Monrovia City Manager's Update - February 5, 2021

Monrovia CA

06 February, 2021

5:53 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Monrovia: February 05, 2021 Hello Monrovians, This update has been prepared to share with you everything that is taking place in Monrovia. Please be sure to read the piece about Oakglade sediment hauling, as over the next 2 weeks residents may see up to 300 large trucks removing sediment and debris after the heavy rainstorms on January 29. 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 to Undertake Sediment Hauling & Maintenance Activities at the Oakglade Debris Basin K-Rail Installed to Protect Against Possible Debris and Mud Flows COVID-19 Vaccination Updates Monrovia Fire & Rescue Captain Chris Huson Award with "Lyn Riley Red Mug" Award McDonald's Launches Thank You Thursdays for COVID-19 First Responders Volunteer for the Planning Commission Lucinda Garcia Park Improvements Project Update 2021 Water Conservation Coloring Book Calendars Now Available! Property Tax Postponement Program California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program Parking Enforcement to Resume on February 15 Phone System Maintenance Scheduled for City Hall Oakglade Sediment Hauling & Maintenance Activities The Oakglade Debris Basin is a drainage structure, located above the intersection of Ridgeside Drive and Oakglade Drive, in the foothills of Monrovia. This structure is owned and operated by the Los Angeles County Flood Control District for the purpose of capturing mud and debris flows from the foothills to protect the life and property below. During the recent rainstorm, this basin accumulated nearly 3,000 cubic yards of mud and debris from the foothills that were recently scarred by the Bobcat Fire. As a part of maintenance and operations of this facility, the sediment needs to be hauled to ensure the basin maintains sufficient capacity for future rain events. Beginning, on Wednesday February 10, 2021, Los Angeles County Public Works / Flood Control will begin sediment hauling operations, where sediment will be trucked from the basin at the top of Ridgeside / Oakglade to the disposal location within the Sawpit Wash area. Given the amount of debris that is within the basin, LA County estimates that this effort will take in excess of 300 truck trips, with a hope of completing approximately 50 per day. Hauling efforts will be limited to Monday – Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. As work progresses, and should rain begin to be forecasted, the City may approve Saturday work. Los Angeles County Public Works has distributed a notification to residents in the impacted area. Questions or concerns should be directed to the Los Angeles County Public Works Department: Contact Hu Yi, Public Works Assistant Area Engineer (626) 445-7630 email: [email protected] Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. For after-hours assistance, contact LA County Public Works 24-hour dispatch center at (800) 675-HELP (4357). K-Rails Installed to Protect Against Possible Debris and Mud Flow After the Bobcat Fire, the hillside area of Monrovia was assessed by multiple entities to assess the potential for mud and debris flows in the burn scar areas. The assessments determined two primary areas of concern: The neighborhood around Ridgeside Drive and Oakglade Drive, below the Oakglade Debris Basin, and within Canyon Park. The final assessments recommended the placement of K-Rail within these areas to protect against possible mud and debris flows. This week, the City and the selected contractor, Pokrajac Corporation, coordinated the placement of approximately 1,700 feet of K-Rail between the neighborhood and Canyon Park to mitigate the impacts of any mud and debris flows. Efforts have been made with residents within the impacted area to coordinate the installation and will continue for the duration of their placement, with the goal of minimizing the impacts to quality of life within the neighborhood while offering the needed protection. Staff has continued to coordinate with the residents as well as service providers, including the City's Police and Fire Departments, as well as the solid waste and street sweeping providers, to ensure that these critical services will continue uninterrupted while the K-Rail is in place. The K-Rail could be left for up to five (5) years while the vegetation on the hillsides recovers. Canyon Park continues to remain closed to the public. For more information or questions, please contact (626) 932-5579 or email [email protected]. COVID-19 Vaccination Updates In January 2021, an Executive Order directed the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to make COVID-19 vaccinations appointments available to residents 65 years of age and older. Here at the City, an application was submitted to be considered as one of the Medical Points of Dispensing (MPOD). Through the MPOD, the City would have had the opportunity to administer the vaccine at a public facility right here in Monrovia. These plans changed when the State of California made the decision to standardize and streamline all vaccination efforts through a centralized third-party administrator, Blue Shield of CA. In light of the shifting state plans, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has paused all activities related to MPOD planning with city partners until they are able to clarify requirements with the State. Monrovia Fire & Rescue Captain Chris Huson Awarded with "Lyn Riley Red Mug" Award We congratulate Chris on receiving the "Lyn Riley Red Mug Award" and thank both Lyn and Chris for their exceptional commitment to service! In Lyn's words, "As I look back but also forward, there are so many individuals who have impressed me with their professionalism and passion for the path they have chosen in life. Chris Huson is the Paramedic Coordinator for the Monrovia Fire Department. I have found him to be open to new ideas and approaches to Prehospital Care, including treating his fellow firefighters with respect and acting as a great role model as an EMS leader. Over the past 40 years I have worked with many PM Coordinators, and have found Chris to be one of the best!" The UCLA Center for Prehospital Care offers EMS education for EMTs, paramedics, phlebotomists, nurses, physicians, and other healthcare providers. McDonald's Launches Thank You Thursdays for COVID-19 First Responders From February 4 to February 25, McDonald's franchisees will offer COVID-19 responders a free small coffee and Egg McMuffin every Thursday this month (2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25) through their new "Thank You Thursdays" program at drive-thru and takeout. Offer available on Thursdays, for the month of February Breakfast menu includes: small coffee, Egg McMuffin Breakfast hours only, 5:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Medical workers (to include paramedics, hospital and vaccination site staff), firefighters and police officers are eligible to redeem the offer (valid ID/badge required). Volunteer for the Planning Commission The City of Monrovia encourages residents to apply for a position on the Planning Commission to fill an unscheduled vacancy due to the resignation of a