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MARCH 2015 ❖ Published Monthly by the City of South El Monte
Community Members Encouraged to
Attend the City’s Town Hall Meeting
The City of South El Monte will host a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, March 12th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The
event will be held at the South El Monte Senior Center, located at 1556 Central Avenue.
The Town Hall Meeting will provide updates of City issues and upcoming Capital Improvement Projects including
upgrades to City facilities, streets, and sewer system. In addition to discussing infrastructure enhancements, the City will
also showcase economic development and housing opportunities for our community.
The public is strongly encouraged to attend this interactive event. Following the presentation, there will be an opportunity for members of the audience to ask questions and provide feedback.
For additional information, please call (626) 579-6540.
McDonald’s Restaurant
Temporarily Closed
for Renovations
Meeting
Wednesday, March 25th
See page 3
Community Bike Ride
RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER
ECRWSS
PAID
PERMIT #87
EL MONTE
City of South El Monte Upgraded to
Silver Level Status on Energy Efficiency
City of South El Monte
1415 Santa Anita Ave.
South El Monte, CA 91733
PRSRT. STD
U.S. POSTAGE
See page 7
The City has received numerous
inquiries from community members
about the closing of the fast food
restaurant McDonald’s located at 1185
Durfee Avenue adjacent to the south
side of the 60 freeway. The franchise
building built in 1979 has been demolished and is currently being rebuilt to
offer patrons a modern restaurant with
a variety of amenities such as a play
area, a redesigned and more inviting
dining area, and a single drive thru that
forks into two ordering station. The
new restaurant will feature a contemporary architecture design including
inviting earth-tone colors, stone
veneering, metallic corrugated panels,
and complementary landscape. The
new modernized McDonald’s restaurant will open tentatively this April.
The City of South El Monte was recently presented with an award
in recognition of reaching the Silver status in the Southern California
Edison’s Energy Leader Partnership Program.
The Silver status was achieved due to South El Monte’s energy
efficiency projects, energy action plan, and marketing and outreach
in the community. The upgrades included new pool pumps saving a
total of 24,079 kilowatts-hours last year and the facility –wide lighting retrofits resulting in annual energy savings of 100,155 kilowattshours. The endeavors were made possible thanks to funding by
Southern California Edison (SCE).
The City’s Energy Action Plan consisted of comprehensive facility audits of energy use, developing and implementing long-term
capital and maintenance endeavors in energy efficiency with savings
attributes to ensure sustainability presently and in the future and
reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
Southern California Edison Partnership Program works with local
municipalities to help them overcome barriers to energy efficiency and help them develop long term initiatives by providing planning, technical and resource support, increased financial incentives and coordination with core SCE Energy
Efficiency programs. Partnerships help local governments to lead by example –saving energy, money, and the environment.
The City of South El Monte is committed to energy conservation and promoting energy efficiency throughout the community. The City is also member of the San Gabriel Valley Energy Wise Partnership (SGVEWP), an alliance between the
San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments and SCE to bring energy savings to the San Gabriel Valley through innovative
public education and energy efficiency projects.
See Page 5
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South El Monte News
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South El Monte News
South El Monte News is published monthly by
the City of South El Monte. It is mailed to every
residence in the City of South El Monte. South El
Monte News is also mailed to all interested local,
state and county officials.
We welcome comments, press releases and
community interest stories and will make every
effort to include all appropriate information.
For story ideas and translations, contact:
Jennifer E. Vasquez
Assistant City Manager
City of South El Monte
1415 N. Santa Anita Ave.
South El Monte, CA 91733
Telephone: (626) 579-6540
jvasquez@soelmonte.org
MAYOR Luis “Louie” Aguiñaga
MAYOR PRO-TEM Hector Delgado
COUNCILWOMAN Angelica R. Garcia
COUNCILMAN Joseph J. Gonzales
COUNCILMAN Willhans Ili
March 2015
City Council Meetings
Upcoming City Council Meetings
March 10th & 24th
The City Council holds regular meetings at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday
of the month. Agenda meetings are held in the Council Chambers inside City Hall.
Special meetings are convened at other times as announced.
You may now use your smartphone, iPad, or any mobile device to hear the audio of the City Council meetings as
the meeting is in progress by going to the City’s website www.ci-south-el-monte.ca.us
and clicking on the City Council agenda link.
City Commission Meetings
Planning Commission - Meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Community Services Commission –Meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Patriotic Commission - Meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
Please refer to the City's website
www.ci.south-el-monte.ca.us for further information on Meetings, Agendas, and Minutes.
