How to Learn About (and Protest, if You Want) New Water Rates; Park Improvements; Why City Staff May Be Fuzzy; Train Station Almost Done; Etc.

Julian Fisher Park renovations nearing completion.

In his weekly update (https://goo.gl/aOqX7O) City Manager Oliver Chi reports ...

~ If you want to have your say regarding increasing water rates (cost for water is expected to increase around $37 a month by 2021-22 above what the typical residential customer pays today) the city has set up a series of 7 p.m. public meetings at the library's Community Room on Thursday, Nov. 30; Wednesday, Dec. 13; Saturday, Dec. 16; Monday, Dec. 18; Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018.

~ "[D]uring the week of Nov. 20, staff will be mailing public hearing notices to all affected customers detailing the proposed rate adjustment and the reasons behind the rate increases.  These notices will include a protest ballot that can be returned to the City to protest the rate adjustment.  If a majority (50% + 1) of affected customers protest the proposed rate adjustments, then the City Council will not be able to adopt the new rates.  If a majority protest does not occur, then the City Council can adopt the new rates after the public hearing on Jan. 16, 2018." If adopted the new costs would become effective as of March 8, 2018. the Historic Santa Fe Depot, which is planned to be utilized as a café / restaurant once it is fully restored. Should be done by the end of the year.

~ Major renovations at Julian Fisher Park are almost done. Most recently completed was the sports coating on the new basketball courts, as shown above. The remaining tasks, which should be completed over the next two months, include:  Gazebo improvements, landscaping, an "interpretive sign."

~ The old Santa Fe Depot, which is being set up as a restaurant space, should be fully restored by the end of the year.

~ All City staff who participate in the "No Shave November" cancer awareness event by paying $20 (all of which will be donated to charity) may forgo shaving during the entire month of November. The event is to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research. As part of the event there will be an exotic car show  held on Dec. 2, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Library Park.

~ Kids can build a planter with California wildflowers at  the Nature Center at  Monrovia Canyon Park between 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26. For more information, call Monrovia Canyon Park at 256-8282.

~ Help Monrovia Fire Department with its "Fill the Boot" fundraising campaign on Wednesday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the corner of Mayflower Avenue and Huntington Drive. Funds go to  the Muscular Dystrophy Association and usually the event  raises between $3,000 - $5,000.

~ Join Monrovia Fire & Rescue for its Spark of Love Toy Drive on Nov. 24 and 25. Stuff the Monrovia Fire Engine with toys in front of the Studio Movie Grill (formerly the Krikorian Theater) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For questions, contact Monrovia Fire & Rescue at 256-8181.

~ The Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Parade will be held on Thursday, Dec. 7, beginning with the Tree Lighting Ceremony in Library Park, at 6 p.m., and then the Holiday Parade at 7 p.m. The parade will travel north on Myrtle from Chestnut to Palm. If you're interested in submitting an entry to the Parade, please return the application to the Monrovia Community Center by Wednesday, Nov. 22. For questions, contact Lisa Hansberger at 256-8246, or at lhansberger@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Police Follow a Trail of Transmission Fluid; Driver Hits Pedestrian; Vehicle Thefts; Wanted Suspects Call Attention to Themselves

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for November 9-12. - Brad Haugaard]

Following are the weekend’s highlighted issues and events.

Grand Theft Auto
November 9 at 6:33 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from the 1800 block of S. Peck Road. The victim parked his vehicle on the street in front of his residence in the evening. He returned to his vehicle in the morning and found it was missing. The vehicle is a white, Chevrolet Express van. The investigation is continuing.

Vandalism
November 9 at 6:38 a.m., a vandalism incident was reported at a business in the 200 block of W. Foothill. A suspect threw a rock at the glass door of the business, causing it to shatter. There were metal bars on the door that prevented the suspect from entering the business. The investigation is continuing.

Attempt Burglary
November 9 at 12:17 p.m., an attempt burglary was reported at a business in the 100 block of W. Foothill. A suspect threw a rock at the front door, which is Plexiglas, causing it to scratch. The suspect then attempted to push the door open, but was unsuccessful. The investigation is continuing.

