Monrovia Saving More Water than State Average, Plans to Save More | Train Yard Grand Opening | Listen for Fire Alarms | Hirsch Honored | Arbor Day

In his weekly "City Manager's Update," Monrovia City Manager Oliver Chi reports that ...

~ Monrovia is doing 12.5 percent better than the average for the rest of California in water conservation. He writes: "In California, the per capita water usage per day is 196 gallons. In Monrovia, for all of calendar year 2014, we utilized 174.18 gallons per capita per day, which is 12.5% less than the statewide average."

~ The city is putting together a plan to conserve more water. The plan should be ready for review within the next few weeks. Some ideas:

- Water efficient landscaping contest
- Xeriscape demonstration gardens
- Access to "cash for grass" programs
- Rain barrel rebate programs
- Soil moisture sensor rebate programs
- Water conservation marketing plan

~ Metro Gold Line Construction Authority is planning a grand opening for the maintenance and operations yard on Saturday, May 23.  The event is tentatively scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and last through 1 p.m.

~ If you hear fire alarms coming from city facilities this week, no worries. The Public Works Department is just testing the systems.

~ Susan Hirsch, director of Quest Academy Community Day School at the Monrovia schools, has been named one of Congresswoman Judy Chu's Women of Distinction for 2015.

~ Arbor Day event to take place on April 23, 2015, at 4 p.m. at Rotary Park, at 401 S. California Ave.

- Brad Haugaard