued until the February 12 meeting. Sounds like a micro-brewery kinda place. http://goo.gl/SC5lZ6

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Drugs and Alcohol and Burglary Tools

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for January 9-12. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.  To see a complete listing of crimes reported, go to the City of Monrovia website and click on the crime mapping link.  Sign up to follow us on Twitter for police notifications.

Possession of Burglary Tools – Suspect Arrested
January 9 at 8:20 p.m., dispatch received a call of a suspicious person on a curb in the corner of Beechworth and Prospect, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt.  This area was subject to an attempt hot prowl burglary the week prior.  The suspicious person was located and found with components to a slide hammer in his pocket and gloves in his sock.  A slide hammer is a mechanic’s tool commonly use in vehicle burglaries.  The suspect was arrested for possession of burglary tools.

Drunk in Public – Suspects Arrested
January 9 at 11:30 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of South Myrtle regarding the report of two intoxicated subjects.  The two subjects were located.  Officers determined them to be drunk in public and they were arrested and taken into custody.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
January 12 at 1:19 p.m., an officer was checking an area known for drug activity in the 600 block of West Lemon when he observed two subjects walking, nearby.  He recognized one of the subjects as an active gang member.  The officer stopped and spoke with both subjects.  The officer determined that one of the subjects was displaying symptoms of being under the influence of drugs.  The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

View from the Top of Newly Opened Clamshell Road

I went up to the top of the newly-opened Clamshell Road and took this video. It pans from the east, looking back towards the entryway off of Ridgeside Drive, then looks to the west, where the road descends towards the not-yet-open Cloverleaf entry point. It is a nice bike ride or hike.

Here is how to get there: http://goo.gl/CTvm1t

- Brad Haugaard

Hazardous Waste Pick-Up

Once a year Monrovians can get a household hazardous waste pick-up, according to Monrovia's Recycle News newsletter. They'll come get paint, batteries, TVs, old medicine and other stuff. Up to two 30-gallon trash bags and up to 10 items of e-waste. Call WM Curbside at 1-800-449-7587 to schedule a pick-up and for details.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board: Objecting to Erosion of Local Control; Congrats to Coach Maddox and Football Team; Etc.

At its Jan. 15 board meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/9QaCrg ) the Monrovia Board of Education will ...

- Consider sending a letter to the State Board of Education objecting to a proposed expansion of state control of local education. It is worded rather diplomatically, but I think that is the thrust of it. http://goo.gl/VIMK4e

- Congratulate the Monrovia High School Varsity Wildcat Football Team and its coaching staff, including Varsity Head Coach Ryan Maddox "as he expands his professional capacity at Monrovia High School."

- Receive an auditor's report for the 2012-13 fiscal year. http://goo.gl/8rAsqb

- Hear a report on technology in the district.

- Brad Haugaard

Fire Weather Watch in Monrovia Area

National Weather Service has the San Gabriel Valley and a bunch of LA County on Fire Weather Watch. "Moderate Santa Ana winds" and "extremely low humidity." http://goo.gl/jvswNX

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Claim Jumper

Lunch at Claim Jumper on Huntington. Got a Widow Maker Burger for $12.99, a cup of potato cheese soup ($4.99) and an iced tea ($2.89). Plus tax and tip. Very pleasant atmosphere and ... yikes! that's one huge burger! And after I ate the soup! It had everything, including bacon, avocado and a fried onion ring. Really great but more than I bargained for.

- Brad Haugaard

Get Ready for Four-Month Closure of Myrtle Near Duarte Road

Detour map.

Beginning Monday, Jan. 20, Myrtle Avenue at the railroad crossing will be closed to through-traffic for approximately four months to allow crews to construct grade crossing improvements.

To prepare the street for the long-term closure, the Myrtle Ave/Duarte Rd Intersection will be closed nightly on Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday morning, January 20, Duarte Road will re-open to through-traffic; while Myrtle Ave will remain closed for four months at the railroad crossing (just north of Duarte Road).

