Community Corner

Monrovia City Manager's Update - September 28, 2020

City staff is coordinating damage assessments for Monrovia Canyon Park, the Hillside Wilderness Preserve, and even City buildings.

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Press Release Desk, News Partner

Press release from the City of Monrovia:

September 28, 2020

Hello Monrovians,

Find out what's happening in Monroviafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

This update has been prepared to share with you everything that is taking place in Monrovia. If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

Have a wonderful week!

Find out what's happening in Monroviafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Sincerely,
Dylan

Highlights in this Issue

  • Bobcat Fire Update
  • Speed Bumps to be Reinstalled on Bradbury Road and Terrado Drive
  • Refuse Rate Adjustment
  • Halloween Movie Nights at Recreation Park
  • Monrovia Association of Fine Arts Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival
  • Free Compost & Mulch Drive-up
  • Too Toxic To Trash Drive-Thru Collection
  • First Evangelical Church of Arcadia Offers Free Flu Shots

Bobcat Fire Update

City staff is coordinating damage assessments for Monrovia Canyon Park, the Hillside Wilderness Preserve, and even City buildings. Many city facilities suffered smoke damage and we will be using an industrial hygienist to inspect our facilities, IT equipment, HVAC systems, etc. ensure any damage is corrected.

In the wake of the Bobcat Fire, staff have received calls from concerned residents about injured wildlife in our neighborhoods. We have been proactively working with Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop our plans to assist injured animal when needed. Each incident will be assessed independently and on a case by case bases. Please know, there are many factors affecting the response. As a result, should you see an injured animal please report as much information as possible.

To report an an injured animal, residents should call (626) 255-6799. Some things that may be helpful to include:

  • Location of animal (be specific as possible). If the animal is moving on its own, that may hamper the efforts of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
  • Provide your observations on the health of the animal
  • Any descriptive qualities about the animal and its species

Our Park Naturalist will take the report and follow up with the Department of Fish and Wildlife as needed. In addition, residents are encouraged to not approach the animal or try to contain the animal.

As the Bobcat Fire is moving further away from Monrovia, moving forward, we will only provide updates when appropriate. If you have any specific questions related to the Bobcat Fire, please send an email to pio@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Speed Bumps to be Reinstalled on Bradbury Road and Terrado Drive

Now that the street paving has been completed, the speed bumps will be reconstructed on these streets utilizing asphalt pavement rather than the previous rubber units. Speed bumps will be placed in two locations along both Bradbury Road and Terrado Drive. This work will take place in the coming weeks and will take two days to complete. In the meantime, we are asking motorist to be mindful of their speeds, especially along these streets and within the work areas.

Refuse Rate Adjustment

On August 4, the Monrovia City Council reviewed and approved a 5.66% rate adjustment from Athens Services to all solid waste accounts across the City. This adjustment includes costs related to AB 1594, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and wages. The increase is effective July 1, 2020. Resident’s next bill will include a retroactive charge to the period beginning July 1. For more information, please call the Public Works Department at (626) 932-5575.

Halloween Movie Nights at Recreation Park

Put on your costume and head down to Recreation Park to enjoy Halloween Movie Nights! Attendees will have the opportunity to show off their costumes, get their fill of sweets and goodies and end the night with a Halloween movie.

Movie Schedule

  • Oct. 3 – Hocus Pocus
  • Oct. 17 – Nightmare Before Christmas
  • Oct. 31 – Halloweentown

Online registration is required and is limited to 70 families. This program is free for Monrovia residents and $15 for non-residents. To ensure the health and safety of the community and COVID-19 guidelines are met, all programs will have designated family reservation spots that are six feet apart from others and face coverings are required. Halloween Movie Nights at Recreation Park is sponsored by PrimeLending and Sierra Family of Dealerships. Make Your Reservation for Halloween Movie Nights at Recreation Park!

Monrovia Association of Fine Arts Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival

The Monrovia Association of Fine Arts, along with the City of Monrovia, are excited to distribute FREE paper lantern kits for children to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival!

