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Municipal Service Bill To Go Up; Rotating Mayor; Power Poles; Etc.

In his weekly report ( http://goo.gl/ILpgBG ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports:

- Your Municipal Services Bill will go up starting with the August 2016 bill. "For the typical residential customer, a 2.7% CPI rate adjustment will result in a $1.05 / month water bill increase, and a $0.24 / month sewer bill increase."

- The city is planning a set of community meeting to ask people their thoughts about having a the mayor's office rotate among council members. No dates yet.

- SCE will be replacing 214 50-year old power poles with new steel poles, 20 poles per day. You should get a door-hanger notice if there will be work in your area.

- There will be a grand opening of the remodeled Nature Center Exhibit in Canyon Park showcasing Native Americans of the San Gabriel Valley, on Saturday, May 28, from noon to 2 p.m. Event will feature with Native American blessing ceremony, children's activities, story telling, face painting, activity booths.

- Canyon Park Family Hike & Campouts on June 11-12 and August 13-14. From Saturday at 2 p.m. to Sunday at 10 a.m. $40 per 10x10 camping spot. Guided day and night hikes, story times, BBQ'd hotdogs and hamburgers, roast marshmallows... all while spending an evening in a tent beneath the stars. Then a Sunday morning pancake breakfast. For details contact Eugene Suk, Hillside Wilderness Preserve Supervisor, at 256-8281, or at esuk@ci.monrovia.ca.us!

- Monrovia students are featured in this video edition of Metro Motion taking a train ride to Citrus College in Azusa. https://goo.gl/nAoo60

- The latest edition of the Monrovia Today will be out in a week or two. Information about summer concerts, community events, and Library and Recreation activities, programs, and classes.

- Monrovia Day Parade winners: Best Band - Monrovia High; Best Float - Monrovia Elementary School Float; Best Themed Entry - Monrovia High Robotics Club; Best Cheer Squad - Monrovia High Cheerleaders; Best Dance Troop - Pasadena Cowgirls Drill Team & Drum Squad. Judges Award - Ballet Folklorico Azteca.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Rotary Awards Scholarships

The Monrovia Rotary Club reports that it has presented $14,000 in scholarships to students from the Monrovia School District. http://goo.gl/yuY5Ih

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia ChapCare Will Provide Pediatric Care

On June 6, Community Health Alliance of Pasadena (ChapCare), will begin providing pediatric medical services at its center in Monrovia, located at 513 E. Lime Ave. Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Bike Safety Saturday | Time Not a Factor Lecture

~ Bike Safety Saturday will be held on Saturday, June 4, from 8 to 10 a.m. in the parking lot of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, at Foothill and California. It will include safety tips, riding skills and first aid information, as well as opportunities for Girl Scouts to earn badges. For information, contact Michael Gray, (818) 468-8870. Sponsored by the Monrovia Police Department, the American Red Cross, Monrovia/Duarte Girl Scouts and Empire Bikes.

~ Christian Science lecture, "Time is Not a Factor in Your Life," by Dave Hohle, Saturday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Monrovia United Methodist Church, 140 W. Palm. Child care provided. Presented by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Monrovia.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia College Grad Wins Award for Outstanding Community Service


Aspiring pediatrician Karah Kirby of Monrovia is the 2016 recipient of Cal State Fullerton's Kenneth L. Goodhue-McWilliams Award, which recognizes outstanding community service in the health professions. She received the award Friday at the university's Honors and Scholars Awards ceremony, then donned cap and gown for the May 22 commencement ceremonies on campus. She graduated summa cum laude. Full story: http://goo.gl/J8JOvj

- Brad Haugaaard

Monrovia Police: Road Rage; Drunken Car Accident; Drugs; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 19-22. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered
May 19 at 7:59 a.m., an abandoned vehicle was reported in the 800 block of W. Walnut. An officer arrived to check on the vehicle and found the driver side door handle was damaged, there were no license plates, and the vehicle identification number was covered. A tow service was requested to store the vehicle. They gained entry into the vehicle, allowing the officer to check the vehicle identification number. A computer check revealed the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Hollywood a one week prior. The vehicle was stored and the owner was notified.