Attempt Grand Theft Auto
November 9 at 3:26 p.m., an officer responded to the report of an attempted grand theft auto at a business parking lot in the 3300 block of Peck Road. The victim parked her vehicle in the parking lot for approximately one hour. When she returned to her vehicle, she found the steering column was damaged and she could not put the vehicle in drive. The vehicle had to be towed. The investigation is continuing.

Warrant – Suspect Arrested
November 9 at 9:26 p.m., an officer stopped a vehicle at Colorado and Magnolia for vehicle code violations. A computer check on the driver revealed he was unlicensed and had a warrant for his arrest. The driver was arrested and taken into custody for the warrant. His vehicle was stored.

Hit & Run Traffic Collision
November 10 at 2:37 a.m., a resident from the 100 block of Madison called police to report a vehicle that drove up onto his lawn and over a retaining wall. The vehicle then fled south, out of view. An officer responded and followed a trail of leaking transmission fluid to the 800 block of Olive, locating the suspect vehicle, which was now unoccupied. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
November 10 at 1:30 p.m., a vehicle was reported stolen from a business parking lot in the 3300 block of S. Peck Road. The victim parked their 2008 Mercedes to the front of the business and went inside. When they returned, they realized their vehicle had been stolen. The investigation is continuing.

Grand Theft Auto
November 10 at 2:37 p.m., two vehicles were reported stolen from a business in the 1400 block of S. Mountain. Unknown suspects broke into a lockbox to obtain the vehicle keys and took the vehicles. The incident occurred sometime between November 8 and 9. The investigation is continuing.

Injury Traffic Collision
November 11 at 10:05 a.m., an officer responded to a traffic collision involving injuries at the intersection of Foothill and Canyon. A vehicle was traveling south on Canyon and made a left turn onto Foothill, striking a pedestrian that was walking in the crosswalk with a green light to walk. Multiple subjects witnessed the incident. The driver was cited and the pedestrian was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Attempt Grand Theft Auto
November 11 at 12:00 noon, an attempt grand theft auto was reported in the 800 block of W. Duarte Road. The victim parked and locked her vehicle in the carport. When she returned to her vehicle the next day, she found a broken shaved key in the ignition and someone had rummaged through the interior of the vehicle. The investigation is continuing.

Vandalism in Progress – Suspect Arrested
November 11 at 12:04 p.m., a suspect was reported vandalizing the wall of a business in the 200 block of E. Foothill with a sharpie marker. Officers responded and located the suspect inside a nearby business. The suspect was positively identified by a witness and a computer check revealed the suspect also had a no-bail warrant for his arrest. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Warrants / Possession of a Controlled Substance – Suspect Arrested
November 11 at 2:27 p.m., officers responded to Mountain and Duarte regarding a welfare check of a subject sitting on the curb with his legs in the street. Officers contacted the subject and a computer check revealed he had multiple warrants for his arrest. The subject was arrested and taken into custody. The subject was also found to be in possession of a bag of cocaine he had in his wallet.

Christmas Cantata at Monrovia First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church (at Myrtle and Foothill) will present “Let There Be Christmas,” a family Christmas cantata with choir and orchestra, by Joseph M. Martin, on Friday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m. Music, sing-along carols, photos with Santa, refreshments. An offering will be taken.

Brad Haugaard 

Former MHS Student Says Teacher Gave Class All Test Answers

Former Monrovia High student claims teacher gave students all the answers prior to a test.  https://goo.gl/GJkVWA

- Brad Haugaard 

Lunch at Sharkie Poke

Lunch at Sharkie Poke, on the east side of Myrtle in the Paragon building. Got the three-item (an “item” is a type of raw fish) poke for $8.99 and an iced tea for $2.25. It was served on a bed of rice with dressing and garnished with veggies and other things of your choice. Very tasty and filling. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia Football Completes League Play Undefeated :-)

Monrovia football undefeated as it finishes league play. On to the playoffs! https://goo.gl/HA5fxt

- Brad Haugaard

Is There Progress on the Long-Stalled Clock Tower Building?

Things again seem to be happening at the long-stalled refurbishing of the clock tower building on the east side of Myrtle across from the library. Old Town businesswoman, Pam Fitzpatrick, said drywall has been delivered and a van from an elevator company was parked outside. https://goo.gl/mqrbuf

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Young Musicians Ensemble Musical Bake Sale

Monrovia Young Musicians Ensemble will hold a musical bake sale at the Pavilions supermarket on Sunday, Nov. 19 and Dec. 10 from 4-6 p.m. each day. MYME serves the community by sharing music and promoting awareness of the necessity to keep music alive in local schools.

