Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, November 23, 2019

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 23, 2019 

ARCADIA POLICE BLOTTER

RESPONSE TO STATE AUDITOR REPORT LISTING MONROVIA 
AS BEING IN POOR FINANCIAL HEALTH 

From The Office of the Monrovia City Manager

Recently, the California State Auditor released a report 
that named Monrovia as the #10 California city facing fiscal 
challenges. Regrettably, the State Auditor did not reach 
out to the City for the latest finan-cial data before publishing 
these findings, and the information used was outdated and 
focused on nar-row pieces of data. Over the past week, the 
City thoroughly reviewed the State Auditor’s report, and we 
wanted to take this opportunity to respond to these findings:

The City previously posted the Fiscal Year 2017-18 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which is the most recent audited 
financial document, not the Fiscal Year 2016-17 report, which is what the State claims.

The City has undertaken several significant and meaningful actions between 2015 and the present to address the financial 
condition of the City, including the CalPERS Response Plan, the Fiscal Resiliency Plan, Issuing $112M in pension obligation 
bonds, 5-year Water and Wastewater Rate Increases, In-creasing the Transient Occupancy Tax (Hotel Bed Tax) by 2%, establishing 
Community Facilities Districts on new significant developments, and many other activities that have helped put the 
City on a solid financial footing. So far, none of this appears to be included in the State Auditor’s Report. 

The State Auditor’s Report had a very strong focus on debt burden and retirement obligations. The City issued Pension Obligation 
Bonds in December 2017 to pay off all of the City’s existing unfunded accrued liability and pension liability debt, thereby 
stabilizing pension liability payments at a uniform and level annual amount. The issuance of the these bonds is expected to 
save the City over $43 million in interest costs over the next 30 years. Additionally, Council has adopted a funding policy that 
outlines how and when any new future pension liabilities that arise are paid off. Additionally, employees are participating in a 
giveback program that results in $300,000 additional savings each year, and reduced retirement benefit plans through PEPRA 
will save the City money moving forward.

The City has strong ongoing revenues to support our operations, especially our property and sales tax revenues. Sales tax has 
been strong over the years and trends at a 2-3% annual increase, on average. Property tax is also strong, and trends at about 
a 4% increase per year. The City has included a 4% in-crease in the Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget to maintain a conservative approach, 
but industry expert anal-ysis is estimating a 5.6% increase in Monrovia.

Finally, it is important to note that many of the strategic fiscal policies put into place aim to bring about long-term financial 
stability, and do not show up when looking at the short-term financial impact. Pro-jects like Monrovia Renewal take on large 
debt up front, in order to address urgent community infra-structure needs now, and then are paid down over time. Where we 
will really see a significant benefit is in the long-term savings that the City will achieve, and in the ability for the City to better 
manage and forecast our annual cash flows going forward.

In conclusion, the State Auditor Report is missing a significant amount of crucial information in their analysis, as the City 
has made significant strides since 2016-17 to improve our financial position. The City is on stable financial footing, and fiscal 
responsibility and sustainability remains a top priority for the City Council.

For the period of Sunday, November 10th, through Saturday, November 
16th, the Police Department responded to 977 calls for service, of which 113 
required formal investigations. The following is a summary report of the 
major incidents handled by the Department during this period.

Sunday, November 10:

1. Shortly before 10:49 a.m., an officer responded to an apartment complex 
in the 800 block of Arcadia Avenue regarding a mail theft report. The officer 
discovered the community mail box had been pried open and mail had been 
stolen. No suspects were seen and no witnesses were located. 
2. At approximately 11:52 a.m., an officer responded to the 99 Ranch 
Market parking lot, 1300 South Golden West Avenue, regarding a lone child 
locked inside a parked vehicle. An investigation revealed the child’s father, a 
64-year-old male from Temple City, left him inside the vehicle while he went 
grocery shopping. Arcadia Fire responded to evaluate the child. The father 
was arrested and transported to the Arcadia City Jail for booking. 


