City Of Monrovia: City Manager's Update | September 3, 2021

Press release from the City of Monrovia:

09/03/2021 10:31 AM

Hello Monrovians,

September 6 will mark one-year since the Bobcat Fire ignited in the San Gabriel Mountains. As soon as the fire was out, our staff and volunteers got to work to get our beloved Monrovia Canyon Park to a position where it was safe to reopen. If you haven't already, I highly encourage you to make a reservation to visit the park.   

The anniversary of the Bobcat Fire also serves as a reminder for us to continually be prepared for any types of emergency. September is National Preparedness Month. Throughout the month, Monrovia Fire & Rescue will bring you tips and resources to make you and your family more resilient. Be sure to take a look within this update to learn more.   

The Monrovia City Council will continue to hold their council meetings virtually in the month September and will not meet in person. Those who wish to watch the meetings can do so by viewing it on KGEM-TV or online. On September 7, a Study Session, will be held at 7 p.m. to discuss the status of the Community Center and Library Enhancement projects. The Regular Meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. where they will discuss the residential and commercial eviction moratoria, receive an update on SB 1383 for organic recycling, hear a report on meetings with the District Attorney, and consider whether or not to proceed with a vote of no confidence on the Los Angeles County District Attorney. If you would like to learn more about the upcoming meeting, please view the City Council Meeting Agenda. 

Sincerely, 
Dylan

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

Highlights in this Issue  

• National Preparedness Month
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Survey
• Lucinda Garcia Park Renovation Project Community Meeting
• Grid Tree Trimming 
• GoMonrovia by Electric Vehicle
• Water Conservation Kits Available Beginning September 7!
• Labor Day City Facilities Closure 

National Preparedness Month

This week, our focus is Making a Plan. Everyone in Monrovia should have a plan. Earthquakes and power outages are two things to keep in mind when planning. If you live in the Very High Fire Hazard Zone, you should also have a plan for evacuating during a wildfire.

If you already have a plan in place, you are on your way to being a resilient Monrovian! Now is the time to check it over and see if it needs any updates. If you did need to stay in a large shelter, what would you need? Could you stay with someone instead?

If you don’t have a plan, this week is a great time to start. Think about who you want to connect with during an emergency. These may be family, neighbors, friends or caregivers. Who do you want to protect? Who wants to protect you? Write down their names and contact information on any clean sheet of paper. Include home, work, school and other numbers. Share copies with everyone on your list. It doesn’t need to be complex; it just needs to include how to keep in touch and how to get back to each other if you are separated when the disaster happens.

Remember to talk about your emergency plans with loved ones and encourage them to do the same. Reach out and connect via an email, make a phone call, or send a text message to encourage those around you, to use this time to give some thought to and prepare for other possible disasters. 

Tune in next week for Go Bag and Stay Box ideas! 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Survey

In an ongoing effort to serve all members of the public, the City of Monrovia is updating its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan and self-evaluation. As a part of this process, your input is needed by completing a survey addressing accessibility of facilities, programs, services, activities, and events offered to the public.

Your feedback will assist in addressing and prioritizing current and future accessibility needs. Take the survey. 

Lucinda Garcia Park Renovation Project Update

Join us at Lucinda Garcia Park on Saturday, September 18, at 11 a.m., to learn more about the planned improvements coming to Lucinda Garcia Park! Designs are currently being finalized with Construction to set begin in early 2022. To learn more, please call 626-256-8246.

Grid Tree Trimming

This fall, the City’s contracted tree trimming company, West Coast Arborists (WCA), will be trimming trees in Grid 3. Grid 3 is the area between south of Foothill Boulevard to the southern City limit, between Mayflower Avenue and 5th Avenue. WCA will begin trimming City Trees at the north end of Grid 3 and work their way down. Trimming will begin the week of September 13, 2021.

All City trees are pruned on a regular basis using best practices from the international society of arboriculture. Trees are trimmed in a manner that will encourage good development while preserving their health, structure, and natural appearance. During the trimming, traffic control will be in place and minor traffic delays may occur. Please be mindful of all posted signage.

GoMonrovia by Electric Vehicle 

The first EV charging stations in Old Town Monrovia are now open at 124 E Lemon Avenue. To celebrate the inauguration of these new services, the City is offering free charging through October 1, 2021!

Charging your car battery is easy with the Powerflex charging app. Here’s how it works: 

1. Download the Powerflex app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store 
2. Follow these steps to set up your account 
3. When you arrive at our charging station, launch the Powerflex app and scan the QR code on the station.

Once drivers have completed charging, please move it to a non-charging space so others may utilize the charging stations. Happy Charging!

For more information about the EV Charging Pilot project, please contact Chris Castruita at (626) 256-8224 or ccastruita@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Water Conservation Kits Available Beginning Sept. 7! 

With water conservation being a primary focus for Californians due to the extreme heat and dry conditions, we are pleased to offer Monrovia residents conservation kits. These kits are available at no charge to help make conserving water that much easier! 

Please submit a form to request a kit for pick up at the Public Works Yard located at 600 S. Mountain Avenue. Please note, limit one kit per household.

Labor Day City Facilities Closure

Monrovia City Hall, Public Works Yard, Community Services, and Library will be closed Monday, September 6, in observance of Labor Day. Normal operating hours will resume on Tuesday, September 7. 

Monrovia Chamber of Commerce Career Expo

The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce is excited to host the 2021 Career Expo! This is a wonderful opportunity to meet face-to-face with local businesses that are currently hiring. Whether you're a resident of Monrovia or of the San Gabriel Valley, all are welcomed to attend!   

This event will take place on Wednesday, September 8, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the DoubleTree Monrovia.

Monrovia Community Garden Accepting Applications for Garden Beds 

Want to join the Monrovia Community Garden? We are now accepting applications for the third year of the program!

The garden is located at 303 West Colorado, and there are 21 raised garden beds available for rent on an annual basis. Garden beds are open to Monrovia residents and families enrolled in MUSD. If you're interested in renting a garden bed, please download an application and submit it by September 10, 2021. The fee is $60 annually and scholarships are available to those who qualify. The program will run from October 2021-October 2022.

To contact Garden Director for more information, please send an email to info@monroviacommunitygarden.org.

Report Bulky Items around Town and Be Entered to Win a Gift Card

Have you seen bulky items around town? If you report them into Public Works, you will be entered into a raffle and could win a $50 gift card to a Monrovia Business! If you are out and about around town and see furniture, boxes, or other items in the Right of Way (not on Private Property), please report them to Public Works. In turn, Athens Services will pick these items up within about 48 hours.

How to Report Bulky Items:

• Call Public Works at (626) 932-5575; or
• Email bulkyitem@ci.monrovia.ca.us
• Be sure to provide our name and address to be entered into the raffle.

Since June 2020, we have received 5,502 reports for abandoned bulky items. Thank you for reporting these items!

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.

Stay Informed  Resources

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 City Council Meeting | September 7 | 7:30 p.m. 
• Monrovia Chamber of Commerce Career Expo | September 8
• 9/11 Community Remembrance | September 11 | 8 a.m. 
• Old Town Monrovia Wine Walk | October 9 | 6 p.m. 
• 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

Job Opportunities with the City of Monrovia 

• Office Administrator 
• Police Services Representative 
• Recreation Specialist (part time)

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 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 413 service events, resulting in 59 investigations. View the Neighborhood Watch Report. 

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