Commissioner. The Application period has been extended to 6:00 p.m. on February 18, 2021. Fill out an application. Lucinda Garcia Park Improvement Project Update In February, 2020 the City was awarded a $675,000 grant to make needed improvements at Lucinda Garcia Park. In June, our community received an additional $300,000 grant to help complete the estimated $1.1m improvement project. Planned park improvements include a new permeable walking surface with fitness equipment stations; replacement of playground equipment and park lighting; expansion of open space to eliminate the current area of blight; and interpretive walking path and updated signage. Due to COVID-19, our project timeline has experienced minor delays but we remain excited to soon solicit a consultant services Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop plans and specifications for the project. Over the next several months, staff will begin working with the public, our consultant, and Community Services Commission to finalize our plan. The City anticipates construction will begin near the end of 2021. To learn more, please contact Heather Gibson, Senior Management Analyst at [email protected]. Stay Informed on the Lucinda Garcia Park Improvement Project 2021 Water Conservation Coloring Book Calendars Now Available! Prompted by the rise of safer at home activities, we would like to provide our community with this coloring book calendar for the whole family to enjoy! Make each month uniquely yours with snapshots of our charming city. Please complete the WATER CONSERVATION CALENDAR INTEREST FORM to select your option to obtain a calendar. For more information, please contact the Public Works Department at (626) 932-5575 or email [email protected]. Property Tax Postponement Program Assessor Jeff Prang is helping both the State Controller as well as the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector in alerting eligible homeowners to an important fast-approaching deadline regarding a state-run property tax deferment program. The State Controller's Office administers California's Property Tax Postponement Program that has a deadline for applications of Feb. 10, 2021. Eligible homeowners, which include seniors, who are at least 62, are blind, or have a disability and meet income, equity, and other requirements, may be able to postpone payment of property taxes on their primary residence. It's important to file an application by February 10, 2021. If you have any questions, please contact the State Controller's Office at [email protected] or (800) 952-5661 Download an Application for the Property Tax Postponement Program California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program The California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program has opened Round 2 for all small businesses and nonprofits to apply. Round 1 applicants who did not receive funds DO NOT need to reapply. Your application was waitlisted and automatically rolled over for consideration in Round 2. For new applicants in Round 2, please mark these dates and times on your calendar: Round 2 closes on Monday, February 8, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. PST Notification about selection: February 11 - 18, 2021 Notification about Not selected: February 24, 2021 Learn more and apply for the California Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Parking Enforcement to Resume on February 15 Parking enforcement will resume on Monday, February 15. Please pay attention to all posted signs when choosing your next parking spot, especially noting when alternate side parking is in effect on street sweeping days. Phone System Maintenance Scheduled for City Hall Phone system maintenance is scheduled on Friday, February 5, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Monrovia City Hall. Phones at City Hall will be down during this time, however, no other locations will be impacted. To reach a staff member during this time, please visit the staff directory and contact us through email. If you have an emergency, dial 911. 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]. 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. The winner for this week's drawing is… Erica Banuelos! Since June 2020, we have received 3,034 reports for abandoned bulky items! Thank you for reporting these items! COVID-19 At a Glance Latest Facts & Figures Monrovia - 2,893 confirmed cases | 54 deaths L.A. County – 1,129,503 cases | 17,308 deaths California – 3,294,447 confirmed cases | 42,466 deaths Residential / Non-Residential Settings in Monrovia Glen Park at Monrovia - 2 staff cases, 8 resident cases Monrovia Gardens Healthcare Center - 2 staff cases, 4 resident cases Redell Pine - 2 staff cases, 5 resident case Wyland House - 2 staff cases, 1 resident case 3M - 18 staff cases Miracle Works - 14 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 nearing completion in the Northeast Section of Monrovia! In the coming weeks, Excel Paving Company will complete the final sections of concrete improvements and begin preparing for road reconstruction activities. 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]. Week of February 8: Concrete placement on the following streets: Canyon Boulevard, Ivy Avenue, and Encinitas Avenue Concrete restoration and slot patching on the following streets. During this period, these residents will also begin receiving notifications for grinding and paving operations that are slated to begin during the week of February 15. Madison Avenue, Encinitas Avenue, Ivy Avenue, Canyon Boulevard, Greystone Avenue, Hill Street, Kirkwood Lane, Beechworth Avenue, Prospect Avenue, and Pine Tree Lane Grinding and Paving Operations will begin during the week of February 15. Residents on the above listed streets are advised to be aware of notifications that are distributed and parking signs that will be posted. Additional information will be provided through this update as work continues in the coming weeks. 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 The Public Works Department is continuing to plant trees within parkways across the City as a part of a Tree Planting Program, focused on restoring trees that have been lost in the previous years due to drought, construction or other causes with hopes of expanding our urban forest. The program, at this time, is being driven by requests from residents who would like to have trees planted within the parkways along their homes. Some of the types of trees that are being planted are small and medium-sized native trees such as Red Bud, Blue Palo Verde, Crape Myrtles and Strawberry Marina. Check out some of our newly planted trees! The current planting plans will continue through February 2021. 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 16 | 7:30 p.m. Ad Hoc Committee on Equity and Inclusion Meeting | February 11 | 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 Subscribe to e-Notifications for Meeting Agendas 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 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 334 service events, resulting in 68 investigations. View the Neighborhood Watch Report. This press release was produced by the City of Monrovia. The views expressed are the author's own.