Monrovia City Manager's Update - January 22, 2021

Monrovia CA

23 January, 2021

11:09 PM

Description

Press release from the City of Monrovia: January 22, 2021 Hello Monrovians, 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 safe and wonderful weekend! Sincerely, Dylan Email: [email protected] Phone: (626) 932-5585 Highlights in this Issue LA County Issues No Phase Debris & Mudflow in Advance of Forecasted Rain Over the Weekend General Plan Update COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Updates 2021 State of the City NOW HIRING: Neighborhood Preservation Officer Rotary Club Donating New Books Tax Preparation Assistance e-Notifications for Meetings Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Watershed Restoration Project LA County Issues No Phase Debris & Mudflow in Advance of Forecasted Rain Over the Weekend Forecasts are calling for a rain event throughout the Los Angeles County area to begin at about 8 p.m., tonight, and continuing through Saturday, January 23. Based upon the weather forecast related to rain accumulation, LA County Flood Control does not anticipate any debris or mudflows in the recent Bobcat Fire burn areas. Throughout the weekend, Monrovia Public Works will remain on-call to monitor the situation and respond as necessary. Preparation for Anticipated Rain Over the Next Seven Days The rain event has also been forecasted to resume the following week beginning on Monday, January 25, and lasting through Friday. As of now, the anticipated rain on Wednesday, January 27 and Thursday, January 28, may produce a much more substantial amount of rain - about 3" or more. Monrovia Public Works will continue to coordinate with LA County in the coming days and share information as it becomes available. Gravel Bags Available for Residents Gravel, along with gravel bag materials, are available at Recreation Park (620 S Shamrock Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016) in the parking lot off of East Olive Avenue, near the skate park and Barney Glen Baseball Field. Please note that the gravel bags are self-serve. The City will provide the needed bags and gravel, and residents must provide their own shovels, gloves and eye protection. To ensure that there is enough for all of the resident who may use them, please take only what you need. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Public Works Department at (626) 932-5575 [email protected]. General Plan Update The General Plan is the City's long range planning document and lays out goals and policies to help guide future growth of the City. The City of Monrovia is asking for input from the community to complete a survey to help guide the upcoming Focused General Plan update. This year, the City will be working with our land use consultant, MIG, to update the Housing Element and the Safety Element of the Monrovia General Plan, as well as create a new Element – the Environmental Justice Element. The Housing Element focuses on planning for community's future housing needs. State law requires that all cities and counties update their Housing Element on a regular basis. This update will cover the 2021-2029 planning period. The completed element will identify housing needs of the community and establish policies, programs and strategies specifically to address those needs. The second element of the General Plan that will be updated is the Safety Element. Recent changes to state law require that all cities adopt climate adaptation and resiliency strategies including wildfire planning within the Safety Element. Finally, the third element included in this year's General Plan update is the Environmental Justice Element. This element is brand new and will be adopted by the City for the very first time. The Environmental Justice Element will focus on communities within the City that bear increased burdens, including high poverty, high unemployment, and air and water pollution. To complete the survey, please click here. Para hacerla encuesta en Español, por favor pulse aquí. The deadline to complete this survey is February 12, 2021! There will be several opportunities for the community to participate in this important update. If you would like additional information or to be added to our contact list, please contact the Planning Division at [email protected]. COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Update Los Angeles County residents who are 65 years old and older can now register for COVID-19 vaccination appointments. The vaccine supply is still extremely limited, and Los Angeles County continues to urge patience as they work urgently with federal and state partners to expand capacity and supply in the weeks ahead. The opening of appointment registration for a new tier comes as the County opens five large capacity vaccination sites across the County. These large-scale vaccination sites started operating Tuesday, January 19, and will be able to vaccinate approximately 4,000 people per day at each site, significantly increasing the number of people vaccinated. The large-scale vaccination sites will aim to vaccinate 500,000 Los Angeles County residents in a month. 