Detour routes will be in place and signage will be posted to guide motorists and trucks (see above). Pedestrians will be provided a crossing area on one side of Myrtle Ave throughout this construction work.

Source: Metro Gold Line Construction Authority press release

- Brad Haugaard

Reseeding Monrovia Hillsides from the Air

Monrovia may try aerial reseeding to replant the burned-off hillsides above Monrovia, according to Interim City Manager Fran Delach. He said the project would need approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Until native plants are back growing in the area, there is a danger of non-native plants getting a foothold in the unoccupied area, according to Senior Park Ranger Hector Inzunza.

Source: Interview with Delach and Inzunza

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Businessman Running for Congress

Monrovia businessman Jack Orswell plans to run against Judy Chu for the 27th Congressional District seat, which includes the top edge of Monrovia, roughly from Hillcrest/Grand/E. Greystone north. http://goo.gl/4OanHx

- Brad Haugaard

Craftsman Style Home to be Built at Canyon and Foothill

Elevation of planned home.

The Monrovia Planning Department reports that the weedy lot at the southeast corner of Canyon and Foothill is going to be replaced with a two story craftsman-style house, inspired by the nearby homes. The city's Community Development Department blog says: "Kudos to the architect, we think he did a nice job and got the details right." Details: http://goo.gl/aIDZcv

- Brad Haugaard

Opinion: Monrovia City Government Has Dawdled with the Hillside Wilderness Preserve

The old and new gates at Clamshell Trail. Finally some progress.

They say that when you criticize someone, you should say nice things about them first, so, since I am about to slam the Monrovia city government, let me say some nice things first.

We have an amazing Old Town; that the city was able to fit an awesome theater into Old Town while actually enhancing Old Town's character is a triumph. Having lived through a serious earthquake and an insane windstorm, I've been very impressed with the city's handling of disaster response. The events the city helps coordinate, such as the Christmas parade and tree lighting, the amazing Fourth of July fireworks display, the Friday-night Farmers Market, and now a New Year's Eve party, all seem to to be very well done. The city's attitude toward business seems far more positive than other cities I know, some of which seem to regard businesses as pariahs. And, as best I can tell, the city has responded to the fiscal challenges facing California cities by pretty much getting its expenditures under control, even when it has hurt. Good things.

Now for the criticism.

Somewhere around 14 years ago residents on the upper edge of Monrovia were concerned about a plan to build homes in the foothills above their homes, so the city responded by passing a bond and getting money from the state to purchase the land as a preserve that people could hike about in.

But then, for well over a decade, the trails didn't open. So, the day after Christmas last year, thinking that more than enough time had elapsed, I sent a letter to all the city council members and the city manager saying I was about to write this article. Here, verbatim, are the points I made:


- It is somewhere around 14 years now since Monrovia passed a bond measure to purchase the hillside property and nothing has been done to provide the access that was promised to the voters who passed the bond measure, or to the State of California, from which the city obtained money on the condition that the city would provide access to the area.

- The people of Monrovia have been taxed to pay for this bond for well over a decade, but the service they were promised when they voted on the measure has not been provided.

- I am aware that there were, and are, lawsuits hindering the opening of the trails, but my impression is that solving these suits is a low priority. I do not get the impression that the city is exerting much effort in this regard, despite "opening of the hillside area" scoring rather high in the recent community survey.

- The main reason for that impression is that whenever I ask about progress, my council-member contact needs to check for me. If it was a matter of discussion and regular updates among the leadership of the city, it seems unlikely such checking would be necessary.

- Further, communications with the public regarding the lawsuits and progress on opening the trails is extremely poor. What little communication has occurred seems to be mostly in response to my questioning. Also, the previous city web site had a page that gave some rudimentary information about progress, but after being first posted it did not seem to be further maintained, and I can no longer even find that limited information on the new city website.

- Whenever I have asked - and I have asked five or six times over the last few years - I have always been given vague estimates in the range of a three to six months regarding when the trails will open - but those estimates never seem to come about.

- The one trail I was told was "sort of" open is on Norumbega. I explored it and it's not a trail at all. It looks like an overgrown driveway leading about 100 yards up to a graded lot that was never built on.

