Monrovians Save the Day for What Might Have Been a Very Lonely Birthday Party

What would happen if your son invited his classmates to his seventh birthday at Recreation Park and nobody came. Well, in Monrovia something wonderful happened when a mom wrote on Facebook:

"I'm at my sons 7th bday party at the recreational park, passed out invites and only invited his classmates from school 26 invites and rented out a game truck... Not one kid showed up. This really sucks"

Carmen Martinez describes what happened next:

"In no time at all Monrovians responded and a community came together. Many people showed up with kids of similar age to the birthday boy, and even the fire truck came to save the day!"

Here's a video report from abc7: http://goo.gl/4apXvQ

- Brad Haugaard

Questions and Answers Regarding Cloverleaf Entry Point to Monrovia Wilderness Preserve

I had a few questions about a section in City Manager Oliver Chi's latest weekly report regarding the Cloverleaf entry point to Monrovia's Wilderness Preserve. Here are my questions followed by his answers.

My questions:

- When you write about "access controls to allow for pedestrian use only at the Cloverleaf Access Point," do you mean the city is considering preventing bicyclists from using the gate? The *only* part is what concerns me.

- Could you clarify "On-street parking restrictions"? I asked Councilwoman Becky Shevlin about parking years ago before the city council voted to open the Cloverleaf gate and she said there was no plan to reduce the amount of parking. Is the city now considering reducing the amount of parking or limiting the time people can park, or what?

- It is clear that the city is doing a fine job of soliciting residents' input. Could you tell me what the city is doing to solicit input from potential users of the trails, such as hikers and bicyclists?

City Manager Oliver Chi's responses:

At this point in time, the City is not considering preventing bicyclists from utilizing the Hillside Wilderness Preserve.  We are, however, considering and discussing the types of mitigations that might facilitate a solution to the concerns that residents living near the Cloverleaf Access Point have raised regarding bicyclists.  One of the proposed solutions we have been reviewing is the possibility of installing some type of access gate at the Cloverleaf Access Point that would require bicyclists to dismount and walk through the gate as though they were a pedestrian.  This discussion point has centered around the fact that some bicyclists have impacted residents with the speed in which they are traveling through the Hillside Wilderness Preserve.

With regard to your question regarding on-street parking restrictions, we have not been discussing a reduction in on-street parking, rather, we have been reviewing with the residents living near the Cloverleaf Access Point the possibility of creating a permit-parking only zone.  The City has an existing process for residents who wish to create a permit-parking zone in their neighborhood, and in fact, we recently facilitated such a request from residents living along Ridgeside Drive just north of Canyon Boulevard.  We have discussed with the impacted residents the possibility of instituting a permit parking only designation in their neighborhood to address the concerns that have been raised regarding neighborhood traffic impacts after the Cloverleaf Access Point is opened.

Finally, with regard to soliciting input from other potential users of the Hillside Wilderness Preserve, I can tell you that the City does have plans to seek input from others interested in the issues at hand, including hikers and bicyclists.  However, engaging those constituencies right now would, in my opinion, be slightly premature.  We have received enough feedback from the biking / hiking community to know that creating linkages and connections between all of our Hillside Wilderness Preserve Access Points is a key priority.  We have also heard that the Cloverleaf Access Point is critical given the current connection available at the Ridgeside Access Point.  The feedback we have received is that opening up the Cloverleaf Access Point would allow for bikers to ride from the Ridgeside Access Point through to Cloverleaf Drive, which is an important priority for the mountain biking community.

It is important to note, however, that at this point in time, we do not yet have any definitive plans to share with bikers and hikers regarding how access into the Hillside Wilderness Preserve will look, as we are still in the process of developing and updating possible concepts.  Individual residents living near the Cloverleaf Access Point each have different concerns and issues they would like to see addressed as it relates to access into the Hillside Wilderness Preserve, and we have only just started to develop a consensus amongst the impacted neighbors regarding the key issues that the City should address prior to opening the Cloverleaf Access Point.  Given the work that has been done date, I would imagine that within the next 2-3 weeks, we should have made enough progress to be able to have an intelligent conversation with the hiker / biker community regarding potential options moving forward.  We will, of course, be certain to keep you informed as to where / when those follow-up discussions will take place.

