City Of Monrovia: City Manager's Update | January 28, 2022

Press release from the City of Monrovia:

01/28/2022 9:23 AM

Hello Monrovians, 

Thank you for your patience as we continue debris cleanup and removal from the wind event last weekend. I want to give a special thanks to those wonderful Monrovians who volunteered their time, tools and energy to help neighbors and friends. I learned some folks were hauling off large limbs and trees that had fallen. Some used their own chainsaws and cut up trees for neighbors and elderly residents. It was a great showing of care and compassion. 

It was wonderful to see many of you at the annual State of the City event. If you were unable to attend or watch, a link to the address is included in this update. Over the next few weeks we will have a lot of stuff to keep us busy. Within this update you will find details regarding the 2022 State of the City Address, trees and debris cleanup, Black History Month events and programs, and much more. 

Sincerely, 

Dylan

Email: dfeik@ci.monrovia.ca.us 
Phone: (626) 932-5585

Highlights in this Update

• 2022 State of the City 
• Trees and Debris Cleanup   
• Celebrating Black History Month
• Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board Vacancy
• California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy Workshops for Local Businesses 
• Assemblymember Holden Woman of the Year Nomination
• Resources from the California Department of Insurance
• SCAG Scholarship Program

2022 State of the City Address

Annually, our Mayor and City Council come together to share some of the City’s accomplishments from the past year and give you a first look at upcoming projects! 

Trees and Debris Cleanup 

City crews, along with our tree trimming contractor West Coast Arborists (WCA), are continuing to clean up debris, fallen limbs, and trees since the wind event over the weekend. Residents with downed trees, limbs, and large debris can stack them in their front yard or as closest to the street as possible to allow it to be hauled off. Crews will continue picking up debris thought out the next couple of days. If you still have trees or debris that needs to be hauled off, contact Public Works at (626) 932-5575.

Celebrating Black History Month

Throughout the month of February, we'll be celebrating Black History Month, in partnership with the Monrovia Duarte Black Alumni Association (MDBAA).

The Monrovia Public Library will also host weekly, virtual Black History Month storytimes introduced by a MDBAA member that we'll be posted on the Monrovia Public Library's YouTube Channel every Monday in February.

Here's what you can look forward to in the month of February! 

• Community Health Fair at the Monrovia Community Center | February 12, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. 
• Children’s Art Festival at the Monrovia Community Center | February 17, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
• Music and Movement with Rhythms of the Village in Monrovia Library Park | February 19, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.  
  • Informational booths from Day One, a nonprofit that promotes health and wellness, and a local holistic health coach
  • Display celebrating African-American icons of medicine and science to align with this year’s BHM theme of health
  • Interactive play area celebrating doctors and health workers
  • Fun craft activity for kids in the Youth Services Area at 3 p.m.
• Conversation with Chris Loos Monrovia Alum, Leader and Mentor for youth and popular broadcasting personality and Brian Richie Alum from Duarte and Loos’ former student at the Duarte Historical Museum | February 20, 2:30 p.m - 3:30 p.m.
• Soul Food Luncheon at the Monrovia Community Center | February 26, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board Vacancy

The City of Monrovia encourages Old Town Merchants to apply for a position on the Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board (MOTAB) to fill an unscheduled vacancy due to the resignation of a Boardmember. Applications will be accepted through February 3, 2022, at 6 p.m. 

Those who are eager to get involved in the community and have a bona fide business in Old Town Monrovia can apply for the position at the following link: 

•  Application for Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board (MOTAB) Vacancy 

The seven member Board is comprised of Old Town Monrovia merchants and is responsible for making recommendations to the City Council on programs and projects to advance the downtown area. Must have a bona fide business in Old TownMonrovia subject to the Business Improvement District (BID) assessment, and must be current on their BID assessment. MOTAB meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m.

To find out more about becoming a Board Member or Commissioner, contact the City Clerk's Office at 626-932-5505.

California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy Workshops for Local Businesses 

Calling all local businesses and agencies that meet the criteria! Please join CalRecycle in a free online educational workshop regarding Senate Bill 1383 also known as California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy.