- If a private company in Monrovia were to sign people up and bill them regularly for a service that the company did not provide within a reasonable time, I suspect the Monrovia City Council would rightly be furious. And if the company said that lawsuits were preventing it from providing the service, I doubt you would be appeased. I suspect you would at minimum demand regular updates, progress reports, and that you would say that their being sued did not give them the right to continue charging people for a service the company was not providing. I really don't see any substantial difference between such a company and what is happening with the city.


I received responses to this letter from Mayor Mary Ann Lutz - who invited me to meet with herself and Interim City Manager Fran Delach - and from every council member except Alexander Blackburn.

Here is some of the feedback:

Councilman Tom Adams: "I couldn't agree more. I have complained for years about this and it seems to be the normal governmental red tape. In my opinion, it has been open from the beginning. I know plenty of folks who go there and no one stops them. Perhaps a part of your article would be to explain to people how to get there?"

Fair enough, here's how to get there: A map of all the trailheads and their status ( http://goo.gl/PNzQYT ) and an article: http://goo.gl/azcBtq

Larry Spicer: "I understand your frustration about the wilderness plan. All I can say is once the holidays are over this issue will be taken to City Manager so we can move forward with some type of timeline that can be followed. I know you have heard this before but I will do my best to help move this forward along with my colleagues, My wife and I also cast a vote for the purchase and would like to have access to my investment!"

Becky Shevlin: "I know that you are tired of hearing the same responses; I can definitely understand your frustration; I think many of us are frustrated with the pace of the progress or lack thereof."

In another email, Shevlin told me the trailhead on Ridgeside Drive had been opened. I went to check on Jan. 1 and found a trail sign and a "Mutt Mitts" dispenser (for plastic bags to pick up after your dog) had been installed, but there was still a locked gate with a "Road Closed" sign. I was unimpressed, but a few days later she said she had just been there and insisted it was open, so on Jan. 6 I checked again. This time I found a new gate, combining a vehicle gate and pedestrian gate, had been installed. Hooray!

This leaves two other trails to be dealt with. Or three, if you consider Sleepy Hollow (off of Norumbega) to be a trail, though I consider it a bad joke, basically a short, unpaved driveway.

The other trails start at the top of Highland Place and at the end of Cloverleaf Drive.

In my meeting with officials...

Mayor Lutz said, "Your frustration is mirrored by all of us, but we have to go through protocols." However, she said, "In the last two months things have suddenly taken off," and "we're making great strides." She attributed the delays to multiple lawsuits and the attendant difficulties in finding old property records regarding right-of-way on Cloverleaf. These legal problems had to be handled one at a time rather than in parallel, she said, because the city didn't have enough money. She said that in the last few months the city has hired a new attorney to work on the right-of-way issue.

Interim City Manager Fran Delach said he believes "the delays are behind us."

Acting Recreation Division Manager, Community Services, Kerri Zessau, said two properties on Cloverleaf are now being appraised, which could take a couple months, then offers will be made to the property owners. Using eminent domain (the right of a government to force the sale of a property for a public use) "is not even a topic of discussion." (Lutz added that the city wants to try all other approaches first.)


In conclusion, all Monrovians - from the richest to the poorest - have been paying regularly for roughly 14 years for a service they are not getting. They've been paying either directly, as property owners, or indirectly as renters. Yes, there are the legal issues, but Monrovia was one of the leaders in redevelopment, which included lots of property issues, including lawsuits, and these issues were handled much more expeditiously than this Hillsides debacle.

So, I believe the City Council should ...

- Insist that its staff provide a progress report at every city council meeting on progress getting the Cloverleaf trail open.

- Work to establish an opening date for the Highland Place trail. I understand it is closed because of the forest fire damage, but at some point the trail should be open-able. This ought to be on the City Council agenda every few months or so to review.

- Post information about the Hillside trails on the city website, just as it does for Canyon Park: http://goo.gl/kiO5Li

- Brad Haugaard