Monrovia Area Partnership Celebrates Tenth Birthday

Monrovia Area Partnership is celebrating turning 10 this year with a Block Party and Movie Night on Saturday, July 9 at 6 p.m. in Julian Fisher Park.

MAP began in 2006 with city staff partnering with residents, businesses and local service organizations to build community by decreasing crime, blight, and resident apathy through civic engagement. The MAP kick-off was focused on MAP Area #1 where (at the time) there was a significant increase in crime, blight and apathy. In an effort to assess resident needs and gain trust, block parties, called "Hot Dogs, Hot Links and Hot Topics," were held in this neighborhood. The meetings allowed residents to safely and comfortably meet and get to know city staff and to interact with their neighbors again. Feedback from those block parties helped to form the MAP program into the citywide program and philosophy we have today of "Partnering Together for a Better Monrovia."

Source: press release

- Brad Haugaard

Meetings On How To Elect Mayor; Preservation Meetings; No Swimming Etc.

In his weekly report, City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

- The city's Directly Elected Mayor Advisory Review Committee will hold public meetings to hear what people think about switching back to a rotating mayor. The meetings are:

June 9 at 7 p.m. in the Library Community Room; June 14 at 8 a.m. at the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce (620 S. Myrtle);

June 22 at 7 p.m. at the Wine of the Month Club (former Calvary Chapel) at 123 W. Pomona Ave. Chi writes that any change will have to be approved by a citywide vote.

- The City Council and Historic Preservation Committee will meet together June 20 at 7 p.m. In the Council Chambers to discuss possible changes to the historic preservation ordinances. 

- If you were looking forward to using the Monrovia High pool this summer, sorry. Delays. Plastering will not begin until June 20 and all the work is not expected to be completed until August.

- A franchise agreement with Raw Inspiration will be ready for City Council consideration at its June 21 meeting. 

- City staff has been touring other community centers in the area to get ideas for improving Monrovia's community center.

- The city is looking for a company to help update Monrovia's Park Master Plan.

- Monrovia Library is working with Mt. Sierra College on ARTPal, a program to introduce Monrovia K-12 student to art by matching them with Mt. Sierra students. The two will create a project and enter it in a contest. For more information, visit the Library or call 256-8274! 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Police: Truck Crunches Traffic Signal; Embezzlement;Shoplifting; Etc.

Monrovia Police activity for June 2-5. 

Hit and Run Traffic Collision

June 2 at 12:32 p.m., an officer responded to Fifth and Huntington regarding a hit and run traffic collision. A witness reported that an 18 wheeler truck turned the corner too sharp and knocked the signal down on the northwest corner, causing the traffic lights to malfunction. The truck did not stop for the collision. While the officer was investigating, the truck driver returned to the scene. The driver claimed he wanted to get something to eat before returning. The driver was issued a citation.

Fugitive Warrant – Suspect Arrested

June 2 at 2:10 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the area of Myrtle and Cherry when he saw a subject that he knew was wanted. The suspect had a federal fugitive warrant for his arrest. The suspect was in a vehicle with two other occupants. The officer confirmed there was a full extradition weapons warrant for the suspect’s arrest. He contacted the occupants in the vehicle. The suspect was arrested on the warrant and a female occupant in the vehicle was arrested for identity theft.

Embezzlement – Suspect Arrested

June 2 at 2:40 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding an employee being detained for embezzlement. The detained employee was a head cashier. The employee was processing fictitious customer return receipts and keeping the return money. The employee was arrested for embezzlement and taken into custody.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

June 3 at 12:16 a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the area of Peck Road and Live Oak. When the officer contacted the driver, he noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. Through investigation, the driver was determined to be driving under the influence. He was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released on a citation to appear in court.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested

June 3 at 8:50 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a theft. The suspect shoplifted from the store and fled the area. After investigating the crime, officers checked the area and located the suspect. He admitted to the theft. Over $500 in stolen property was recovered and the suspect was arrested.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested

June 4 at 1:00 a.m., an officer was on patrol in the 500 block of W. Huntington when he observed a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road, traveling west in the eastbound lanes. He stopped the vehicle, and the investigation resulted in the driver's arrest for driving under the influence. The driver stated he had been drinking at home and had taken prescription medication. He was arrested and held for a sobering period. He was later released on a citation to appear in court.

