Mountain Views News          Saturday, December 15, 2012

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Mountain Views News Saturday, December 15, 2012

WHAT MAKES DUARTE CITY COUNCIL 
MEETINGS UNIQUE? By Joan Schmidt

 What makes my work so interesting is I 
cover three great cities-Arcadia, Monrovia and 
Duarte- and attend their City Council meetings. 
I have found that all three cities have phenomenal 
staffs who sincerely want the best for their city 
and its residents.

 Their Council Chambers are all different, 
and long ago, I was surprised by Duarte’s location. 
Their meetings are held in the Community Center 
which does have a stage with their City Council 
Members up on it. But folding chairs are set up 
which honestly is a godsend to place one’s purse, 
extra papers, camera, etc. (The movie-type seats 
in the other council chambers are not geared 
to put your stuff on!) In addition at the Duarte 
Community Center, there are two long tables set 
up along the wall. On the tables are the agendas, 
previous meeting minutes, flyers, newspapers, 
refreshments and even coffee and tea!

 Because folding chairs are set up, the 
Mayor and Council Members can walk around 
and greet people prior to the meeting-it makes 
for a “homey” setting.

 The Duarte Council Meeting begins 
with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the 
Moment of Reflection. (This past Tuesday, Mayor 
Pro tem Liz Reilly moved everyone when she 
read, “A Marine’s Night before Christmas”. ) After 
the Moment of Reflection, the fun begins with 
the “Fitness/Mental Warm-up”. This week City 
Manager Darrel George was chosen for the fitness 
part, and we all stood, stretched and touched our 
toes! For our mental warm-up, Mayor Finlay 
questioned about the North and South Poles-
were either actually on land masses, and then 
what land mass was closest to the North Pole?

 Special items at this past Tuesday’s 
meeting included recognition of Duarte Parks 
and Recreation “B” Flag Football All StarTeam, 
Rebuilding Together San Gabriel Foothills 
Program Members and Sponsors, and Kate 
Knight for receiving Duarte Chamber’s 2012 
Outstanding Civic Service Award. There were a 
Presentation by Cal American Water on the rate 
structure for 2013, and a Presentation by Mayor 
Pro Tem Liz Reilly and Council Member Phil 
Reyes about a recent trip to China.

 There were ten members of the B Flag 
Football Team and they were most grateful to 
their coaches, Dewayne Owens and Zequoia 
Williams. Each boy received a special Certificate 
of Recognition and Mayor Finlay not only 
congratulated the boys and their coaches, but 
thanked the parents for their commitment-taking 
the boys to practices and games.

 The second Recognition was for all the 
sponsors and volunteers for the Rebuilding 
Together San Gabriel Valley Foothills project. 
This great organization works with the most 
vulnerable community members, the poor, 
elderly, disabled and veterans. Manoj Patel read 
off the names of ALL twenty-five and told how 
each helped out. They included Choice Hotels 
International (Grand Sponsor “2012 Room to 
Rebuild” project), Rodeway Owners Association 
(Grand Sponsor, “2012 Room to Rebuild”), 
Building Worx, Inc., PNC Mortgage, Duarte 
Employment Group, National Flooring Outlet, 
Kitchen Cabinets and More, Burrtec Waste 
Management, Southern California Edison, 
ABC Roofing Supply, Gentile McCloskey and 
Company (Julie Gentile made sure they stayed 
on budget and did tax forms correctly), Marrone 
and Sons Plumbing, JBP Mechanical, Skyler, 
Chief Louis Rice and “Food for Thought”(Treaing 
volunteers to a fresh gourmet luncheon), Harik 
Construction, Brad Patterson, Russ Wafer, 
Humberto Macias, Manuel Gamboa, Jit, Kris 
and Ajay Vadukul, Home Depot Monrovia and 
Duarte Elks Lodge. 

 Duarte Chamber President Jim Kirchner 
came up to the podium for the presentation of 
the Chamber’s 2012 Outstanding Civic Service 
Award to Kate Knight. (She had been unable to 
attend the Mayor’s Breakfast.)