- Brad Haugaard

Monrovia Police: Burglary Suspect Arrested Because He Made a Fuss; Four-Year-Old Wanders Streets; Shoplifting; Wallet Swiped; Bikes Stolen

[Monrovia Police activities from the Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Report for November 6-8. - Brad Haugaard]

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 440 service events, resulting in 73 investigations.

Child Endangerment – Suspect Arrested
November 6 at 7:02 a.m., an officer responded to the area of Monterey and Walnut regarding a four-year-old boy wandering. The child was taken to the Monrovia Police Department and the Department of Children and Family Services was notified. It was determined that the father left the boy alone in the house to take the child's mother to work. There is a domestic violence restraining order against the father. The father was arrested for child endangerment. A verified complaint was submitted to the court to file charges of child endangerment on the mother.

Theft – Suspect Arrested
November 6 at 3:55 p.m., officers on patrol saw a subject running out of a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain Avenue. Store loss prevention was following after the subject. The subject had attempted to steal merchandise from the business. Once confronted by loss prevention, the subject fled. He was located by officers and arrested for the theft.

Theft
November 6 at 7:09 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 1600 block of S. Mountain regarding a theft. Two suspects selected backpacks and shoes from the store and fled out of an emergency exit. The suspects had fled prior to officers arriving. The investigation is continuing.

Domestic Violence – Suspects Arrested
November 7 at 1:15 a.m., a couple that reside in the 800 block of W. Walnut were involved in a physical altercation. There were conflicting statements and officers were unable to establish the primary aggressor. Both subjects were arrested for domestic violence.

Traffic Collision with Injury / Driving Under the Influence – Suspect Arrested
November 7 at 4:03 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of California and Olive regarding an injury traffic collision. One driver was traveling southbound on California and the other was traveling eastbound on Olive, where they collided in the intersection. One of the drivers was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and was arrested. The other driver complained of pain.

Shoplifting – Suspect Arrested
November 7 at 4:57 p.m., an officer responded to a business in the 500 block of W. Huntington regarding a female suspect that stole merchandise and fled the location on foot. The officer arrived and located the female suspect in a nearby parking lot. The stolen property was recovered. The suspect was positively identified by store loss prevention and arrested for the theft.

Theft of Bicycles
November 8 at 1:29 p.m., two bicycles were reported stolen from the 1300 block of S. Alta Vista. The bicycles were stolen from the front common area of an apartment complex. The investigation is continuing.

Petty Theft / Fraud
November 8 at 2:22 p.m., a petty theft of a wallet was reported at a business in the 600 block of W. Huntington. The victim placed her backpack on the back of her chair. A witness saw a male suspect reach into the backpack and remove the wallet, while a second suspect attempted to block the witness’s view by standing up. The witness notified the manager, but when the witness and manager returned to the victim's table to inform her of the theft, the suspects were gone. The victim's debit card was later used at a business nearby. The investigation is continuing.

Burglary
November 9 at 12:06 a.m., the front glass door of a business in the 200 block of W. Foothill was reported shattered. Officers responded and confirmed a burglary had occurred. Surveillance video showed a male, white suspect with a beard, wearing a plaid jacket. The suspect broke the glass with a rock and entered the location. He searched the cash register drawers and left, taking nothing.

Approximately an hour later, officers were dispatched to a gas station in the 1500 block of S. Myrtle regarding a subject causing a disturbance. Officers arrived and recognized the subject as the suspect that committed the burglary on Foothill. The suspect was arrested and taken into custody.

Grand Theft
November 9 at 5:50 a.m., a grand theft of a bicycle was reported in the 400 block of W. Huntington. Officers responded to the location regarding the theft and located a vehicle nearby that was leaving the area. The vehicle was stopped and the bicycle was recovered from inside. The suspect was arrested for the theft.

