Showing posts with label city government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label city government. Show all posts
Monrovia Should Recover 'Sooner than Most'
In his weekly report, Monrovia City Manager Scott Ochoa reports that at a meeting with Monrovia business leaders, Dr. Nancy Sidhu, Chief Economist of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, said the recession is easing, but "housing, construction and government employment were still significant drags on the recovery."Ochoa added: "Given the increase in activity we have seen in Monrovia - the relative lack of commercial vacancies in our office buildings, the steady business among our restaurants and retailers and the stabilization of the housing market - I believe that we are indeed emerging from recession. What's more, I believe our economic diversity will bring us back sooner than most and stronger than most." Source: http://goo.gl/mlbFS - Brad Haugaard
Coming Up at the Monrovia City Council
At the May 3 Monrovia City Council meeting (7 p.m.) the City Clerk will certify the election results and the Council will:
~ Consider an ordinance controlling "Wireless Telecommunications Facilities," which would generally "prefer" wireless antennas be located in commercial areas and "discourage" them in residential areas.
~ Consider paying the YMCA $11,077 to conduct a sixteen week program called "Square One" to "provide guidance, supervision and mentorship to the unsupervised kids hanging out in Library Park, the Pavilions shopping center, etc." on Friday nights.
~ Consider having the city sell some properties, "generally located on the southwest corner of Myrtle Avenue and Huntington Drive," to the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency, which recently transferred them to the city. Why the financial gymnastics? I think it is just a technique to keep the state's sticky fingers off the city's money.
~ Proclaim Betty Sandford as the 2011 Monrovia Older American of the Year and will honor two Monrovians who were finalists in the Star-News/Rose Magazine "Jewels of Pasadena: Women of Distinction" awards. The two are Rosemari Annear, finalist in the Community Service category, and Chamber of Commerce Member Julie Sagatelian, finalist in the Family category.
Details for all items here: http://goo.gl/tEuU9
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia to Talk with Food-Truck Vendors
Monrovia to talk with food-truck vendors to attempt to avoid expensive lawsuit. http://goo.gl/a4zDn
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia FD Clearing Brush
The Monrovia Fire Department is clearing brush near some hillside neighborhoods and has contracted with "noted local biologist, Daniel S. Cooper, to survey brush-thinning project areas ... to avoid disturbing nesting birds and other environmental values, such as endangered plant species."
The California Fire Safe Council insists on the survey, and since it is paying for the one-time clearance, it gets its way.
Monrovia MAP Clones
The Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) program is getting wide notice, according to City Manager Scott Ochoa's weekly report.
MAP staff have met with community groups interested in duplicating the program in Lennox and parts of Huntington Beach.
Source: http://goo.gl/il9dX
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia City Council to Consider PetSmart
Monrovia City staff is recommending that the City Council approve a proposed PetSmart store at its Tuesday meeting. The store - which would be located at at 745 W. Huntington Drive - was challenged at a Planning Commission meeting by local vets.
City Manager Scott Ochoa writes: "At the Planning Commission, testimony was received from local veterinarians regarding the impact that these ancillary services would have on their businesses. Still, the use is allowed on the property and the City is precluded from unjustifiably denying such a seemingly consistent and compliant application."
Assuming it is approved, "the proposed PetSmart will assume the entire 25,000-square-foot retail store, and will also include pet boarding and veterinary services. These ancillary uses, contained within the PetSmart, are allowed by the zoning through a conditional use permit."
Source: http://goo.gl/il9dX
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Council: Rename Olive Ave. Park? / Buy Myrtle-Duarte Property? / Fireworks / Etc.
