Mountain Views News          Saturday, January 1, 2011

6


Mountain Views News Saturday, January 1, 2011

DUARTE FITNESS CENTER ISSUES “BIGGEST 
LOSER” WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE

DUARTE, CA, December 29, 2010 – Losers wanted. The City of Duarte Fitness Center is 
issuing a challenge to community members who would like to set a healthy new year agenda, 
shed some unwanted pounds, and win the title of Duarte’s “biggest loser”.

The contest is open to all Duarte residents 16 years of age and older. There is no entry fee 
to participate. The winner will receive a one-year total facility individual membership to 
the Duarte Fitness Center. As an extra incentive, Duarte is partnering with TV’s Biggest 
Loser Pound for Pound Challenge that has pledged to donate 11 cents for every pound lost 
to Feeding America® to provide groceries to local food banks. Duarte has selected the Los 
Angeles Food Bank to be the recipient of funds from the local weight loss challenge.

 The eight-week contest will begin Jan. 3, with the final weigh-in on Feb, 28. Highest 
percentage of body, not number of pounds will determine the winner. 

 “Duarte’s motto is ‘The City of Health’. With the weight loss challenge we hope to 
motivate our community to begin living a healthier lifestyle,” said Director of Parks and 
Recreation, Donna Georgino.

 Private and confidential weigh-ins will take place every Monday at the Duarte Fitness 
Center. Only percentages of weight lost or gained will be shared.

 For more information about Duarte’s Biggest Loser contest contact the Duarte Fitness 
Center at (626) 357-6118, ext. 243.

MONROVIA CITY COUNCIL MEETING RECAP

By Vivianne Parker 

 

Finance Director Mark Alvardo gave a review to the Monrovia City Council outlining what measures 
are needed to be taken to keep the 2010-11 Midyear fiscal budget on target for year end. The budget 
inherited deficit balances from previous fiscal years 2007-8 2008-9, which totaled totaled nearly 
$798,000. With the goal being to offset this negative into positives for fiscal 2011-12 and beyond, 
Alvarado suggested a two percent cut in each department's operating budget, which would generate 
about $579,000. The rest would be obtained by foregoing the reserve fund contribution made year 
year which is about $200,000.

 

Major expenditures have been personnel costs, the employee retirement insurance plan, how the 
policyholder makes adjustments to the plan, and other legal matters such as contract negotiations 
and lawsuits facing the City," which contributed to ovverruns," he said. Councilmember Garcia 
mentioned that the departmental cuts have been basically seamless for residents, and he thanked the 
city workers on their cost-saviing measures.

 

READDRESSING "SMOKING IN THE PARK"

 

The City Council reheard an issue, originally presented by Councilmember shaw on smoking in the 
parks. The current code amends to state law, which forbids smokers not to smoke within 25 feet of 
playground equipment. Mandating Monrovia parks to be smoke-free became a topic of discussion. 
Weighing heavily on one side were the advocates such as Totally Free Los Angeles County, and the 
American Heart Association, two coalitions with representatives present, who expressed concern 
about the public health hazards related to the use of tobacco, and the effects of second hand exposure 
to smoke, and being able to breathe in a smoke-free environment in public places.

 

"Regulating smoking in the parks is an important step in changing people's attitudes toward smoking. 
A smoking ban in part or all parts will save lives," advised Esther Lim, spokeswoman for the 
Greater Los Angeles Division of the American Heart Association. "More than 450,000 Americans 
die each year to smoking related diseases," she added. Other speakers expressed a total ban on smoking 
even suggesting creating an ordinance for all public places such as restaurants and public events 
similar to what cities like Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Santa Monica have adopted.

 

Gwendolyn Jones, a Monrovian and a non-smoker was among those who felt uneasy with a total ban 
on smoking in the park. "Recreation Park is a beacon in the area where these men gather. On the 
south side, we don't have a meeting place or inside gym where they can play chess or dominoes. I'm 
not making excuses to people smoking. But, we need to get to the beginning of how cigarettes are 
getting into the community." Ms. Jones added the focus should not be on the legislation, but on the 
source providing the stimulant to the public. 