Veterans Day Ceremony

There will be a Veterans Day ceremony at Library Park this Saturday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Monrovia State Senator Wants Whistleblower Protection to Apply to Legislative Staff Members

Monrovia's State Senator, Anthony Portantino, thinks some women on legislative staffs in Sacramento have legitimate complaints about abuse and intimidation and thinks whistleblower protection would help. He writes:

"Recently, the legislature has been facing legitimate complaints and serious accusations from women within and outside the capitol workforce. As the father of two daughters, spouse of a working professional and a person who has consistently helped place communities of our district in the hands of extremely talented women I continue to believe a significant barrier to just outcomes and workplace security has been the lack of whistleblower protection for legislative staff. You might be surprised to learn that although whistleblower protection is California law it does not apply to the state legislature and most importantly our staff is not protected against reprisal for shining the light on inappropriate behavior or criminal activity. I first learned of this discrepancy in 2011 and I authored a bill to extend this protection to legislative staff then and again in 2012. Both bills were killed. Upon being elected to the State Senate, I supported a third bi-partisan attempt to make this prudent change to how business is conducted in the state capitol. Everyone who works in Sacramento should have the confidence to bring complaints and observations of wrongdoing forward without fear of retribution.

"There are many good people working to figure out prudent and effective next steps to protect women in the capitol from abuse and intimidation. Immediately extending whistleblower protection is a necessary and easy first step. It is my intention to once again bring it forward in January when we return to regular legislative business."

Source: Portantino letter.

Comment: Noooo, actually it does not surprise me at all that whistleblower protection does not apply to the state legislative staff members.

- Brad Haugaard

San Gabriel Valley Choral Company Presents 'In Dulci Jubilo'

On Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m., the San Gabriel Valley Choral Company will present In Dulci Jubilo at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church, 122  S. California Ave. The event will feature Michael Praetorius' 17th century piece for double choir and the singing of holiday music in Hebrew, Georgian, Spanish, and English. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors and students, and $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets may be purchased at http://www.sgvccsingers.org or by sending a check payable to "SGVCC" to PO Box 2225 Monrovia, CA  91017.  They will also be available at the door.

- Brad Haugaard

Original Celtic Woman Chloë Agnew in Concert at St. Luke

"Ireland's Celtic Songbird," Chloë Agnew, a founding member of Celtic Women, will join special guest Dermot Kiernan to present Chloë's Christmas, a holiday concert, on Friday, Dec. 1, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Monrovia. Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. concert may be ordered at ticketleap.com for $20 plus $2 handling.

Chloë Agnew appeared in the PBS special Celtic Woman at fourteen and the US response led to a debut album that remained on the Billboard World Music Chart for 81 weeks. The group's next two albums went on to hold the top three positions on the chart. Agnew was named 2012 Female Vocalist of the Year at the Irish Music Awards. The following year, she moved to Los Angeles to launch a solo career. She has toured internationally with some of America's most distinguished orchestras.

Dermot Kiernan has toured extensively with Dublin's Pro Cathedral and Christchurch Cathedral Choirs, appearing as a soloist for their recordings and concerts worldwide. In 2009, he joined The Celtic Woman Aontas Choir and toured with it across the globe. He was later named its choir leader/director. Now based in Los Angeles, he performs, directs and teaches across the country.

- Brad Haugaard

Mayor Tom Adams: Monrovia Faces a Serious Struggle

The Monrovia City Council tonight approved a series of measures, including a big bond measure, (see here for details: https://goo.gl/Hvp1se) to prevent the city from going bankrupt over the next few years from increases in pension costs.

Mayor Tom Adams said, “Monrovia will be okay, but, boy! it’ll be a struggle.”  But neither he or City Manager Oliver Chi was optimistic about the fate of many other cities and government agencies throughout the state, saying there will likely be “a lot of bankruptcies.”

Chi and Adams blamed the state for changes it made during the Gray Davis administration that increased costs for its CalPERS retirement program. Chi added that some cities have already been tracking and dealing with these liabilities and he proposed that Monrovia's city staff be required in the future to inform the council of any new liabilities that will - likely - come along. 

Chi is recommending buying a bond to cover the shortfall (total unfunded pension liability is $112 million) because borrowing costs are at an historic low, currently in the 4 percent range. 

- Brad Haugaard 

Alan Sanvictores Sworn in as Monrovia’s Chief of Police

Tonight, before the city council, Captain Alan Sanvictores got a promotion as he was sworn in as Monrovia’s new chief of police. He promised to do “everything in his being” to serve the city. 

- Brad Haugaard