Road Rage / Criminal Threats / Warrants – Suspect Arrested
May 19 at 3:09 p.m., an officer was dispatched to Foothill and Magnolia regarding an incident of road rage and criminal threats that just occurred. The female victim reported that the female suspect was driving a silver Honda and cut in front of her on Foothill at Magnolia, as they both were driving east in heavy traffic. The suspect then abruptly stopped her vehicle, causing the victim to stop, as well. The suspect exited her vehicle in the middle of the road, ran up to the victim's vehicle, and began pounding her fists on the window, yelling profanities and threatening the victim. The victim called police on her cellphone.

When the suspect saw the victim calling on her phone, she punched the victim’s side mirror, breaking it, and then fled in her vehicle. She was detained by police. A computer check revealed the suspect had four outstanding warrants for her arrest and a suspended driver's license. The victim positively identified the suspect and she was arrested and taken into custody for the charges and warrants.

Grand Theft Auto Recovery – Suspect Arrested
May 19 at 4:01 p.m., officers were alerted to a possible stolen vehicle in the 1800 block of S. Peck. The vehicle, a blue Honda Civic, was traveling north on Myrtle. An officer in the area saw the vehicle stopped for a red light at Duarte Road. A computer check confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen the day before to the Los Angeles Police Department. The officer followed the vehicle until assisting officers could arrive and then the vehicle was stopped. The driver and passenger, both male adults, were arrested and taken into custody for questioning. The passenger was later released.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol / Traffic Collision with Injuries
May 19 at 4:40 p.m., a three car collision was reported in the area of Foothill and Magnolia. A small red vehicle was traveling west on Foothill and ran a red light at Magnolia, colliding into a white compact traveling north on Magnolia. The white vehicle was pushed into a small postal carrier truck. Both the driver of the red vehicle and white compact sustained minor injuries and were taken to a hospital for treatment. The driver of the red vehicle appeared to be intoxicated and there were empty alcohol containers in his vehicle. A blood sample was taken and the investigation is continuing.

Fraud Report
May 19 at 7:40 p.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington on the report of a fraud scam. The suspect claimed to be a representative of the electric company and told the victim he was late with this month’s payment. The victim did not know it was a scam and sent a Money Gram to the suspect. The investigation is continuing.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
May 20 at 12:58 a.m., officers responded to the 900 block of W. Duarte Road regarding two male subjects climbing into a clothing donation bin. Officers arrived and contacted a subject near the bin. Although no theft was substantiated, the investigation revealed one of the suspects was under the influence of a controlled substance and in possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Vehicle Burglary
May 21 at 9:05 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 700 block of E. Huntington. The victim parked her vehicle in a business parking lot and went into a business. When she returned, she found a window smashed and her purse missing from inside the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Weapon Offense / Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
May 21 at 1:49 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Mountain and Royal Oaks when the officer saw a subject acting suspicious and attempting to hide behind a dumpster at a closed business. He stopped and contacted the subject. The subject admitted to having drug paraphernalia. During a pat-down search, a weapon and drug paraphernalia were found on his person. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
May 21 at 10:35 p.m., a suspicious male subject was reported to the rear of a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington. Officers responded and contacted the subject, who was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested and held for sobering period. He was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol – Suspect Arrested
May 22 at 12:32 a.m., a possible traffic accident was reported in a business parking lot in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Officers arrived and saw one of the involved vehicles leaving the scene and conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of S. Canyon. During the investigation, it was determined that no traffic accident had occurred, but the driver was determined to be driving under the influence of alcohol. The driver was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released with a citation to appear in court.

Felony Vandalism
May 22 at 7:55 a.m., an officer responded to a business in the 1100 block of E. Huntington on the report of vandalism to a customer's vehicle. It appears the suspect used some type of paint thinner or a corrosive substance on the victim’s vehicle, causing damage. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
May 22 at 7:18 p.m., a suspicious subject was reported near a dumpster in an alley behind an apartment complex in the 100 block of W. Cypress. Officers arrived and located a subject matching the description given. A computer check revealed the subject had an outstanding parole warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant.

Public Intoxication – Suspect Arrested
May 22 at 7:23 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 600 block of S. Myrtle regarding a subject who was trying to grab one of the employees. Officers arrived and determined the subject was intoxicated and was trying to talk to his girlfriend, who works at the location. Although no crime occurred, the subject was too intoxicated to care for himself and was arrested and held for a sobering period.

Vandalism
May 23 at 2:48 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 1900 block of S. Myrtle noticed what appeared to be fresh graffiti on the walls of the businesses between the 1900 and 2000 blocks of S. Myrtle. Red spray paint was used to damage the property. The investigation is continuing.

