Monrovia Meeting About 17-Mile-Long Street Fair

Meeting about 626 Golden Streets at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm (just across from the Library on the north side) on April 26, 6:30-8 p.m. 626 Golden Streets is a 17-mile-long street festival for pedestrians and bicyclists connecting six San Gabriel Valley Gold Line stops. It will take place on Sunday, June 26 along a car-free stretch of streets from Azusa to South Pasadena. About 626 Golden Streets: http://www.626goldenstreets.com/

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman's Bill - Increase Housing Density In Trade For Special-Needs Housing

A bill by Monrovia's assembly member, Chris Holden, to expand housing for former foster youth, homeless and disabled veterans, AB 2442, passed the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee with a 6-1 vote today. AB 2442 allows housing developers to obtain multiple density bonuses from local government if the development sets aside ten percent for former foster youth, disabled veterans, or formerly homeless individuals. "A multiple density bonus is a zoning tool that enables developers to build more units than normally allowed." Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Wilderness Area to Fully Open; Bob Bartlett Mosaic; Trees; Kindnesses; Etc.

In his weekly report (not on line yet) City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ The city is "now 3-6 months away from completing the final improvements required before final resolution of the issues at hand, which will pave the way to opening the Cloverleaf Access Point for public access."

~ The Bob Bartlett Memorial Committee is looking for an artist to develop a mosaic mural at Station Square to honor the late Bob Bartlett.

~ Public Works Division field crews planted three drought tolerant Crape Myrtles and one Strawberry Tree in the Duarte Road median just West of Mountain Avenue. Also, 7 boulders and 25 yards of mulch.

~ Last Saturday Kiwanis Club cleared the hillside areas of Grand Avenue Park of dead branches and debris.

~ The MAP "Care for Your Neighbor Program" helped a Monrovia family in need by cleaning the property at 345 Genoa Street. Poor health kept the resident from doing it.

~ Jehovah's Witnesses recently informed the city that they want to place literature carts at several locations around tow. Each cart would be staffed with two people.

~ Representatives of LabLaunch Monrovia (a biotech-startup firm) reports it has signed up several new companies to work at their facility, which is now half-full.

- Brad Haugaard

Four Companies That Could Run Monrovia Street Fair

Here are the four companies Monrovia is considering to run the Friday night street fair (from City Manager Oliver Chi's weekly report):

Coastal Pacific, LLC

• Based out of Ventura, CA
• Operating for over 13 years
• Currently operate 5 weekly farmer's market / family festival events: Northridge Certified Farmers' Market & Family Festival located at Northridge Mall, featuring organic fruits / vegetables, dining options, and entertainment; Simi Valley Certified Farmers' Market with 45 vendor market featuring fruits / vegetables, food options, and crafts; Canoga Park Certified Farmers' Market with 35 vendor market featuring fruits / vegetables, food options, and crafts; Galleria @Tyler Riverside Farmers' Market with 35 vendor market featuring fruits / vegetables, food options, and crafts

GreenLeaf Events, Inc.

• Based out of Monrovia, CA
• Operating for around 1 year
• Currently operate 5 weekly farmer's market / street fair events: Monrovia Street Fair with
• 200 vendor market featuring fruits / vegetables, food options, crafts, and entertainment; Rosemead Farmer's Market with 30 vendor market featuring fruits / vegetables, food options, crafts, and entertainment; Baldwin Park Street Fair & Farmer's Market with 60 vendor market featuring fruits / vegetables, food options, crafts, and entertainment; Santa Fe Springs Farmer's Market with 50 vendor market featuring fruits / vegetables, food options, crafts, and entertainment; Harbor City Farmer's Market with 25 vendor market featuring fruits / vegetables, food options, and crafts

LA PartyWorks

• Based out of South El Monte, CA
• Operating for over 25 years
• Currently does not operate any weekly farmer's market / family festival events
• Prior operator of Monrovia Friday Night Family Street Fair from July 2015 - October 2015
• Self-identified relevant experience includes work done for the City of Duarte, Metro Gold Line, Foothill Unity, Vans, and other clients

Raw Inspiration

• Based out of Calabasas, CA
• Operating as a not-for-profit company for over 15 years
• Currently manages more than 20 markets throughout LA County and several in Ventura County, including: Pacific Palisades Market, voted best market to purchase fresh local produce in LA by Jonathan Gold of LA Times; Brentwood Farmer's Market, a ¼ mile long weekly farmer's market offering premium certified farmers, grass raised meat vendors, sustainable fish / honey vendors, and high quality artisans; Channel Islands Harbor Market - in addition to managing the farmer's market, also coordinates special events for the Harbor; Partnership with Rick Caruso to produce farmer's market events.