Tier 1

• Supermarket
• Food Distributors
• Food Service Provider
• Wholesale Food Vendor

Tier 2

• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Local Education Agency

Upcoming Workshops

1. Wednesday, February 3, 2022, 9 - 10:30 a.m.
2. Thursday, February 10, 2022, 4 - 5:30 p.m.

To receive the Zoom link for the workshop, please email Petra Beglarian at pbeglarian@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Assemblymember Holden Woman of the Year Nomination

Every March, in celebration of Women's History Month, the California State Assembly honors women from across the State for their remarkable contributions to the community.

Assemblymember Holden needs your help to nominate deserving women for the 2022 Distinguished Woman of the Year Award. Nominees must live, volunteer, or work in the 41st Assembly District, which stretches from Pasadena in the west to Upland in the east and includes the communities of Altadena, Claremont, La Verne, Monrovia, Rancho Cucamonga, San Dimas, Sierra Madre, and South Pasadena.

The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, February 4, 2022. If you are unable to complete the online application, please call the Office of Assemblymember Holden at (626) 351-1917 and ask for further assistance.

Resources from the California Department of Insurance

The California Department of Insurance is aware there has been an increase in Homeowner’s insurance non-renewals and understand that residential insurance is getting harder to find in areas insurers identify as having a high risk of wildfire.  

Below are links to frequently requested information. 

• Here are their Top Ten Tips for Finding Residential Insurance. 
• The California FAIR Plan provides homeowners insurance as a last resort.
• Locate an Agent or Broker registered with the FAIR Plan
• The National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s has a NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator to help consumers locate benefits from life insurance policies or annuity contracts purchased anywhere in the United States.
• California’s Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program - California’s Low Cost Automobile (CLCA) Insurance Program was established by the Legislature in 1999 and exists (pursuant to California Insurance Code Section 11629.7) as a program designed to provide income-eligible, good drivers with liability insurance protection at affordable rates as a way to meet California’s mandatory auto insurance law. CLCA is a state-sponsored program that makes insurance affordable for California residents who meet the eligibility requirements, regardless of immigration status.

SCAG Scholarship Program

The SCAG Scholarship Program offers local government and planning experience that students can use to develop long-term career goals. The scholarship will provide a $4,000 scholarship award for seven high school or community college students from the SCAG region (and potentially an additional eighth scholarship award that is not tied to a specific county, but could be awarded at the Committee’s discretion). Recipients will also have an opportunity to meet with their local government representatives and practicing planners to discuss the importance of urban planning and a future career in public service.

To learn more about the program requirements and the application process, please visit the SCAG Scholarship Program website. 

Monrovia Association of Fine Arts Artist Alley

To celebrate the new art exhibit at the Monrovia Community Center, the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts will host an artist reception on January 30, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Those interested in attending can RSVP to Christine Geltz at christine@monroviafinearts.org. 

Monrovia Conserves 

On January 18, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted emergency regulations to prevent wasteful water uses and promote urban water conservation. The emergency regulation and prohibitions will be in place for one year unless extended, modified, or removed. The prohibitions in effect include:

• Applying water to outdoor landscapes resulting in more than incidental runoff or unintended amounts of runoff (e.g. overspray from sprinklers that escapes the area of intended use)
• Washing vehicles without an automatic shutoff nozzle
• Washing impervious areas
• Street cleaning or construction site prep
• Decorative fountains, lakes or ponds
• Irrigating turf within 48 hours of one fourth of an inch of rainfall
• Irrigating turf (lawn) on public medians

Monrovia's Water Conservation Plan 
In order to enhance our conservation efforts, our City Council has recommended we move into Phase II of our water conservation plan, mandating a 10% decrease in water consumption in our community. 

As a result of establishing Phase II of the Water Conservation Plan, violations of mandatory water conservation measures may result in administrative citations. Additionally, customers who fail to reduce their water usage by the required 10% will be billed a penalty of two times the cost of a water billing unit (748 gallons of water) for each unit in excess of what is permitted. For a typical residential unit, the standard penalty is $4.88 per unit in excess.