Hit and Run Traffic Collision

June 4 at 6:40 p.m., officers were dispatched to California and Walnut regarding a hit and run traffic collision. The suspect vehicle was traveling south on California and struck a parked vehicle and a tree. The suspect vehicle fled the scene. Officers located the suspect vehicle and interviewed the driver. The driver admitted to fleeing the scene. The case will be submitted to the District Attorney's office for filing consideration.

Fraud / Identity Theft – Suspects Arrested

June 4 at 8:54 p.m., staff from a hotel in the 1100 block of E. Huntington called police to report a subject that rented a room using a stolen credit card. The officers contacted the two occupants of the room and gained consent to search the room. The officers found stolen mail, stolen checks, and equipment used to alter and make access cards. The two suspects were arrested for mulitple charges of fraud and identity theft.

Domestic Violence – Suspect Arrested

June 5 at 12:48 a.m., officers responded to the police department lobby regarding a battery that had just occurred. The investigation revealed that the victim was involved in a dating relationship with the known suspect. The two had been involved in an argument and the suspect grabbed the victim by the arms and pulled her hair. Officers contacted the suspect at his residence and arrested him for domestic violence.

Grand Theft Auto – Suspect Arrested

June 5 at 8:42 a.m., a vehicle was reported stolen in the 100 block of East Cherry. The victim resides in the same house as the suspect. The suspect took the vehicle without permission sometime during the night. The victim has never allowed the suspect to use his vehicle and he desired prosecution. Officers searched the area and found the suspect walking a block away. The vehicle was also located several blocks away parked on the street. The suspect denied having possession of the vehicle, but witnesses stated she gave them a ride that night in the stolen vehicle. The suspect was arrested for grand theft auto.

Vehicle Burglary

June 5 at 7:30 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 1300 block of S. Magnolia Avenue. Several items were stolen from inside the victim’s locked vehicle. There were no signs of forced entry, but a metal rod was located near the vehicle that could have been used to wedge the door open to gain access. The investigation is continuing.

Monrovia City Council To Consider Speed Limit Increases; Budget; Water

The Monrovia City Council will hold a study session on "Neighborhood Compatibility" this Tuesday, June 4, at 5 p.m. http://goo.gl/VZg4z3

At its regular 7:30 p.m. meeting, the council will ...

- Consider allowing increased speeds on:
~ Madison Avenue between Foothill Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard (from 25 mph to 30 mph)
~ Violet Avenue between Foothill Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard (from 25 mph to 30 mph)

and consider posting speed signs on:

~ Hacienda Drive between Lemon Avenue and Royal Oaks Drive (25 mph)
~ Monterey Avenue between Colorado Boulevard and Huntington Drive (30 mph)
~ Shamrock Avenue between Evergreen Avenue and railroad tracks (25 mph)

Details: http://goo.gl/O4Cl4e

- Consider adopting a 2016-17 fiscal year budget. Projected revenue: $39.5 million, up from $37.95 million in 2015-16. Projected expenditures: $39.46 million, up from $37.85 million in 2015-16. Details: http://goo.gl/KBHkxQ

- Consider its progress toward meeting a state-required 20% reduction in water usage. http://goo.gl/wKDRw2

- Brad Haugaard

WWII Vet to Get His Diploma From Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High; School Lunch Prices Going Up

At its June 8 meeting (agenda), the Monrovia School Board will consider, among other things ...

- Granting a diploma to Mr. Julius Parker, who attended Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School from 1940-42, but was unable to graduate at that time because he was drafted into the military. "Based on is Honorable Discharge and completion of training in the United States Army, he has met the requirements of Education Code Secion 51140 in order to receive his Retroactive Diploma from Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School." Comment: Congratulations! Details here.