2021 State of the City The Monrovia City Council invites you to watch the premiere of the State of the City! For this year's State of the City, your City Council will share an in-depth look into how we responded to a year filled with challenges while staying true to the Monrovia way. NOW HIRING: Neighborhood Preservation Officer We're seeking an exceptional individual to serve as our Neighborhood Preservation Officer in the Community Development Department. The successful candidate will be responsible for a variety of ongoing responsibilities and projects, but not limited to the following: Assisting in the prevention, detection, investigation and enforcement of violations of statues or ordinances regulating safety, welfare, public works, business activities and consumer protection, building standards, land-use, and municipal affairs; Conducting site visits, and investigating complaints regarding zoning, sign, land-use, and public nuisance code violations; Determining and documenting methods to achieve code compliance consistent with laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations; Maintaining accurate documentation and case files on all investigations, inspections, enforcement actions, and other job-related activities; and Implementing the City's graffiti abatement program and the reporting of abandoned items. Qualifications Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, abilities, and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the qualifications would be: AA/AS degree and three (3) years' experience in municipal code enforcement. Supervisory experience and bilingual skills desirable. Experience working with diverse groups and ability to exercise cultural sensitivity awareness is desirable. To apply, an applicant must first create an applicant profile on Government Jobs. e-Notifications for Meetings We now have a Subscriptions page on the City's website to receive e-Notifications of City Council meetings, as well as for several commissions and committees. Those who subscribe will be sent an email when meeting agendas are published. Rotary Club Donates New Books The Rotary Club of Monrovia dropped off 24 brand new books for our Adult and Youth Collections today! We're so thankful to have amazing community partners who support the library and our readers of all ages. Thank you, Rotary Club members! Tax Preparation Assistance Due to COVID-19, the Foothill Unity Center is unable to provide tax assistance this year. The Monrovia Chamber of Commerce has provided a list of firms, which can assist with your tax preparation needs. Horie & Company, (626) 359-7448 Sayegh & Associates, (626) 359-3976, [email protected] Syntegric Advisors, LLC, (626) 475-2999, [email protected] Gentile, McCloskey & Company, (626) 256-9090, [email protected] Hoffman, Short, Rubin, DeWinter, Sanderson APC, (626) 932-0100 x132 Libman Tax Strategies, (626) 280-6865, [email protected] Michael Di Pietro CPA, (626) 305-7700, [email protected] Perkins & Associates, CPAs, (626) 275-4729, [email protected] Tax-Pro Services, (626) 357-3236, [email protected] In addition, residents who earn less than $55,000 per year may qualify for free tax assistance through the Los Angeles County Consumer & Business Affairs program: Free Tax Assistance Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Watershed Restoration Project The end-of-year federal funding and coronavirus relief bill included a provision authorizing planning with the Army Corps of Engineers to restore creeks and wetlands in the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Watersheds in Los Angeles County. The Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Watershed Restoration Project is managed by the Cities of Arcadia, Bradbury, Duarte, Monrovia, and Sierra Madre, along with partnership from the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. The authorization was made possible due to the leadership of Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA), and Senator Kamala Harris (CA) in the bi-annual bill that authorizes Army Corps projects, which was added to the funding and virus relief bills that were signed into law on December 27. The Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Watershed projects will capture, retain, and treat stormwater, restore lakes and wetlands, and recharge the area's groundwater basin. Upon completion, the projects will provide ecosystem restoration, water conservation, and recreation for generations to come. The authorization allows the Rio Hondo and San Gabriel Watershed Restoration Project coalition to partner with the Army Corps of Engineers to further develop the projects. MAP-edu Community Meeting Be sure to register for the upcoming Virtual MAP-edu Community Meeting, taking place on Saturday, January 23 at 11 a.m. on ZOOM! Topics