June 4 City Council Meeting Summary: Bullying and Budget

Here are highlights from last night's city council meeting generated by AI. AI is still glitchy, which means it could give some BAD INFORMATION! Please read it with that in mind, and let me know what you think. If it is too awful I probably won't do it again. - Brad Haugaard

Video of Council Meeting here.

Summary of Monrovia City Council Meeting - June 4th, 2024

1. Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance:

   • Invocation by Jason M., Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Greater San Gabriel and Pomona Valley.
   • Pledge of Allegiance led by Council Member Larry Spicer.

2. Presentations and Proclamations:

   • Proclaimed June 8, 2024, as Race Unity Day, recognizing the city's diverse fabric and commitment to social justice and equality.
   • Proclaimed June 2024 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community's contributions and the importance of equality and freedom.

3. Public Comments:

   • Concerns about bullying at Wildrose Elementary School were raised by students and parents.
   • Issues regarding harassment and false accusations at Mayflower Elementary School were brought up by a parent.
   • Council members and the community showed support and directed the concerned individuals to speak with law enforcement present at the meeting.

4. City Manager’s Report:

   • Update on incidents at Library Park, including vandalism of US flags and a shooting incident on Duarte Road.
   • Assurance of ongoing investigations and cooperation with law enforcement.

5. Summer Teen Programming Overview:

   • Presentation on the “Monrovia Spot” summer program for teens, including weekly themed events, competitions, and partnerships with local businesses.

6. Council Member Reports:

   • Attendance and participation in various community events such as the California Joint Powers Insurance Agency summit, neighborhood conferences, and local farmers' markets.
   • Encouragement of community participation in upcoming events and celebrations like Juneteenth and the summer reading kickoff at the library.

7. Administrative Report - Budget Update:

   • Presented by Buffy Bullis, the fiscal year 2023-24 budget update highlighted a conservative financial approach with adjustments in revenues and expenditures.
   • Discussion on the city’s financial philosophy, emphasizing conservative yet proactive financial management.
   • Approval of budget adjustments and the fee schedule update.

8. Meeting Adjournment:

   • The meeting adjourned in memory of Bob Dollins, a longtime resident, Canyon Park volunteer, and Navy veteran, expressing condolences to his family.

The next scheduled City Council meeting is on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 7:30 PM.

Suspected Package Thief Dies in Car Crash

A man suspected of stealing a package in Arcadia early Wednesday morning got into a solo accident in the 300 block of West Maple in Monrovia and died. A passenger in the car was injured. Police, who were tracking the GPS-equipped package, recovered the package and stolen mail. Details.

- Brad Haugaard 

Supervisors Request State Help in Dealing With Bears

The County Board of Supervisors has voted to request that the state Department of Fish and Wildlife provide more help dealing with bears for foothills communities, specifically Monrovia and Sierra Madre. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Summer Solstice Potluck June 20

Grow Monrovia will sponsor a Summer Solstice Potluck in the garden on June 20, from 6-8 p.m. at 777 E Greystone. Bring a homemade dish to share. There will be a separate kids table.

- Brad Haugaard

Homeless Man Arrested In Connection With Duarte Road Murder

Christopher Wiggan, 42, a homeless man, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a Monrovia resident who was  trying to prevent a fight on the 700 block of West Duarte Road, near Santa Anita Wash, Sunday night, the Star-News reports.

- Brad Haugaard 

Mellow Odin Looking to Brighten Someone's Home

Eight-year-old Odin is a mellow dude who is ready to make someone’s home brighter!

Odin is a bit shy - he prefers to meet people at his own pace. The Pasadena Humane volunteers have been working with him to get him more comfortable, and it’s definitely working. He loves treats and that has been the best way to break the ice (and get him “talking”).

Odin has some vision impairment in one eye, but the veterinarians at the shelter have given an otherwise clean bill of health.

A quiet and patient home would be perfect for this sweet boy. He’ll surely shower his home with love and affection!

Odin and all other cats over 6 months old can be adopted at no charge throughout June (Adopt-A-Cat Month)!

The normal adoption fee for cats is $100. All cat adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.

Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30, and can be scheduled online. View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.

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. Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.

- Brad Haugaard

School District Anticipates Lawsuit Regarding California Voting Rights Act

The Monrovia School Board will hold a special closed session at its Tuesday meeting to discuss "anticipated litigation" regarding the California Voting Rights Act. Wikipedia says the act "makes it easier for minority groups in California to prove that their votes are being diluted in 'at-large' elections." Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Sunday Shooting Victim Was Trying to Be a Peacekeeper

The man who was shot in the neck Sunday evening and killed near the 700 block of W. Duarte Road, next to the Santa Anita Wash, was apparently a nearby resident who tried to be a peacekeeper in a dispute between a homeless man who appeared to be living next to the wash and local residents. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

A Moment in Monrovia History: Monrovia Feature Film Company

Newspaper photo of Monrovia Feature Film Co. "View of Motion Picture Plant Proposed by Monrovia Feature Film company, to be built at the head of Myrtle Ave [on Gold Hills], at a cost of approximately $200,000. Around 1916.