Pick Up Location & Time

  • Wednesday, September 30: Kiwanis Park at Grand Avenue, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, October 7: Lucinda Garcia Park, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

In Eastern cultures, Mid-Autumn Festival (or Lunar Festival) is a traditional harvest occasion that celebrates family, reunions, and gratitude. On this day, the Autumn moon is at its fullest and roundest, shining brightly in the night. Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally celebrated with crafting of lantern art, moon gazing activities, family dinners, and mooncakes. It's customary to cut up a single mooncake and share it with loved ones to symbolize staying together. During this time we also make and hang up paper cut art, with motifs of the moon and elements from old legends. Mooncakes are eaten because, in addition to the full moon being present during the harvest, in Chinese culture the moon represents union of families and the bonds we share. The Mid-Autumn festival is a time to celebrate the connections we share and our profound sense of belonging to one another.

Too Toxic To Trash Drive-Thru Collection

On October 31, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., the City of Monrovia, along with the County of LA, will host a free household hazardous and electronic waste drive-thru collection.

  • Carefully secure items in your trunk/pick-up bed. Hazardous waste must be in your trunk/pick-up bed with no other items.
  • Waste should be in a sturdy box, preferably in their original containers. Be prepared to leave containers.
  • No explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials controlled substances, trash, tires, or large appliances (like refrigerators,
  • stoves and washing machines).
  • Sharps disposal will require exiting your vehicle in a designated location to deposit them in a bin.
  • Open to Los Angeles County residents. No business waste accepted.
  • Limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste per trip.

Free Compost and Mulch Drive-up

Reserve your spot to pick up free compost and mulch at the Public Works Yard on Saturday, November 7 and November 14, 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. Residents must wear face coverings and bring gloves, a shovel, and a container no larger than 32 gallons. This is a drive up only event.

For more information and to make a reservation, please contact Jamie Bumia, at (626) 932-5579.

First Evangelical Church of Arcadia Presents Free Flu Shots

The First Evangelical Church of Arcadia invites the community to receive free flu shots on October 3, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. The flu shots are first come, first serve and for adults only (18 and up). Patients are required to wear face coverings, answer a COVID-19 screening questionnaire, and fill out a flu vaccine consent form. Visit the First Evangelical Church of Arcadia online to download the needed documents.

Library Park Fountain

The Library Park fountain is back up and running! The City’s maintenance contractor was able to locate the needed replacement part and install it sooner than anticipated. If you are strolling around town, be sure to check out the fountain in all its glory!

LA County Cooling Centers

The Los Angeles County has designated cooling centers to provide the public relief from the heat. Residents who do not have access to air conditioning are encouraged to take advantage of these free cooling centers. To find a location near you, visit ready.lacounty.gov/heat or call 211.

The health and safety of staff and visitors at cooling centers is priority. When visiting a cooling center, the following are recommended:

  • Staff and visitors are instructed to stay home if they do not feel well. Any person reporting or exhibiting signs of illness is advised to seek appropriate medical care.
  • Staff and visitors are required to wear a face covering at all times.
  • Staff and visitors are advised to practice social distancing by standing at least six feet away from other persons, except for family members. Tables, chairs and other physical layouts are arranged to ensure appropriate distancing. Occupancy is reduced by more than half to prevent crowding.
  • Signage is posted throughout cooling centers reminding staff and visitors of key protective actions, including the proper way to wear face coverings, washing hands, covering sneezes and coughs, and to avoid touching their faces.
  • Cooling centers follow cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Frequently contacted surfaces like door handles, handrails, counters, seating, bathrooms, and floors are cleaned more often. Trash is collected and disposed of regularly.

Elevated temperatures may cause heat-related illnesses, which can occur suddenly. During the heat, please take the following precautions:

  • Drink plenty of water and keep hydrated throughout the day.
  • If you must go out, plan your day to avoid going out during the hottest hours, and wear sunscreen.
  • Cars get very hot. Never leave children or pets in cars and call 911 if you see a child or pet in a car alone.
  • Beware of heat-related illness, like heat stroke and call 911 if you see these symptoms: high body temperature, vomiting, and pale and clammy skin.
  • Check on those at risk, like those who are sick, older adults, pregnant women, and children.
  • Avoid strenuous work outs wearing face coverings or masks not intended for athletic purposes; this means avoiding contact with others while you work out.

