Monrovia City Manager's Update For April 8

Monrovia CA

12 April, 2022

6:11 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Monrovia: April 8, 2022 Hello Monrovians, "By now, most of us have heard the news about the passing of Monrovia's very own, Steve Baker. The world has lost a very special person who has not only contributed to the preservation of the Monrovia community for over 30 years, but also has left lasting imprints on so many people's lives. Steve contributed to the City of Monrovia in so many ways over the years and we cannot say enough about the profound impacts he had on our community. Steve is a fifth-generation Monrovian who was appointed the Official Historian for the City of Monrovia in 1991, was elected Monrovia City Treasurer in 2005 and was re-elected in 2009, 2013, and 2017. For his service and dedication, in 2019, Steve received the Waddingham / Doctor Award by the Conference of California Historical Societies, which is only awarded to individuals who has given 25 years or more of consistent and outstanding service to a local historic society. In Steve's case, his service had been to four groups including, the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, the Duarte Historical Society, the Monrovia Historical Museum, and the Monrovia Historical Society. Steve was a true Monrovian and his passion for service ran deep. In addition to being the Treasurer for the City of Monrovia, Steve also served in this capacity for the Friends of the Monrovia Public Library, Friends of the Duarte Library, and St. Luke's Episcopal Church. In the past, he served as the President for the Citrus College Foundation Board of Directors and Monrovia Historical Society. Furthermore, Steve served as a board member for the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, ChangeMakers, Historic Preservation Commission, Chair of the Santa Anita Family YMCA Board of Managers, and Executive Secretary of the Rotary Club of Monrovia. Sincerely," Dylan Highlights in this Update Celebrating the Life of Steve Baker Monrovia Canyon Park 2021 Volunteer Awards Celebrating National Library Week Job Opportunity: Police Services Representative Guaranteed Income Program in LA County Celebrating the Life of Steve Baker To celebrate Steve Baker's life, his family and the Parish of St. Luke the Physician invite you to save the date for a celebration of Steve Baker's life at his home parish of St. Luke's on Saturday, April 16, at 3:30 p.m. The service will also be live streamed on Zoom and on the parish Facebook page. Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 626 357 7071 Passcode: 818635 Monrovia Canyon Park 2021 Volunteer Awards Our Canyon Park Volunteers are a wonderful group of individuals that give some much of their time and hearts to our beloved Canyon Park and Hillside Wilderness Preserve. You can find them, anytime during the year, volunteering their time in a variety of ways including: leading our educations tours, improving our hiking trials, leading the operations in our Nature Center, and on trail or in the park informing our public of park information and safety. They are a terrific group of dedicated Volunteers that care deeply about our Park and Preserve, making our natural area one of the great gems of San Gabriel Valley. Canyon Park Volunteers have found unique ways to keep volunteering through the adversities of wildfires, rain and wind storms, and the pandemic. They have been there every step of the way to rebuild our parks, lead virtual programs, and help find ways to keep or public informed and updated about Canyon Park recovery. We are proud to recognize the Canyon Park Volunteers of the Year with special recognition and awards. Spirit Award Ed Cunningham Doug Elson Volunteer of the Year Bonny Hidas We want to thank all of our volunteers and congratulate our 2021 Award recipients! National Library Week Happy National Library Week! At the April 5 City Council Meeting, the Monrovia City Council proclaimed April 3 - 9 as National Library Week. The Monrovia Public Library is a place for the community to meet, discover, and learn! Whether you need digital resources, multimedia content, or educational programs, the Monrovia Public Library is here to connect you to these resources and much more! Job Opportunity: Police Services Representative We're seeking an individual to join our team as the next Police Services Representative. The City of Monrovia is actively cultivating and promoting employee engagement and internal communication strategies to help build camaraderie between team members. We are focused on building an inclusive workplace for all individuals focusing on advancing social and racial equity, where unique talents and different perspectives are valued, and creative thinking is encouraged. If you're interested in joining the Monrovia team, submit your application today! Guaranteed Income Program in LA County Los Angeles County is launching the pilot program Breathe to provide its residents the chance to "breathe" easier knowing they are more financially secure. Breathe is a guaranteed income pilot project that