Hello, Monrovians!

Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated with us during last night's Holiday Parade! A special THANK YOU to the Monrovia Old Town Merchants, who helped sponsor this year's event. 

We have some exciting news! Santa is coming to town next week! So please check out the Santa Tour schedule and come out from your residence throughout the week to help us wave to Santa as he sleighs around town! In addition, we have provided you with a Santa Tracker to help you see Santa's whereabouts. 

As we enter December, we want to encourage everyone to be safe this holiday season.  Please continue to review this week's update as we provide you with additional information on upcoming citywide events.

Sincerely,  

Dylan

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

Highlights in this Update

• Santa Tour
• Historic Walking Tour - December 3
• Free Winter Veggies and DIY Garden Gifts Workshop
• CDBG Rehabilitation Grant Program
• Lucinda Garcia Park Improvement Project Update
• Monrovia Youth Baseball League Registration
• 2022 Holiday Home Decorating Contest
• 2022 Art in Public Places Ornament Sale 
• Toy and Canned Food Drive / Car Show
• MAP-edu Community Meeting
• Traffic Safety Request Application
• Ways to Report Streetlight Outages
• Thankful and Grateful Holiday Gathering and Tree Lighting Ceremony Event Highlight

 Santa Tour 

Santa Claus and his friends will be touring each neighborhood on top of a decorated fire engine, escorted by a police car and a decorated public works sleigh! From 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., everyone is encouraged to come out and wave to Santa and enjoy the holiday carols. 

Santa has many neighborhoods to visit, but don't worry! We have installed a tracker on his sleigh to let you know his exact whereabouts. You can view the full Santa Tour at www.cityofmonrovia.org/SantaTour.

This Saturday, December 3, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monrovia Community Garden will host a free Winter Veggies and DIY Garden Gifts workshop. The workshop is open to all ages and will feature fun and easy DIY gifts ideas to give to others this holiday season!     

If you have any questions or would like to register to the event, please contact Food ED's Executive Director Kristin Ritzau at krisritzau@explorefooded.org. 

CDBG Residential Rehabilitation Grant Program

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Rehabilitation Program is an annual program to assist low to moderate-income homeowners with home repairs. This Program is managed through Neighborhood Services and coordinates with Los Angeles County Development Authority. The Program intends to help eligible homeowners/occupants of single-family detached homes preserve decent, safe, and sanitary housing; correct hazardous conditions; make improvements; eliminate blight and improve handicapped access; and correct building and health code violations. All properties to be restored must be single-family residential properties within the City limits of Monrovia.

The picture shown above demonstrates the City's second completed project this fiscal year, with two more projects in process. This resident previously had a deteriorated leaking roof. The resident applied, qualified, and received a grant to upgrade their roof just in time for the holidays. The resident also installed a fire-safe door and new smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in the garage. The resident stated, “Our hearts are filled with gratitude and still could not believe the City has awarded us with [this grant]…All that you’ve done means the world to us, THANK YOU!!! We had a bit of drizzle this evening and for the first time in so long, I wasn’t praying for rain to stop! Feels so good to have a new roof, it is such a blessing.”

Every July, the Program opens up for an application period that is reviewed on a first come basis. Recipients must qualify for the Program through income verification and other requirements before receiving a grant. Please stay tuned for updates by June 2023 for the next opportunity to apply!

Lucinda Garcia Park Improvement Project Update

Over the last six months, the City of Monrovia has been working hard to complete approximately $1.8M in improvements at Lucinda Garcia Park. 

We are pleased to report that most of the infrastructure improvements are complete! The project is on budget, and we are grateful for the grant funding which made this project possible, including $675,000 from Proposition 68 - the State Park Bond Program, and $300,000 from L.A. County Supervisor Barger Excess Grant Funds. We also want to give a special “thank you” to the neighborhood residents for their patience during this construction project!

As you peek through the fence screening, you will now see improvements, including: 

• Two brand new playgrounds with expanded features, each age-specific and designed to be inclusive; 
• New ADA-compliant concrete walkway with enhanced lighting and distance markers meandering through the park, equaling 1/3 mile per loop;
• Park expansion to the west, adding 10,000 square feet of improved parkland and green space;
• Installation of five new exercise fitness stations throughout the park;
• Construction of two demonstration gardens with interpretive signage;
• Interpretive signage about Lucinda Garcia and the history of the Red Car; and
• Addition of a bike rack with a fixit station and new bottle-fill drinking stations.

