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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.
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