New Coffee and Art Shop Opens on Myrtle
Ribbon cutting at the new Espresso Mi Cultura coffee and art shop on Myrtle.
- Brad Haugaard
New City Manager Announcement Late Next Week? Coffee With a Cop; Measure K Outreach
~ The latest Monrovia Today magazine is out: https://is.gd/pQQSXL
~ "If all goes according to plan, we should be ready to make an announcement [about the permanent city manager] toward the latter part of next week, and an employment agreement with the final selected candidate could make its way onto the October 1 City Council meeting agenda for formal consideration. If that timeline holds, then Monrovia's next city manager should be on board no later than mid- to late-November."
~ Coffee With a Cop. The Monrovia Police Department will be at the Starbucks on the corner of Huntington and Magnolia on Wednesday, Oct. 2, from 9 to 11 a.m., for National Coffee with a Cop Day. No agenda, no distractions, no barriers... just coffee and conversation with Monrovia police.
~ The city is planning an outreach to persuade Monrovians to vote for Measure K, on the November ballot. If passed, it would max out the sales tax for the city so that when the county passes another sales tax measure it won't have any affect on Monrovia since we'll already be paying the maximum, and the money will stay in Monrovia. Outreach will include a water bill insert, presentations to boards, commissions, and community groups, and two community meetings: Oct. 19, 11 a.m. at the Community Center, and Oct. 22, 7 p.m. at the City Council Chambers.
- Brad Haugaard
Marlene - Still a Puppy, Everything's a Game
The adoption fee for dogs is $140. All dogs are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before going to their new home.
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.
View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org. Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
Sister Act at Taylor Performing Arts Center in December
- Brad Haugaard
Saigon Avenue Changing Ownership
New owners for Saigon Avenue restaurant, Vietnamese food on the south side of Lemon just east of Myrtle. Thanks to Kelly Moran for photo.
Update: Craig writes that the restaurant is just changing from Sole Proprietorship to a Corporation.
- Brad Haugaard
Providers Group Awards Dinner
Video of Monrovia Providers Group Awards dinner. Courtesy of Monrovia Weekly.
- Brad Haugaard
School Board to Consider Contract With Learning Genie
- Brad Haugaard
Lunch at Los Victor’s
Lunch at Los Victor’s, the Mexican food stand at Foothill and May. Got the carnitas burrito for $6.50 (took a bite so you can see inside) and a medium horchata for $1.90. Both the burrito and the horchata were excellent!- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Police: 'Major Prize' Actually a Fraud; Lots of Drugs and Alcohol; Vehicle Burglary Suspects Arrested
During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 434 service events, resulting in 74 investigations.
Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 12 at 1:35 p.m., an officer was patrolling the area of Diamond and Mayflower when he observed a subject he believed to be under the influence of a controlled substance. The subject was stopped and an investigation was conducted. The subject was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and was arrested.
Traffic Stop / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 12 at 4:06 p.m., an officer was on patrol in the 1600 block of S. Mountain when he observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation. The vehicle was stopped and the driver was contacted. A computer check revealed the driver had an outstanding warrant for her arrest. She was arrested and taken into custody.
Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 13 at 12:25 a.m., an officer on patrol in the 1900 block of S. California stopped a driver for failing to stop at the stop light. When the officer contacted the driver, he displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI. He was taken into custody and held for a sobering period.
Public Intoxication / Prowling / Possession of a Gun – Suspect Arrested
September 13 at 3:11 a.m., a female resident in the 900 block of W. Olive called police to report her estranged husband was at the location and would not leave. The couple is separated and the husband was found sneaking around in the backyard and was intoxicated. The wife sat with her estranged husband for almost two hours talking with him, but could not get him to leave. Officers arrived and the subject was arrested for prowling and public intoxication. While securing the subjects vehicle, an open handgun case was found on the front seat. Officers searched around the vehicle and found a loaded revolver nearby in the bushes. An emergency restraining order was issued.
Vandalism Incident
September 13 at 7:43 p.m., a resident in the 200 block of Linwood called police to report a rock was thrown through the front window to his apartment. Investigation continuing.
Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
September 13 at 11:56 p.m., an officer was patrolling Recreation Park in the 600 block of S. Shamrock when he saw a subject inside the park after closing hours, which is a violation of the local municipal code. The subject was detained, and the officer determined the subject was under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
September 13 at 12:44 p.m., a traffic collision was reported near Mountain and Royal Oaks. Officers responded and contacted both drivers. One of the drivers displayed signs of being under the influence of alcohol. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI. He was taken into custody and held for a sobering period.
Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
September 15 at 2:06 a.m., an officer on patrol stopped a bicyclist in the area of Shamrock and Maple for a traffic violation. An Investigation revealed the bicyclist was in possession of methamphetamine. He was arrested and taken into custody.
Resisting / Identity Theft / No Bail Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 15 at 2:50 a.m., an officer attempted to stop a bicyclist for a traffic violation in the 600 block of S. Shamrock. The bicyclist ignored the officer's commands and fled on his bicycle. The officer caught up to the subject and arrested him for resisting/delaying. The subject was later determined to have identified himself using someone else's personal information to avoid the discovery of a no-bail warrant. He was charged with resisting/delaying, identity theft, and a no-bail parole violation.
Fraud Incident
September 15 at 7:25 p.m., a resident in the 2000 block of S. Myrtle called police to report a fraud incident. The resident attempted to purchase a vehicle online and sent a twelve hundred dollar credit card deposit to the seller. The resident never received the vehicle and was unable to get ahold of the seller again. The investigation is continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
September 15 at 7:53 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 800 block of Royal Oaks. The resident called police to report a pair of sunglasses and a checkbook were taken from his car. He notified his bank and closed his checking account. Investigation continuing.
Driving Under the Influence / Traffic Collision – Suspect Arrested
September 15 at 8:11 p.m., officers were dispatched to a traffic collision that occurred in the 200 block of W. Cypress. When they arrived and spoke with both drivers, they found one of the drivers displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI. He was taken into custody and held for a sobering period.
Vehicle Tampering
September 16 at 8:16 a.m., a resident in the 400 block of Montana called police to report their vehicle was ransacked, but nothing was missing. There were surveillance cameras around the location. The suspect was described as a tall, thin, male African American. Investigation continuing.
Fraud Incident
September 16 at 10:12 a.m., a resident in the 1000 block of Royal Oaks called police to report a fraud incident. The resident received a phone call stating she had won a major prize, and all she needed to do was give her personal information and $199.00. The caller asked for the money to be transferred through Venmo or another electronic banking service, but the victim didn't have any of those. She was then asked to get a money order and send it to an account, which she did. The investigation is continuing.
Residential Burglary
September 16 at 1:39 p.m., a residential burglary was reported in the 500 block of N. Alta Vista. The resident called police when he returned home and discovered his back door was forced open. It was unknown if anything was taken at the time of the report. Investigation continuing.
Drug Activity / Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 16 at 9:05 p.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the 700 block of W. Huntington. An investigation revealed the subject was in possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. He also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The subject was arrested and taken into custody.
Hit & Run Traffic Collision / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
September 17 at 2:23 a.m., a caller reported two vehicles were involved in a traffic collision in the 400 block of Montana and one of the drivers was attempting to leave the scene. Officers responded and located the driver nearby. He was positively identified by a witness. The driver displayed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. After field sobriety tests were conducted, the driver was arrested for DUI. He was taken into custody and held for a sobering period.
Shoplifting
September 17 at 10:42 a.m., an adult male and female went into a business in the 400 block of W. Huntington. They selected items and left the business without paying for them. They entered a black sedan and left the location. Investigation continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
September 17 at 5:50 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 300 block of N. Myrtle. The victim parked his vehicle and went inside a residence. When he returned to his vehicle, he discovered a window had been broken. He looked inside and discovered the tools he left in the vehicle were no longer there. Investigation continuing.
Vehicle Burglary
September 17 at 9:10 p.m., a vehicle burglary was reported in the 500 block of W. Huntington. The victim parked his vehicle in front of a business and went inside. When he returned, he discovered someone had broken into his vehicle. The rear passenger window was shattered. The victim's backpack containing a laptop and other items was stolen from the vehicle. Investigation continuing.
Warrant – Suspect Arrested
September 18 at 2:19 a.m., an officer was patrolling the 700 block of W. Huntington when he saw a subject he recognized from prior contacts. He knew the subject had two outstanding warrants for his arrest. The subject was detained and arrested for the warrant.