 Brian Barreto of CAL American Water 
gave a presentation of the rate structure for 2013. 
(More info, call 626-614-2542 or go to www.
amwater.com.) 

 Lastly, Mayor Pro Tem Liz Reilly and 
Council Member Phil Reyes reported on their 
recent trip to China. 

 Council Meetings are the 2nd and 4th 
Tuesdays each month. Come on down.

HOLIDAY HOME DECORATING CONTEST

City of Monrovia residents are encouraged to decorate their homes and enter the Annual Holiday 
Home Decorating Contest. Applications for the contest are available at the Monrovia Community 
Center, 119 West Palm Avenue, and the City’s website. The contest judging will take place on Monday, 
December 17. Award winners will be recognized during the City Council meeting on Tuesday, 
December 18. The 13 judging categories include:

Best Still Display 

Best Outdoor Display 

Best Decorated Outdoor Tree 

Best Window Display 

Holiday Spirit Award 

Most Effective Use of Lighting a house 

Toyland Award 

Children’s Choice Award 

Best Neighborhood Effort 

Snowman Award 

Monrovia Area Partnership (MAP) Festivities Award 

Judges Award 

Tim McKeehan “Best of Season” Award 

 

For additional information, please contact the Department of Community Services at (626) 256-8246.


ANTONOVICH APPOINTS DR. JULES BAGNERIS III 
TO THE COMMISSION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
SERVICES 

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich has appointed Dr. Jules Bagneris III 
to the Los Angeles County Commission on Local Government Services. 

 A resident of Monrovia, Dr. Bagneris is a real estate broker and former public relations and communication 
consultant. He was previously a member of the Los Angeles County Small Business 
Commission. 

 He received his Bachelors of Arts in political science from the University of California, San Diego 
and his Master of Public Administration in Human Resource Management from the University of 
San Diego. Dr. Bagneris also holds a doctoral degree in pastoral ministries from the Eternal Word 
Graduate School. 

 The Los Angeles County Commission on Local Government Services seeks to find means to improve 
services, eliminate redundancies among public service providers, and identify areas where economies 
of scale can be achieved while providing better responsiveness to citizens’ needs. In addition, the 
Commission reports and monitors on the implementation of its recommendations.


LOOKING FOR PLANS TO RING IN 2013? TRY NEW 
YEARS EVE IN OLD TOWN!

Head to Old Town Monrovia on Myrtle Avenue for the 2nd Annual Monrovia New Years 
Eve celebration! Ring in 2013 from 7p.m. to midnight with a live band, ball drop and a beer 
and wine garden. Bring the whole family!

 

FOR YOUR CALENDAR - MONROVIA HOLIDAY CLOSURES 

Tuesday, December 18, 7:30 p.m. City Council Meeting

MONDAY, DECEMBER 24– CHRISTMAS EVE; CITY HALL, CORPORATE YARD, COMMUNITY 
CENTER & LIBRARY CLOSED

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25– CHRISTMAS DAY, CITY HALL, CORPORATE YARD, COMMUNITY 
CENTER & LIBRARY CLOSED

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31– NEW YEARS EVE; CITY HALL, CORPORATE YARD, COMMUNITY 
CENTER & LIBRARY CLOSED

MONDAY, JANUARY 1– NEW YEARS DAY; CITY HALL, CORPORATE YARD, COMMUNITY 
CENTER & LIBRARY CLOSED

TUESDAY, JANUARY 1 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CANCELLED

Tuesday, January 15, 7:30 p.m. City Council Meeting

DUARTE CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING 
PROGRAM COLLECTION FROM DEC. 26 TO 
JAN. 14 Extra Holiday Trash and Recycling Program Also Offered

DUARTE, CA, December 
12, 2012 – The City of Duarte 
through its franchised trash 
hauler, Burrtec Waste, will 
provide a Christmas tree 
collection service for residential 
customers in conjunction 
with Sanitation districts of 
Los Angeles County annual 
Christmas Tree Recycling 
program.