Citrus College Places Well in Rocket Competition

Left to right: Logan Tomes, Justin Frias, Tabitha Bailey, and Rebecca Thomas, members of the 2016 Citrus College Rocket Owls.

Two teams of Citrus College science, technology, engineering, and mathematics students recently participated in competitions organized by NASA. Citrus College serves Monrovia.

Eight Citrus College students known as the Rocket Owls joined groups from 47 other American colleges and universities in designing, constructing, and launching rockets as part of NASA’s annual Student Launch project in April. The Rocket Owls completed the challenge in fourth place, their best showing ever, after first place Vanderbilt University, second place University of Louisville, and third place Cornell University.

The Citrus College team had to design a rocket that could reach an altitude of one mile, deploy an automated parachute system, and safely land where it could be recovered.

Several days earlier, Citrus's Galactic Owls was the only group from California selected to participate in NASA’s international Human Exploration Rover Challenge, or HERC.  The five students from Citrus College travelled to Huntsville, Ala. to design, build, and race human-powered rovers April 7-9, 2016.

The Galactic Owls competed against college and university teams from throughout the United States, as well as teams from Russia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, and India.  The students successfully completed the mandatory rover obstacle race and the optional sample collection challenge.

Source: Citrus press release

- Brad Haugaard

Mooyah Burgers Opens Today in Monrovia


MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes is opening today in the Pavilions shopping center at Myrtle and Foothill. The company says:
Guests can choose from a variety of bun options, such as baked in-house artisan white or multigrain wheat buns and handcrafted lettuce buns to accompany a never-frozen, 100 percent American beef patty, all-natural Jennie-O turkey patty or delicious black bean veggie patty. Each gourmet burger can be customized with five different cheese options, applewood smoked bacon and sliced avocado, along with nine free veggie toppings and 11 free sauces.
- Brad Haugaard

Government Evaluating Monrovia Company's 'Tether Eye' Drone

Monrovia drone-maker, AeroVironment, reports that the government's Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office is evaluating the company's new drone, named Tether Eye. The company calls it a 'virtual observation tower.' It is tethered to the ground with a special power cord and it circles and keeps watch around the point where it is tethered. http://goo.gl/WrRM5d

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Micah Fulton Wins Two Titles; City Facilities Closed Memorial Day

~ Monrovia Girl's Track star, Micah Fulton, wins two track and field titles. http://goo.gl/qTNmMQ

~ All city facilities will be closed on May 30, Memorial Day. http://goo.gl/qTNmMQ

- Brad Haugaard

- Brad Haugaard

Clifton Robotics Team to China; State Funding Lacks Excitement; New Classes

At its May 25 meeting (agenda here), the Monrovia School Board will ...

- Consider an "extended field trip" to Shanghai, China,  on May 30-June 5 for the Clifton Robotics Team to participate in a robotics competition. All expenses will be paid by donations. And if you want to donate, click here: https://goo.gl/bVSg8V

- Hear a report on state schools funding. Chief Business Officer Connie Wu writes: "The Governor's May [budget] Revision reflects the lower state revenue collection compared to January's projection. Although there is no funding cuts in K-12, as a result of year-to-date weak sales tax receipts and April's lackluster personal income tax revenue, there is definitely lack of excitement." Details here

- Consider approving new classes in ceramics and vehicle maintenance, and advanced placement classes in computer science, psychology, and physics.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Hazardous Waste Roundup

Household Hazardous & E-Waste roundup on Sat. June 4; 9-3 p.m. in the 300 block of Evergreen (between California and Shamrock) in Monrovia.

Monrovia City Manager Estimates Cloverleaf Entry Point Should Be Open Within Three Months

I asked City Manager Oliver Chi for an update on progress opening the Cloverleaf entry point to the Hillside Wilderness area. Here's most of his response:

First, pursuant to the purchase and sale agreements that were approved, he City has been working to implement the capital improvements that were identified.  Those capital improvements include:

§  The City will install two (2) electric access control gates on Cloverleaf Drive.

  • The first gate shall be located on Cloverleaf Drive where Cloverleaf Drive splits off from Hidden Valley Road.
  • The second gate shall be installed on either the easements being acquired or on City owned property in-between the property owned by Baze and Reid.

§  The City will install a set of locking mailboxes for the residents of Cloverleaf Drive.
 
§  The City will install a public drinking fountain on City property located north of the facility known as Fire Station 103.
 
