Enrollment in Monrovia Schools Continues Decline

At its April 20 meeting (agenda) the Monrovia School Board will ...

- Hear a report that 2016-17 enrollment in Monrovia schools is predicted to decline by 88 students, or 1.51%, to 5,755. This also means a decrease of 1.6 full-time equivalent teaching positions. Details here.

- Approve a list of Monrovia High graduates.

- Honor (together with the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce) these district employees: Martha Alvarez Holmes, Clerical Assistant I at Mayflower Elementary; Janet Dunbar, Teacher at Mayflower Elementary; Liana Beserra, Clerical Assistant III at Santa Fe Middle School; and Donna Monje, Teacher at Santa Fe Middle School.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia School Board Member Alex Zucco Resigning

Monrovia School Board Member Alex Zucco will be resigning from the Board, effective May 20, 2016. See item 9.2 on the agenda: here.

UPDATE: I asked her why, and here is her answer:

I was offered a job with the CA PTA as a Policy Consultant -- working on the LCAP statewide with PTA units and specifically, encouraging more Title I schools to add more of the arts to improve achievement and each unit having a point person on the PTA board for LCAP and the arts.

Also, she forwarded this letter from Superintendent Katherine Thorossian:

Dear MUSD Family,

Please join me in congratulating seasoned Board Member, Mrs. Alexandra Zucco, with her selection as the California State PTA Policy Consultant.  Unfortunately, this notable position requires her to move to Sacramento.  Thus, it is with mixed emotion that I share the news of Alexandra Zucco's resignation.  Her tenure, which began in 2009, will end  May 20, 2016.

Mrs. Zucco has been a staunch proponent of public schools, tirelessly working on behalf of students to provide the very best education for the children of Monrovia.  Whether serving in the PTA, Girl Scouts, the League of Women Voters, or the National Women’s Political Caucus Greater Pasadena Area, Mrs. Zucco has championed social justice issues and, through her work as the Health and Education Deputy for Assembly Member Chris Holden, been able to advocate for change through public policy.

Alex and her husband, Joe, have lived in Monrovia since 1996.  Their children, Zoe and Bonnie, remain proud Wildcat alumni as they pursue their own college paths, at Marist and George Washington University respectively.

On a more personal note, it has been a privilege to work with Alex Zucco.  Her perspective has helped shape the direction, and driven the continued progress, of our district. Even during the most challenging budget analyses, I could always count on Alex to blurt out the funniest (and most accurate) commentary.

I am confident that she will give the PTA the same remarkable stamp that she has imprinted on the walls of this district.

Alex, you will be missed.

Warmly,

Kathy


- Brad Haugaard

See Jupiter and Moon Tonight From Old Town Monrovia

Tonight, April 16, the Old Town Sidewalk Astronomers will be at the corner of Myrtle and Lime from 7-9:30 p.m. sharing views of the moon and Jupiter.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Council: Making Train Depot Historic Landmark, Encourage Higher Sales Tax, License Plate Readers, 'Sign Management', Buying Water, Etc.

At its April 19 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/BtRhgx ), the Monrovia City Council will ...

- Consider designating the old Monrovia Santa Fe Depot as a local historic landmark. http://goo.gl/f2T9ha

- Consider a request by Mayor Pro Tem Larry Spicer to encourage the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors to place a measure on the November 2016 ballot to raise sales tax by half cent for more transportation projects. http://goo.gl/1I7foN

- Review Monrovia Police Department policies on automated license plate readers, of which the city has five, three mobile and two on Myrtle, one south of the train station and one north of the station. http://goo.gl/Hxxt4r

- Consider paying 3M $80,200 to put together a "Sign Management System" to keep track of the city's 6,500 signs. http://goo.gl/59oTcA

- Consider leasing 700 acre feet of water production rights from the Azusa Valley Water Company and the Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster for $476,748. That's actually 435 acre feet less than the city needed last year. http://goo.gl/tsR2rg

- Consider naming the circular driveway at Recreation Park as American Legion Way. http://goo.gl/llwD8k

- Consider buying three replacement handheld water meter readers from Inland Valley Water Works Supply Company for $13,859.51. http://goo.gl/mR9r9U

- Also, at 5 p.m., before its regular meeting, the council will consider a list of applicants to build a hotel in town. The agenda is pretty vague, but it is likely referring to the property at the southwest corner of Myrtle and Huntington. http://goo.gl/eA9jVe

- And, at 6:30 p.m. (also before the regular meeting) the council will honor the students who were graduated from the Monrovia Area Partnership's Youth Leadership Academy Graduation. http://goo.gl/EMXcKZ

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Domenico's

Dinner Wednesday at  Domenico's, on Huntington just east of Magnolia. Got the lasagna with a side of minestrone soup for $16.99 and a pint of beer for $5.75.  Very nice service. This is old-style Italian; cheese and red sauce. The soup was especially good On occasion old style I s just what I want. It was very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovian Kim Rhode and the Stigma Attached to Olympic Shooting

A Wall Street Journal article about Monrovia Olympics shooting medalist Kim Rhode and about how shooters are stigmatized because their sport involves guns. http://goo.gl/J8AEkB (Thanks to Robert Parry for the tip).

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Teacher Raises Funds to Send Student to Thomas Land

Bradoaks teacher wants to send a young autistic student to Thomas Land (that's Thomas the Tank Engine) because he wants to be an engineer. http://goo.gl/rVSWVu

- Brad Haugaard

Former Monrovia High Princess and Manson Follower May Be Released From Prison

A parole panel has recommended release for Leslie Van Houten ( http://goo.gl/RTcufp ), a former Charles Manson follower who has been in prison for decades because of her involvement in multiple murders in 1969. Houton attended Monrovia High School was twice elected a homecoming princess ( http://goo.gl/7SJm9F ).

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Woman Killed in Glendale Accident

Monrovia woman killed in Glendale after being hit by a car. http://goo.gl/qEakn4

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Trader Joe's Drops To Third Place In Favorite Market Survey

In a new survey, Monrovia-based Trader Joe's market has dropped from first to third place as people's favorite grocery store. http://goo.gl/4OSbd1

- Brad Haugaard

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