Hmmm. That's the recorded information about the photo, but a) it looks like it is more than "proposed," and b) it doesn't look like it's on Gold Hills. Maybe this was the existing studio set and a new set was planned for Gold Hills. From the Myron Hotchkiss collection. See full details here.

For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.

- Brad Haugaard

Electronics Repair Workshop at Library June 6

Electronics Repair Workshop, Thursday, June 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Community Room at the Library, for teens and adults. Participants will learn to use the library's new iFixit Pro Tech Toolkits to repair electronics, such as cracked phone screens or broken game consoles. An experienced repair person will demonstrate these tools. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Make Kites From Paper Bags - Craft at Library

Craft-tastic, Thursday, June 6, from noon to 2 p.m. in the Youth Services Area at the Library. Children 0-11 and their families can make kites and pinatas out of paper bags. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Craft-tabulous - Paint a Miniature Canvas at Library

Summer Craft-tabulous, Tuesday, June 4, from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Community Room at Library. Teens and adults (16 and up) can paint miniature canvases. Library will provide 3-inch canvases with magnet backs, acrylic paints, and other supplies, though participants are welcome to bring their own. Registration closes on June 4, at 3 p.m. Details. https://monrovialibrary.librarymarket.com/event/summer-craft-tabulous-8258

- Brad Haugaard

Man Shot and Killed Near Duarte Road Sunday Night

 A man was shot and killed near the 700 block of West Duarte Road, near the Santa Anita Wash, Sunday at about 9:22 p.m. A second man may have been wounded. If you have information about the incident contact the LA County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 or anonymously at 800 222-8477. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

Current Local Job Opportunities - June

Here are links to the latest job opportunities for Monrovia:

Monrovia School District 

City of Monrovia 

Private 

There is also a group called Monrovia Works. Search for it on Facebook and ask to join it.

- Brad Haugaard

Slowing Vehicle Sales Mean Less City Revenue, Deficit Will Draw on Reserves

At 6:45 p.m. this Tuesday the City Council will hold a closed session to evaluate the city manager (details) followed by its regular meeting (agenda here), at which it will:

~ Receive a budget update that shows "there continues to be a slowing of sales tax revenues due to a reduction in revenue from new vehicle purchases."

"In total, the City’s overall budgeted revenues for Fiscal Year 2023-24 are projected to be $132.80M and budgeted expenditures are $138.18M for Fiscal Year 2023-24. The excess of budgeted expenditures over budgeted revenues is the planned use of reserves that have been set aside in a prior year and that are approved as part of the budget." More here. 

~ Consider proclaiming June 8 as Race Unity Day and June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. 

~ Then, at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday the council will hold a goal setting meeting at the Doubletree. Details. 

- Brad Haugaard

Race Unity Day June 8 at Station Square Park

- Brad Haugaard

City Manager: Inverted Library Park Flags Wasn't City's Doing; It's Being Investigated

City Manager Dylan Feik writes:

"This morning around 6:50 a.m., I received a phone call from the Police Department that someone went into Library Park and inverted all of the U.S. flags displayed along Myrtle Avenue. We have been receiving many phone calls and messages where some residents believe the City of Monrovia purposefully set the flags upside down. That is not what happened. At this time we are investigating further into who committed this act and hope to share more information as it becomes available. Within minutes, city crews began arriving and together we removed over 120 flagpoles, reset the flags correctly, and reposted them correctly by 8:05 a.m. Many residents stopped by to watch and some even helped out."

- Brad Haugaard

Youth Carnival June 2 at Recreation Park

The Boys & Girls Club of the Foothills will hold a Family Carnival and Youth of the Year Rally on Sunday, June 2, from noon to 2:30 p.m. at Recreation Park. Inflatables, games, food trucks, and an open house. A $20 wristband grants access to all activities. Details.

- Brad Haugaard

City Wants Haiku for New Satoru Tsuneishi Park

Poets are invited to submit a Haiku for the 2024 Art in Public Places Sidewalk Poetry Contest, for the new park honoring Satoru Tsuneishi, a notable Monrovia resident and Haiku poet. Contest is open to residents, workers, and students in Monrovia. Contest entries must be submitted by June 27. For inquiries, contact Kerri Zessau at 932-5564 or kzessau@ci.monrovia.ca.us. (Image by AI.)

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia to Present as All-America City Finalist

For the second consecutive year, Monrovia is contending for the All-America City award by the National Civic League, one of 20 communities vying for the honor. Next week, a group of city staff and more than 20 residents will attend the event in Denver. The theme is "Strengthening Democracy through Innovative Action," and the city will highlight the Monrovia Area Partnership Program, the KGEM station which fosters discussion on city issues, and the Third Grade Field Trip program with Monrovia Unified School District to teach young students about democracy. The city will present here on Saturday, June 8, at 3:55 p.m. Mountain Time.

- Brad Haugaard