Art in Public Places Logo Contest

Residents and business owners are encouraged to participate in the Art in Public Places logo contest.

Interested artists must submit designs by October 1. The contest winner will receive $500. This logo should reflect the culture, values and characteristics of Monrovia. For a complete list of the contest guidelines and design specifics, visit cityofmonrovia.org/logo.

Established in 2004, Art in Public Places supports the creation of public art through a variety of programs and projects. The program extends the reach of public art into the community by sponsoring the artists to paint utility boxes, murals, Samson the Bear statues and more.

Download an applications for the contest. If you have any questions regarding the Art in Public Places Logo Contest, contact Kerri Zessau by calling (626) 932-5564 or emailing kzessau@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Bulky Item Pick- Up Program

Athens Services provides two (2) scheduled bulky item collections, at no cost, for residential customers. To arrange for a bulky item collection, please contact Athens Services at (855) 557-1007. Bulky items include any nonhazardous, household items (furniture, appliances, and large boxes, mixed waste) that will not fit into your cart of bin.

Please schedule these collections at least two-days prior to your normal collection day. Once schedule, please place these items out with your normal trash for collection.

To schedule a bulky item pick-up, please call Athens Services at (855) 557-1007. For any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Public Works at (626) 932-5575

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:

Raffle tickets will be pulled each Thursday and the winners will be notified by Public Works Staff.

Since June 4, we have received 1,776 reports for abandoned bulky items! Thank you for reporting these items! The winner for this week’s drawing is….Dolores Marchetti!

COVID-19 At a Glance

Latest Facts & Figures

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

Monrovia Renewal Construction Updates

Work is underway in the Northeast Section of the Monrovia Renewal project. This represents the final section of work for Monrovia Renewal, which is the largest public works project in City history! The Northeast project section includes the area of the City that is bound by the City limit to the east, Myrtle Avenue to the west, Greystone Avenue and Hillcrest Boulevard to the north, Colorado Boulevard and Royal Oaks to the south.

  • Phase 1: May - September
  • Phase 2: July - September
  • Phase 3: September - November
  • Phase 4: October - December

We appreciate your patience and support while we work to execute these improvements throughout our community! Should you have any questions, please call the Public Works at (626) 932-5575 or email monroviarenewal@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

For the week of September 28, work will include:

Concrete pouring, fine grading and restoration, as well as manhole patching on the following streets:

  • Streets South of Greystone: Poinsettia Avenue, Grand Avenue, Aspen Drive, Pearl Avenue, Sierra Vista Avenue, Heliotrope Avenue, Poppy Avenue, Shamrock Avenue, Mountain View Avenue, Poppy Avenue, Valley View Avenue, Ocean View Avenue, and Madeline Drive

Concrete removals will take place on the following streets:

  • Madeline Drive, Valley View Avenue, and Valle Vista Avenue

While paving is taking place, residents should expect delays and anticipate intermittent street closures. The construction crews will do their best to facilitate roadway access during the days while work is taking place. Each street will be accessible by the end of each working day. Excel Paving, the contractor for this project, will be circulating notices to impacted residents and posting necessary parking restrictions in the work area prior to initiating work. Please adhere to all posted parking restrictions, detour signs, and other construction notifications.

Regular street sweeping will not take place in the work area during construction so please adhere to restrictions on the posted construction signage.

We appreciate your patience and support while we work to execute these improvements throughout the community! If you have any questions regarding Monrovia Renewal, please feel free to contact Public Works at (626) 932-5575 or monroviarenewal@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Monrovia Strong

The Monrovia Strong webpage was created to share with the community different resources to help you and your family get through these challenging times.

Visit Monrovia Strongto explore the many activities and resources. We're in this together, Monrovia!

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 or Building Monrovia webpages.

Key Dates, Programs & Virtual Events

Neighborhood Watch Report

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 335 service events, resulting in 61 investigations. View the Neighborhood Watch Report.

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

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