Mountain Views News     Logo: MVNews     Saturday, February 11, 2012

MVNews this week:  Page 7

7


Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 11, 2012 


VOTE BY 
MONROVIA 
CITY COUNCIL 
OPENS ACCESS

TO WILDERNESS 
PRESERVE 
DESPITE 
RESIDENTS’ 
OBJECTIONS

By Joan Schmidt

 One might wonder if 
the final vote at the February 
7th Monrovia City Council was 
one of the latest at a meeting. 
(Or perhaps earliest-because 
the actual vote occurred around 
1:30 am February 8th!)

 What could the issue 
be? It concerns access to the 
Hillside Wilderness Preserve, 
which was established in 2000 
after voters approved Measure 
A and B, that provided $10 
million to purchase hillside land 
for public recreational use. The 
City of Monrovia owns 1336 
acres of land which is zoned 
Hillside Wilderness Preserve 
(HWP) and Hillside Recreation 
(HR), one 40-acre parcel and 
the entire Clamshell Motorway. 

 In 2004, the Hillside 
Preservation Campaign and 
Petition was established 
by residents Thomas and 
Pamela Suess to provide a 
community voice and direction 
for preserving the Monrovia 
Foothills. The petition offers a 
simple and respectable 5-point 
request of the City to preserve 
the foothills in a fashion which 
honors and respects the desire 
of citizens by not disturbing 
or endangering families, 
streets, neighborhoods, homes 
or wildlife of the Monrovia 
Foothills. 

 In 2009, the City of 
Monrovia had a plan to open 
the Wilderness Preserve, but 
Tom Suess did not feel the City 
did a thorough study, so he 
sued the City and won. Judge 
David Yaffe ruled in favor of 
Suess and awarded him $60,000 
in attorney fees. Judge Yaffe 
said, “The lawsuit was necessary 
to convince the politicians that 
control the city of Monrovia 
to comply with the California 
Environmental Quality Act, 
obtain an environmental impact 
report, listen and pay attention 
to the criticisms of the citizens 
of Monrovia to that report and 
then vote on whether to adopt 
it.”

 Now the City of 
Monrovia has a plan. At its 
February 7th meeting, 35 
residents filled out cards to 
address the City Council. Some 
favored the plan, others did not. 

 One Hillside resident, 
Nancy Matthews, supports 
access to the preserve. She 
feels, “The fact that everyone 
paid for this land means 
everyone should have access to 
it…I border one of the access 
points… I understand the fear 
of the unknown…. It’s critical 
to move forward now.”

 Among those voicing 
objections was Pamela Suess. 
She and her husband Tom 
oppose the new plan.

 “How many cars are all 
the parks around here having to 
deal with weekly? It’s going to 
be Griffith Park up there. You 
start bringing people up there, 
animals disappear.”

 Mayor Mary Ann Lutz 
and Council Members Tom 
Adams and Joe Garcia all live 
within 500 feet of the preserve, 
so they recused themselves. 
That left only Council Members 
Becky Shevlin and Larry 
Spicer to vote! A “Law of 
participation” is required, so 
the Mayor and two Council 
Members drew straws to see 
who would remain behind. Joe 
Garcia won, so Mayor Lutz and 
Council Member Adams left 
the chambers. The vote was 3-0 
in favor of moving ahead with 
the plan.

 It will be interesting 
to see what follows. I am sure 
the City has done an extensive 
study after the previous lawsuit. 
I believe Ms. Matthews made a 
good point. If the residents of 
Monrovia paid for this Hillside 
Preserve, they should be able to 
enjoy it.


