Community Corner

Monrovia City Manager's Update | March 19, 2021

This update has been prepared to share with you everything that is taking place in Monrovia.

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Press Release Desk, News Partner

Press release from the City of Monrovia:

March 19, 2021

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 safe and wonderful weekend!

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

Sincerely,
Dylan

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

Highlights in this Issue

  • Town Hall with Senator Portantino and Supervisor Barger
  • LA County Shifts to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy Red Tier
  • Community Services Department Year End Report
  • Monrovia Community Center Passport Office Reopening
  • Join Us For Our Spring 2021 Class Session!
  • SAVE THE DATE: 11th Annual Neighborhood Conference
  • Betty Sandford Memorial Service
  • RESIDENT HIGHLIGHT: Allyson Ferrari

Town Hall with Senator Portantino and Supervisor Barger

Senator Anthony Portantino and Supervisor Kathryn Barger will host a town hall on March 24, at 4 p.m., to discuss vaccines, pediatric health, and financial relief for renters and tenants. They will be joined by guest speakers and experts from the University of Southern California, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, Los Angeles County Development Authority, and Los Angeles County Consumer & Business Affairs. RSVP to attend this virtual event and submit your questions.

LA County Shifts to the Blueprint for a Safer Economy Red Tier

In a major milestone, Los Angeles County has met the State’s threshold to reopen key sectors on Monday, March 15, and will permit a wide range of indoor operations to resume in sectors including: middle and high schools; restaurants; movie theaters; gyms; and museums, zoos and aquariums, all with safeguards in place.

In alignment with the State’s reopening framework, mandatory masking, distancing and infection control practices remain in place for every business and permitted activity, and certain sectors have additional safety modifications required or recommended. The County’s Health Officer Orders and sector protocols have been updated to reflect the changes.

This shift to less restrictions shows that efforts by residents to slow the spread of COVID-19 is working. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is urging people to continue taking infection control precautions to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 in our communities.

The community should continue to wear face coverings when in public, continue practicing physical distancing and avoiding crowds and large gatherings. Fully vaccinated people should also continue with these practices, with some exceptions, including the ability to visit with other fully vaccinated people, indoors, without masks, per new guidance.

Community Services Department Year End Report

Although 2020 created many barriers for the Community Services Department, the award-winning Recreation Division found ways to keep the community active through innovative programs.

Emergency COVID Housing Impact Program - In August 2020, the City was awarded a grant by the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to develop and implement the Emergency COVID Housing Impact Pilot Program to address the immediate relief needed by Monrovians who have been drastically impacted by COVID-19. The funding has supported 77 households, totaling 283 individuals.

Grant Funding for Lucinda Garcia Park – The City has been awarded with $975,000 in grants to make much needed improvements at Lucinda Garcia Park. 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. Construction is anticipated to begin near the end of 2021.

17,000 Hikers in Canyon Park & HWP - In May 2020, Monrovia Canyon Park transferred to an online reservation system, which made sure that the park never got too crowded. Those hiking were asked to follow a one-way hiking loop to ensure proper physical distancing. This system was so successful that other agencies used it as a template to develop their own!

Over 1,000 Participants in New Programs - Movies in the Park, Recess in the Park, and Family Adventure at Home were special programs designed specifically to provide social connections, while also ensuring that our community remained healthy and safe.

Monrovia Community Center Passport Office is Reopening!

The Monrovia Community Center Passport Office, located at 119 W. Palm Avenue, is set to reopen on Monday, April 19, for passport services by appointment only. To schedule an appointment today, please call (626) 932-5598. Appointments are available on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Agents will be able to assist you with your new passport applications as well as answer questions about passport renewals and other passport related questions.

Join Us For Our Spring 2021 Class Session!

Spring classes are set to start on Monday, March 22, and will be offered virtually as well as some in-person options. Join us as we explore new virtual classes that range from fitness classes to dance classes to academic support programs for all ages.

How to Register for Spring Classes

For further questions please contact the Community Services Department at (626) 256-8246.

