Your Government » City Manager's Office

City News & Highlights

Print
Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Font Size: + -

City Manager's Update | January 17, 2025

Post Date:01/17/2025 10:30 AM

 

 

Good morning, Monrovians,

"Give, but give until it hurts," is advice once offered by Mother Teresa. This past week has been filled with countless efforts of giving, and of helping our neighbors who are only just beginning to realize the impacts of devastation since January 7th. The Eaton Fire is now 55% contained and Monrovians are seeking ways to help. I've quickly learned what while the City of Monrovia was spared, again, from wildfire on our doorstep, we all have family, friends, loved ones, local business owners, coworkers, fellow students and teachers and many community members who were impacted in one way or another. Now is the time for our All-America City to show our truest colors as we step forward to help those in need. Many are combing through households and collecting donations...keep up the amazing work. But also remember this recovery will take years, even more, to fully recover. Here are some other ways you can consider helping - 

  • Have you considered volunteering with any one of our local organizations who need volunteers?

  • Have you considered building an Accessory Dwelling Unit or converting a space in your home to house a friend or family member?

  • Have you considered hosting a special event or fundraiser to support someone impacted by the Eaton Fire?

  • Have you considered how your business, club, church or organization can reach out and support similar groups in affected areas? 

The strength of our community is undeniable, and now we have an opportunity to demonstrate what is most special about Monrovia...our people. 

The City has created a dedicated page for the Eaton Fire on the City website. This page should help connect residents with resources such as Care Solace, which offers mental health assistance, as well as county, state and federal resources for those directly impacted by the wildfires. We will provide additional information over the months to come but please keep in mind...there are countless websites, resources, fundraisers, and forms of assistance out there right now. We are trying to keep this page most relevant to our community members who need key sources of information. 

 

City crews are continuing to address the debris caused by the Santa Ana winds last Tuesday. Our Public Works team and Athens are actively working throughout the city to clean up debris, palm fronds, and more. We appreciate your patience during this process and encourage you to contact our Public Works team if you have any questions (626) 932-5575. Please be sure to follow these important recommendations: 

  • Place as much as you can in your green bins!

  • Place all leaves, clippings and small items in bags...do not just pile on the ground

  • Place remaining large items in the parkway or at the curb, in a large pile that can easily be picked up. 

Because this extra cleanup effort is only temporary, City crews will only be collecting debris piles placed at the street/curb for a limited time. 

Great news...Monrovia Canyon Park was largely unaffected by last week's storm except for one fallen tree. The Hillside Wilderness Preserve ("HWP") remains closed indefinitely. As a contingency plan for the Eaton Fire, emergency crews created new dozer lines within the HWP in areas between Coyote Ridge and Sunset Bench, all the way to Santa Anita Canyon. We are working with the Incident Command Team to restore the trails and repair the damage as soon as possible. I don't suspect the HWP will be closed for long but the  repairs and restoration will certainly take time. 

Next month, the Monrovia City Council will host their Annual State of the City event on Tuesday, February 11, at LOOK Cinemas. During this event, the Council will discuss topics including the Eaton Fire, ways to support our community and neighbors, a recap of the past year, and a preview of what’s ahead for 2025. We have much to look forward to!

Sincerely,

Dylan 

Email: dfeik@monroviaca.gov  
Phone: (626) 932-5585

  Highlights in this Update

  • Friday Night Street Fair & Market and Farmers Market at Station Square Return
  • City Facilities Closure - Monday, January 20
  • Notice of Temporary Traffic Lane Closure on E. Huntington Drive
  • Battle of the Badges Blood Drive - Thursday, January 23
  • Veterans Resource Center Monthly Newsletter
  • Annual Los Angeles County Homeless Count - POSTPONED
  • Los Angeles County Care Camps
  • Monrovia Community Job Fair - February 5
  • Real Estate and Housing Help Center
  • Southern California Edison Customer Assistance for Impacted Customers
  • MLK, Jr. Holiday, Trash Collection and Street Sweeping - Monday, January 20
  • Monrovia Traffic Signals Project
  • Work Around Town

  

Friday Street Fair & Market and Farmers Market at Station Square Returning, Fire Victim Donation Drive

The Monrovia Friday Street Fair & Market (700 S. Myrtle) and the Farmers Market at Station Square (1629 S. Myrtle) are both back this week after being canceled last week due to the windstorm and wildfires. The Friday Street Fair & Market will occur this evening from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., and the Farmers Market at Station Square will be held tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Tonight’s Street Fair & Market will feature six vendors from Altadena in addition to the familiar vendors we all know and love! During this evening's event, there will also be a donation drive for wildfire victims. The following items will be accepted:

  • Gift cards
  • New bedding/blankets
  • New clothing for adults, children, and babies
  • Non-perishable packaged food
  • Bottled water
  • Gatorade/Powerade
  • Liquid IV's

We hope to see you at one or both of our Monrovia markets this weekend!