- Raising the price of school breakfasts and lunches by 25 cents. Details here.

- Appointing retired board member Chris Rich to fill in for former member Alex Zucco, who has resigned.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Historical Society Tours Starting to Sell Out

The Monrovia Historical Society reports that the 1 p.m. tour on June 18 is now sold out. There are still a few more spots on the 3:30 p.m. tour for the 18th. These are the first of four historic tours of Monrovia. Here's what's left: http://goo.gl/uifR8F

Details on the first tour: "Our City Historian will lead a group of 15 lucky people, riding in an air-conditioned van through the northwestern quarter of Monrovia. He’ll begin at the very spot when Mr. & Mrs. Monroe first fell in love with the area, then take you to where they camped as they planned to build their homes, before the first land sale was held and tell you about the other fathers (and mothers) of our wonderful city. You’ll learn why some of the city lots are big, some small, where the names of our streets came from and the beginnings of our train and water systems. Who knew that famous architects -- one who designed LA’s City Hall and another behind the grand Victorians of San Francisco -- designed some of our buildings? You’ll see how city blocks then filled with all styles (from ‘kit’ houses to prime examples of period architectural) to create our eclectic neighborhoods."

You can buy tickets at the Community Center Monday-Thursday or from the society at monroviahistoricalsociety1898@gmail.com or at 256.3423.

- Brad Haugaard

Westar Donates $2,500 to Monrovia Explorer Post

Westar Associates, which manages and operates the Foothill Park Plaza at the southwest corner of Myrtle and Foothill, has donated $2,500 to the Monrovia Police Department Explorer Program. The Explorer Post is made up of young men and women between the ages of 14 to 20 who are interested in a career in law enforcement. They volunteer their time and learn about law enforcement by riding along with police officers. They receive training on law enforcement topics and compete in national, state, and regional explorer competitions.

- Brad Haugaard

Citrus Awards Record Number of Degrees

Citrus College reports that it will award 3,158 associate degrees to the class of 2016, breaking its record for the sixth consecutive year. Source: pre4ss release



- Brad Haugaard

Opinion: Citrus College Recognized For Student Completion, Success

By Mrs. Joanne Montgomery, Board Member Citrus Community College District Board of Trustees

College success and the completion of academic goals are the most important focus of an institution of higher learning. This is true for students, their families, the taxpayers, and the businesses and industries that will need highly skilled, well-educated workers, ready to take on the challenges of the 21 st century workplace.

As Monrovia’s representative on the Citrus College Board of Trustees for the past 18 years, I am continually delighted by the college’s ability to set new institutional records and fulfill its commitment to be a “College of Completion.”

The 2015-2016 academic year has been a stellar year for Citrus College. This past fall, Citrus College was one of two community colleges in California to be recognized with the Student Success Award by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. The award validates college programs that support students as they achieve their higher education goals.

Citrus College was recognized among the nation’s top 100 community colleges for awarding degrees by the publication Community College Week. Citrus College was also ranked 12th in the United States for the number of associate degrees awarded to Hispanic students by The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. For the sixth consecutive year, Citrus College was designated a “Military Friendly®” school by GI Jobs magazine.

This spring, and for the second time, Citrus College was one of 150 community colleges in the nation invited to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The college has now advanced to the next round of the competition. In addition, the Campaign for College Opportunity, a nonprofit organization devoted to ensuring that the next generation of students in California has the chance to go to college and succeed, named Citrus College a “Champion for Higher Education.” The college was one of 13 California community colleges and three California State Universities that were honored for leading the way in creating strong transfer pathways.

Also this spring, Citrus College was named the “Best Community College” by the readers of the San Gabriel Valley Newsgroup publications for the third consecutive year. No doubt Citrus College’s dedicated faculty and staff; our beautiful campus with its state-of- the-art facilities; the college’s stunning location next to the foothills—and close proximity to the Gold Line; and our collegewide commitment to student success, has continued to make Citrus College a regional favorite in the San Gabriel Valley.