- Brad Haugaard

More Water Restrictions for Monrovia; Buying Extra Water; Contracting With Chamber of Commerce; Wilderness Preserve

At its Tuesday meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/r0CyyP ) the Monrovia City Council will consider updating its water rules for "residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and public landscaped areas" (except for "commercial nurseries, golf courses and other water dependent uses" ( http://goo.gl/8YbNao ). If adopted, the new rules will require ...

- Spray-irrigating only every third day and only between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. Drip irrigation systems are okay. Also, it's okay to use extra water to plant low water usage plants, or if you use reclaimed water as permitted by law.

- You can water a landscaped area for no more than 15 minutes per watering day.

- You can't have water spray or flow onto "any impermeable private or public surface, including but not limited to, walkways, driveways, sidewalks, alleys, streets, or storm drains."

- No sprinkling or running fountains when winds could cause runoff onto those impermiable surfaces.

- You can't water for at least 48 hours after it rains more than a tenth of an inch.

- Hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfast places "shall provide customers the option of choosing not to have towels laundered daily."

- Low-flow waterless toilets for non-residential buildings, and new dishwashers and washing machines must be water-efficient.

Also, the council will consider ...

~ Purchasing $612,430 of water from the Azusa Valley Water Company ( http://goo.gl/3slP3X ) and $336,500 of water from the Main San Gabriel Basin ( http://goo.gl/QQ2Yg0 ). Monrovia's allotment is 5,740 acre feet of water per year, but it consumes 7,095 acre feet per year, creating a shortage of 1,355 acre feet.

~ Contracting with the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $43,819 for providing support services related local businesses. http://goo.gl/AUB6nF

And, at a special 5:30 p.m. meeting, the council will hold a study session on maintaining the city's wilderness preserve. http://goo.gl/MuITHI
 
- Brad Haugaard

Service for Mother of Monrovia Treasurer Steve Baker

A service for the mother of Monrovia Treasurer and Historian, Steve Baker, will be held this coming Sunday, June 14, 1 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 122 S. California Avenue in Monrovia.

- Brad Haugaard

A Whole Line of People Blessed at Monrovia Wendy's

Monrovian Deanna Robinson writes on Facebook about a whole string of people being blessed at Wendy's:

"We don't normally eat fast food, but we decided to go to Wendy's tonight. To be honest, I didn't feel like cooking because this is the anniversary of the death of someone who was/is still very important in my life. Well, someone in the drive-through decided to 'pay it forward' tonight and started a chain reaction where a whole line of cars paid for the car behind them. There were no cars behind me at all, so, I think I was a final recipient of a string of the kindness of strangers. Thank you for being so kind and showing a total stranger a piece of compassion today, on a day my heart is so heavy. Don't worry, I will also be paying it forward because of you. I wish you many blessings, whoever you are."

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police Carry Torch For Special Olympics

Yesterday Monrovia Police carried the Special Olympics torch through town as part of a 1,500-mile relay run through more than 200 communities to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Southern California. (Photo courtesy of City of Monrovia) http://goo.gl/R4DLLI

- Brad Haugaard

New Monrovia Starbucks at Foothill and Madison?

The Monrovia Development Review Committee has recommended that the Planning Commission approve a drive-through Starbucks at 860 West Foothill Blvd. ( http://goo.gl/CtEvWT ), which appears to be at the location of the current Burger Shack, at the corner of Foothill and Madison ( http://goo.gl/MkD4KM ).

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Cell Phone Stolen from Unlocked Car; Jeans Swiped From Store

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for June 8-10. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 431 service events, resulting in 76 investigations.