 Christmas trees 
will be collected on regular 
trash collection days from 
Dec. 26 through Jan. 14. All 
decorations, tinsel and stands 
must be removed. Flocked 
trees or trees coated with a 
fire retardant will be accepted. 
Trees over six feet tall need to 
be cut in half. Christmas tree 
collection will also be available 
in the county area of Duarte. 
The County of Los Angeles has 
contracted with waste haulers 
serving the unincorporated 
areas to provide Christmas tree 
recycling services to residences, 
multi-residential complexes 
and commercial, institutional, 
and industrial entities. 

This year Burrtec will collect 
excess holiday trash and 
recyclables beginning Dec. 26 
through Jan. 4. Single-family 
residences may place excess 
holiday trash/recyclables 
in bags alongside their 
containers on collection day. 
Approximately 80% of holiday 
trash is recyclable including 
all gift boxes, wrapping paper, 
greeting cards and cardboard 
packaging.

For more information about 
the Christmas tree recycling 
program in the City of Duarte, 
call City Hall at (626) 357-7931 
or Burrtec at (1-800) 325-9417 
or visit www.accessduarte.com.

Monrovia Police Blotter

 
Highlighted Activity for the Weekdays of December 10-12, 2012

 

During the last seven-day period, the Police Department handled 421 service events, resulting in 81 
investigations. To see a complete listing of crimes reported, go to http://www.crimemapping.com/
map/ca/monrovia for crime mapping. For Police Department news and information, visit our website 
at http://www.ci.monrovia.ca.us/city-government/departments/police-department-homepage 
and follow us on Twitter for police notifications.

 

Possession of Methamphetamine for Sale - Suspect Arrested

December 11 at 12:28 a.m., police received a call reporting suspicious individuals in the 300 block of 
West Palm. When officers approached, they saw a male subject hide something in a bush. Methamphetamine 
and cash was recovered. The suspect, who is currently on parole, was arrested and taken 
into custody.

 

Vehicle Burglary

December 12 at 5:07 a.m., a vehicle burglary was reported by a resident in the 500 block of Date 
Court. The vehicle was parked on the second level of a parking structure between midnight and 5:00 
a.m. The victim reported that he locked his vehicle. There were no signs of forced entry. Tools were 
stolen from the vehicle. Investigation continuing.

 

Hot-Prowl Burglary

December 12 at 11:26 p.m., a hot-prowl residential burglary was reported in the 1300 block of South 
Primrose. The victim left for work at 8:00 a.m. She locked her bedroom door before leaving. When 
she returned at 11:15 p.m., she found her bedroom had been ransacked and her jewelry had been 
stolen. The suspect had removed the screen from an unlocked rear window to enter the bedroom. The 
victim's mother was in the house when the crime occurred, but did not hear or see anything suspicious. 
Another family member was in the rear house, which faces the point of entry. The family's dogs 
were heard barking at approximately 4:00 p.m., but no one checked to see what was disturbing them. 
Investigation continuing.

 

 

TIP OF THE WEEK

 

DON'T FILL YOUR VEHICLE WITH PRESENTS FOR THIEVES!

It only takes a few seconds for thieves to break into your vehicle and steal your valuables.

 

It only takes a few seconds to remove your valuables and secure your vehicle.

 

Don't Be a Victim!

 

Auto-burglary prevention starts by limiting the criminal's opportunity to commit the crime and can 
be accomplished with very little time and effort. Criminals are looking for something to steal - don't 
supply the valuables. Leaving your valuables in your vehicle instantly makes your car a target for 
thieves. 

Take a few seconds to prevent auto-burglary!

Come early! Santa’s Sleigh leaves the Fire Station 101 promptly at 5:30 p.m.! 

Monday, December 17 – will tour city streets south of Huntington, west of Myrtle to Fifth, north of 
southern city boundaries. Also includes Valley Circle.

Tuesday, December 18 – will tour city streets east of Myrtle, north of Foothill.

Wednesday, December 19 – will tour city streets west of Myrtle, north of Foothill.

Thursday, December 20 – will tour city streets east of Myrtle, south of Foothill, north of Duarte Road, 
west of east city boundaries.

Friday, December 21 - will tour city streets west of Myrtle, south of Foothill to Huntington between 
Myrtle and Fifth.