As the academic year draws to a close, I am especially gratified to say that Citrus College will once again break its record for the number of degrees awarded to students at Commencement for the sixth consecutive year.

I would like to thank the Monrovia community for their continued support of Citrus College. It is an honor to represent you on the Citrus College Board of Trustees.

Dinner at Shrimp House

Dinner at Shrimp House, at the corner of Peck Road and Live Oak. Got the Pacific Red Snapper for $14.39 and a beer for $4.39. This is a traditional fish restaurant. Very pleasant. I got a green salad, not shown because I ate it. Very nice. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Help Monrovia Teacher Win $2,500 for Her Class

You can help Kim Kirkendall win $2,500 from Farmers Insurance for her special needs class at Monrovia's Wild Rose School just by voting, and you can vote once a day. Click here ( https://goo.gl/RPp8Ns ), type "Monrovia" in the city field, then click on the card for Kim. The voting form will appear. Enter your email address and Farmers will send you a confirmation email (dig in your spam folder if you miss it). Finally, click on the confirmation link in the email.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Identity Theft; Counterfeit 50s; Pistols and Rifle Stolen; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 30 – June 1. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 412 service events, resulting in 66 investigations.

Identity Theft / Credit Card Fraud – Suspect Arrested
May 30 at 9:04 a.m., police received a call of a suspicious vehicle on Patrician Way. When officers arrived, they located a vehicle occupied by a male and female adult. During the investigation, the officers discovered the female driver was in possession of blank credit cards and personal information belonging to numerous subjects. The female suspect was arrested and taken into custody for identity theft and credit card fraud. The male subject was released.

Drug Paraphernalia – Suspect Arrested
May 30 at 8:31 p.m., an officer on patrol stopped a bicyclist for vehicle code violations at Ivy and Maple. A consent search of the subject revealed a methamphetamine pipe in his possession. He was arrested and taken into custody. He was issued a citation to appear in court on the charges.

Commercial Burglary
May 31 at 8:03 a.m., an officer was dispatched to a business in the 900 block of W. Duarte Road on the report of a burglary. Employees arrived for work in the morning and discovered the business had been burglarized. The suspect entered the business by cutting a hole in the roof with an axe. Once inside, the suspect was able to disable the alarm and cut a hole in the side of a safe with a steel cutter. The suspect stole cash from the safe and fled the location back through the roof. The investigation is continuing.

Fraud / False Information to a Peace Officer – Suspect Arrested
May 31 at 6:29 p.m., a resident in the 300 block of California called police to report that an adult female had come by her house twice, stating she was there to pick up two envelopes that UPS and the Postal Service had delivered. The resident refused to give her the envelopes and called the police. An officer responded and detained the female suspect a block away from the residence. The female suspect gave officers a fraudulent driver's license with a false name on it. The suspect's identification showed the address where the envelopes were delivered. The two envelopes contained two credit cards with the suspect's alias on them. The suspect was arrested for several fraud charges and giving false information to a police officer.

Injury Traffic Collision
May 31 at 8:27 p.m., officers responded to a traffic collision at the intersection of Mountain and Valley View. A van hit a parked car. After evaluating the driver, it appeared he may have had a medical emergency that caused him to hit the parked vehicle. He was checked by Monrovia Fire Department paramedics and taken to the hospital.

Counterfeit US Currency
May 31 at 9:16 p.m., a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington called police to report a patron passing two counterfeit $50 dollar bills at the location. The officers arrived and detained the subject. The subject stated that he completed a gardening job in Garden Grove and the individual paid him with the three $50 dollar bills and the rest in $20 dollar bills. As the subject was unaware he possessed the counterfeit bills, the officers seized the three $50 dollar bills and released the subject. The case was referred to the Secret Service for investigation.