SAVE THE DATE: 11th Annual Neighborhood Conference

The annual MAP Neighborhood Conference will take place on April 17, 2021. If you are the type of person who loves to gain knowledge about interesting topics, learn about current trends in the community, meet new people, and want to gain motivation to get involved in your community; then mark your calendars to attend.

Betty Sanford Memorial Service

The Monrovia ChangeMakers invite you to join the virtual memorial service honoring Betty Sandford on March 24, at 6 p.m.

Betty was born June 18, 1927, in Monrovia and lived here for more than 90 years. Like her parents, Jack and Marian Zelkowitz, and her husband Jules Sandford, she loved this community and spent a lifetime helping make Monrovia a better place to live, work and raise a family.

She was an activist who saw wrongs and took actions to right them. Betty took on monumental projects and provided the leadership and resources, both human and financial, to guarantee success. Her determination and organizational skills made her community better and improved the lives of others, especially the youth and disadvantaged.

Betty Sandford’s legacy is evident throughout Monrovia and places far beyond. The world is a better place and we are more considerate people because of her. She and Jules were respected and loved - role models who are sorely missed and will not be forgotten.

RESIDENT HIGHLIGHT: Allyson Ferrari

Out of the kindness of her heart and her love for Monrovia, Allyson Ferrari took it upon herself to scrub the rainbow steps at Kiwanis Park at Grand Avenue! These rainbow steps were covered in dirt and ash as a result of the Bobcat Fire.

The next time you're at Kiwanis Park at Grand Avenue, be sure to check out these beautiful, clean steps.

Thank you so much, Allyson!

Hippity Hoppity Spring Photo-Op

Capture the spirit of spring at the Hippity Hoppity Spring Photo-Op! On March 27, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., the Spring Bunny will make an appearance at Library Park. Throughout Old Town Monrovia, the family can enjoy four different photo opportunities along with take home arts and crafts activities.

This program is free, but registration for 15-minute photo time slots are limited and required.

To ensure the health and safety of the community and COVID-19 guidelines are met, families participating in this program must keep six-feet physical distance from other families and masks are required.

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.

Frontier Communications Working Through Citywide Upgrades

For the next couple of months, Frontier Communications will be working throughout the City to make extensive improvements to their communications network. Work will be taking place on overhead lines and structures as well as underground vaults and work should be expected throughout the entire area of the City. Given the large scope of work, Frontier has contracted with a number of contractors to execute this work on their behalf. As such, the following is a list of contractors that have been hired by Frontier and have permits issues by the City.

  • Line Works
  • Briones Communications
  • Legacy Communications
  • Smartech Communications
  • C-One Communications
  • Allied Plus Low Voltage
  • Trinity Communications
  • Quantum Communications Services
  • Under the Radar.com
  • LV communications
  • Prime Bore

Frontier Communications is required to notify property owners and residents 72 hours prior to any work for improvements that might directly impact their property. Please note that some of the overhead facilities may be on lines that run through private backyards.

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.

The winner for this week’s drawing is… Jen Ary! Since June 2020, we have received 3,385 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

  • Glen Park at Monrovia - 29 staff cases, 38 resident cases, 1 death

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

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 monroviarenewal@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

For the week of March 22, microsurfacing and Slurry Sealing will take place on the following streets:

Monday, March 22:
• Pine Tree Lane from the cul-de-sac to Prospect Avenue
• Hill Street from Prospect Avenue to Beechworth Avenue
• Aspen Drive from cul-de-sac to Grand Avenue
• Mountain View Avenue from Mountain Avenue to Shamrock Avenue
• Pearl Avenue from Grand Avenue to Norumbega Drive
• Oakleaf Lane from Park Rose Avenue to Wildrose Avenue
• Park Rose Avenue from cul-de-sac to Lemon Avenue
• Primrose Avenue from Walnut Avenue to Chestnut Avenue
• Sombrero Road from Terrado Drive to Vaquero Road

In addition to the completion of these street treatments, striping layouts and traffic loops will be placed.

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

Job Opportunities with the City of Monrovia

  • Director of Public Works
  • Police Cadet
  • 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 307 service events, resulting in 60 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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