 

Several council members also felt a hesitancy to suggest a move toward banning smoking in Monrovia 
parks. As a group, the City Council decided to educate the public about the issue through the 
posting of signs throughout the Monrovia parks. 

 

A RESOLUTION TO SAVE A HISTORIC HOME

 

Through negotiations with the owner, city and historic preservationists, the historic Victorian farmhouse 
built in 1896 at 270 N. Myrtle Avenue has been saved from being totally demolished. Councilmember 
Garcia reported that a portion of the house will remain. Seeing the project work through 
its way through the many phases of compromise was "what makees Monrovia one of the great places 
to live," said Garcia. 

 

COMMUNITY NEWS

 

Mayor Lutz proclaimed January 6, 2011 Monrovia Wildcat Day for its CIF championship win pf 38-8 
over Whittier Christian. The Monrovia High School Wildcats will be honored in a 6:30 p.m. january 
6 parade starting from MHS going east bound on Colorado to Myrtle, going north on Myrtle to 
Library Park's fountain. The players and coaches will be honored in a ceremony with City Council 
members and other scheduled speakers.

 

In other community news, David Gomez, board member with the Monrovia Youth Baseball league, 
mentioned the new charge to outside organizations for the use of school facilities. gomez believes 
the costs of $35 a night the MUSD charges would create a budget nightmare for the organizations, 
amounting tp a $18,000 seasonal expense. He feels the expense could jeopardize the participation of 
the 312 youths who attend the after school league on a yearly basis. He sought the help of the City 
Council who will forward the matter to the Education Board during its monthly joint meeting. 


Recycle 
Your

Christmas 

Tree!

Place your Christmas tree 
curbside on your regular 
trash collection day beginning 
December 26, 2010

thru January 14, 2011.

Please 
remove 
all ornaments, 
tinsel, 
plastic 
bags, 
nails, 
lights, 
and 
plastic

or 
metal stands otherwise 
tree will not be collected. 
Flocked and fire retardant 
coated trees will be accepted. 
Residential refuse 
will be picked up on your 
normal collection day.


Monrovia Police Blotter

During the last seven day period, the Police Department handled 490 service events, resulting 
in 104 investigations. Following are the last week’s highlighted issues and events:

Vandalism / Throwing an Object at a Moving Vehicle / Nighttime Curfew / Suspects 
Arrested

On December 10 at 10:13 p.m., a subject was traveling east on Huntington, approaching 
Primrose, when he saw five male juveniles standing in front of a fast food restaurant. As the 
victim drove by, he saw one of the juveniles throw an object at his vehicle, which shattered 
the rear window. The juveniles ran into the restaurant, where they were detained by officers. 
The juvenile who threw the object was identified and arrested. The other four juveniles were 
brought to the station and cited for curfew violations.

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

On December 11 at 2:04 a.m., a subject was riding as a passenger in a vehicle when he 
saw an officer in a parking lot in the 100 block of West Foothill. The passenger exited the 
vehicle and approached the officer. He reported to the officer that the driver was drunk and 
refused to let him drive. He cautioned the officer that the driver had said he had a firearm 
in the vehicle. The driver was stopped, and determined to be under the influence. During 
a search of the vehicle, officers located an unloaded firearm under the rear seat and two 
loaded magazines in the glove box. The driver was arrested and taken into custody. 

Driving Under the Influence - Suspect Arrested

On December 11 at 3:43 a.m., officers observed a driver northbound on Myrtle from 
Huntington, driving at a high rate of speed. Officers stopped the driver and during the 
investigation, determined the driver was under the influence. He was arrested and taken 
into custody.

