School Board to Consider Hiring Construction Overseer

At a special meeting at 4 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 6), the Monrovia School Board will discuss hiring BRJ Associates as a consultant to oversee continuing construction at Monrovia High School, and to do "an audit of work performed thus far."
The board will also discuss the cost of new architectural renderings to show exterior colors of high school buildings and new construction, plus colors for the inside of the new gymmasium.
Board agenda here (PDF): http://goo.gl/q3m2

Monrovia Is Very Business Friendly

Monrovia is one of LA County's six most business-friendly small cities.

The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation lists Monrovia (along with neighbors Duarte and Azusa) among its six finalists for cities with less than 60,000 population.

The winner will be announced November 10.

Here's the blurb from the press release about Monrovia:

"Monrovia public officials and staff work tirelessly to attract and retain businesses in this city of nearly 40,000 residents. With a diverse portfolio of businesses ranging from nationally known technology firms to small businesses, Monrovia offers an array of services and incentives for businesses including financial relocation assistance, lease/tenant subsidies, broker bounties, the Old Town business development assistance and facade improvement programs, two redevelopment project areas, no utility user tax assessment and city fees that are well below the average of other San Gabriel Valley cities. Monrovia was also named a finalist in 2008."

And here's the full press release: http://goo.gl/xdXk

- Brad Haugaard

Vision 2015 to be studied by the City Council tonight.

Tonight at the Monrovia City Council Meeting.

AR-1 is the submission for Council review of the Vision 2015 Strategic Planning document. Going back to 1995, Monrovia has pulled together a diverse set of stakeholders in the Old Town district to try to map out a future direction. Back then, it was Vision 2000 – which focused on attracting new restaurants, providing outdoor dining opportunities, and, of course, securing a multi-screen cinema. In 2000, we had Vision 2005 – which focused on new infrastructure downtown, attracting mixed-use development, providing new parking, and even planning for a new Library. Of course, Vision 2005 took us a little longer to achieve. But the idea remains the same – chart a course based on the collective wisdom of informed stakeholders, and then move forward.

 

Vision 2015 was constructed over the past year by a diverse mix of Old Town stakeholders – merchants, property owners, residents, public officials, real estate professionals, developers, etc. The plan focuses on four areas: Land Use Planning, Marketing & Promotions, Place-Making & Image, and Redevelopment. Additionally, each section is accompanied by specific actions and steps to help move the agenda forward. If past history is any indication, Vision 2015 will provide a valuable blueprint for the future of Old Town Monrovia. Staff recommends approval of this strategic planning document.

Tom Adams

Mayor Pro Tem

Rainy Days Picture

A beautiful picture of a pine tree in the mist at Monrovia Canyon Park.

http://goo.gl/yzTP

- Brad Haugaard

Read Across Monrovia Oct 7

Read Across Monrovia is a semi-annual event (next one this Thursday, October 7) in which community volunteers spend 20 to 30 minutes reading their favorite literature to school children. If you'd like to be a volunteer, contact Joanne Spring at 626-358-1952 or jspring@altrionet.com.

http://goo.gl/Ovg8

- Brad Haugaard

City Council Agenda: Buy a Licence Plate Reader? More...

Tonight's (Oct. 5) City Council meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Among other items, the council will consider whether to ...

- authorize the "purchase of one automated license plate reader from PIPS Technology in the Amount of $22,550" for the police department.

- award a contract of $265,065 to Freeway Electric, Inc. for street and traffic signal improvements at Myrtle Avenue and Huntington Drive, and at Myrtle and Chestnut avenues.

http://goo.gl/dq6L

- Brad Haugaard

Need for Assistance 'Extremely High'

With the economy in sorry shape, many Monrovians are having a very rough time.

Joan Whitenack, executive director of the Foothill Unity Center, said today at the Monrovia Coordinating Council that demands on the Center's services are "extremely high."

"As the economy nosedives," she said, "we skyrocket."

However, she said, "Monrovia cares about meeting needs," and the Center has been able to meet the needs of people who have have come it for help.

- Brad Haugaard

New Series at First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church began new series Sunday called The Jesus Creed, based on the book of the same name by Dr. Scot McKnight.

http://goo.gl/erJk

- Brad Haugaard

Bear in Backyard

This bear-in-the-backyard thing is getting pretty routine these days. 200 block of West Greystone:

http://goo.gl/jsG2

- Brad Haugaard

City's Position on Rejected Tax-Repeal Measure

City Manager Scott Ochoa devotes a large part of his weekly report (click below) to describing the city's position relating to the petition to repeal a proposed ballot measure to repeal a long-standing property tax.

Ochoa said, "This proposed ballot measure was not good public policy; but that is not why it was rejected. It was rejected because it was not carefully and correctly crafted."

http://goo.gl/AGJD

Monrovia Community Policing Program Is Finalist

The Monrovia Police Department was named a finalist in an international Community Policing Award.

http://goo.gl/b7u7

Wildcats Win :-)

Monrovia 28, South Hills 25.

Star News story: http://goo.gl/EQJd

- Brad Haugaard

Big Book Sale

Friends of the Library is holding a book (and other media) sale next Friday through Sunday. (Oct. 8-10). Friday is for members of Friends of the Library only (noon-5 p.m.). Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5, it's open to all. Sunday 3-5 p.m. is the $2-per-bag sale. (I've been before. Some great deals!) For details, see:

http://goo.gl/d46P

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Rejects Tax-Cut Measure Petition

Monrovia City Clerk Alice Atkins has rejected a petition to put a tax-cut measure on the city ballot due to the circulator's "failure to include on the petitions a copy of the Notice of Intention as required by Elections Code Section 9207."
 
The Star-News quotes (http://goo.gl/MZ9c) John Jogminas, the author of the Monrovia tax-cut measure, as saying the 591-signature petition to put the measure on the ballot was thrown out "on a technicality" and that he had asked the City Attorney to review the measure before it was circulated and the city rejected that request.
 
The city's press release confirms that the city refused to review the petition prior to circulation, and adds that the Municipal Law Handbook, published by the League of California Cities, says, "Compliance with statutory requirements is the responsibility of the initiative proponent. It is not the responsibility of the city attorney to advise the proponent or correct the proponent's errors...."
 
Here's the city's press release: http://goo.gl/LXYQ
 
- Brad Haugaard

Focus One Credit Union Merging

Monrovia's Focus One Credit Union is merging with First City Credit Union of Los Angeles.

http://goo.gl/Z0Zm

- Brad Haugaard