- Brad Haugaard

Mental Health & Wellness Seminar at Monrovia High

Parent and Youth Academy "Mental Health & Wellness," with speaker Alize Neal, Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills Youth of the Year, Saturday, April 16, 8:30-11 a.m. at Monrovia High School room 908. Call Susan Hirsch at 471-2776 or 926-6832 for more information. http://goo.gl/egPMbB

Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte Battle of the Bands

The 12th Annual MAD (Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte) Battle of the Bands will be held this Friday, April 15, at Monrovia High School in the Louise K. Taylor Auditorium. This scholarship fundraising event began in 2005 with only Monrovia-area talent; in 2015 it was opened up to include Arcadia and Duarte High bands, hearkening back to the years prior to 1954 when the school district was composed of Monrovia, Arcadia and Duarte residents. Tickets are $5 from band members or at the door. More information, history and a gallery of pictures at http://www.mhsbattleofthebands.com.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Gold Line Train Yard Gets Top Design Award

The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded the Foothill Gold Line Operations Campus main shop building in Monrovia its Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification, one of the highest achievements in sustainable design, and makes it the first of its kind to receive the distinction. LEED is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.

Features of the building:

- An on-site 714-panel, 178.5-kilowatt solar panel array that generates nearly a third of the energy needs of the main shop building, with excess energy made available to the local grid.

- Solar-tracking skylights that move with the sun to maximize use of natural light.

- Sensors that detect human motion as well as the level of natural light available and adjust the high-efficiency LED lighting for actual need.

- High-efficiency fixtures and infrared water faucets that dispense less water.

Additional sustainability features incorporated into the overall 24-acre facility that went above and beyond those needed to achieve LEED Gold Certification include:

- A comprehensive stormwater management system that captures 100% of rainfall; filtering and infiltrating the first 112,000 gallons during any rain event into the groundwater aquifers below.

- Use of only recycled, reclaimed water for the carwash, which averages 60,000 gallons of water use daily.

- Smart sprinkler technology and the planting of a drought-tolerant plants that reduce landscape water consumption by 50%.

- Use of recycled materials for half of the building materials used on site; and locally sourcing all of the track ballast, aggregate and concrete to reduce the environmental impact of transporting them to the site.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblyman And Others Propose 'Transportation Equity' Laws

Assemblymember Chris Holden (who represents Monrovia), and members Eduardo Garcia and Richard Bloom have unveiled a package of "transportation equity" proposals that would: provide $50 million for student transit passes (Holden, AB 2222); "put disadvantaged communities first when Caltrans determines which roads to maintain and improve, and prioritizes projects for funding that hire and/or train individuals with barriers to employment" (Garcia, AB 2332); increase spending on bike and pedestrian safety in disadvantaged communities (Bloom, AB 2796 and AB 1982). Source: Holden press release

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Man In Girl's Restroom; Drugs and Guns and Alcohol; Staring At House; Etc.

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

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Warrants / Weapon Offenses / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspects Arrested
April 7 at 2:40 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 1600 block of S. Myrtle. The officer discovered there was an outstanding warrant for the registered owner of the vehicle, who was in the passenger seat. The registered owner was also found to have drug paraphernalia in his possession. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded shotgun in the driver’s area and two firearm replicas. Additional drugs were also found in the vehicle. Both subjects were arrested without incident.

Vehicle Burglary
April 8 at 12:59 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 1200 block of N. Canyon. The victim parked her vehicle next to the ranger station. The victim returned from a hike and found her rear window shattered and her purse missing. The victim’s credit cards were used immediately at three local businesses. The investigation is continuing.

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
April 8 at 3:08 p.m., officers responded to the 300 block of S. Myrtle regarding a suspicious male, adult subject loitering in the children’s section in the library. The librarian pointed out the subject, who was now outside. As the officers exited the library, three young girls, ages 13, 12, and 11 years old, approached the officers and told them the same subject had been inside the girl’s bathroom minutes before. The girls reported that they walked into the bathroom, saw the subject standing inside and immediately left. They said the subject followed them outside and then walked away.

April 8 at 4:50 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of E. Lime regarding a male adult who entered a business and asked to use the women’s bathroom. An officer saw the subject walking away from the business and recognized him as the same subject from the library incident. The officer approached the subject and saw him toss a methamphetamine pipe into the fountain at the park. He was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and taken into custody.

Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested
April 8 at 6:55 p.m., officers responded to a disturbance in the 1200 block of S. California. They were told a male subject had been arguing with his grandparents and he had been drinking. The subject had left the location, but the officers located him a short distance away. After speaking with him, it was determined he was too intoxicated to care for himself. He was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
April 9 at 2:29 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 600 block of W. Palm when he saw a male subject riding a bicycle without any type of lighting equipment on the bike. The subject rode into a driveway. The officer stopped to contact the subject. The subject saw the officer and removed a small baggie from his pocket and tried to discard it without being seen. The officer recovered the discarded item, which was found to contain methamphetamine. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Resisting/Delaying a Police Officer – Suspect Arrested
April 9 at 12:57 p.m., a resident in the 700 block of W. Colorado called to report a suspicious subject standing across the street from his home. The subject was smoking and staring at his residence. Officers arrived on scene, located a subject matching the description and stopped to investigate a potential peeping/prowling violation. The subject saw the officers and a short foot pursuit ensued. He was detained in the 600 block of W. Colorado and arrested for resisting/delaying a peace officer. No injuries were sustained. The suspect was arrested and later released with a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Recovered Stolen Vehicle
April 10 at 7:05 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of E. Lime regarding a vehicle blocking the aisle of a parking lot. A 1998 Acura was found with its doors open and keys in the ignition. A computer check revealed it was reported stolen the previous day. The owner was notified regarding his recovered vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 10 at 7:21 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of W. Duarte regarding a suspicious person loitering in the area. The suspicious person was located and discovered to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was arrested and released to the Arcadia Police Department on the warrant.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
April 11 at 1:10 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Shamrock and Evergreen when he observed a vehicle commit a vehicle code violation. The officer conducted a traffic stop and contacted the driver. He immediately noticed signs of intoxication. The driver was determined to be driving under the influence, was arrested, and held for sobering.

Workshop on Homelessness at Neighborhood Conference

The 7th annual Monrovia Area Partnership Neighborhood Conference, April 23, has added a workshop on homelessness, based on feedback from residents. To register: https://goo.gl/cenAe3

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Adult Ed Ceramics Sale

Monrovia Adult Ed (Wheelhouse Ceramics) has two sales a year in the space just behind Santa Fe Middle School.  The spring sale is April 30, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  Sellers are students who pay for the space plus a percentage of their sales. The studio runs on the fees of those enrolled and any money made from the sale. From Mary Coates

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus Grads Guaranteed Admission to La Verne

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, recently signed an agreement that guarantees its students will receive admission to the University of La Verne provided they meet all of the eligibility requirements. They will also have access to academic and financial aid advisers, receive an application fee waiver, and they will qualify for a one-time $1000 TAG scholarship from ULV. Source: Citrus press release

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Mikomi Sushi

Dinner Wednesday at Mikomi Sushi on the east side of Myrtle just south of the theater. Got the Spicy Pork entree for $14 and a large beer for $5.50. Very good! Came with very good miso soup and a nice salad. I couldn't finish it all. Lunch for tomorrow. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Musical Meth; Under the Bed; Shoplifting and Robbery; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for April 4-6. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 440 service events, resulting in 67 investigations.

Possession of a Controlled Substance/Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 4 at 9:06 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Montana regarding a subject in a resident’s backyard. The officer detained a subject near the residence that matched the description given. The subject claimed he was looking for a friend that was selling some type of musical equipment. A search of the subject revealed he was in possession of methamphetamine. The subject was coming from the wash area and was cutting through the resident’s backyard. A computer check revealed a no-bail warrant for a probation violation. He was arrested for the warrant and possession of methamphetamine.

Warrants – Suspects Arrested
April 4 at 12:44 p.m., officers responded to a domestic dispute at a residence in the 200 block of N. Shamrock. When officers arrived, there was no answer at the door. Officers have responded to the residence numerous times regarding the female resident and her boyfriend. A computer check revealed an outstanding warrant for the female subject that lives at the residence and a no-bail warrant for her boyfriend. Dispatch called the female resident on her cell phone. The female subject said she had been in an argument with her boyfriend on the phone, but she had left the house. The officer requested the Foothill Air Support Team helicopter because he believed both subjects were inside the residence, and the boyfriend has a history of running from the police. After talking to the female subject on the phone, she decided to open the door. The boyfriend was found hiding under a bed. Both subjects were arrested for the outstanding warrants and taken into custody.