Drug Activity

On December 12 at 1:59 a.m., officers responded to the area of Central and Magnolia 
regarding possible shots heard. When they arrived in the area, they saw a group of three 
male subjects. As they approached, one of the subjects threw an object on the ground, which 
turned out to be a toy replica of a firearm. The officers detained the subject who threw the 
item and discovered he was in possession of methamphetamine. The subject detained was 
arrested, and the other two subjects were identified and released. The shot heard turned out 
to be a tire blowout on the freeway.

Dog Bite

On December 13 at 2:45 p.m., a six-month-old female was taken from the arms of her 
mother by a three-year old Great Dane. The mother and baby both sustained bite injuries. 
The infant was transported via helicopter to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center. The 
baby is in stable condition in the neonatal unit. The investigation is continuing.

Attempt Vehicle Burglary

On December 14 at 3:01 a.m., an officer saw a male and female walking in the area of Grand 
and Aspen. As the officer approached, the female threw something on the ground and 
quickly walked away from it. The object was found to be methamphetamine. The female 
subject was arrested.

SCE and Gas Company Seek Approval to 
Increase All Retail Rates in 2012

DUARTE, CA, December 29, 2010 – The cost of keeping the lights on and heat burning is likely to 
increase for residential customers of both Southern California Edison and Gas Cos. SCE and the Gas 
Co. have notified its customers, including the City of Duarte, that they have filed separate applications 
with the California Public Utilities Commission to increase retail rates for all of its customers. 

 Every three years utilities are required to forecast the cost of serving customers and, after 
reviewing such forecasts, regulators set each utility’s authorized revenue levels for the following three-
year cycle. This is known as a General Rate Case. 

SCE anticipates higher utility costs and has requested the equivalent of a 7.55% increase or $866 
million to cover them. The Gas Co. on the other hand, is requesting a total revenue increase of $308 
million or about a 7.4% increase system-wide. 

According to SCE, the purposes of the cost increases are to connect new customers to the system 
and respond to customer requests including undergrounding projects; to reinforce and upgrade 
the electric system to accommodate load growth; to continue SCE’s multi-year capital investment 
program to replace aging distribution infrastructure and business systems; to meet increased cost 
for Information Technology (IT) systems such as protection from cyber security threats to electric 
system assets; and to make a substantial contribution to the employee and retiree pension fund to 
address the losses in financial markets over the past few years. 

The Gas Co. is asking for the increase to be able to continue its investments in and maintenance of 
the system of pipes and equipment needed to deliver gas to customers; and to maintain the support 
structure necessary to keep it operating and providing customers with safe, reliable and responsive 
customer service. 

In addition to filing, the approximate 18-month process also requires the utilities to submit evidence 
to support its position followed by a discovery process which allows the opportunity for parties to 
review submittals. Another part of the Commission’s GRC process is to establish costs, allocate 
revenues, and design equitable rates for all customer classes. The CPUC will then determine actual 
changes in rates, if any. 

Before acting on the applications, the CPUC will hold public participation hearings open to public 
comment and evidentiary hearings open to comment by authorized interveners. Comments or 
concerns about the application should be directed to the CPUC Public Advisor who will circulate 
comments to the Commissioners and other CPUC staff working on the matter. The public is invited 
to address comments to: The Public Advisor, California Public Utilities Commission, 505 Van Ness 
Ave. Room 2103 San Francisco, CA 94102, or e-mail comments to: public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov. 
When writing, refer to Application 10-11-015 for SCE and Application A.10-12-006 for the Gas Co., 
and specify if you would like a response. Otherwise no response will be sent. Based on this process, 
the final decision will be rendered in either November or December of 2011 with implementation set 
for January 1, 2012. You may also call 415-703-2014 or toll free at 1-866-849-8390.

 Customers may view and download SCE’s application and supporting papers on SCE’s website, 
www.sce.com, or request a copy of the materials by sending a written request referring to Application 
10-11-015 to Southern California Edison Co., P.O. Box 800, Rosemead, CA 91770, Attention: Case 
Administration. For Gas Co. application information, call Martha Cendejas at SoCalGas 1-858-654-
1766 or view and/or print the application at socalgas.com/regulatory/cpuc.shtml. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com