◆◆◆◆◆
South El Monte News is not responsible nor liable for any claims or offerings, nor responsible for product availability that may be advertised. Opinions
expressed in columns, letters and guest editorials are those of the author. All
rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Important Phone Numbers
Animal Control SEAACA
(562) 803-3301
Anonymous Narcotics Tip Line
(626) 292-3375
(626) 652-3111
Code Enforcement Message Hotline
Chamber of Commerce
(626) 443-0180
Fair Housing Council
(626) 579-6868
Fire Department
(626) 444-2581
Graffiti Removal Hotline
(626) 579-7418
(626) 579-7777
Hospital
Library
(626) 443-4158
Los Angeles County Social Programs
211
Los Angeles County Assessor
(South El Monte Office)
(626) 258-6001
Los Angeles County
Household Hazardous Waste
(888)CLEAN LA
Post Office
(800) 275-8777
Sheriff’s Temple Station
(626) 285-7171
Vector Control
(562) 944-9656
UTILITY COMPANIES:
March 7th
Mayor & City Council Bike Ride
March 7th & 8th
Yards Sales
March 8th
Little Mr. & Miss. South El Monte Baby Pageant
March 12th
Town Hall Meeting
March 14th
Low Cost Pet Vaccine & Microchip Clinic
March 19th
Business Watch Meeting
March 25th
Neighborhood Watch Meeting
March 28th
Low Cost Pet Vaccine & Microchip Clinic
April 4th
Easter Breakfast Extravaganza
April 11th
Mayor & City Council Bike Ride
April 11th
Low Cost Pet Vaccine & Microchip Clinic
April 13th -17th
Athens’ Big Spring Clean-Up
April 25th
Low Cost Pet Vaccine & Microchip Clinic
April 25th
Chalk Art Festival
May 1st
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
1900 Central Ave. (626) 444-3158
Monday – Thursday 6:00 am – 4:30 pm
May 2nd
Mayor & City Council Bike Ride
Mini Center
May 8th
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Festival
1824 Central Ave. (626) 652-3156
Monday - Friday 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm
May 9th
Low Cost Pet Vaccine & Microchip Clinic
Public Safety Center
May 23rd
Low Cost Pet Vaccine & Microchip Clinic
1443 Santa Anita Ave. (626) 652-3111
Monday & Wednesday 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Tuesday & Thursday 10:00 am - 12:00 pm & 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
May 25th
Memorial Day Ceremony
Electricity — Edison
Phone — AT&T
Trash — Athens Services
Water — San Gabriel Valley Water
Gas — The Gas Company
(800) 655-4555
(800) 310-2355
(626) 336-6100
(626) 448-6183
(800) 427-2000
Local City
Facilities
City Hall
1415 N. Santa Anita Ave. (626) 579-6540
Monday – Thursday 7:00 am – 5:30 pm
Community Center
1530 Central Ave. (626) 579-2043
Monday - Friday 1:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Corporation Yard
Senior Center
1556 Central Ave. (626) 448-0131
Monday – Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
*Dates subject to change.
For more information, please visit www.ci.south-el-monte.ca.us.
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South El Monte News
March 2015
City Council
Presentations
South El Monte business Sterling Machinery was presented with a plaque in
recognition of their Top Tier American Made Band DoALL Saw and for their
recent expansion on Rush Street. Sterling Machinery has been in our community for 61 years.
A Certificate of Recognition was
presented to Princess Diana
Flores for representing Miss
Friendly El Monte/South El Monte
for 2012-2014.
Certificates of Recognition were presented to the 2015 Miss Friendly El
Monte/South El Monte Court.
Stay Connected with the
City of South El Monte
Via
Website: www.ci.south-el-monte.ca.us
Facebook: City of South El Monte Government
Twitter: CITYSEM
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March 2015
City of South El Monte
Urban Forestry Program
The City of South El Monte’s Urban
Forestry Program aims to maximize the
aesthetic, safety, environmental, and
economic benefits that trees provide to
residents, businesses, and visitors by
preserving, managing, and expanding
the City’s urban landscape with trees
and other vegetation.
The City’s 1,600+ trees on public
right-away, medians, and parks are
pruned by trained arborists.
Tree Trimming Schedule
All carrotwood trees, regardless of
area and trees on major streets including
Santa Anita Ave., Central Ave., Durfee Ave.,
Rush St., Peck Rd., and Merced Ave., are trimmed on a
yearly basis.
Trees on residential streets are pruned on a 5 year pruning cycle (2013-2017). The City has 10 designated areas
and two residential areas are pruned each year.
Remaining Residential Tree Trimming Cycle 2015-2017:
Year
Area
2015
5&6
2016
7&8
2017
9 &10
Potholes
The City of South El Monte Public Works Field Services Division is responsible
for routine street maintenance including pothole repairs and crack sealing. Potholes,
line cracks, and alligator cracks are defects on the roadway caused by environmental
factors such as heat and rain. The Field Services Crew rehabilitates City streets to
eliminate potholes that could pose public safety hazards. Large paving rehabilitation
projects are generally contracted to outside paving companies.