Monday, November 11:

3. Just after 4:33 a.m., an officer responded to a carport in the 1100 block 
of West Huntington Drive regarding a vehicle burglary report. The victim 
witnessed the suspect enter his vehicle by unknown means and flee with tools 
and a cellphone. The suspect is described as a heavy-set female in a hooded 
sweatshirt. She fled in a SUV. The investigation is ongoing. 
4. At approximately 8:59 a.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 
300 block of West Longden Ave regarding a residential burglary report. An 
investigation revealed unknown suspect(s) burglarized a home that was under 
a fumigation tent sometime between November 9th and November 11th. The 
investigation is ongoing. 


Tuesday, November 12:

5. Just before 8:34 a.m., an officer responded to Hampton Inn, 311 East 
Huntington Drive, regarding a commercial burglary report. Surveillance 
footage revealed a female suspect entered the hotel then entered various 
unsecured rooms and fled with an unknown amount of stolen property. The 
suspect is described as a female in her early 30’s with dark hair. The investigation 
is ongoing. 
6. Around 9:43 a.m., an officer responded to the Arcadia Police 
Department regarding a telephone report of a battery that occurred at Holy 
Angels Church, 370 Campus Drive, on November 7th. During a funeral service 
for a family member, an estranged mother grabbed her daughter by the arm 
leaving the victim with abrasions and a laceration. The suspect, a 60-year-old 
female, is outstanding at the time of this report. 


Wednesday, November 13:

7. Around 7:35 a.m., an officer responded to a residence in the 2300 block 
of South Santa Anita Avenue regarding a fraud report. The victim discovered 
an unknown suspect opened a fraudulent account in her name and charged 
$1,229.00. The victim does not know how the suspect obtained her personal 
information or the identity of the suspect. 
8. Shortly after 2:49 p.m., an officer responded to Rite-Aid, 165 East 
Foothill Boulevard, regarding a robbery report. An investigation revealed 
two unknown suspects stole various bottles of medication before being 
confronted by a store employee. The employee attempted to hold onto the 
basket containing the stolen merchandise but the suspects held onto the 
basket causing the employee to fall. Both suspects fled in a black, four-door 
sedan. The suspects are described as a black male and a Hispanic female. The 
investigation is ongoing.


Thursday, November 14:

9. Before 9:20 a.m., an officer responded to Church in Arcadia, 630 East 
Live Oak Avenue, regarding a vandalism report. The officer discovered an 
unknown suspect broke a window sometime during the previous evening. The 
investigation is ongoing. 
10. Around 9:18 a.m., an officer responded to the Santa Anita Mall, 400 
South Baldwin Avenue, regarding a fraud report. An investigation revealed the 
female suspect used a fraudulent ID to open a line of credit at Kevin Jewelers 
and made a fraudulent purchase of $5,400.00. The suspect is described as a 35 
to 45-year-old Hispanic female. The investigation is ongoing. 



Toys for Tots Drop Site San 
Marino Fire Department

SOUTH PASADENA CITY MEETINGS

Regular City Council Meeting

December 4

Meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of the 
month, at 7:30 p.m., in the Amedee O. “Dick” Richards, Jr., 
Council Chambers, located at 1424 Mission Street. 

Public Safety Commission

Monday Dec 9 at 8:30 a.m.

Fire Department EOC Room

817 Mound Avenue

Staff Liaison: Joe Ortiz, Police Chief

jortiz@southpasadenaca.gov

Phone: (626) 403-7300

 Library Board of Trustees

Thursday Dec 12 at 7 p.m.

South Pasadena Public Library

Ray Bradbury Conference Room

1100 Oxley Street

Staff Liaison: Cathy Billings, Acting Director of Library, 
Arts, and Culture 

Phone: (626) 403-7330

 This holiday season, the San 
Marino Fire Department is 
proud to support the U.S. 
Marine Corps Reserve Toys for 
Tots Program. Now through 
December 13, 2019, the San 
Marino Fire Department is 
collecting new, unwrapped 
toys and books for children 
ages 0-12 years.

Last year, the Los Angeles 
County North-Pasadena 
Toys for Tots Program 
distributed 140,116 toys to 
63,249 children. San Marino 
residents may participate 
this year by bringing new, 
unwrapped toys to the San 
Marino Fire Department 
located at 2200 Huntington 
Drive, San Marino, CA 91108. 
For more information, or to 
give a monetary donation, 
visit the Toys for Tots website.