Vehicle Burglary
April 4 at 9:25 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported at a business parking lot in the 700 block of E. Huntington. The victim arrived at the location and entered a business. When she was done, she went back out to her vehicle and discovered a window had been smashed and her purse and wallet were missing with charge cards and her drivers license in them. The investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
April 5 at 6:33 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a traffic collision at Mountain, just south of Huntington. Two vehicles had collided into each other. The drivers in both vehicles sustained minor injuries. One driver was taken to a hospital to be examined.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
April 6 at 3:05 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a shoplifter. The male adult suspect entered the store, selected clothing and went into a fitting room. The subject put the selected clothing on and then put his own clothing back on over the stolen merchandise. The suspect left the location without paying for the merchandise. Officers conducted an area search, but did not located the suspect. About fifteen minutes later, he was seen walking on Huntington, but was now wearing the clothing he had stolen from the store. The suspect was detained and identified by store loss prevention. He was arrested and taken into custody without further incident.

Robbery – Suspect Arrested
April 6 at 3:09 p.m., a robbery was reported at a business in the 300 block of W. Huntington. A male adult entered a store and selected merchandise. The suspect tried to leave the store without paying for the merchandise. Several store employees tried to stop the suspect. The suspect pushed one employee to the ground and punched another. He was detained by store employees and customers, but managed to break away and flee the location. Officers located the suspect inside a nearby business. The suspect was positively identified by the victims. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody for robbery.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
April 7 at 12:15 a.m., a caller reported a suspicious vehicle with two subjects inside parked in a parking lot in the 100 block of Highland. Officers arrived and contacted the occupants. A computer check revealed the female occupant had a no-bail warrant for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant.

Progress Report on Encinitas Historic District

Dennis Sanchez reports on the progress in creating an Encinitas Historic District:

Monrovia has only one Historic District, Wildrose, dedicated to preserving its neighborhood from Mansionization.  Therefore, the residents of the 100 and 200 blocks of North Encinitas in Monrovia have banned together to make these two blocks, 64 homes, an Encinitas Historic District.  We have completed 90% of our application and raised $7,300.00 of $11.9k, through https://www.gofundme.com/savingourblock, toward city fees, and have been working with the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group and the city to get this completed. One of our homes, 168 North Encinitas, will be on the Monrovia Home tour May 1st.  We have a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Encinitas.Historic.District/, for those who want to learn more. Also, a video by Allen Holmquist and Dennis Sanchez containing photos of neighborhood homes and interviews with people living on our street: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aROUF2FC4s0 

- Brad Haugaard

Cameras in Monrovia Parks | Baseball Team Falls to Paraclete | Rain

~ Cameras to watch Monrovia parks. http://goo.gl/PRA96v

~ Monrovia baseball falls to Paraclete. http://goo.gl/AMcGK1

~ 100% chance of rain Saturday. 70% Sunday and Monday. https://goo.gl/0qMTb8

- Brad Haugaard

Auction to Benefit St. Luke Church

The entire contents of a 3,700 sq. ft. home in the Hollywood Hills will be sold at St. Luke Episcopal Church in Monrovia Thursday through Sunday,  April 14-17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily in the Swan Hall building and patio area. All proceeds benefit the church. Appraiser TeBeau said, "Everything is custom made, much of it coming from designers and showrooms in the Pacific Design Center." Furniture, oil paintings, decor, lighting, chandeliers, clocks, pottery, silver plate, luxury bedding, kitchen items, Daum crystal, Murano glass, Pottery Barn pieces, Kitchen Aid appliances and holiday decorations. http://goo.gl/LjTJlb

- Brad Haugaaard

Restaurant Windmill to Turn Again

Okay, so this has nothing to do with Monrovia, but I just can't resist. The windmill on top of the restaurant at the corner of Santa Anita and Huntington in Arcadia will turn again. I think I remember it turning when I was a kid, waaay back when it was a Van de Kamp's restaurant and was painted powder blue. Van de Kamp's was a Dutch-themed restaurant, hence the windmill. http://goo.gl/SKELVU

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus College Transferring More Students to Four-Year Schools

Citrus College, which serves Monrovia, has achieved a new high for the number of students who transfer to four-year colleges and universities. A report from the college found that 1,234 Citrus students transferred to four-year institutions during the 2014-2015 academic year, a 67 percent increase compared to the 2002-2003 academic year, the first year the data was recorded. Source: Citrus press release.

- Brad Haugaard

Report on Homelessness in Monrovia

Monrovia has about one homeless person per 1,000 residents, according to a report to the City Council by Monrovia Police Chief Jim Hunt, though several audience members disputed that as too low a figure. San Luis Obispo, by comparison, he said, has about 48 per 1,000. Hunt said most of the homeless in Library Park are "resistant," meaning they've been offered assistance but have refused it. Also, he said that by making many felonies into misdemeanors, Proposition 47 has made it much more difficult to enforce laws, as basically all police can do is give tickets. Several speakers suggested the city provide showers, storage, bathrooms and housing for the homeless.

- Brad Haugaard