Vehicle Burglary – Suspects Arrested
September 18 at 6:42 a.m., a resident in the 1000 block of Royal Oaks called police to report two suspicious individuals in the area, both wearing dark clothing and carrying backpacks. The reporting party was aware of a vehicle burglary that occurred the day prior and called police. Officers responded, and as they arrived on scene, the reporting party pointed out the two subjects. The subjects ran when they saw the officers and a short foot pursuit took place, but the suspects were quickly located and detained. The suspects were positively identified by the resident, and the backpacks were found to contain stolen property from the vehicle burglary that occurred the day prior. The suspects were arrested and taken into custody. The suspects admitted to committing several vehicle burglaries.
First Monrovia Scouting Day Coming Up Sept. 28
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia High Roasters - Jobs for Special Education Students
The programs open doors to job opportunities from local business partners in the community. By going into the community and working for local businesses, students in special education classes learn independence and gain experience for life-skill development.
"Monrovia High's MHS Roasters program provides students with a chance to gain critical skills in academics, social interaction, communication, financial management, and job performance," Monrovia High Transition Coordinator Kymberly Hirst said.
Local business partners include Unleashed, Foothill Unity Center, REI, Grocery Outlet, Chuck E. Cheese, Wendy's, Walgreens, and Smart and Final.
"My son is very excited to get up in the morning now, and he shows up to school always ready to start working," said Leslie Hudspeth, mother of Monrovia High student Jason Travers. "This experience is going to give him the confidence he needs to go out to the community and hold his head up high because he will have the skills he needs to do the work."
Similar coffee cart programs are finding success in schools across the states, achieving a high degree of popularity on campuses and offering beneficial work experience, Hirst said. Students work alongside adults for support as they gain the skills they will need to be employed in the community.
"At Monrovia Unified, providing our students with the opportunities and experiences they need to be successful after graduation is one of our priorities," Board of Education President Ed Gililland said. "Our dedicated teachers and counselors at Monrovia High always ensure that our students have the opportunities they need to be successful not only academically, but in their personal goals as well."
Student training started with making hot chocolate for a friend and then providing complimentary drinks for teachers who visited the cart. Students learned how to use a cash register and how to manage a line of customers. Now they crisscross campus on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, selling coffee to faculty and staff.
"The growth of the MHS Roasters program follows the same successful trajectory of our other unique programs," Superintendent Katherine Thorossian said. "It begins with a great idea supported by an organization committed to creating opportunities for students. Our goal is to prepare students with the skills necessary to define their own future."
Source: Monrovia Schools press release
- Brad Haugaard
Fire Chief Brad Dover Confirmed as Interim City Manager
Brad began his career with Monrovia in 1994 as a fire cadet, and he was hired into a full-time firefighter role in 1998. Most recently, Brad was appointed the City’s Fire Chief in 2016, and since that time, he has been instrumental in advancing a variety of operational enhancements in both the Fire Department and throughout the City. Of particular note, one of the tangible results from all his efforts was the reclassification of the Monrovia Fire Department into a high class 2 rated operation by the Insurance Services Office, which ranks Monrovia Fire & Rescue in the top three percent of all fire departments across the United States.
“We are grateful that an individual of Brad’s quality and character is willing to step up and take on the additional responsibilities of serving as Monrovia’s Interim City Manager,” said Mayor Tom Adams. “The City Council has every confidence that Brad will be a terrific steward of our organization and community, and that Monrovia will have continued success during this transitional period.”
“I am extremely humbled to have the opportunity to serve the City of Monrovia in this interim capacity,” said Brad. “What an honor it is to work with so many dedicated and hardworking people that are all committed to making Monrovia the best place that it can be.”
As one of the few completely full-service cities in the San Gabriel Valley, Brad will be supported in his new role by a staff of around 300 full-time employees.
Brad holds a Bachelor Degree in Occupational Studies from California State University, Long Beach. In addition, this November he will graduate as an Executive Fire Officer from the National Fire Academy in Maryland. He has been married to his wife, Anne, for the past 21 years, and they have two 16-year old twins, Blake and Ella.
Source: City of Monrovia press release
- Brad Haugaard
Samson the Fire Education Bear
The fire department introduced its new mascot, Samson the Fire Education Bear, to the Monrovia City Council Tuesday night. Samson will visit schools and be at fire department events, such as the pancake breakfast.
- Brad Haugaard
Friday Oliver Chi's Last Day; Brad Dover to be Interim City Manager; Read Across Monrovia; Get Your Home Restored; Etc.
~ City Manager Oliver Chi's Final Update:
"This is difficult message to write, but I wanted to share with everyone that this will be my final City Manager's Update message. This coming Friday, September 20, will be my last day working in Monrovia, and more than anything, what I feel right now is a profound sense of gratefulness.
