Monterey Park · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Monterey Park public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
November 3 election and city food drive
The City Clerk's Office walked through voting deadlines, drop boxes, and vote centers for the November 3 election, and announced a food drive for Alhambra Unified families with drop-off boxes at City Hall, Langley Center, and the library.
Development pipeline and vacant Garvey Avenue lot
Staff showed a long list of housing and commercial projects in various stages, and council members grew impatient with the owner of the long-vacant 808 West Garvey Avenue lot, asking staff to pressure them to build. Members also worried rising interest rates could stall projects across the pipeline.
Library Security Camera Upgrade
The library's outdated camera system will be replaced with 11 Verkada cameras for $102,886.53, integrating with the city's police-accessible system.
Barnes Park Aquatic Center funding
A new nonprofit, Align With Purpose, launched a campaign to rebuild the Barnes Park pool, raising nearly $3,000 at the Cherry Blossom Festival.
El Niño local emergency declaration
The council declared a local emergency for the developing 2026–27 El Niño, letting the City Manager negotiate contracts directly and skip normal bidding to get storm-prep work done fast.
Deerfield Mixed-Use Development Project approval path
The applicant asked the council to let the project skip another Planning Commission stop and go straight to the council; instead the council kept the commission in the loop and set the council hearing for Nov. 18. The applicant wants to avoid reopening issues already resolved in two-plus years of staff review.
Budget and Revenue Engagement Workshops
The city is hosting June workshops on the budget, economic sustainability, and revenue measures — plus 'Vacant to Vibrant' sessions on redeveloping empty commercial properties.
SGV Forward Bus Rapid Transit on Garvey and Atlantic
The council joined a four-city subcommittee (with Rosemead, El Monte, and South El Monte) to review and give feedback on the SGVCOG's proposed bus rapid transit lanes and signal upgrades along Garvey Avenue ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Public Comment Time Limits Reduced
A new state law forces cities to let people participate remotely by Zoom or phone starting July 1. Monterey Park is spending up to $50,000 on tech and translation to comply, and the council set tiered speaking times that shrink as speaker counts grow — a change one resident urged against.
Measure HOM Housing Overlay Ballot Measure
The council formally endorsed Measure HOM, which would create HOME (Housing Overlay – Mixed Environments) overlays in the city's commercial and industrial areas. Voters decide on November 3, 2026.
Flock camera data privacy
The Monterey Park Police Department uses Automated License Plate Recognition cameras, and this meeting was the community's chance to learn how the technology works and ask questions. These cameras can track vehicle license plates across the city, raising both public safety benefits and privacy questions for residents.
Los Palos Incident Local Emergency Termination
After the warehouse fire smoke emergency, the city handed out 5,000 masks and set up a $50,000 air purifier reimbursement program — residents have until July 31 to apply.
Pedestrian safety at fire station intersection
A lifelong resident described near-misses with cars running through the intersection by the fire station and asked for help. The mayor suggested extra traffic enforcement and staff follow-up.
Water bill relief for hidden leaks
A lifelong resident got a $1,700 water bill after a leak under a city sidewalk went undetected, and the city code gives staff no way to reduce tiered billing. The council agreed to have staff research a relief policy and consider holding his bill in the meantime.
Goodviews project termination finalized
The city-owned hillside where a failed development cost taxpayers $16 million in stabilization is being prepped for sale under R-3 zoning. Residents want a dog park or trail; the council says selling to recoup costs comes first, but options remain open.
January 21, 2023 Memorial
On the shooting's third anniversary, the council approved a memorial concept at the Demonstration Garden featuring a moon gate, grove of trees, and dance space. Some survivors' advocates wanted the location reconsidered before the vote.
November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election
Seats up: council Districts 1 and 5, city clerk, and city treasurer. Candidate filings run July 13 to August 7; results certified in December.
Transit services contract and zero-emission fleet
The city will pay Via $230,670 for a six-month pilot to shore up understaffed Dial-a-Ride service, and adopted its state-required zero-emission bus rollout plan.
Potrero Grande Construction Traffic and Emergency Access
A resident described months of gridlock near the Costco center making it nearly impossible for her elderly mother and hospice-care uncle to get emergency help to their home. Council members asked staff to look at speeding up construction and possibly creating a business/resident impact fund.
Hillside Fence Heights and View Preservation
Two longtime residents described a neighbor's 6-to-7-foot vinyl fence that wiped out views they'd enjoyed for decades and dented property values. The council directed staff to study a possible municipal code change requiring neighbor consent for view-blocking fences, though nothing can be done retroactively.
Transient Occupancy Tax increase on November ballot
Voters will decide in November whether to raise the hotel tax from 13% to 14% and the short-term rental tax from 13% to 16%, bringing in roughly $600,000 a year for general city services. It's paid by visitors, not residents.
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance pause and legal challenges
Recent court rulings have made the city's affordable housing requirements legally shaky, so the council is keeping them paused while staff reworks the rules. The goal is an ordinance that actually produces affordable units without scaring off developers.
Measure NDC passage and Saturn Park future
Residents passed a first-in-the-nation ballot measure banning data centers by 86% to 13%. The city attorney confirmed the third implementing ordinance takes effect ten days after election results are certified.
FY 2026-2027 City Budget Adoption
The council adopted a roughly $188 million spending plan for the coming year. Residents questioned the library bookmobile purchase and the police Bearcat armored vehicle during public comment.
Crime trends and fraud prevention
Crime is down across the board — robberies down 6%, burglaries down 23%, auto theft down 17% — but fraud is up 7%, hitting seniors especially hard. The city is adding two police officers, including one for the Neighborhood Engagement Team.
Mid-year city finances and reserve levels
Sales tax is down 7% as residents pull back on spending, but property tax is up 5% and the city remains in better shape than neighbors. The council wants emergency reserves pushed toward 20% of the budget instead of the 15% minimum.
Proposed 48-Unit Apartment Project on Hellman Avenue
Residents from Monterey Park and Alhambra packed the meeting to oppose a proposed 48-unit apartment building at 816-824 West Hellman Avenue, citing a dangerous accident-prone intersection, overflow parking from the Courtyard Marriott, and neighborhood incompatibility. The project still must go through the Planning Commission, and the council directed staff to review the concerns and report back.
Sale of Lee Avenue Property to Recover $2.5M Nuisance Abatement Debt
The council unanimously authorized selling the city-owned South El Monte property to collect $2.5 million owed by Center Intl Investments from the 1688 West Garvey Avenue abatement case — money that will go back toward reserves and capital projects like the fire station and pool.
Immigrant Community Services Partnership
One speaker demanded the city enforce a mask ban and impede ICE operations; separately, the city announced a new partnership with Chinatown Service Center to expand immigrant support services, and Council Member Wong asked staff to research ICE Free Zone ordinance language.
Lifeline Utility Rate Program Expansion
The council finalized an ordinance that boosts the monthly lifeline water discount for qualifying low-income households from $12.06 to the full wastewater charge ($22.46) and clarifies who's on the hook for utility bills. It replaces an earlier urgency ordinance.
City Manager Labor Negotiations
The City Council met in closed session with the City Attorney to discuss labor negotiations for the unrepresented City Manager position.
HMC Stratcap Data Center Withdrawal
Mayor Yang announced the applicant withdrew its data center proposal; the withdrawal letter is posted on the city's website.
2026 Lunar New Year Festival
Monterey Park is hosting its annual Lunar New Year Festival on Garvey Avenue, featuring over 200 vendor booths, food, and cultural performances to celebrate the Year of the Horse.