Moving forward, residents and commercial customers should not exceed 90% of their base period allocation. The base period allocation is defined by actual water usage during the same month in 2020.

Tools to Help You Conserve

• Upper District’s Water Smart Home Program offers qualifying residents an opportunity to choose a variety of water conservation items to be installed at their home, free of charge, by EcoTech Services. 
• The Water Conservation Kit is filled with tools, at no charge, to help make conserving water that much easier. 
• The Water Conservation Planner, designed in collaboration with Smitten on Paper and BeWaterWise.com, is filled with native plants and water conservation tips.

Work around Town 

Oakglade Debris Basin Hauling 
As a result of the Bobcat Fire, Los Angeles County Department of Public Works will be hauling sediment from the Oakglade Debris Basin to the City of Irwindale’s Kincaid Pit. This public safety measure will maximize the basin’s capacity to capture mudflow from the burned canyons during storm events.  Work will occur Monday, January 31 through Friday, February 4, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays as needed.  There will be no hauling activities on Sundays. Work will take approximately 3 weeks to complete, but may be extended if additional maintenance or clean-out activities are necessary. 

2022 Residential and Commercial Solid Waste Rate Schedule 

Representatives from Athens Services notified the City of their formal request to institute a 4.61% increase for solid waste services effective January 1, 2022. This request is permitted under the City's Franchise Agreement with Athens and represents a 3.61% CPI adjustment plus a 1.0% annual increase. The actual dollar cost impact of the rate adjustment is as follows: 

• For the typical residential customer enrolled in the 90-gallon trash / recycling barrel program), solid waste services will increase by $1.56 / month, from $34.91 / month to $36.47 / month.

COVID-19 At a Glance 

Latest Facts & Figures 

Residential / Non-Residential Settings in Monrovia 

Residential / Non-Residential Settings in Monrovia 

Facilities that have no reported positive COVID-19 cases for 14 days are considered to no longer have an outbreak and removed from the list. Confirmed cases of employees from residential/non-residential settings get counted under their home city.

Additional details on cases and deaths were not provided by the County of Los Angeles. View the Public Health Statement Regarding COVID-19 and Patient Privacy.

Development Spotlight

Several significant projects are working their way through the review process and stages of construction here at the City. Among these are the Adaptive Reuse of the Monrovia Market Building (approved on Oct. 1), the Overton Moore Pacific Self Storage Project in the former Verizon Building in Old Town (approved on Nov. 19), 127 Pomona Multi-Family Development with 310 units at Station Square (approved on Jan. 21), the Alexan Multi-Family Development with 436 units at Station Square (approved on Feb. 4), and the Arroyo at Monrovia Station Multi-Family Development with 302 units (Planning Commission approved on Feb. 12). For more details, visit the Development Spotlight webpage.

Key Dates, Programs & Virtual Events 

• Monrovia Community Garden Winter Workshop | January 29 | 10 a.m.  
• Virtual MAP-edu Meeting | January 29 | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. 
• City Council Meeting | February 1 | 7:30 p.m. 
• Valentine’s Day Carriage Rides in Old Town Monrovia | February 14 | 4 p.m. 
• Art on the Box Program | Application due March 31
• Join the Bobcat Fire Clean-Up Crew
• Make an Appointment for Passport Services at Monrovia Community Center 
• Monrovia Street Fair & Market | Fridays | 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
• E-Waste Drop Off at Monrovia Public Works Yard | Daily
• Subscribe to e-Notifications for Meeting Agendas
• Request a Bulky Item Pick-Up
• Report Abandoned Bulky Item 
• Shop the City of Monrovia Official Store

Jobs with the City of Monrovia 

The City of Monrovia is now recruiting for the following position:

• Director of Public Works

The City of Monrovia offers interested individuals a chance to keep themselves notified on our job openings through the job interest card. This card will help interested individuals receive notifications about positions that open within the city without having to continuously log on to view our employment opportunities page.

Neighborhood Watch Report 

This report lists the total number of calls for service received over the last seven-day period. View the Neighborhood Watch Report. 

This press release was produced by the City of Monrovia. The views expressed here are the author’s own.