Monrovia Police Blotter

New Monrovia Police Department Website Goes Live. First it was Crime Mapping - Then it was Twitter 
- Now, the Monrovia Police Department is continuing to work toward its goal of providing the public 
with easier access to police information by launching a new website, www.monroviapd.org. Today, February 
9, 2012, Monrovia Police Department goes live with its new, user friendly, Police website. The new 
website is easy to navigate and provides the community with quick access to Police information. Citizens 
can stay informed on Police activity with the Neighborhood Watch Report; receive real time, up-to-date 
crime statistics through crime mapping; access information on animal control issues and licensing; and 
find answers to many other general questions they might be seeking. Whether it be finding out how to 
obtain a dog license, paying a parking citation online, or simply learning how to become a volunteer, 
this website is full of informative information. The Department will continue to refine and improve the 
website. Please visit the new website and Stay informed with what is going on in your community. 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 419 service events, resulting in 77 
investigations. To see a complete listing of crimes reported, go to the crime mapping link below http://
www.crimemapping.com/map/ca/monrovia

 

Vehicle Burglaries. On January 30, officers responded to several vehicle burglary reports at a condominium 
complex in the 100 block of West Colorado in the secured tenant parking area. Items taken 
varied from car parts to in-dash radios. Additionally, a garage door opener was taken in one of the 
burglaries. The investigation is continuing.

Theft From a Vehicle. On February 1 at 3:10 a.m. an officer responded to the 200 block of East Los 
Angeles regarding a theft from a vehicle. The victim’s front bumper was missing from his 2000 Honda 
Civic. Investigation continuing.

Brandishing a Replica Firearm – Suspect Arrested. On February 1 at 11:35 p.m., police received a call 
reporting a man with a gun inside a bar in the 100 block of East Olive. The reporting party said the 
male suspect had displayed a handgun, causing the customers to become fearful. Officers arrived 
and the man was detained without incident. The weapon was a BB gun that looked like a pistol. The 
suspect claimed to be a gang member and said he needed the gun for protection. He was arrested and 
taken into custody.

Grand Theft Auto – Utility Trailer. On February 3 at 7:06 a.m., a utility trailer was reported stolen 
from an unsecured parking lot in the 200 block of West Foothill. The trailer did not have license plates 
on it. It was taken sometime between 4 p.m. on February 2 and 5 a.m. on February 3. The investigation 
is continuing.

Residential Burglary. On February 3 at 6:24 p.m., a female resident in the 400 block of East Olive reported 
her home had been burglarized sometime between 8:30 a.m. and 5:25 p.m. that day. A laptop 
computer was taken as well as the resident’s black and white Boston Terrier. The dog has a microchip. 
Investigation continuing.

 

 Theft – Suspects Arrested. On January 31 at 11:27 p.m., a witness called police and reported a male 
and female suspect stealing his neighbor's bicycle from the 100 Block of West Colorado. An officer 
stopped a couple matching the description near the location. The witness positively identified both 
suspects and they were still in possession of the bicycle. The victim desires prosecution. They were 
both arrested for the theft.

Petty Theft / Drunk in Public – Suspect Arrested. On February 3 at 12:01 a.m., a sergeant on patrol 
witnessed a male subject come out of a bar in the 300 block of West Foothill, walk across Magnolia, 
and pickup up the corner resident's potted plant. The male subject began walking away with the 
plant. The sergeant stopped him. The owner of the property was located, an elderly female, and she 
desired prosecution. The plant was returned to the owner and the suspect was arrested, not only for 
the theft, but for being drunk in public.

Mail Tampering / Weapons Offense – Suspects Arrested. On February 4 at 4:56 p.m., officers responded 
to the 400 block of North Alta Vista regarding a male and female subject in a black car that were 
taking mail out of mailboxes. Officers located the vehicle and stopped it. The investigation revealed 
a large quantity of stolen mail, burglary tools, and a loaded revolver in the vehicle. The revolver was 
found by the battery in the engine compartment of the car. Both the male and female subject were arrested 
and charged with conspiracy, receiving stolen property, mail tampering, and weapons charges.