Marine Toys for Tots 
Foundation, an IRS 
recognized 501(c)(3) not-
for-profit public charity is 
the fund raising, funding and 
support organization for the 
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve 
Toys for Tots Program. The 
Foundation was created 
at the behest of the U.S. 
Marine Corps and provides 
support in accordance 
with a Memorandum of 
Understanding with the 
Commander, Marine Forces 
Reserve, who directs the 
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve 
Toys for Tots Program. The 
Foundation has supported 
Toys for Tots since 1991.

ALTADENA CRIME BLOTTER

MEASURE SM - THE 
PUBLIC SAFETY PARCEL 
TAX RENEWAL – PASSES

Sunday, November 10th

Between 12:00 PM and 10:45 
AM (Monday) – A commercial 
vandalism occurred in the 
2400 block of N. Lake Avenue. 
Damage: shattered window. 

7:36 PM – Danny Collazo, 
30 years old of Pasadena was 
arrested in the area of Lincoln 
avenue and Montana Street 
for under the influence of a 
controlled substance. 

9:27 PM – Steven Bonilla, 
54 years old of Altadena was 
arrested in the 2700 block of 
Lincoln Avenue for vehicle 
vandalism. 

Monday, November 11th

 Between 5:00 PM and 5:55 AM 
(Wednesday) – A grand theft 
occurred in the 400 block of W. 
Mariposa Street. Stolen: black 
motorcycle seat, saddlebags 
and a black iLuggage pack. 

9:48 PM – An assault with a 
deadly weapon (possible road 
rage) occurred in the 200 block 
of Laurel Drive. 

Tuesday, November 12th

Between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM 
– A vehicle burglary occurred 
in the 400 block of N. Crosby 
Street. Suspect(s) entered the 
vehicle via unknown means. 
Stolen: black fanny pack, 
currency and credit cards. 

11:00 PM – Rodrigo Zavala, 
27 years old of Altadena was 
arrested in the area of Howard 
Street and El Sereno Avenue 
for possession of a controlled 
substance. 

Wednesday, Nov 13th

Between 6:30 PM and 8:00 
PM – A residential burglary 
occurred in the 3300 block of E. 
Villa Knolls Drive. Suspect(s) 
entered the residence by 
shattering the rear bedroom 
sliding door. Stolen: (2) 
Olympic gold chips, jewelry 
and currency. 

Between 2:00 PM and 12:15 
PM (Thursday) – A theft of a 
catalytic converter occurred 
in the 2100 block of Raymond 
Avenue. Stolen: catalytic 
converter to a 1995 Ford F350. 

Thursday, November 14th

 Between 9:00 PM and 4:00 AM 
(Friday) – A petty theft from an 
unlocked vehicle occurred in 
the 1100 block of E. Mendocino 
Street. Stolen: black wallet and 
personal documents. 

Friday, November 15th

 Between 2:30 PM an 3:30 PM – 
A residential burglary occurred 
in the 200 block of W. Mountain 
View Street. Suspect(s) entered 
the residence by shattering the 
bathroom window. Stolen: 
unknown. 

Saturday, November 16th

 Between 9:00 PM and 12:30 
AM (Sunday) – A vehicle 
vandalism occurred in the 
1900 block of N. Allen Avenue. 
Damage: shattered window. 

Dear San Marino Residents,

At the Nov. 5 San Marino municipal election, you were 
asked to vote on the renewal of the City’s longstanding 
Public Safety Parcel Tax, which has been a dedicated 
funding source for paramedic services, fire protection 
and prevention, and police protection in San Marino 
since its original passage in the early 1980s. While the 
results are not yet certified, initial results show successful 
passage of the measure, with over 73% of voters casting 
a vote in favor of it.

This is a huge confirmation of the community’s pride 
and appreciation for our public safety responders, who 
dedicate their lives to keeping our community safe. 
Because of our community’s support, San Marino will 
be able to continue providing these top-notch public 
safety services for years to come.

On behalf of the City Council, I thank you for your 
thoughtful consideration and for continuing our 
community’s vocal support of our public safety 
responders. They truly appreciate your trust, and do 
take the responsibility given to them lightly.

Sincerely,

Mayor Steven W. Huang, DDS

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