will provide 1,000 eligible residents with $1,000 per month for three years. While the benefits of guaranteed income programs have been documented, this will also be an independent research project that will be used to study the effects of this type of program so that the County and other jurisdictions can learn about the project's impact on the economic stability of participants, as well as its impact on participants' overall health and well-being. Boards & Commissions Are you looking for ways to be more involved in your community? One way to do so is to serve in an advisory capacity on one of the City's various Commissions, Committees or Boards. From now through May 2, we're accepting applications for positions on the Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Community Services Commission, Library Board, and the Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board. Spring Bunny Photos at Library Park! Join us at this EGG-citing spring event on Saturday, April 9 in Library Park from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.! Take your photo with the Spring Bunny and enjoy other fun photo opportunities in the park. Other activities will include: arts & crafts, lawn games, photo opportunities and Library Storytime. Program will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Event subject to the COVID guidelines as established by the LA County Department of Public Health. Spring Egg Hunt & Healthy Kids Day Don't miss out on one of our favorite annual community events, the Spring Egg Hunt & Healthy Kids Day! This year, the event will be held on Saturday, April 16, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., with registration for the egg hunt beginning at 9:30 a.m. The event will feature a full day of fun and activities for the entire family! Activities will include: arts and crafts, face painting, wellness activities, toddler activities to teen activities and storytimes! This will be one terrific day filled with music, fun, and a visit from the Spring Bunny! Thank you to our Event Sponsors, Wendy's and Assisted Living & Memory Care Oakmont of Covina Hills. Old Town Monrovia Wine Walk The Monrovia Old Town Advisory Board and the merchant community is pleased to announce the 5th Annual Wine Walk in Old Town Monrovia! This event will take place on Saturday, April 23, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Enjoy the charm of Old Town Monrovia as you stroll down the street and explore each business, all while sampling various wine offerings. Registration is required, purchase your tickets today! 12th Annual MAP Neighborhood Conference Come one, come all to the 12th Annual MAP Neighborhood Conference hosted by the Monrovia Area Partnership team! This year's conference is coming out better and stronger, as we come back to an in-person conference after our virtual one last year. The MAP team appreciates our MAP leaders and the support from our entire community, which is why we put this conference together to engage and celebrate with one another. You won't want to miss out, so grab your family, friends, and neighbors and come join us on Saturday, April 30, 2022 at Second Baptist Church (925 S. Shamrock Ave). Click here to register for the most anticipated MAP event of the year, which is OPEN and FREE to the ENTIRE community! For more information, contact the MAP staff at [email protected]. Community Celebration for Arbor Day & Earth Day Mark your calendar for the following events and workshops in honor of Arbor Day and Earth Day! Gardening for Those Experiencing Homelessness & Disadvantages - April 9 - Grow Monrovia will partner with the Foothill Unity Center to develop a teaching garden for those who are experiencing homelessness and disadvantages. Volunteers are encouraged to join in and assist in filing in tree wells with fruit and shade trees. Earth Day Celebration - The Monrovia Canyon Park team invites you to Celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 22, at 4 p.m., at Monrovia Library Park! There will be fun activities for all ages, including arts & crafts, information booths, a scavenger hunt and giveaways. Celebrating Earth Day & Arbor Day - April 23 - Presented by Grow Monrovia, this event will again take place on the Maryknoll Sisters Property and is called Ask an Arborist, where residents can ask an experienced arborist questions about their mature trees and attend a workshop on proper planting techniques for new trees. New shade trees will be given to residents for front yards and fruit trees given out for community spaces like churches. Arbor Day Tree Planting - On Friday, April 29, at 4 p.m., the Monrovia Youth Commission and the Teen Advisory Board will plant an Engelman Oak Tree at Recreation Park! Those interested in attending can send an RSVP to Tiffany Peterson [email protected]. Preserving our Trees in a Drought California is still in a very severe drought, and the summer heat is soon approaching! In the City of Monrovia, we have made great strides to help replenish our water supplies and conserve 10% of our water consumption. A lot of our conservation efforts are focused