Report Potholes
The City of South El Mote is aware that its staff can’t find all the potholes in the
city; therefore, we rely on community members to report them when they see
them.
Individuals may report potholes on public streets within City boundaries by:
• Using your mobile device (i.e. smart phone or tablet) with the FREE GoRequest
application, available at the Apple App store and Android Market to report a pot
hole. Simply open the application, select new issue, choose “Potholes/Street
Repair” as the issue, take a picture, and tap –“submit”- the application picks up
the location and sends the issue directly to the Public Works Field Services
Division.
• Submitting a Service Request on the City’s website at www.ci.south-elmonte.ca.us. Simply click on the SEED (South El Monte E-Services Direct)
image on the home page, submit a request, select the type of request (problem,
question, complaint), choose “Potholes/Street Repair” as the issue, provide a
location of pothole and click on the send button. The issue will be sent directly to
the Public Works Field Services Division.
• Calling the Public Works Yard at (626) 444-3158 during regular business hours:
Monday through Thursday from 6:00 am to 4:30 pm; and provide a location.
Requests for potholes will be checked and taken care of as quickly as possible.
Residents and businesses are notified in advance of trimming of City trees via a door
hanger and the placement of “No Parking” notices. Individuals are asked to follow the parking restrictions and not park on the street until the trees have been pruned and the area has
been cleaned.
Broken Tree Limbs or Other City Tree Issues
Residents and businesses may report broken tree limbs or other issues with City trees
to the Public Works Field Services Division at
(626) 444-3158 or City Hall at (626) 5796540; or by making a service request on the
City’s
website
at
www.ci.south-elmonte.ca.us. Simply click on the SEED
(South El Monte Services Direct) image,
select the “Submit Request” button, and provide requested information.
For additional information, please call
(626) 579-6540.
Trees on Private Property
Property owners are responsible for trees,
shrubs and bushes planted on private property.
Vegetation cannot impair the view of the
street signs, traffic signs, or any other control
devices or signs placed upon the streets for
the safety and convenience of the public.
To report a tree located on private property that has branches that are hanging too low
over a street or public right-of-way or is dangerous or an obstruction to public pedestrian,
bicycle or vehicle travel, please call the South
El Monte Code Enforcement Department at (626) 652-3111.
The Threat Hiding
in Your Yard
Does it feel like 2015 is already passing by quickly? Life is extremely busy for
many people. We work hard to achieve our goals and dreams, but sometimes, we may
miss the little things that can ruin our day or affect our health.
The little things we’re talking about are the mosquitoes in your yard. They may not
seem like much, but the mosquitoes in South El Monte can ruin your next family gathering or, worse, put you or a family member in the hospital.
Asian tiger mosquitoes are in South El Monte and they are hiding in small containers in your yards. These bloodsuckers are invasive and can transmit dengue and
yellow fever. Even worse, Asian tiger mosquitoes can lay their tiny eggs in almost any
container. This includes toys, buckets and old tires. They are also found swimming in
water used for plant cuttings. These mosquitoes have even been found in stagnant
water in a potato chip bag!
Although summer may seem like a distant future, the threats in your backyard are
very close and can attack very soon. Winter and spring will have very warm days,
which means if you leave any stagnant water around your home, you will definitely
be feeling the bite. With the increased threat of dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya in LA County, this is a big public health issue that affects your entire family
and your neighbors. That is why the city of South El Monte and the Greater Los
Angeles County Vector Control District are fighting this invasive threat.
But we need your help.
Here are some ways to get rid of these dangerous mosquitoes:
1. Call 562-944-9656 for FREE reporting – Let us know if you experience daytime
bites or sightings of black-and-white mosquitoes. You can also report online at
www.ReportMosquitoes.org.
2. Dump and drain stagnant water once a week.
3. Spring clean! – NOW is the time to clean up your yard before you create homes
for thousands of mosquitoes. Remember, one bottle cap of stagnant water can
hold 100 mosquito larvae!
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March 14 & 28
April 11 & 25
May 9 & 23
June 6 & 20
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South El Monte News
March 2015
Bikers cruising during Community Bike Ride.
Offers Taekwondo, Chen Taiji,
Private lessons
SPECIAL OFFER
$40 for the first month trial lesson
Taekwondo and Taiji all levels for
Children, Women, Men
Congrats Master George D. Silver medalist at US Open
10138 East Garvey Ave suite F1, El Monte
Page 7
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County Libraries Hold
Giant Used Book Sale
EMUHSD Awarded Golden Bell Award from CSBA
by Anne Donofrio-Holter
The El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) has
been awarded a Golden Bell from the California School Boards
Association (CSBA) for its Advanced Placement (AP) - Onward
and Upward: Closing the Achievement Gap program. It has been
the goal of the EMUHSD to increase the number of high poverty
minority students taking and succeeding in rigorous AP classes.
