Preview of Monrovia Mayor's Speech: Treating Runoff Water, Crime Up and Down, Wilderness, Free WiFi, Etc.

At a preview to her State of the City speech tonight Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz provided copies of her speech and, with City Manager Laurie Lile, answered questions. Here are some highlights in the speech:

- The city is facing the additional expense of a federal mandate to treat water from the city's stormdrains before it goes into the ocean. Lutz says the city will "play a part in keeping our beaches clean, our sushi fresh and California's tourism booming." She added (not in the speech) that this will cost the city an additional $1-2 million a year to comply.

- Since the state handed off many of its prisoners to the counties and local governments - resulting in "many misdemeanor offenders not having to serve their full sentences" - Lutz says, "I am sad to say that ... we have seen an increase in crime in the San Gabriel Valley." However, she said, gang violence is down 64 percent since 2008.

- Lutz says she is "as eager as all of you to announce an opening day to our Wilderness Preserve, but there are still many steps we need to take before that day comes." City Manager Laurie Lile added that two trailheads simply need gates, signs and "mutt mitts," and should be open within two months, one trailhead has an easement issue, which means it may be six months before it is open, and one trailhead has a more complex easement issue that could take about a year to resolve.

- The city has a balanced budget, but for the third year in a row it has been unable to add to its reserve, and that is "not acceptable." Lutz said PlanMonrovia, the city's strategic plan, will get people involved and emphasize those programs that have the biggest impact on the city.

- In 2013 the city will have a remodeled automall along the freeway, making Monrovia "the best place to buy a car in the region."

- The Monrovia station on the Gold Line is less than two years away. The Station Square project will attract people to town. "We will be a destination," Lutz will say.

- The city will unveil a new website this year, and has already added free wifi at all city facilities.

- Brad Haugaard

Power Outage in North Monrovia

Power outage reported in north Monrovia. http://goo.gl/0BXXH

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovians of the Year

Monrovia People of the Year are:

- Kyle McClure, physical science teacher at Clifton Middle School.
- Sharon Gallant, with the Monrovia Public Works Department.
-Terrie Maertens, who gives guidance to troubled students at Monrovia High School.
- City worker John Ogden, who keeps Old Town and the bus routes on Huntington Drive and Duarte Road clean.
- Mark Still, who runs the Monrovia Historical Museum.
- Joannie Yuille, City Volunteer of the Year.
- Police Captain Alan Sanvictores, who, with a declining budget, now handles more duties than any previous captain in the Monrovia Police Department.

Source: Monrovia Today magazine.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovians Want Most Money Spent on Police, Streets, and Fire Services

In the latest edition of Monrovia Today, the city reports the results of its survey question, "How would you divvy up $1,000 of city funds?" The results:

$201 for police services
$170 city streets and maintenance
$118 fire services
$113 building, planning, neighborhoods
$92 Parks and Recreation
$83 community services
$76 economic development
$56 finance administration
$44 library services
$42 recycling and conservation.

- Brad Haugaard

Fire Guts Monrovia House

Fire ruins Mnrovian's house while resident is looking for her dog. http://goo.gl/F0TZN


- Brad Haugaard

PlanMonrovia Study Session | Gold Line Bridge Pictures

~ Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. there will be a City Council study session to discuss community input for PlanMonrovia. http://goo.gl/C2iEy

~ Some nice artsy images of the new Gold Line bridge, in concept and after completion. http://goo.gl/GOmMk

- Brad Haugaard

Lunch at Planet Cookie

Lunch at Planet Cookie at the corner of Lime and Myrtle. It also has sandwiches and soup. Got a large bowl of lentil soup for $6.95 (it felt like a soup kinda day) and a cup of coffee. Very nice but probably a medium-sized would have been plenty.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Out-Wrestles Hoover :-)

Monrovia High wrestling team over Hoover (Glendale). http://goo.gl/DrbcM

- Brad Haugaard

An Artsy Utility Box in Gold Hills

Artsy-painting a utility box in Gold Hills. http://goo.gl/CtawL

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Elections Are On - Write-in Votes Could Make It a Contest

The Monrovia City Council decided tonight to go ahead with a municipal election even though there are only two candidates for two open city council seats. Why? Because while the regular filing period is over people can still run as write-in candidates, but if you want to do that you gotta file with the city clerk promptly. If you don't, any write-ins for you won't be counted.