Vehicle Burglary
June 1 at 3:02 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of N. Primrose. The victim had been to a shooting range and left four pistols and a rifle in the trunk of his vehicle. On June 1 at around 3:00 a.m., two suspects were seen unlocking the vehicle with a key fob. The suspects entered the vehicle and removed the firearms by accessing the trunk through the rear seat. The suspects stole the firearms and walked away from the location. The suspects are believed to be a male and female, both suspects were wearing hoodies. The investigation is continuing.

Vehicle Burglary
June 1 at 3:56 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 100 block of Poinsettia. The victim left his vehicle parked in front of his residence on the street overnight. When he returned to his vehicle in the morning, he noticed the contents of the glovebox had been removed. The suspects had also tried to remove the stereo. The investigation is continuing.

Shoplifting / Fraud – Three Suspects Arrested
June 1 at 6:58 p.m., officers were dispatched to a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington regarding a shoplifting in progress. As the three suspects exited the store, they were detained. After investigation, one female adult was arrested for petty theft and a warrant, one male adult was arrested for petty theft, and the other male adult was arrested for receiving stolen property and unlawful use of another's personal information.

Monrovia Bears at Work

- Brad Haugaard 

Less Water for Monrovia | Shuttle Usage 'Moderate' | Awards | Bartlett Memorial | Spilled Water | Summer Reading

In his weekly update, City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

- For Fiscal Year 2017/18 Monrovia will be allowed to draw 20,000 fewer acre feet of water from the ground, 13.3% less than for Fiscal Year 2016/17 (July 1 through June 30, 2017) That's 130,000 acre feet compared to 150,000 acre feet. The Main San Gabriel Basin Watermaster established this "safe yield." In response, Chi said the "City's strategy involves the continued imposition of aggressive water conservation measures, utilization of the City's Water Cyclic Storage Bank (a water savings account in which the City currently has over 1,400 acre feet of water production rights), and the strategic purchase of additional water production rights from other agencies in the Basin."

- The city's weekend shuttle service between the train station and Old Town has seen "very moderate usage." Since March 11, ridership on the shuttle has averaged 27 riders on Friday and 14 on Saturday.

- At the 2016 Neighborhoods USA annual conference, Monrovia Area Partnership won first place for its newsletter, second place for its Care for your Neighbor Program (Physical Revitalization / Beautification), and second place for its Youth Leadership Academy (Social Revitalization / Neighborliness).

- The Bob Bartlett Memorial Committee has recommended the City hire an artist to develop a mosaic mural at Station Square to honor the late Bob Bartlett. The city has received seven proposals and is reviewing the qualifications of the artists.

- An electrical failure last week at the city's well at 2655 S. Myrtle Ave. caused water to run into the street. Water Treatment Towers 3 and 4 had gone into an electrical shutdown, which let the water overflow.

- The Library will kick-off its Summer Reading Program on Thursday, June 16, from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Station Square Park with Fantastick Patrick, the one Man Circus Band. Laughs, juggling, music, a 10-foot high unicycle, and other "fantastic" tricks.

- Brad Haugaard

Bike Riding Seminar June 4

Bike Safety Saturday, June 4 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Parking lot of St. Luke's Episcopal Church at California and Foothill. Safety, riding skills, first aid, opportunities for Girl Scouts to earn badges. For more information, call Michael Gray, (818) 468-8870. Sponsored by Monrovia Police, American Red Cross, Girl Scouts and Empire Bikes. http://goo.gl/3Qu3D9

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Hit and Run; Burglary; Catalytic Converter Stolen; Couple Arrested for Fighting; Etc.

