Prayer for city, schools, community, nation, family and friends.
- Brad Haugaard
Arbor Day at Aztec Hotel
Also celebrating the settlement with the City of Bradbury over the widening of Bradbury Road. RSVP here.
- Brad Haugaard
Dinner at Café X20
Had dinner recently at Café X20, on the north side of Foothill just west of Melrose. Got the falafel plate for $17 and a beer for $5. Very good!
- Brad Haugaard
Free Neighborhood Conference Saturday
The free 14th Annual Neighborhood Conference, hosted by Monrovia Area Partnership, will take place on April 27, at Second Baptist Church (925 S. Shamrock). The theme is, "Have an Idea? Make it Happen." Free meals, workshops, and activities, including leadership training and local development discussions. Engage, learn, and participate in various sessions designed to enhance community involvement and personal development. Register here.
- Brad Haugaard
Zoom Seminar for Parents on Vaping April 30
On Tuesday, April 30, Terrence Brown, Police Chaplain of Monrovia Police Department and founder of Impact Community United (ICU), along with Azusa Pacific University, will host a Parent Workshop on Teen Vaping via Zoom from 5:30-6:30 p.m. as part of Operation True, a project started in 2022 by the Monrovia Police Department and ICU to educate youth on the dangers of tobacco, including health risks like cancer and addiction. Register here.
- Brad Haugaard
Love Life Celebration at Second Baptist Church, May 4
SET for LIFE will host the 2nd Love LIFE Celebration, a free family fun day, on May 4 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Second Baptist Church, 925 South Shamrock Avenue, Monrovia. The event features food trucks such as DD’s Catfish, Taco Papas, Tommy’s Burgers, Philly Gourmet Ice, a rock-climbing wall, mini jet rides, games like chess and mini-golf, and zones for arts, crafts, and robotics.
Live entertainment includes performances by the LA Chargers and Kings Drumline, vocalists Brooke Benton and Jae Stephens, dance performances from Ballet Folklorico Azteca and the Marshall Smith Dance Team, and new dance moves from the Chicago Steppers, and DJ Perry playing Motown hits. More than 20 local resource booths will be available, and free parking is nearby.
- Brad Haugaard
Pint-Size Dewdrop Has a World of Smiles
Look at that smile! Dewdrop might be the happiest dog at Pasadena Humane, and she is bound to bring a world of smiles to the family who brings her home. This sweetheart is a three-year-old Rottweiler mix. She only weighs about 65 pounds, so she’s like a pint-sized Rottie.
All the volunteers at Pasadena Humane have fallen head-over-heels in love with her, so she gets lots of walks and trips to the yard every day.
She has started to learn some training cues, but it’s difficult for her to focus because she really just wants to cuddle and get lots of attention.
Dewdrop is an ideal size for an active family. She would love to go out hiking or camping or whatever other adventure comes her way. She’ll walk right by your side (like it or not!) and then sit as close as she can to you on the couch to recover.
This sweet girl will make her new family smile ear-to-ear just like she does. Make her (and your) day be bringing home Dewdrop!
The adoption fee for dogs is $150. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.
All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.
Walk-in adoptions are available every day from 2:00 – 5:00. For those who prefer, adoption appointments are available daily from 10:30 – 1:30, and can be scheduled online. View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia's Online Billing AND Phone System Are Down
- Brad Haugaard
I want to provide this Special City Manager’s Update regarding two significant IT issues the City has been experiencing.
Utility Billing is Down
On March 17th, the City’s utility billing software has been down. During a planned equipment upgrade, the City lost its financial system data which includes utility billing but also payroll, accounts payable and financial reporting. Since that date, City staff and our contract partners have been working tirelessly to rebuild all systems and get them back online. First, we recreated payroll to ensure employees would be paid on time. Now, the priority is restoring our utility billing system.
What we are not doing
- We are not generating new utility bills at this time
- We are not sending bills to any water customer
- We are not applying late fees or penalties
- We are not shutting off water
- We are not accepting online bill payments as the online bill pay system is unavailable
- We have all staff/contractors working around the clock to restore utility billing
- We are reading water meters to collect accurate consumption data. The data will be used to prepare utility bills in the future
- We will communicate when the utility billing system is operational again
- We are accepting payments for those desiring to pay at this time. Here's how you can pay –In-person at Monrovia City Hall during business hours Mon-Thurs 7 am - 6 pm, Friday 7 am - 5:30 pm
- By phone calling 1-800-272-9829 (select option 3 and use Jurisdiction Code 1573)
- Drop your payment (non-cash only) in the drop box at the entrance to City Hall
Phone System is Experiencing Technical Problems
The City’s antiquated phone system is being upgraded by our network provider, Frontier Communications. All facilities have been experiencing higher than normal instances of “dead air,” which is when an external call to the City results in no sound being transmitted, although the call is connected. We have reported instances of this happening at City Hall, the Police Station, Public Works and even Community Center. We anticipate the phone repairs to be completed within the next few weeks.
In the meantime, if you have issues connecting or are looking for information on your utility bill or any other matter, please email my office with any requests at pio@ci.monrovia.ca.us. We will get you connected to the information you need as soon as we can.