Petty Theft From a Vehicle
June 8 at 7:02 p.m., police responded to a parking lot in the 600 block of South Shamrock on the report of a petty theft. A female adult went to pick up her child at the location and parked her vehicle in the lot. She left her vehicle unlocked with the windows open and her cell phone on her seat. She went inside the location for approximately 5 minutes. When she returned to her vehicle, her cell phone was gone. The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft
June 8 at 8:08 p.m., a business in the 500 block of West Huntington called police to report a petty theft from the store. The loss prevention officer reported that a male adult entered the store and picked up a pair of jeans. He then ran out of the store without paying for the item. The investigation is continuing.

Samson the Bear Re-Unveiled

The Samson the Bear statue in Monrovia Canyon Park has been repaired. Here he is: https://goo.gl/f9n8xo

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Cuts Water Usage; Cloverleaf Access; Summer Reading; Etc.

From City Manager Oliver Chi's weekly report ...

~ In May, Monrovia cut its water usage by 19.8%, from 217.4 million gallons of water to 174.4 million gallons, a reduction of 43 million gallons.

~ The Cloverleaf Access Point Working Committee discussed concerns raised by neighbors living along Cloverleaf and Hidden Valley about the Cloverleaf access point to the city's Wilderness Area. Topics: On-street parking restrictions; new gates / access controls to allow for pedestrian use only at the Cloverleaf Access Point; enhanced city patrols; bike related concerns.

~ On June 20, starting at 12 p.m. at Library Park, there will be reading events held throughout the day to kick off the summer reading program. For more information, call the Monrovia Public Library at 256-8274.

~ Monrovia's Gold Line station dedication will take place on Saturday, September 12, 2015, at 10 a.m.

~ If you have an opinion about public transportation, the Southern California Association of Governments is inviting the public to provide input on the Regional Transportation Plan. June 29, 2015, from 9-11 a.m. at the Monrovia Community Center, 119 W. Palm Ave.

Source: http://goo.gl/B08bo9

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Reads Chili Bowl and BBQ

Monrovia Reads Chili Bowl and BBQ fundraiser, Sunday, July 12 at 4 p.m. at the Monrovia Historical Museum (742 E. Lemon). $100 per person. Includes food, drinks, ice cream sundae bar and entertainment. RSVP by July 3 to Diane Delmatoff: ddelmatoff@ci.monrovia.ca.us

- Brad Haugaard

Summer Movies Are Back at Monrovia Parks

Annie, June 27; Maleficent, July 11; Big Hero 6, August 8. http://goo.gl/76n8uH

- Brad Haugaard

Mario Andretti Fuels Up at Monrovia Shell Station

Mario and Shell Owner Ramzi Rabadi.

Monrovia Shell Station owner Ramzi Rabadi writes to say: "We had an exciting moment last night at Monrovia Shell. Mario Andretti filling up gas (v-power nitro) in his Ferrari heading to Jay Leno garage.

Shell was doing a roadshow driving across the country.  It started June 1 in Time Square and it ended at Monrovia Shell before going to Jay Leno's garage.  Shell is promoting its new V-Power Nitro and our site was the winner as best image station in the Los Angeles Area.  We knew Ferraris would be fueling up before ending at Jay Leno garage but were surprised to find out the driver of the lead Ferrari was Mario Andretti."

- Brad Haugaard

Netflix Commercial To Be Filmed in Monrovia

Diane Delmatoff, of the City of Monrovia, writes: "There will be a Netflix commercial filmed at 401-1/2 S. Myrtle (K.C. Hopper) on Thursday, June 11 from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. They will be prepping the store tomorrow from 8 am - 8 pm. They will be using the green zone on the south side of Lime alongside Monrovia Travel on the prep day for loading and unloading. They will use parking on Myrtle in front of the location, a few spaces on the north side of Lime next to Library Park for a generator and a craft service vehicle and the east side of Primrose."

- Brad Haugaard

Fundraiser at Max's in Monrovia

Fundraiser for Relay for Life at Max's Mexican Cuisine, 1101 E. Huntington, June 10 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Details: http://goo.gl/mX42Y8