"Grateful that I had the chance to work for this amazing place called Monrovia during the past five years. And grateful for your support as the team at the City worked to best serve you in our efforts to create a community that offers a premier quality of life. Monrovia has been a central part to the story of my life, and looking back on all of it... words just fail me. I feel such overwhelming appreciation that you allowed me the privilege of serving as your city manager, and I am so immensely proud of what we have been able to do collectively... together.
"With eternal gratitude,
Oliver Chi
(310) 663-9837
oliverchi@yahoo.com"
~ The City Council will consider naming Fire Chief Brad Dover as the city's interim city manager. Chi writes: "During the past five years, I've come to the realization that Brad is simply one of the best leaders - and best human beings - to have ever walked the planet. And I'm so confident that Brad will do an amazing job as Monrovia's interim city manager!"
~ Volunteer to read to Monrovia students (K-5) during Read Across Monrovia on Thursday, Oct. 3. Most visits start at 8 a.m. Fill out the form (https://is.gd/htq4Ol) and return it. For information, call Joanne Spring at 358-1952 or Diane Delmatoff at 388-4544.
~ The DIY Network TV program, "Restored," which documents the restoration of vintage homes, is looking for three Monrovia homes to be on the show. The home must be a vintage Craftsman, Victorian, Spanish Colonial Revival or similar period home and have many of its original features; likely work would include a kitchen remodel, front entry, exterior, maybe bathroom and fireplace; homeowner must contribute at least $60,000; occupants must move out during the project - typically eight weeks. If interested, contact Jeff at jeff.uncapher@essential.media.
- Brad Haugaard
Tofu - You Gotta Earn Her Love
The adoption fee for cats is $90. All cats are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated before being adopted.
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and- wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet. View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.
Adoption hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
Lyft Prices Going Up Because of Possible Change in State Law
Assuming the council passes the measure, prices will go up effective November 1: to $1 to and from Old Town, Station Square, and hospitals within the service area; to $3 for a shared ride anywhere else in Monrovia; and to $5 for a classic ride anywhere else in Monrovia.
The staff report says Assembly Bill 5 in the California State Legislature, aims to "transform the gig economy" by reclassifying independent contractors as employees. "Among the companies that would be impacted include Uber, Lyft, Postmates, and DoorDash, along with any other industries that rely on the use of independent contractors to operate."
- Brad Haugaard
City Council to Consider Fire Chief As Interim City Manager; Development Fee; Citizens Watchdog Committee
At its next meeting (agenda: https://is.gd/Th79t4) the Monrovia City Council will consider ...~ Naming Brad Dover, Fire Chief, as Interim City Manager. Dover will get a 15% salary increase over his current base pay while he serves as Interim City Manager, but no other compensation of benefit adjustments. https://is.gd/Ph68gi
~ A Traffic Impact Fee. The idea is that new developments result in a strain on public services, so a fee on developments can be used to offset that problem. The staff report says the fee has the theoretical potential to raise more than $7 million, but, "In reality, the amount raised will be less. However, the fee has the realistic potential to provide several million dollars for traffic improvements over the next decade based on the level of development." https://is.gd/0jjNFY
~ Creating a Citizen Advisory Committee for the Measure K "Keep Monrovia Revenue
Local Sales and Use Tax" ballot measure being considered by voters at the Special Election on November 5, 2019. (If you've forgotten, this tax would max out the legal tax rate for Monrovia so when - not "if", the city believes - the county wants to raise taxes again, it won't affect Monrovia because we'd already be at the legal limit.) The committee's responsibilities will be "monitoring the progress of key priorities and the budget status, as well as working to keep the community informed about how these monies are spent." https://is.gd/NPATWk
- Brad Haugaard
Fellowship Church Plans Racial Reconciliation Workshop
- Brad Haugaard
St. Luke's Concert to Benefit Organ Repair
Proceeds from the event will help fund long-needed repairs and improvements to the church's Bascom & Vaughan three-manual organ. The instrument features 42 ranks and a separate antiphonal division, with pipes custom-positioned to take advantage of the sanctuary's acoustics.
Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m.in Guild Hall. The show, directed by St. Luke Music Director Kent B. Jones, will follow at 6:45 p.m. in the sanctuary. An array of musical styles will be heard, performed by members of the choir and special guests.
Tickets are $40 each with discounts for tables of eight, and may be ordered on Eventbrite at https://is.gd/fdTHYl. Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $50 each.
- Brad Haugaard
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