§  The City will install a public trash receptacle on City property located north of the facility known as Fire Station 103.

§  The City will develop mechanisms to divert pedestrian and bicycle traffic into and out of the HWP through the CAP onto the existing access trail located just west of the City’s Cloverleaf Canyon Reservoir.

We have been making good progress during the past month and half since the agreements were approved.  A status update of each item is included below:

§  We have complete the preliminary designs for the two fences that we need to install, and we have also obtained quotes from the contractors.  We are in the process of working with the contractor to refine the fencing quotes, and we plan on meeting with the residents within the next few weeks to finalize and approve the fencing plans in question.

§  We have identified the recommended mailbox, drinking fountain, and trash receptacle for installation.  We need to review the selections with the residents before we finalize the installation.

§  Our team has also assessed the access trail located west of the City’s Cloverleaf Canyon Reservoir, and the work needed to upgrade the location is minimal.  Our staff has identified that any needed work can be accomplished in less than a week, and therefore, we are holding off on making those improvements in order to coordinate the work with the installation of the two gates.

One other note… the permit parking program for the area has been developed in concert with the capital improvement work that staff has been executing.  The Traffic Safety Committee approved the permit parking program at their May 19, 2016 meeting and we are now working to get the signage developed and installed in consultations with the area residents.

...

Based on our progress to date, I do believe that we should be able to get everything completed within the next 3 months.


- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Wang's Place


Dinner at Wang's Place, on the south side of Lemon just east of Myrtle. Got the Kung Pow Chicken ($12) and a beer ($4). Very good! I was impressed. 

- Brad Haugaard 

'From Sea to Shining Sea' Musical Production at Monrovia's Clifton School

California Dance Institute presents "From Sea to Shining Sea," with 150 California Dance Institute students, on June 2 at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Clifton Middle School Theater at 226 S. Ivy Ave. Students are from local schools, including Monrovia's Plymouth and Wild Rose Elementary Schools. The show, which also features a professional band and vocalists, travels across America through song and dance, from Zydeco to Bluegrass to Motown.

CDI is an in-school and after-school arts education program and West Coast Affiliate of Jacques D'Amboise's National Dance Institute. It engages children to move toward success in life through dance and music.

- Brad Haugaard

Hippie Bots to Represent US, Monrovia in China Robot Competition


Clifton Middle School's robotics team, the Hippie Bots, has been selected as the sole representative of the United States on behalf of L.A. FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) in the FIRST China Open in Shanghai June 3rd - 5th. The team is trying to raise about $15,000 on GoFundMe.com for air fare. https://goo.gl/bVSg8V

Monrovia Code Enforcement Seminar

Seminar on "Code Enforcement in Monrovia, including inspecting and mitigating nuisance activity, addressing issues on private property, and protecting the health & safety and general welfare." May 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Community Policing Room, 415 S. Ivy. To reserve a spot contact calling Ariel at 626-932-5563 or email at atolefree@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Victim Fights Off Man With Gun; Smash and Run; Counterfeit Money; Burglaries; Thief Scoots With Scooters; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 16-18. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 439 service events, resulting in 88 investigations.

Attempt Robbery
May 16 at 10:37 p.m., an attempt robbery was reported in the 200 block of W. Huntington. The victim lives in his motorhome and reported that the suspect began pounding on the side of his motorhome. When the victim opened the window, the suspect stated he wanted money. When the victim refused, the suspect displayed a handgun. The victim grabbed the gun through his window and the two struggled over the weapon. The suspect then pulled the gun out of the victim's grasp and fled. The investigation is continuing.

Commercial Burglary
May 17 at 3:36 a.m., officers were dispatched to a burglary alarm call at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. Upon arrival, officers found the front window of the business was smashed. The owners responded to check their inventory. A large amount of cigarettes and some cash was taken. The Investigation ongoing.

Counterfeit Currency
May 17 at 8:02 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 200 block of W. Huntington regarding a report of receiving counterfeit currency. A female adult entered the business and ordered takeout food. She paid with a one hundred dollar bill. The employee told the customer her food would take approximately 20 minutes. A few minutes later, the female left the restaurant without the food. An employee noticed the currency and believed the bill was counterfeit. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
May 18 at 1:40 p.m., police received an alarm activation at a residence in the 300 block of Bradoaks. Officers checked the residence and discovered a rear window had been smashed. The owner arrived to check the home and found nothing was missing. It appears that the alarm may have scared off the suspects. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
May 18 at 3:22 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 700 block of Ridgeside. The resident arrived home and noticed his side door was open and things appeared out of place. He checked further and realized the front door was open. It appears the suspect gained entry by smashing the glass window on the front door. The loss was two flat screen televisions, a lawn mower and a computer. The investigation is continuing.