But if the council wanted to hold the election, couldn't the filing period just be extended? Nope. The city attorney said it was already extended and can't be further extended.

The council also decided to delay appointing a replacement council member until its first meeting in March, so the council will be down to four members until that time.

Councilwoman Becky Shevlin added that despite suspicions, the appointment of fill-in Councilman Larry Spicer was her idea, not Shaw's, and she believes Spicer, who is running for office for himself now, is more hurt by events than a beneficiary.

And a bit of tension. At the beginning of the meeting Mayor Mary Ann Lutz criticized Councilman Tom Adams, who had criticized former Councilman Clarence Shaw for how he resigned his seat at the last moment. Lutz said Adams did the same thing before, changing his mind at the last minute after saying he would not run, so "he has no credibility on this matter." Adams did not respond.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia State of the City Address

If you are interested in attending Monrovia Mayor Mary Ann Lutz' Annual State of the City Address (Monday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. at the Krikorian), get there early as there is limited seating. You can read the speech on the City website or watch on KGEM or www.kgem.tv in the days following the address.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's Congresswomen on Guns and Mental Health | Aztec Beer

~ North-Monrovia Congresswoman, Judy Chu, writes on Facebook that Congress should pass Senator Feinstein's "assault weapons" ban. She says, "Let's reclaim our public security and get these war machines off our streets." South-Monrovia Congresswoman, Grace Napolitano, says she co-hosted a panel discussion examining the status of mental health in America, apparently as it relates to gun violence ( http://goo.gl/4l0uR ).

~ The Mexican restaurant planning to go in the Aztec Hotel is considering serving a beer made by Aztec Brewing Company, a small brewery in Vista, California, according to a post by the restaurant on Facebook.

- Brad Haugaard

Man Runs Away from Scene of Crashed Car

Monrovia Police looking for man who crashed a car, possibly stolen, and ran. http://goo.gl/A5IKo

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Assemblymember: Get State Budget Under Control

Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, agreed with Governor Brown's State of the State address that the state needs to get its finances in order.

Comments by Holden from his press release:

"[W]hile California's economy is coming back, we must get the state's budget deficit under control or face big problems down the road. We don't want to be in the same position five years from now when Prop. 30 goes away as we are today - facing large deficits and dramatic cuts to services.

"I am committed to restoring California's economy by stimulating private sector business and encouraging job creation, expanding light rail in the San Gabriel Valley, providing help for struggling homeowners, and restoring funding and confidence in our public schools."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Parolee With Ankle Bracelet Arrested in Suspected Burglary; Unlocked Car and House Burglaries

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for Jan. 21-23. - Brad Haugaard]

 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 497 service events, resulting in 85 investigations.  

 

Theft From an Unlocked Vehicle

January 21 at 10:24 p.m., police responded to the report of a theft from an unlocked vehicle in the 400 block of West Huntington.  The incident occurred at approximately 6:00 p.m. in a business parking lot.  Two cell phones and a GPS were stolen.  Investigation continuing.

 

Commercial Burglary - Suspect Arrested

January 22 at 4:16 p.m., an employee at a business in the 500 block of West Huntington called police to report a burglary in progress.  A male suspect had entered the store and was using some type of tool to cut the sensor tags off merchandise.  He received a phone call, possibly to tell him that the police were in the area.  He then exited the store.  He was quickly detained and arrested.  The suspect was found to be on parole and is currently being monitored with an ankle bracelet.

 

Residential Burglary

January 22 at 9:08 p.m., a resident in the 600 block of East Greystone reported that someone had broken into their home.  The crime occurred between 3:00 and 9:00 p.m.  The suspect entered through a very small, unlocked window and ransacked the house.  Jewelry and an iPad were stolen.  The investigation is continuing.