"AP classes improve education in struggling urban districts
such as the El Monte Union High School District," said Keith
Richardson, Director II of Research and Curriculum/CTE Service.
"In El Monte, AP exposes students to new subjects like economics and psychology and creates opportunities for those who might
not otherwise think of themselves as college material."
According to Richardson, AP classes become especially critical when almost all EMUHSD students need financial aid and
scholarships to attend college. AP credits not only help students
save money on tuition, but help students develop college-level academic skills that enable them to succeed in their first college year.
Objectives of the Advanced Placement - Onward and Upward:
Closing the Achievement Gap program were to expand the number of subjects offered, increase the number of sections offered
and to increase the number of students taking the exams and getting passing scores. Through expansion of the program,
EMUHSD demonstrated that in offering AP classes to a more
diverse group, the average score was boosted. Only 3% of school
districts in the U.S. achieved increases in AP scores while expanding the program, with EMUHSD achieving the largest gains in
access and performance of any medium-sized school district in the
nation.
To ensure best outcomes for students, the EMUHSD Board of
Trustees "is committed to a data-driven, criterion-referenced evaluation process involving administrators, teachers and partners, and
evidence demonstrating program quality, significance and effectiveness."
With all five board members present, Richardson was proud to
be asked to receive the award along with Board President Salvador
Ramirez.
"I felt quite honored," said Richardson. "We as a district spent
so much time and work into making the program a success."
Board members agreed that it was quite an honor to be recognized at the state level.
The District also received a $1,000 award from the CSBA professional business affiliates which will be used for AP supplies and
college awareness mentoring for at-risk students.
"Being a recipient of this award only proves that if the doors of
opportunity are open, the students will take advantage, regardless
of ethnicity or social economics," said Richardson. "All students
have the ability to achieve and thrive academically if given the
opportunity. I'm proud to say that we, at EMUHSD, have proven
this to the be the case."
Jesus Holguin, CSBA president and a graduate of the El
Monte-Rosemead Adult School, told board members how proud
he was when he learned EMUHSD was a recipient of this year's
Golden Bell.
The District received its award at the CSBA's annual education
conference held last month in San Francisco.
Those at the conference had an opportunity to attend various
workshops which board member Ricardo Padilla found to be very
informative.
The Golden Bell Awards program promotes excellence in education by recognizing outstanding programs in school districts and
county offices of education throughout California and reflects the
depth and breadth of the education programs necessary to address
students' changing needs.
“Books!
Books!
Books!” and more books
will be for sale on
Saturday, April 11, 2015
at the County of Los
Angeles Public Library
system-wide used book
sale.
Sales will be
booming at all County
libraries that are regularly
open on Saturdays. Whether
it’s a mystery, a cookbook,
or a preschool picture book,
readers will find what
they’re looking for at the
largest book sale in the
County. The sale is
sponsored by the County
Library’s Friends of the
Library Groups and the Los
Angeles County Library Foundation. All proceeds will be
used to benefit the community libraries of the County of
Los Angeles Public Library.
The South El Monte Friends of the Library will be
holding their Book Sale outside the library on Friday, April
10th and Saturday, April 11th. Come by to get some great
deals and support your local library!
The “Books! Books! Books!” event is scheduled to
coincide with National Library Week,
April 12-19. During this week, libraries throughout the
nation celebrate the importance of books, reading, and
library services. Drop by your local County library and
join the celebration of libraries while you pick up a few
bargain books for your reading enjoyment.
Find library locations at the County of Los Angeles
Public Library Web site, colapublib.org, or call the County
Library for information at (562) 940-8403.
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March 2015
South El Monte Senior Center
1556 Central Avenue, South El Monte
Hours of Operation
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Closed on major holidays
Programs, events, and fees are subject to change.
For additional information, please call 626.448.0131.
Upcoming Senior Center Events
Senior Market Day
Thursday, March 5th & April 2nd
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Office of
Rep. Linda Sanchez
Community Office Hours
Wednesday, March 11th
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Blood Pressure
Screening
Lunch
Monday – Friday
11:30 a.m.
by Greater El Monte Community Hospital
Tuesday, March 24th
10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Haircuts
Meals
on Wheels
Monday, March 30th
Monday – Friday
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Bingo
Be Well
Nutrition
Program
Super Bingo
Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m.
Bilingual Bingo
3rd Friday of the month at 1:00 p.m.
Mondays
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
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City of South El Monte
TOWN HALL MEETING
Join us for a public meeting to learn
what is happening in your community.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
South El Monte Senior Center
1556 Central Avenue
South El Monte
www.ci.south-el-monte.ca.us