I am sorry for the inconveniences caused by these disruptions. And while it’s hard to imagine they are both happening at the same time, I assure you we are working as hard as we can to get up and running as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
I've included a list of FAQs (below) to assist, but if you have further inquiries or require assistance, please get in touch with our utility billing customer service team at 626-932-5517. If you are having issues connecting with city staff over the phone, please email pio@ci.monrovia.ca.us. Of course you can always contact me directly as well.
FAQ’s
Why haven’t I received my utility bill? While the City’s utility billing system is currently being rebuilt, we do not have the ability to generate utility bills at this time. However, consumption data is still being accurately recorded and will be included when the next bills are generated.
Will I have late fees or water shut offs? During this time, there will be no late fees or water shut offs.
Can I prepay my utility bill? Yes, customers have the ability to prepay their utility bills. At this time, we cannot determine how much you owe. However, your last bill could be a good estimate of that amount. If you wish, you can make a prepayment using that estimate, and we will apply it to your bill once the system is back up. Please read through the options on how to pay on the next question.
Can I pay online? No. Until the system is rebuilt, the options to pay are to:
1) Pay in person at Monrovia City Hall during business hours2) Pay by phone by calling 1-800-272-9829 (select option 3 and use Jurisdiction Code 1573)3) Drop your non-cash payment in the drop box at the entrance to City Hall
Will I get one large catch-up bill? No. Once the system is up, separate monthly bills will be generated.
Was the City hacked? No. The City’s utility billing system, nor any other City systems, were NOT hacked. Customer data has not been compromised.
For more information on Municipal Utility Services, please visit our City website.
Sincerely,
Dylan
Phone: (626) 932-5585
A Moment in Monrovia History: Cobbler Who Was Also a Pastor
Monrovia cobbler believed to be Owen Adams - also Pastor of the Holiness Church - later Assembly of God. Buried in Live Oak Cemetery. From around 1908. From the Steve Baker collection. See full details here.
For more historic photos and papers, see the Monrovia Historical Society’s complete Legacy Project collection here. Learn more about the Monrovia Historical Society here.
- Brad Haugaard
Asian American and Pacific Islander Celebration Saturday, April 27
Asian American and Pacific Islander Celebration is scheduled for this Saturday, April 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Monrovia Public Library, featuring performances by Aletheia's Hula Oia'i'o Dancers and various arts and crafts activities. Open to all age groups.
- Brad Haugaard
Basic Nintendo Switch for Adults Friday, April 26
This Friday, April 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Monrovia Public Library will host Nintendo Switch Basics and Open Gaming for Adults in the Community Room. Participants will learn the basics of operating a Nintendo Switch and can enjoy game play with others. Guided by staff member Angel Loera. Contact: aloera@ci.monrovia.ca.us or 256-8274.
School District to Hold Forums on Redistricting
Following is a letter from Interim Superintendent Flint Fertig on the plan to divide the district into distinct voting areas for electing members to the School Board.
Dear Monrovia Community Members,
The Monrovia Unified School District (MUSD) is embarking on an important endeavor within our educational community. We're inviting you to participate in upcoming community forums dedicated to discussing the transition from at-large to area-based elections for our School Board.
The MUSD Board of Trustees recently passed a resolution, signaling the beginning of a process aimed at electing Trustees by specific areas within our district. This means that candidates must reside in and be registered voters of a designated area, and they will be elected solely by the voters within that same area. This transition is vital for ensuring compliance with the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), mitigating the risk of potential legal challenges.
The Board has directed the Superintendent to work with legal counsel and a demographer to prepare at least two draft map plans for review and input by the Board and members of the public at the subsequent board and community meetings.
MUSD will host a series of community forums to engage you in this significant change and gather valuable input. These forums will provide a presentation to inform everyone of the proposed changes, and there will be time for a Q&A at the end.
Here are the details for the upcoming forums:
Monday, April 22 at 6 p.m.
Location: MHS Room 210
Thursday, May 16 at 10 a.m.
Virtual Meeting: ZOOM (Link will be provided)
Monday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
Location: MHS Room 210
Your participation is essential in this journey, and we encourage you to attend these informative sessions. Thank you for your continued support and understanding!
Sincerely,
Flint Fertig
Interim Superintendent
Monrovia Unified School District
Reapers Baseball Team Needs Money for Cooperstown Competition
The SoCal Reapers, part of the Monrovia Youth Baseball League, is trying to raise $10,000 for a summer trip to compete in the world-class Cooperstown All-Star Village tournament near Cooperstown, New York. Funds will cover registration, travel, lodging, meals, and uniforms. Click here to support their fundraiser.
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia - Tree City USA; South Monrovians, Get a Tree In Front of Your Property
Monrovia has again been recognized as a Tree City USA for 2023 by the Arbor Day Foundation, marking its 30th year receiving this distinction. Currently, the city is planting in the southern part of town. If you are a Monrovia resident living below the 210 freeway and would like a tree planted in the public right-of-way in front of your property, contact Brittany Jasso at bjasso@ci.monrovia.ca.us or 932-5562.
- Brad Haugaard
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