Rain through Monday? | De-Mystifying Tech | San Marino Over Monrovia :-(

~ Rain could continue through Monday. http://goo.gl/bo1Xs

~ Tech guru Alexis Newell de-mystifies technology and talks about finding good free resources on the Web. Wed., Jan. 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Library. Free. http://goo.gl/z9R9I

~ San Marino Girls Soccer team over Monrovia. :-( http://goo.gl/796SH

- Brad Haugaard

Extend Filing Deadline for Monrovia Council? | Monrovia Congresswoman Applauds Allowing Women in Combat | 'Like' Shopping Center | Rain? | New Holden Stuff

~ LA Daily News suggests that Monrovia extend the filing period so more people can run for the City Council. http://goo.gl/xmkAx

~ Congresswoman Judy Chu, who represents the top edge of Monrovia, writes on Facebook: "One of the last bastions of inequality in our military has just been lifted - women will now be allowed to serve in combat. This is a major step towards equality in our armed forces."

~ If you want to keep up with the Foothill Park Plaza (that's the Pavilions shopping center), it now has a Facebook page ( http://goo.gl/G93Wt ). The page will announce "special offers for shopping and dining, new tenants that are opening, and get updates on improvements we have underway, such as improved landscaping, painting, new signage and enhancements to the parking lot!"

~ There is a 60% chance of rain tonight and tomorrow. http://goo.gl/Y3u64

~ Assemblyman Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, has introduced a bill (AB 139) clarifying that an existing law that imposes a fee of $500 on every person who is granted probation for a crime of domestic violence cannot have that fee reduced for time served. http://goo.gl/Rp5UW

~ Also, here is the text of Holden's bill (AB 156) to make it easier for law enforcement to wiretap in human trafficking cases ( http://goo.gl/N5wWF ). Earlier story here: http://goo.gl/7zmzK

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia's AeroVironment Gets $12 Million Contract | Drones in the Rockies | Huell in Monrovia

~ The U.S. Army is buying $12 million worth of Wasp drones for the Marine Corps from Monrovia's AeroVironment. http://goo.gl/1wL91

~ Scientists at the US Geological Survey’s Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center are using Raven drones from Monrovia's AeroVironment. http://goo.gl/Krjwt

~ Huell Howser in Monrovia. http://goo.gl/1Jz7P

- Brad Haugaard

Spicer is - Technically - No Longer on Monrovia City Council

With the resignation of Monrovia City Councilman Clarence Shaw, fill-in Councilmember Larry Spicer's service with the city is also at an end, according to City Manager Laurie Lile.

She writes - for an agenda item at a special meeting (this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. - http://goo.gl/9zY9a ) - that "the City Council's only practical option for action to fill the vacancy is to appoint a replacement candidate for the remaining few weeks of Councilmember Shaw's existing term." http://goo.gl/4nEaH

Also at the meeting, the Council will decide whether to hold an election or cancel it since there are the same number of candidates as there are offices.

Comment: I suppose the council could, technically, appoint someone other than Spicer to serve the remainder of Shaw's term, though, if I understand, Spicer would be right back on the council since there is nobody running against him. Should be interesting.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Wilderness Area May Open by February | Shaw Resignation Letter | Holden Proposes Break for Armed Forces | Church Anniversary Video

~ According to a report on the city web site, there is now "informal access" to the long-delayed Hillside Wilderness Preserve, but but the formal opening will probably be this month or in February 2013. City Manager Laurie Lile reports that you can follow progress in opening the reserve and recreation area here: http://goo.gl/4wDST

~ Shaw's resignation letter to the Monrovia City Council. http://goo.gl/H5GmG

~ If you buy something in California, you pay sales tax, collected by the seller, and if you buy it outside the state and bring it in, you are still supposed to pay tax on it, but it is called a "use tax." But what if you are a member of the armed forces who buys something and then is transferred to California? Well, Assemblyman Chris Holden, who represents Monrovia, has introduced a bill to exempt from use tax property purchased by armed forces personnel who are then transferred to California. http://goo.gl/yBqj7

~ Fellowship Monrovia church has released a video celebrating its first anniversary. http://goo.gl/VEiBx

- Brad Haugaard