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Mountain Views News Saturday, February 9, 2013
ANTONOVICH HELPS SECURES $250,000 PARK GRANT FOR MONROVIA
MID-YEAR BUDGET REVIEW PROJECTS
DUARTE TO END FISCAL YEAR WITH
HIGHER THAN EXPECTED SURPLUS
Mid-year budget projections estimate that the City of Duarte
will end fiscal year 2012-2013 with a surplus of $588,000 instead
of a previously projected $62,100 amount.
Assistant City Manager, Kristen Petersen noted the
increase in dollars is “largely due to a one-time residual payment
of $800,000 from Los Angeles County that represents the City’s
small share of the $9.4 million that the former Redevelopment
Agency was forced to turn over to the county.” Barring any
unexpected expenses or takeaways, said Petersen, the $588,000
surplus will leave the year-end General Fund reserves at $13.4
million.
The reserve total includes a $7.5 million transfer from the
Redevelopment Agency made in February 2011 as a repayment
of a City loan advance made to the Agency in prior years. In the
event the transfer is deemed invalid by the state, the $7.5 million
would be eliminated from the General Fund and surrendered to
the county. Such a scenario would reduce the City’s reserves to
$5.9 million, 48% of the General Fund expenditures.
General Fund revenues are projected to be $12,849,000
at fiscal year-end, an increase of $867,000, or 7.2 percent as
compared to the adopted budget. General Fund expenditures
are expected to be $12,262,000, an increase of $220,000 or 1.8
percent.
In addition to the $800,000 residual payment from
the county, the City received several grants. A $334,000 grant
from California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention
(CalGRIP), of which $84,000 will be spent in the current fiscal
year. Grant monies will be directed to Duarte youth programs,
including the boxing program, Youthworks, and D.A.R.T.,
and to help pay for a special assignment deputy and a L. A.
County probation officer. A $25,000 Public Safety Prevention
and Intervention grant from the Los Angeles County Chief
Administrator’s Office will assist in funding programs including
the City’s recreational financial assistance program and youth
programs. The Gold Line Authority awarded the City $100,000
in funds for the hiring of consultants, engineering and other
services that will expedite or enhance work related to the design
and development of the Duarte Gold Line station. The City has
allocated $50,000 of the grant to be used in the current fiscal
year.
Expenditure highlights include major City pool repairs
and the AQMD mandated replacement of the pool heater and
Fitness Center boiler that will cost more than $150,000 by the
end of the fiscal year.
The City budget has also benefited from expenditure
savings. A Supreme Court decision ruling that the county
was overcharging cities for administrative services related
to the collection of property tax has forced the county to
revise its calculation, resulting in a savings to the City of
approximately $39,000. The City has reduced postage expenses
by approximately $13,000 by consolidating the Parks and
Recreation schedule with the Public Safety and Community
Newsletter. Code enforcement legal services expenses are
projected to be reduced by approximately $6,000 as a result of
the City Attorney restructuring the City’s legal services contract.
“Overall, it was a positive sign to finally have a mid-year
report with an unprecedented surplus after navigating a very
difficult economic path for local governments over the past
several years, noted City Manager, Darrell George.”
MONROVIA – A 1.8 acre park that had
its aging and vandalized playground
equipment removed more than two years
ago will finally get some of the funding it
needs.
On Tuesday, Councilwoman Becky Shevlin
announced that Los Angeles County
Supervisor Michael Antonovich awarded
a $250,000 grant to the City of Monrovia
for the refurbishment of Julian Fisher Park,
at Almond and California Avenues. The
money is coming from Safe Neighborhoods
Parks Propositions of 1992 and 1996,
commonly referred to as Proposition A/Los
Angeles County Regional Park and Open
Space District. It is expected to be received
by the City in three months.
It has not yet been determined what exactly
the money will be used for in refurbishing
the park, “but we are extremely excited and
thankful to have the funds and look forward
to putting it to good use in the near future,”
Councilwoman Shevlin said.
Mayor Mary Ann Lutz said she is
grateful to both Supervisor Antonovich
and Councilwoman Shevlin for working
together to secure these funds for a park
that has been on the forefront of many
community members’ minds.
“We have heard from residents for
several years now that they want to see
improvements at Julian Fisher Park,” Mayor
Lutz said. “It is refreshing to be able to say to
the community that not only have we been
listening, but we finally have some funding
to make a change.”
The Julian Fisher improvements and
equipment upgrades have been on the City
Council’s approved Parks Capital Projects
list for many years, but as an unfunded
project. The playground equipment alone
has a $350,000 price tag. Adding restrooms
and upgrading the basketball courts, water
fountains, gazebos and picnic benches are
also on the improvement list but are still
unfunded.
Family members of Mr. Fisher said they
are elated that the park will be restored, and
that it is a reminder to continue fundraising
efforts to make up for the remaining
funding gap.
“On behalf of the Fisher family, we are
ecstatic to hear that we have received this
funding,” said Betty Thomas, a longtime
Monrovia resident and granddaughter of
Mr. Fisher.
The park is named after Julian Fisher, one
of Monrovia’s first African American police
officers. Mr. Fisher was educated in the
Monrovia schools and was the first African
American male to graduate from the high
school. He also played as a semi-professional
baseball player for the Monrovia Merchants.
Mr. Fisher was a respected member of the
community and the police department,
where he served for 30 years. He passed
away in 1979 at the age of 82.