Here are a few items that the Monrovia City Council will discuss at its 7 p.m. April 19 meeting. http://goo.gl/zDnIs ~ The Council will consider whether to rename Olive Avenue Park to "Lucinda Garcia Park." Who was she? The city report says: "Mrs. Garcia was a matriarch of the Mexican-American community in Monrovia for decades. Yet it was her efforts to achieve racial equality in Monrovia – in a period well before the American Civil Rights Movement – that made Mrs. Garcia's contributions truly extraordinary and positive." ~ The Council (aka Redevelopment Agency) will consider whether to authorize negotiations to buy the property at the south-east corner of Myrtle Avenue and Duarte Road so Lowe Enterprises Development Group (which appears to be this company: http://goo.gl/1lD6G ) can develop a retail center there. ~ The Council will consider awarding a $20,500 contract to Pyro Spectaculars for this year's Fourth of July Fireworks Show. (If you didn't see the whiz-bang show last year, by the way, it was truly awesome! You gotta go.) ~ A pilot project with the Monrovia School District to open Monroe Elementary School grounds as a weekend park was a success, and city staff is recommending the Council extend the program to all five elementary schools. ~ In closed session the Council will chat about the lawsuit filed against the city by the owner of the property that could be used for a Gold Line maintenance yard. - Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Election Returns
[ 9:46 - Becky Shevlin and Tom Adams win reelection to the Monrovia City Council. So does Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, but that's no surprise since she ran unopposed. The play-by-play is below.]
If you want to follow the Monrovia election returns tonight, click here: http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/elections
I'll be updating this post as well.
8:35 - Vote by mail votes are in and Tom Adams and Becky Shevlin have taken a strong lead. Shevlin: 1218, Adams: 1015, Ziegler: 470, Joe Espinosa: 273 (not bad for having withdrawn, but perhaps people voted before he did), and Jason Cosylion: 71.
9:06 - A few more numbers from precinct 1.
TOTALS
Joe Espinosa: 292
Jason Cosylion: 79
Chris Ziegler: 530
Tom Adams: 1096
Becky Shevlin: 1341
9:11 - Becky Shevlin has been involved in sooo many community organizations. It seems she made quite a few friends along the way.
9:12 - Adding on precinct 8:
TOTALS
Joe Espinosa: 302
Jason Cosylion: 89
Chris Ziegler: 578
Tom Adams: 1185
Becky Shevlin: 1452
9:15 - Precinct 21 reporting, which adjusts the totals to ...
TOTALS
Joe Espinosa: 314
Jason Cosylion: 95
Chris Ziegler: 603
Tom Adams: 1228
Becky Shevlin: 1508
9:25 - With all but one precinct reporting at least some numbers now ...
TOTALS
Joe Espinosa: 355
Jason Cosylion: 123
Chris Ziegler: 752
Tom Adams: 1534
Becky Shevlin: 1848
9:26 - Seems pretty safe to call it for Shevlin and Adams.
9:27 - Looking at the numbers, it is pretty amazing how many people voted by mail.
9:40 - It appears all the votes except for precinct 30 have been fully counted, if my math it right.
9:44 - The votes have now all been counted and it appears clear that Becky Shevlin and Tom Adams, the incumbents, have won, and will be returning to the city council.
9:44 - Final numbers:
TOTALS
Joe Espinosa: 382
Jason Cosylion: 132
Chris Ziegler: 785
Tom Adams: 1615
Becky Shevlin: 1936
- Brad Haugaard
Polls Are Open, Monrovia
- Brad Haugaard
Star-News Endorses Adams and Shevlin
The Pasadena Star-News has endorsed Tom Adams and Becky Shevlin for Monrovia City Council. Voting day is April 12. http://goo.gl/WqnaX
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Schoolyards Become Parks
As of April 1, the schoolyards of all five of Monrovia's elementary schools will double as parks on the weekends. It's a partnership between the school district and city.
- Brad Haugaard
Serve in Monrovia Government
If you would like to serve (for free) in the Monrovia city government, there are openings available for a number of positions, all for three-year terms (except for one) and all which begin on July 1.
You can apply for a position on the Planning Commission, Community Services Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Library Board, or the Old Town Advisory Board (a two-year term, and open only to Old Town business or property owners). Deadline to apply is May 5.
If you are interested, there will be an informational meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, April 26 at City Hall. Call 932-5598 to register.
- Brad Haugaard
Jim Hunt to be Interim Monrovia Police Chief
When Police Chief Roger Johnson retires on May 1, after 30 years of service, Captain Jim Hunt will become Interim Police Chief while the city recruits a new chief.
In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa said Hunt "is an excellent law enforcement professional, and I have every confidence that he will be able to manage the affairs of the Department during the upcoming selection process."