While we are close to completion, there is still work to get done. Over the next few months, staff will be at the park installing the new Park Monument sign, installing proper park signage, and addressing any finishing touches. In addition, in partnership with Monrovia’s Art in Public Places, a mural conveying the broad story and distinguished history of the Hispanic community in Monrovia will be commissioned to celebrate the impact they had on the formation of the City. To complete the remaining work, the park will remain closed as staff begins to reseed the grassy areas of the park, likely these are the final steps before the park can reopen in early 2023!

We appreciate your patience and encourage you to check out the City’s website to learn more the park's improvements.

If you have any questions, please contact Community Services at (626) 256-8246 or hgibson@ci.monrovia.ca.us. 

 Monrovia Youth Baseball League Registration 

The Monrovia Youth Baseball League (MYBL) is still accepting registrations for its 2023 spring baseball season. Registration is open until December 31. Registration includes a hat, jersey, and a photo package.

To register, please visit MYBL.org. For more information, please contact Brian Deets, MYBL President, at (626) 244-4743 or myblpony@mybl.org. 

2022 Holiday Home Decorating Contest

Celebrate the spirit of the holidays by decorating your home! Monrovia residents are invited to enter the Holiday Home Decorating Contest. The contest is free and open to Monrovia residents only. Residents must register for the contest by 5 p.m. on Monday, December 5. The contest judging will take place from December 12 through December 14. The winners will be announced on December 16 and recognized at the December 20 City Council Meeting.

A map will be published with the addresses of all the participating homes on December 16 for the community to take a driving tour and see the festive displays.

The City will recognize and provide awards in the following categories:

• Best Still Display – Best decorations with no movement
• Best Outdoor Display – Overall best outdoor decorating
• Most Effective Use of Lighting – Best outdoor lighting display
• Best Neighborhood Effort – Street (s) with many homes decorated in a similar theme
• Santa's Workshop Award – Best use of homemade holiday decorations
• Holiday Spirit Award – Most festive display
• Judges Award – Judges' choice
• Children's Choice Award – Best display that depicts a youthful theme

For any questions, contact Recreation Supervisor Tiffany Peterson at (626) 256-8246.

2022 Art in Public Places Ornament Sale

Celebrate the holidays and support public art with Monrovia’s first tree ornament! The design features a winter wonderland in Old Town Monrovia. The beautifully crafted ornament is made of high-quality ceramic, brilliantly designed by Monrovia Artist Austin Lubetkin. The limited-edition ornament is $15, and all proceeds go to support the Art in Public Places program. This ornament is a great gift and is sure to be a favorite collectible! 

For any questions, contact Kerri Zessau at (626) 932-5564. 

Toy and Canned Food Drive / Car Show 

Mark your calendars! The Monrovia Police Officers’ Association, Arcadia Police Officers’ Association, and Detail Union are partnering with the Foothill Unity Center for this year’s Toy and Canned Food Drive on Saturday, December 10, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come on out to donate and stay for the car show! The event will be held at Detail Union at 1311 S. Shamrock Avenue. For more information, please contact the Foothill Unity Center.   

January MAP-edu Meeting

Back by popular demand, our first MAP-edu Community Meeting of 2023 will be in-person! Please join us at the Monrovia Public Library - Community Room on Thursday, January 12, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. 8 p.m. to discuss important topics regarding neighborhood etiquette. The Pasadena Humane Society will discuss miscellaneous dog concerns and dog waste clean-up, wildlife encounters, and veterinary resources. The second half of the meeting will be an opportunity for everyone to network. This meeting is free and open to the entire community!

If you have any questions, please contact the MAP team at map@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Traffic Safety Request Application

There is now an easier way to voice any traffic concerns in your neighborhood! If you are seeking traffic mitigation measures in your neighborhood, feel free to complete our easy online application to have our Public Works staff review your request. Visit our Traffic Safety Committee website for more information.