 

City Facilities Closed - Monday, January 20

City Hall, Public Works, Library and Police and Fire Administration will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of the Martin Luther Jr. holiday. All normal City operations will resume on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. 

 

Notice of Temporary Traffic Lane Closure on East Huntington Drive Between South California and Shamrock Avenue

We are thrilled to share that the Route 66 Huntington Drive Pedestrian Bridge Public Art Project is nearing completion! To facilitate the final phase of this project, the City will implement single-lane closures on East Huntington Drive between South California and Shamrock Avenues. Please note that only one traffic lane will be affected in each direction at any given time.

The lane closures will take place from Tuesday, January 21, 2025, through Friday, February 21, 2025, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

If you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check out the stunning artwork coming to life on the Huntington Drive pedestrian bridge—it’s truly impressive! We appreciate your understanding and patience during this period. For additional information about the project, please contact Kerri Zessau at kzessau@monroviaca.gov or 626-932-5564

 \

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive

The Monrovia Police Department will host the Battle of the Badges Blood Drive next Thursday, January 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Community Center (119 W Palm Ave). With the recent fires in Los Angeles County, there is a dire need for blood, and if you are able, we encourage you all to participate. All donors will be entered into a raffle for Super Bowl tickets at the Caeser's Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana! 

To schedule an appointment, please go to RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code “BOB24".

Streamline your donation experience and save up to 15 minutes by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass to complete your pre-donation reading and health history questions on the day of your appointment. All donors get a Battle of the Badges T-shirt! 

Veterans Resource Center Monthly Newsletter

Join Our New Monthly Email Update for the Veterans Resource Center!
We are excited to introduce a brand new monthly email update from the Library's Veterans Resource Center! Subscribe to stay connected and informed about all the programs, services, and events we offer to veterans, service members and their families.
What to Expect:
•    Updates on upcoming events and activities
•    Information about new resources and services for veterans
•    Community stories and highlights from the Veterans Resource Center
How to Subscribe: It’s easy! Just click here to sign up and receive our monthly email updates straight to your inbox.

We look forward to keeping you informed and involved in our amazing community of veterans and supporters. 

 

Annual Los Angeles County Homeless Count Postponed

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) has postponed the 2025 Point-In-Time Homeless Count for at least 30 days due to fires throughout Los Angeles County. The count will now be held on unspecified dates at the end of February.

When rescheduled, the Point-In-Time Homeless Count will cover many cities across Los Angeles County, including Monrovia, to determine the number of homeless people in the area. The data collected from the count is used to design programs better and deploy resources to serve the homeless population.

If you are interested in volunteering, we would love your help when the count dates are rescheduled. Pre-registration to volunteer is available on the Point-In-Time Homeless Count website. Pre-registration is not required; you may also simply join on the night of the count once the rescheduled dates are announced.

Volunteers will conduct the count using their smartphones via a mobile app. They will receive volunteer training and orientation, and representatives from LAHSA, the City’s Community Services Department, and the Police Department will be on hand to answer any questions.

We will provide information on the rescheduled dates when available. To learn more, please visit the Point-In-Time Homeless Count website.

 

 

Los Angeles County Care Camps

The Los Angeles County Arboretum, in partnership with the L.A. County Board of Supervisors and County Parks and Recreation, is hosting a Care Camp To support families impacted by the Eaton fire. This free program will provide youth and teens with a supportive space for fun and recreation including music, arts and crafts, sports activities, and field trips to the LA County Natural History Museum, La Brea Tar Pits, Dodger Stadium, & more. Breakfast, snacks, and lunch will be provided daily; teens will also get supper.

Care Camps are available for the following age groups Monday through Friday, now until January 31, 2025:

  • Youth Camps - Ages 5-12: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Teen Camps - Ages 13-17: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Other Care Camp locations include:

Registration is required. If you are interested in registering for the LA County Arboretum Care Camp or a Care Camp at a different location, please visit the registration webpage. For more information, please contact recprograms@parks.lacounty.gov.

 

Monrovia Community Job Fair 

The Monrovia Community Adult School will be hosting a Community Job Fair, with over 30 employers expected in attendance. Meet employers across various industries and discover diverse career paths, job openings, and access to free workshops. Free lunch from In-N-Out will be provided to those who apply for at least three jobs!

The job fair will occur at the Monrovia Community Adult School (920 S. Mountain) from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5. For more information and a list of employers in attendance, please click here to view the flyer.

Registration is now available online on Eventbrite.

 

Real Estate and Housing Help Center

The Arcadia Association of Realtors® is hosting a free, community Real Estate and Housing Help Center to assist displaced people find housing. The free, walk-in, service is being held at the Arcadia Association of Realtors® building located at 601 S. First Ave., Arcadia, Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

No appointment is required. The help center is staffed by association volunteers who will assist guests with a list of rental options, and lease applications to use, and will be available to answer questions. 

For more information, call the Arcadia Association of Realtors® at (626) 446-2115.