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for May 26-29. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Felony Hit and Run Traffic Collision
May 26 at 6:11 p.m., officers responded to the report of a hit and run traffic collision in the 1300 block of S. Magnolia Avenue. The victim’s vehicle was rear-ended by the suspect’s vehicle, which was traveling at a high rate of speed. The suspect then drove off and fled the scene. The victim saw the vehicle and suspect from his rear view mirror and said he could identify the suspect if seen again. He also gave a description of the vehicle. The victim complained of pain and was taken to a hospital for treatment. Several hours later, as the victim was returning home from the hospital, he saw the suspect vehicle. He called police and provided the license plate number. A computer check was run on the license plate to find the registered owner’s address. The vehicle was located at the registered owner’s residence and was stored for investigation. The registered owner was not located. The investigation is continuing.

Residential Burglary
May 26 at 9:26 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 200 block of E. Fig Avenue. Three to four male suspects were seen running from the residence. At least one was carrying property. The suspects got into a white, Hyundai sedan and fled the location. A side window was smashed to gain entry and the home was ransacked. A safe containing money and jewelry was taken, along with the video surveillance equipment. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft
May 27 at 9:52 a.m., a grand theft incident that occurred in the 400 block of Genoa was reported to police. The victim parked her vehicle on the street in front of her residence in the evening. When she returned to her vehicle the next morning, she discovered someone had stolen the catalytic converter off her vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
May 28 at 1:19 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the area of Live Oak and Longden. During the traffic stop, it was determined that the driver had been drinking and was driving under the influence. After investigation, the driver was arrested for driving under the influence and held for a sobering period.

Residential Burglary
May 28 at 7:22 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 800 block of S. Canyon Boulevard. The father of the victim went to his daughter's apartment to check on it because she is out of town. When he arrived, he saw a back window had been shattered and the residence was ransacked. Jewelry was taken from the home. The investigation is continuing.

Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
May 28 at 8:06 p.m., officers were dispatched to a traffic collision with possible injuries in the area of California and Los Angeles. During the investigation, it was determined that one of the drivers involved was intoxicated. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence and held for a sobering period.

Domestic Violence – Suspects Arrested
May 29 at 9:20 p.m., officers responded to the 400 block of Grand Avenue on the report of two subjects fighting. They arrived and found a male and female with injuries. Both subjects admitted they had been in a fight. The subjects were found to be boyfriend and girlfriend; both were arrested for domestic violence.

Walking Tour of Old Monrovia

The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group will conduct another walking tour of downtown Monrovia on Saturday, June 4, at 10 a.m. The tour lasts about two hours, and participants will be walking a total of 8 city blocks. Cost is $5 per person, and reservations are not necessary. Meet at the SE corner of Palm and Myrtle Avenues. http://www.mohpg.org/

- Brad Haugaard

CPR Today at Library Park | Monrovia Baseball Loses :-( | Inside Buyers | City Closed for Memorial Day

~ Sidewalk CPR lessons today at Library Park, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. http://goo.gl/G6RFd1 (UPDATE: My apologies. This was not today, it is this coming Thursday, June 2.)

~ Monrovia baseball loses CIF bid with loss to Tahquitz Titans. http://goo.gl/VL3KlC

~ Insiders buying stock in Monrovia's Staar Surgical. http://goo.gl/4UCeLQ

~ Monrovia city facilities closed today in honor of Memorial Day.

- Brad Haugaard

Dinner at Mooyah Burgers

Dinner last night at the new Mooyah Burgers, in the Pavilions shopping center at Myrtle and Foothill. I got a Mooyah burger for $5.79, a small fries for $2.49 and a Little Moo shake for $3.49. A very lively place. The burger comes on a potato bun and is tasty. Shake nice and thick. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Gold Line Service to Improve In Late June

"All Gold Line trains will run from Azusa to East Los Angeles with frequencies of every seven minutes during peak hours beginning Monday, June 27, Metro CEO Phil Washington announced Thursday." http://goo.gl/ZjBM8s Comment: This is very good. I take the trains at rush hour and most of the time it is standing room only because currently half the trains from LA end at Sierra Madre Villa station, which means the trains that continue on - and come back - are about every fifteen minutes and are very crowded. Hooray!

- Brad Haugaard