on outdoor irrigation which means turf, plants and trees. We need our trees and our trees need water. However, it is important that we use our water responsibility to avoid over-watering or wasting water in the process. Save our Water, an outreach and educational campaign supported by Governor Gavin Newsom, lists the below tips and tricks to responsibly water your lawn. Prioritize Your Trees - Trees are an investment and will require more water, time and money to replace a mature tree lost to drought than to keep one alive. Even though the City of Monrovia has imposed water restrictions, it's important to use water responsibly and help keep our trees alive! Check Your Soil - Use a long screwdriver and poke a hole in the soil. If the screwdriver passes easily, the soil is moist. If you can't poke a hole in at least 6", it's time to water. Limit Pruning - Avoid pruning or fertilizing during dry seasons. Lack of water and too much pruning can stress your tree. Fertilizing your tree will encourage leady growth which will require additional water. Use Mulch! - Placing mulch around your trees can help keep the moisture from evaporating. Mulch will not compete for water (like turf) and does not radiate heat (like rocks). Soak Slowly to Avoid Run-Off - Longer and slower soaks can allow water to penetrate deeper into the soil. Use a hose timer to avoid overwatering and run-off. Monrovia Conserves Every year a measurement of snowpack levels are taken to indicate how much water will be available for the rest of the spring, summer, and early fall seasons. The snow is collected during winter months and then melts closer to summer, running off into the state's water supply system and reservoirs. According to the California Department of Water Resources, California's snowpack is now at 39% of its average or 23% lower than at the same point last year. The snowpack in the Sierra accounts for about 30% of California's water supply. This measurement is a clear indicator that our drought continues to worsen and with fewer water to account for, we must continue to be mindful of our water usage. Water Usage Penalty Excess water usage penalties will go into effect starting the first billing cycle in March 2022. The City has been expanding educational outreach for many months to ensure all Monrovians are aware of Phase II of the Water Conservation Plan and what that means for your water consumption and your water bill. As a recap, Phase II of the Water Conservation Plan stipulates a 10% mandatory reduction in water consumption from each households same month billing period in 2020. For example, the first billing period in March will compare your usage from February of 2022 to your usage in February of 2020. Tools to Help You Conserve Water Rebates - Save $$ when you save H2O! Check the latest rebates offered by the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. You may qualify for rebates for indoor and outdoor water-saving equipment for your home or business including turf removal or financial incentives for water efficient equipment or improvements! 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. Not sure about making a change just yet but want to stay informed? Try out a Water Smart Workshop. Different classes will be offered until June 2022 including California Friendly Landscape Training for Residents, Turf Removal, Leak Detection, Garden Design and Professional Series. Classes begin on March 14, and will be available until April 12. Space is limited, so please register by emailing Jennifer Aguilar at [email protected]. E-Waste and Household Hazardous Waste Thinking about what to do with left over paints, solvents, pesticides, used motor oil, batteries, fluorescent bulbs or e-waste? DO NOT dispose of these materials in your waste bin. INSTEAD, check out our E-Waste and Household Hazardous Waste website to quickly look up disposal sites near you! We recently updated our website to allow easy access to information on disposal sites based on material. Work Around Town Water Line Improvement Project - With phase 1 of the project completed, the City of Monrovia will continue to upgrade the water lines along South Magnolia Avenue. Please expect lane closures along Magnolia Avenue, as well as traffic impacts along Genoa Street and Duarte Road. Crews continue to work to remove existing water lines from the right-of-way and prepare for the replacement of water facilities along Magnolia Avenue. Contact: Monrovia Public Works, (626) 932-5575 COVID-19 At a Glance Latest Facts & Figures 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. Upcoming Projects - In-N-Out Burger recently submitted an application to construct a new drive-thru restaurant. Key Dates, Programs & Virtual Events City Council Meeting | April 19 | 7:30 p.m. Boards & Commissions Application due May 2 Monrovia Days Parade Participation Application due May 6 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: Administrative Assistant Assistant to the City Manager Principal Accountant Police Cadet Police Services Representative YES Intern 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.