 

Southern California Edison Customer Assistance for Impacted Customers

As Southern California recovers from the devastating weather and life-threatening fire conditions, our communities face significant challenges. They offer support in this difficult time by offering assistance that provides peace of mind as you navigate even larger complexities.    

SCE Customer Assistance

  • All outstanding electricity bills, including arrearages, will be waived if your home has major damage or is destroyed from wildfire or windstorm conditions. SCE will continue to evaluate circumstances for future assistance. Please visit our Disaster Assistance page to self-identify your home's current status or conditions.
  • Move-in and move-out service requests will be expedited for residents who seek to re-establish service.
  • Service disconnection and associated fees for nonpayment of your electricity bill will be suspended.

For Income Qualified customers, SCE will:

In the coming days, we will continue to share updates about customer assistance options as they become available.

For the latest updates, please visit our Extreme Weather Restoration Update, Extreme Weather Events Frequently Asked Questions and Outage Status Look Up pages on sce.com You can contact us through our dedicated Disaster Hotline at 1-800-250-7339. Our phone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday to Friday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. 

 

Trash Collection and Street Sweeping on Monday, January 20 MLK Jr. Holiday

There will be no service interruptions to trash collection and street sweeping services on the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, Monday, January 20. Your waste will be picked up on your regularly scheduled service day.

 

GoMonrovia Service Hour and Lyft Pass Fare Changes

Beginning February 10, 2025, the City will implement changes to the GoMonrovia service hours and Lyft Pass fare. Approved during the December 17, 2024, City Council meeting, these changes reflect the City Council’s efforts to balance the community’s needs with fiscal responsibility, ensuring the program remains sustainable in the long term.  

New Service Hours

  • Sunday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
  • Friday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
  • Will continue to operate 365 days per year including holidays

Discounts will not be applied to trips taken outside the new service hours.

Increased Trip Fare

  • Lyft trips within Monrovia and to approved medical locations in Arcadia and Duarte will increase from $3.00 to $6.00 per trip.
  • Monrovia Transit (reserved for seniors 62+ and individuals with disabilities) will continue to provide $0.50 trips to registered riders.

Service Area

The “GOMONROVIA” Lyft Pass will continue to cover trips within Monrovia and to approved medical facilities in Arcadia and Duarte. Visit the GoMonrovia website for the full list of approved locations.

What Are My Next Steps?

If you already have the “GOMONROVIA” Lyft Pass added to your account, no action is needed. These changes will automatically apply to your account beginning February 10, 2025. The final day of 24/7 service will be February 9, 2025.

If you do not have the “GOMONROVIA” Lyft Pass or would like to apply for Monrovia Transit, visit the GoMonrovia website for more information. Click “By Ride Hailing” for Lyft Pass information or “By Transit” for Monrovia Transit details.

Stay Connected

We appreciate your understanding and support as we implement these new changes. To learn more about the program, visit gomonrovia.com or contact gomonrovia@monroviaca.gov. 

Monrovia Traffic Signals Project 

The City’s contractor, DBX, will continue the Monrovia Traffic Signals Project to construct new traffic signals and pedestrian improvements at multiple intersections along Foothill Blvd. and Huntington Dr.

Local residents should expect on-street parking restrictions, temporary sidewalk and lane closures, and increased noise between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Regular street sweeping will not take place in the work area during construction hours, so please take note of posted construction parking signage.

In observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, no construction activities will take place on Monday, January 20.

DBX will close eastbound traffic lanes at the intersection of Foothill Blvd. and Sunset Pl. To ensure continued flow of traffic, DBX will phase the work so that a single eastbound lane is closed at a time.

  • From January 21 to January 23, the outside eastbound lane will be closed.

Drivers are asked to avoid Foothill Blvd from Madison Ave to Mayflower Ave for the duration of the work. Additional lane closures are projected during the week of January 27.

We recognize that construction can be messy and inconvenient, and thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience as we work through these improvements!  Please note that schedules are subject to change. We appreciate your flexibility.

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

 

Work Around Town

Potential Traffic Delays

The following locations will have construction work during the week of January 20, which may alter traffic and/or sidewalk flow. Please follow all directional signage and worker instructions for your safety.

January 20 - January 24

  • Primrose and Evergreen Avenues near 127 West Pomona Avenue will be down to one lane
  • Peck Road and Duarte Road (Station Square South) – dry utilities installation

January 23

  • Wildrose Avenue at 302 Bradbury Road – full road closure

Contact: Monrovia Public Works, (626) 932-5575

Job Opportunities with the City of Monrovia 

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.

The City of Monrovia is now recruiting for the following positions:

  • Police Officer (Lateral)
  • Police Officer (Recruit/Entry-Level)
  • Fire Cadet (Part-Time)
  • Park Naturalist (Part-Time)

 

Key Dates, Programs & Virtual Events

 

Neighborhood Watch Report

This report lists the total number of calls for service received over the last seven-day period.

Return to full list >>