Attempt Residential Burglary
May 18 at 3:36 p.m., an attempt residential burglary was reported in the 300 block of Linwood. The resident arrived home and tried to unlock his door, but could not get his key in the lock. Upon closer examination, he realized someone had tried to use a different key to open the front door, but broke the key off inside the lock. There was no loss. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested
May 18 at 6:58 p.m., police were alerted to a possible stolen vehicle in the area of Myrtle and Chestnut. Officers responded to the area and located a parked vehicle matching the description. They observed a male subject get into the vehicle and drive away. A computer check confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was arrested without incident.

Shoplifting
May 18 at 5:34 p.m., a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington called police to report a theft. A male suspect entered the store, grabbed two boxed scooters and ran out the doors, dropping one of the boxes on the way out. The suspect ran to an awaiting vehicle driven by a second suspect. The suspects then fled the area. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 18 at 7:29 p.m., officers responded to the 100 block of N. Mountain on the report of a driver who was driving on the wrong side of the street. An officer stopped the vehicle for several traffic violations. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence of a controlled substance and was arrested. The driver was taken into custody and held for a sobering period.

Monrovia College Student in Aeronautics Competition

Left to right, back row: Ben Kenworthy, Samuel Chung, Patrick Ailes, Nia Asmady, Luke Bughman, Alex Wielandt and Kurt Ebert; front row, Jake Stone, Angela Wong, Jared Lehmann and Nathan Rower.

Luke Bughman from Monrovia (third from right, back row), a member of Cal Poly's Design Build Fly club, recently supported the club's participation in one of the aviation industry's premier student contests.

Cal Poly was a finalist in the international Design/Build/Fly radio-controlled aircraft competition, placing 15th in a crowded field of 80. The event, which attracts top aerospace engineering student teams from throughout the world, is sponsored by the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics), Cessna Aircraft Company and Raytheon Missile Systems.

The final fly-off portion of the competition was held April 10-12 in Wichita, Kansas, amid heavy rains and wind, with San Jose State University placing first.

This year's contest challenged students to design and build two airplanes so that one would fit into the other. The flight demonstration in Wichita took the form of three sequenced flight missions. In the first, the larger aircraft was flown alone; in the second, the smaller aircraft served as a payload in the mother ship; and in the third, the smaller aircraft carried a payload in the form of a 32-ounce Gatorade bottle.

"We finished missions one and two with ease, even in the very strong winds of Wichita," said Alex Wielandt, president of the Cal Poly Design Build Fly club. "We were unable to complete mission three, however, due to ground control issues and weather. We placed very well considering we didn't complete a third of the missions. Despite this, we received much praise from other teams regarding our entry's lightweight and innovative design."

Others on the team included Jake Stone, chief financial officer; Kurt Ebert, technical lead; Patrick Ailes, pilot; and members Nia Asmady, Jimmy Wu, Charlie Ross, Angela Wong, Nathan Rower, Jared Lehmann, Ben Kenworthy, Samuel Chung and Josh Buckhalter.


"All in all, we learned a lot and look forward to next year's challenge," said Wielandt.

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Construction On Old Train Station | Will Monrovia Police Bradbury? Apartment Complex Construction Begins | Seniors of the Year


In his weekly report ( http://goo.gl/V8Lu4l ), City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

- With the unanimous approval of the Historic Preservation Commission, construction on the old Santa Fe railroad station should begin in mid- to late-summer and it could be finished by the end of the year, or early in 2017. Comment: It appears from the picture above that it will be inhabited by ghosts.

- Our neighbor Bradbury is thinking about about asking Monrovia to take over law enforcement for the town instead of using the Sheriff's Department. Chi writes: "Monrovia could take on the provision of law enforcement services for Bradbury with minimal adjustments to our current police department operation."

- Construction is beginning on the 261-unit luxury apartment complex at Station Square and it is being renamed from the Parks at Station Square to MODA at Monrovia Station.

- Monrovians Clint and Shelli Aresnault were recently selected as the 2016 Older Americans of the Year! Both are active in the Gad-a-bouts Senior Club.

- Brad Haugaard