Mrs. Thomas said she will be announcing
the receipt of the grant and the continued
fundraising efforts at a Black History Month
event hosted by the Monrovia-Duarte Black
Alumni Association on Saturday, February
9 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Julian Fisher Park.
“Receiving this funding will hopefully
light a fire under the community as work
to continue to raise funds for this park,”
Thomas said. “Our main concern has been
the full utilization of the park, and hopefully
this funding and future fundraising will
allow us to do that.”
Julian Fisher is one of seven parks in the
City.
“In working with our cities and town
councils, developing parks and open space
recreational areas is a vital part of the
County’s effort to improve the quality of life
for our residents,” Supervisor Antonovich
said. “We are pleased to announce $250,000
to the City of Monrovia to refurbish Julian
Fisher Park.”
MONROVIA DUARTE BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESENTS BLACK HISTORY
MONTH 2013
“At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington” By Joan Schmidt
The Monrovia/Duarte Black Alumni Association has some exciting, fun-filled events planned for February with all ages in mind.
On Saturday, February 9th, from 5:00pm-8:00pm will be Celebrating Black History in Film. This Family Movie Night and Food Truck
Event will be featuring the Pasadena Cow Girls and will take place at Julian D. Fisher Memorial Park, 915 South California Avenue,
Monrovia. In case of rain, the event will relocate to the Monrovia United Methodist Church, 140 east Palm Avenue, Monrovia. (626) 303-
2783.
At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality will take place Sunday, February 24th from 2:00pm-5:00 pm at the Monrovia
United Methodist Church, 140 East Palm Avenue, Monrovia. (626) 303-2783. The Soul Food Luncheon will be served from 2:00pm-
3:00pm. Adults-$10, children under 10- $5. Program/Reception will be held from 3:00pm-5:00 pm.
Several area libraries and have special displays for Black History Month. The Duarte Historical Museum has Children Marching
Through Black History 2013: Children’s Art Exhibit. This past Saturday, there was a special program that included exhibits, recognition
and entertainment. The Museum is opened Saturdays, 1:00pm-4:00pm and is located on 777 Encanto Parkway, Duarte. (626) 357-9419.
(Through February there also is a special tribute to the great author, Ray Bradbury).
MONROVIA CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES ANNIE BECKWITH MEMORIAL LARGE
PRINT BOOK DONATION TO MONROVIA LIBRARY By Joan Schmidt
At a recent Monrovia City Council Meeting, Mayor Lutz read a Certificate of
Recognition for the Annie Beckwith Memorial Large Print Donation which was then
presented to Annie’s family, who were in attendance.
Who was this Annie Beckwith? Annette Simpson, Librarian II came to the podium
and gave a short account of Annie’s life. Annie was born in Oklahoma in 1911 and
was orphaned, but raised by relatives. She appreciated what she had and wanted to
give back to our country, so she joined the Woman’s Army Corps during World War
II. Her husband Thomas also was a World War II
Veteran. They had only one child in 1934, who
passed away shortly after birth. (In those days, prior
to antibiotics and modern wonder drugs, that was
not uncommon.)
Annie eventually retired in Duarte and her family
brought her to the Monrovia Library to check out
large print books. She found the Library to be a
place of comfort and believed reading was a very
important part of her life. As she aged, her hearing also deteriorated, which increased her love of books
more.
This past March, Annie passed away at age 100! She was buried with full military honors at
Riverside National Cemetery with her beloved Tom. Because of her love for the Library and Large Print
Books, her family wanted to do something very special in Annie’s memory. They presented the Library
with a $9000 donation through her estate. This will pay for approximately 100 books each year or 300
books over 3 years.
Attending the City Council Meeting were Annie’s niece, Bonnie Kaufman and her great-nieces,
Monica Gibson and Carol Ann Kaufman and their families. They were very proud to accept the Certificate
and had brought Annie’s flag, (That had been used for the services) in a glass case to the meeting.
Annie’s family owns Creative Woman, and anyone who drives on Myrtle Avenue, below
Huntington Drive, knows the store with the “big bra” in the window. (The store is wonderful and has
many items- not just the special undergarments you may need when wearing a formal gown, etc.)
What people may not realize is the Kaufmans are GREAT SUPPORTERS of the Library and realize
the importance of reading. They have been extremely generous over the years donating money to the
Summer Reading Club and Literacy Services.
A VERY SPECIAL “Thank You” to Annie’s family. Both my parents suffered from glaucoma.
Daddy’s eyes went first, but Mom went to our library every week and checked out books for him to read.
It was a godsend. Then many years after Daddy passed, Mom’s eyes got bad. This time my sister took
Mom EVERY WEEK for those large print books! The residents of Monrovia surely will benefit from the
generous donation of Annie’s family.
DUARTE STATE OF THE CITY/SCHOOL DISTRICT/COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
District Talks at Duarte Chamber Luncheon, February 27
The Duarte Chamber of Commerce will host its annual State of the City, State of the School District,
and State of the Community College District at a luncheon, Wednesday, February 27.
Mayor Margaret Finlay will present his assessment of the State of the City; while Duarte Unified
School Board President Ken Bell 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 City of Hope, Cooper Auditorium, 1500
Duarte Road. Tickets to the luncheon are $25 per person.
For more information and reservations, call Duarte Chamber of Commerce, (626) 357-3333
or visit www.duartechamber.com.
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