Smoke Detector Program

Did you know, seven people lose their life to home fires every day? Most often, in homes without working smoke alarms! Because of this, the American Red Cross launched the Sound the Alarm program in 2014 to help save lives.

Monrovia Fire & Rescue has partnered with American Red Cross and Kidde Smoke Alarms to install smoke alarms in homes on a quarterly basis to protect our community. During the installation, Monrovia Fire & Rescue and our Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.), educate families and community members on the pillars of fire safety.

Upon request, an inspection can be performed to ensure residents have the appropriate number of alarms in their home. If you or someone you know is in need of a smoke alarm, please send an email to; smokealarm@ci.monrovia.ca.us

For any questions, contact Monrovia Fire & Rescue at (626) 256-8181.

FREE Countertop Compost Bin and Compostable Liners

California’s new organic recycling mandate, SB1383, requires residents and businesses to separate their organic waste materials to keep them out of landfill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While City staff continues to work with our exclusive franchise hauler, Athens Services, to provide Monrovians with the best plan for the future, we want to offer our residents an easy and convenient way to help separate your waste! The City is offering countertop compost bins and compostable bin liners to all residents of Monrovia! The countertop compost bins are breathable to prevent odors, compact to avoid taking up space, and convenient for separating edible waste while you cook! 

Work Around Town 

2022 Sewer Cleaning and Inspection Project

The City of Monrovia will continue our efforts to clean and inspect sewer lines during the week of December 5. The City’s contractor, Houston & Harris, will complete the project of approximately 90,700 linear feet of sewer lines with closed circuit video to determine future repairs. 

Please expect temporary lane closures and traffic impacts within the project areas of south Myrtle Avenue from Olive Avenue to Walnut Avenue, south Monterey Avenue from Colorado Boulevard to Huntington Drive, and west Olive Avenue from Fifth Avenue to Monterey Avenue.

To help reduce traffic impacts along heavily utilized corridors, the City's contractor will work on this project between the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Please continue to follow all traffic signs and directions. Work is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will be phased so that as few streets are affected as possible at any one time.

Contact: Monrovia Public Works, (626) 256-8224

New Restroom to be Installed at Library Park 

Throughout the week of December 5, the City will continue installing a pre-fabricated restroom, known as the Library Loo, on the west side of Library Park, adjacent to the playground. During this week, the City's contractor, Wright Construction and Engineering, will complete the installation of concrete forms for the Library Loo's foundation and path.  

Please expect parking impacts and restricted access to the project area as Wright Construction and Engineering completes the installation. 

Contact: Monrovia Public Works, (626) 256-8224

Lane Closures

Beginning December 5 through December 9, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Southern California Edison (SCE) will have Trammel Crow, Maple Construction, and Pacific Utilities conduct underground electrical work along Evergreen Avenue (between Mayflower Avenue and Magnolia Avenue).  

Contact: SCE Customer Service, (800) 655-4555

Ways to Report Streetlight Outages

As the evenings get darker earlier due to the end of daylight savings, it is important to keep our streets well-lit for pedestrians so everyone can get to their destinations safely. If you notice a streetlight that is off or flickering, please report it to the Public Works Department by calling (626) 932-5575, submitting a service request on the City website, or emailing PWcomments@ci.monrovia.ca.us.

Streetlights on wooden poles belong to Southern California Edison (SCE), and you can report an outage to SCE directly at (800) 611-1911 or on their website. Please reference the 3 Things to Check and 5 Ways to Report in the image above to help us keep our community safe!

Report an Issue

The City of Monrovia is committed to maintaining a clean and safe community, and often, residents are the eyes of our community! To better assist Public Works staff to provide a premier quality of life, we need your assistance in reporting any issues you see throughout our wonderful community. If you see an issue, please use our online request portal to submit a service request!

If you have any further questions, please contact the Public Works Department at (626) 932-5575.

Monrovia Conserves 

We are still on track! Since March 1, 2022, the City implemented mandatory local conservation measures to help conserve water to sustain us for the rest of the year. Since June 1, 2022, the Metropolitan member agencies have further pushed initiatives to continue to conserve during the hot summer months. The image below shows how the Upper San Gabriel Water District compared to other member agencies.