Monterey Park · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Monterey Park public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Tree Planting and Urban Forest Management
Commissioner Emily Chu wants the commission to discuss the city's tree canopy cover at a future meeting. Tree canopy affects shade, heat, and neighborhood livability.
Condominium conversion at 141 Casuda Canyon Drive
An existing four-unit apartment building could be converted into four individually owned condos. That could mean the current rental units become owner-occupied, and it adds to the small supply of for-sale housing in the city.
New public GIS Hub for city information
The city launched an online mapping hub where residents can look up street sweeping schedules, their assigned schools, and every active capital project on an interactive map. Council wants translation tools and social media promotion so more people actually use it.
Police fleet replacement and zero-emission transition
Leasing 25 vehicles, mostly replacements, moves the city fleet toward EVs and hybrids — part of the sustainability plan's push to cut emissions by 2045.
New school resource officer and wellness dog
The PD introduced Officer Danny Ramirez, the city's first dedicated school resource officer, covering 13 schools across four districts, plus a wellness dog funded by an $11,394 grant. Council members framed the role as relationship-building, not discipline.
Garfield Avenue speeding and safety
A resident reported repeated car crashes and speeding on Garfield Avenue and asked for warning signs, reflective striping, and buffer markings. Staff will follow up.
Emergency preparedness and Everbridge alerts
The Fire Department urged residents to sign up for Everbridge emergency alerts ahead of the October 15 Great Shakeout drill, and showcased new grant-funded Emergency Operations Center upgrades.
Adaptive Traffic Signal Project Bid Rejection
All four bids for the adaptive traffic control system were rejected — the low bidder pulled out and the rest came in over budget. The project will need to be rebid.
Mark Keppel Dream Center Funding Cuts
Student leaders asked the city for help after their Dream Center's main funder, the AYC, cut support. The center runs cultural events, anti-bullying trainings, immigrant parent resources, and a food and clothing pantry. Council members pledged to explore partnerships and financial help.
Illegal dumping and bulky item outreach
Public Works is rolling out a new campaign to teach residents that bulky item pickups are free and how to schedule them, plus multilingual no-dumping signage for hotspot areas like Monterey Pass Road.
Central Air Monitoring Systems
New Youth Commissioner Upton Ta-Beadle asked the commission to look into central air monitoring systems for a future meeting. This could shape how the city tracks air quality and protects residents' health.
Celadon mixed-use project finalized
The seven-story, 169-unit project with retail at Garvey and Garfield cleared its final adoption, bringing $400,000 in contributions to the city's affordable housing and parks funds.
Langley Senior Center Support
The Friends of the Seniors returned to active duty with a $29,510 gift for new furniture, exercise bikes and games at Langley Center, backed by a $600,000 endowment left by longtime director Beth Ryan.
Bus Line 70 Dedicated Bus Lane (SGV Forward)
Monterey Park is part of a joint effort with Rosemead, El Monte and South El Monte, coordinated through the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. This meeting was supposed to be a community briefing on it, but it fell apart when too few council members showed up.
Short-Term Rental Regulation Update
About 230 short-term rentals operate without city permits out of roughly 290 advertised online. The council wants annual permits, limits per owner, a citywide cap, and stricter enforcement before the 2028 Olympics squeeze the housing market.
2025 Urban Water Management Plan adoption
The council adopted the state-required water plan showing the city has enough supply through 2050 and stays eligible for water grants. Stage 2 watering restrictions remain in place.
Sewer rehabilitation contract award
The city awarded a $1.9 million contract to Ramona, Inc. to rehab sewer lines — routine infrastructure work funded through the capital improvement program.
CDBG and HOME Grant Funding for 2026-27
The city will get about $873,000 in federal grants for housing, public improvements, small business grants, and fair housing services — the council approved the plan sending it to HUD.
City Council leadership transition
Henry Lo takes over as mayor for a second time and Jose Sanchez becomes Mayor Pro Tem, under the council's standard rotation policy. Expect continuity on existing priorities like housing, small business support, and Olympics preparations.
City Council Candidate
Henry Lo takes over as mayor for a second time and Jose Sanchez becomes Mayor Pro Tem, under the council's standard rotation policy. Expect continuity on existing priorities like housing, small business support, and Olympics preparations.
Gun violence prevention legacy
The council passed a Gun Violence Awareness Month resolution while police reported one gun violence restraining order issued since 2016 and reviewed new 2026 state laws on firearm storage, Glock sales, and background checks.
Link Shuttle Discontinuation
The Link, connecting Civic Center and Cal State LA, ends July 1 due to low ridership; riders can use Spirit Bus Route 5 along the same corridor.
Proposed 40-Unit Apartment at Hellman and Harding
Residents Doris Ho and L.S. Szeto raised traffic, fire-access, and utility concerns about a proposed five-story, 40-unit apartment building at Hellman and Harding avenues, urging the city to scrutinize the project. The item was not on the agenda.
Fireworks Safety and Brushfire Preparedness
The Fire Department announced its first brushfire preparedness workshop on June 29 and reminded residents of fireworks rules: legal only July 4 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., from four permitted vendors, with fines up to $5,000 for illegal fireworks.
Commission on Aging leadership election
The commission was scheduled to pick its Chair and Vice-Chair for the next year. These leaders shape how the commission advocates for Monterey Park's older residents.
Atlantic Square Revitalization
Dozens of new restaurants and shops opened in the last nine months, and the ABC Cafe Shopping Center completed a major remodel after fire damage. The city hosted its first shopping center round table and first Atlantic Times Square tree lighting.
Street Rehabilitation Contract Increase
Old water lines failed during repaving on Mira Valle, Grandridge Place, and Keller Avenue, forcing emergency repairs and a $445,665 contract increase with Onyx Paving. The project covers residential streets between Atlantic and Garfield.
Street lighting and landscaping assessment unchanged since 1996
The renewal keeps the assessment flat, but it raises only about $1.02 million against $2.4 million in costs — the general fund subsidizes $1.4 million a year. Council members flagged the 30-year gap as a sustainability issue.
Citywide Maintenance District No. 93-1 Renewal
The annual assessment for street lighting and landscaping was renewed for another year — at the same flat rate set in 1996. It raises about $1 million against $2.4 million in annual costs, so the general fund subsidizes roughly $1.4 million.
Two New Police Officer Positions
The budget adds two sworn officers: one as a school resource officer with a comfort dog, and one for the homeless/mental health outreach team. Staff said they've been conservative on hiring and consider these critical.
Courtyard Marriott Overflow Parking and Traffic
Residents near the Marriott complained that convention traffic (like Pokemon card events) clogs neighborhood parking from morning to night. The mayor said the big convention series has ended, and staff is talking with the hotel about parking fixes and possible permit parking options.
Vagabond Drive Rezoning Dispute
Property owner Nancy Nguyen asked the council to help reverse a 2020 rezoning that changed her Vagabond Drive land from residential to commercial without her notice, killing her nearly-approved home project. The mayor said the city likely can't undo it without going back to the voters, and staff will keep working with her.
Nuisance Abatement at 509 W. Andrix Street
After years of neighbor complaints and a January city cleanup of a blighted property, the council placed a lien on the parcel to recoup abatement costs. Code enforcement is also connecting the owners with behavioral health services through Chinatown Service Center.