Ochoa also commended Johnson:
"Chief Johnson has built an impressive legacy and has faced many challenges during his career with the Monrovia Police Department. In addition to being a consummate law enforcement professional, he is also an insightful leader and resourceful business manager. These last several years have been some of the most challenging that Monrovia has ever faced. I am glad Chief Johnson has been a part of this team; truly, Monrovia has been the better for it. Congratulations, and thank you, Roger."
Source: http://goo.gl/L2CAp
- Brad Haugaard
No Monrovia Land-Sale to Gold Line for Now
In his weekly report, City Manager Scott Ochoa explained why the proposed sale of property for a Gold Line maintenance yard was dropped from the agenda:
"I should note right off the bat that the scheduled public hearing regarding the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency's (MRA's) proposed sale of land to the Gold Line Construction Authority (GLCA) has been cancelled. Unfortunately, GLCA and City/MRA have been unable to come to terms at this time regarding the transaction. For the time being, the City of Monrovia - and presumably GLCA - will mull their respective positions; if a deal is possible, we will re-notice at a future date."
However, the topic will still be discussed under Mayor Mary Ann Lutz' portion of the agenda.
Source: http://goo.gl/L2CAp
- Brad Haugaard
New Signal at Myrtle & Chestnut
Monrovia City Council Invocations
I just noticed this curious item in the City Council agenda ( http://goo.gl/DuAud ). It gives instructions for religious leaders giving the invocation: "To comply with recent court decisions, the City of Monrovia has advised persons giving the invocation not to recite sectarian references or prayer." How you give an invocation without referring to elements of your faith or without praying? I thought "invoking" - in the religious sense - was praying for assistance. I know Monrovia has to obey the law, but does an invocation that doesn't invoke God - or anything else - make any sense?I have no problem with invocations, but if they're just going to be play-acting, maybe the city should drop them and instead, perhaps churches, etc., should invite council-members to their meetings and have real invocations for them there.Aah, what do I know ...- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia Council Drops Gold Line Property-Sale from Agenda
The possible sale of property to the Gold Line for a maintenance yard - a topic that touched off a testy exchange between Monrovia City Councilman Tom Adams and Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, and a topic which prompted a special meeting of the Council, which was then continued until the council's April 5 meeting, and a topic about which Mayor Lutz and City Manager Scott Ochoa said was time-sensitive because of possible confiscatory actions by the state ... has been dropped.
The agenda for the City Council's April 5 meeting says:
"CANCELLED - Continued from April 5, 2011; Purchase and Sale Agreement between the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency and the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority for the Total Consideration of $39,627,818; Resolution Nos. 5-2011 and 2011-13
"Recommendation: This item has been withdrawn and requires no further action by the City Council and the Agency Board at this time."
Source: http://goo.gl/DuAud
- Brad Haugaard
Construction on E Huntington
Monrovia Disaster Preparation & Japan Radiation
Monrovia Fire Chief Chris Donovan writes that the city council will discuss disaster preparedness at the April 5 meeting. Also, he points to some LA County fact sheets on nuclear radiation from Japan. http://goo.gl/3AGA8
I like the unambiguous clarity of the first word of the answers to these questions:- Does damage to the Japanese nuclear power plants pose a health risk to LA County?No.- Should you take Potassium Iodide (KI)?No.- Will radiation from Japan affect LA County’s beaches?No. - Brad HaugaardWatch Out for Fake Monrovia Employees
As reported earlier, a man claiming to be a Monrovia City Water Department employee stole cash and a checkbook from a resident.
The city is now recommending that if someone shows up at your door claiming to be a city employee, it is helpful to know that employees "wear either a light blue work shirt with their name and the Monrovia City logo sewn on the front, or an orange work shirt with their name and the Monrovia City logo sewn on the front. All Monrovia City employees will have City of Monrovia identification cards with them."
Also, if you are unsure, call the Monrovia Police Department at (626) 256-8000 and a uniformed Monrovia police officer will respond to verify the person's identity and reason for being at your home. Source: http://goo.gl/05i0D - Brad Haugaard
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