will include: 2020 MAP RECAP & MAP UPDATES MEET & GREET WITH NEW NBS MANAGER JUSTIN EDSON CITY UPDATES WITH ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LAUREN VASQUEZ VACCINE UPDATES WITH FIRE CHIEF BRAD DOVER MEET YOUR NEW MPD OFFICERS You will be able to ask questions, get answers, and have some fun! Operation: Save Our Restaurant Monrovia Chamber of Commerce and the business community are joining forces to support our local restaurants! Spend $30 or more at a participating restaurant and receive a $10 discount. Register for the coupon. Suspension of Parking Enforcement for Street Sweeping Due to the modified Safer at Home Order, parking enforcement is suspended for street sweeping. Vehicles may park on the streets but residents are strongly encouraged to move their vehicles on their scheduled street sweeping day, if possible. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as it will decrease the buildup of debris on the streets in your neighborhood! 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 [email protected] Be sure to provide our name and address to be entered into the raffle. Raffle tickets will be pulled each Thursday and the winners will be notified by Public Works Staff. The winner for this week's drawing is… Stephanie Joseph! Since June 2020, we have received 2, 905 reports for abandoned bulky items! Thank you for reporting these items! COVID-19 At a Glance Latest Facts & Figures Monrovia - 2,675 confirmed cases | 50 deaths L.A. County – 1,046,021 cases | 14,641 deaths California – 3,039,044 confirmed cases | 35,004 deaths Residential / Non-Residential Settings in Monrovia Glen Park at Monrovia - 2 staff cases, 8 resident cases Redell Pine - 2 staff cases, 1 resident case Wyland House - 2 staff cases, 1 resident case 3M - 18 staff cases Caltrans Monrovia - 6 staff cases Miracle Works - 5 staff cases 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 Vaccine Distribution in LA County Centers for Disease Control and Prevention California Department of Public Health To keep the community informed, the Los Angeles County provides updates, which can be viewed on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. City of Monrovia Monrovia Strong 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. 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 [email protected]. For the week of January 25, work will include: Fine grading and root pruning on following streets: Sierra Vista Avenue, Prospect Avenue, and Ivy Avenue Concrete pouring and lowering of manholes on the following streets: Streets North of Foothill: Madison Avenue, Encinitas Avenue, Ivy Avenue, Canyon Boulevard, Greystone Avenue, Hill Street, Kirkwood Lane, Beechworth Avenue, Prospect Avenue, and Pine Tree Lane Demolition on the following streets: Canyon Boulevard, Encinitas Avenue, and Ivy Avenue 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 [email protected]. City Tree Planting Program These past two weeks, the City of Monrovia has begun planting trees throughout our community as it is our goal for the month of January to plant approximately 80 trees according to the City Standard Plan. Staff has been working closely with residents to hear out their desired planting locations in parkways and public spaces. The trees that will be planted are small and medium-sized native trees such as Red Bud, Blue Palo Verde, Crape Myrtles (pink, light pink, and white), and Strawberry Marina. Check out some of our newly planted trees! Most of the trees in this initial phase of planting will be established in parkways at the request of the residents. If you are interested in having a tree planted in the parkway in front of your home, please fill out an interest form, or contact Jaden Louie at (626) 932-5584 or [email protected]. The City is maintaining an interest list and trees will be planted seasonally and as the budget allows. Thank you for the interest in continuing to foster the City's tree stewardship efforts. 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 Monrovia City Council Meeting | February 2 | 7:30 p.m. Ad Hoc Committee on Equity and Inclusion Meeting | January 28 | 6 p.m. Call for Artist: 2021 Art on Box Program | Application due March 25 Call for Artist: Neighborhood Treasure Monrovia Street Fair & Market | Fridays | 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. E-Waste Drop-off | Daily | Monrovia Public Works Yard Gravel (Sand) Bags Available for Residents | Self-Serve Submit a Tree Planting Interest Form Request a Bulky Item Pick-Up Reserve Library Items for Curbside Pick-up | Monday - Saturday Job Opportunities with the City of Monrovia Neighborhood Preservation Officer Deputy Administrative Services Director Jailer Police Officer (Lateral) 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 366 service events, resulting in 75 investigations. View the Neighborhood Watch Report. This press release was produced by the City of Monrovia. The views expressed are the author's own.