Battery. On February 5 at 10:06 p.m., police responded to the report of a battery that occurred in 
the 200 block of Madeline. The adult male victim was standing in front of his residence when he was 
approached by the suspect, his girlfriend's former boyfriend. The suspect approached the victim in 
a friendly manner and asked if he would be willing to speak with him. The victim agreed. Without 
warning, the suspect punched the victim in the face several times. The suspect then left the location. 
The victim sustained a swollen left eye as a result of the battery. The investigation is continuing.

 

 Special Enforcement Team Activity

Assault With a Deadly Weapon Warrant – Suspect Arrested. On February 3, the Special Enforcement 
Team was on patrol and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle. A computer check revealed the driver 
was wanted by Monrovia Police Department for assault with a deadly weapon. The suspect was arrested 
and taken into custody.

 

Detective Bureau Case Follow-Up

Vehicle Versus Pedestrian Hit & Run Traffic Collision – Suspect pleads to Felony Charge. On January 
27, a hit and run traffic collision occurred at Huntington and Canyon, where a 12-year-old girl was 
struck by a vehicle as she tried to cross the street. The driver fled the scene, but through investigation, 
was located and arrested. The child was severely injured and was taken by helicopter to a hospital in 
critical condition. Detectives submitted the felony hit and run case to the District Attorney for filing. 
The suspect pled to the felony charge and accepted a sentence of 180 days in jail and 3 years probation.

Search Warrant – Additional Victim Identified. A proactive investigation by patrol officers gave Monrovia 
Police Department’s Detective Bureau enough information to secure a search warrant for a residence 
in the 200 block of West Olive, which was served on January 25. The residents are suspected to 
be selling stolen property and narcotics from the residence. An additional victim was identified this 
week from this case. That brings the total to six victims of theft.

FEBRUARY RED DOT HALF-PRICE SALE

Friends of the Monrovia Public 
Library announce the Friends’ 
February Red Dot Half-Price 
Sale at the Friends Store at the 
Monrovia Public Library. Adult 
hard cover and trade paperback 
books and media with a red dot 
on the spine are half price! At 
half price, most materials will be 
$1.00. Selection is varied.

This sale occurs monthly (except 
for December) with the 
color of the dot changing.

Children’s books and media 
regularly priced at 25 cents and 
mass market paperbacks regularly 
priced at.50 cents, are not 
included in the sale. Collectors’ 
Corner and Children’s Corner 
materials remain individually 
priced at below market value.

These sales offer high quality, 
slightly used books that are 
culled from our library shelves 
or donated, books that you’ll 
be proud to place in your own 
library or to give to friends and 
family. So come early and come 
often to see what treasures you 
can find. 

100% of the proceeds benefit the 
Monrovia Public Library’s programs 
and services. 

The Friends of the Monrovia 
Public Library promote the Library 
by stimulating a greater 
use and appreciation of the literary, 
educational, and cultural 
advantages the library offers 
throughout the community.

Monrovia Public Library 321 South 
Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia, CA 
91016. For more information, call 
(626) 932-5555, Ext. 3124 or visit 
www.friendsofmonroviapubliclibrary.
org

DUARTE STATE OF THE CITY/SCHOOL DISTRICT/
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT TALKS AT 

DUARTE CHAMBER LUNCHEON, MARCH 6

Duarte Chamber of Commerce 
will host its annual State of the 
City, State of the School District, 
and for the first time, the 
State of the Community College 
District as well at a luncheon, 
Tuesday, March 6. 

Mayor John Fasana will present 
his assessment of the State of 
the City; while Duarte Unified 
School Board President Reyna 
Diaz will report on the State of 
the School District, and Citrus 
College Superintendent/President 
Geraldine M. Perri, Ph.D., 
will update the community on 
the State of the Community 
College District. 

 The luncheon will be held from 
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Westminster 
Gardens’ Packard Hall, 1420 
Santo Domingo Ave. in Duarte. 
Tickets to the luncheon are $25 
per person.

 For more information and reservations, 
call Duarte Chamber 
of Commerce, (626) 357-3333.