CascadesThe Monterey Park Volume XV, No. IX Citywide News for Business, Community and Education February 2017 Statement on Monterey Park Farmers’ Market Supports Measure LL Your Resolution for Healthy Living Measure LL, a special tax to support the fresh and healthy foods with the Market vegetables available! Pick some up at the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library, is on Match Program. Families enrolled in WIC market (we even sell purple cauliflower) the March 7, 2017 city municipal ballot for or CalFresh (EBT) who also have children to take home and try a new recipe. We approval by voters. If adopted by voters, ages five and under can receive up to $10 love roasting them with some olive oil and Measure LL would replace an existing special of free farmers’ market money to spend spices, or turning them into faux potatoes, tax called Measure C that voters approved on fresh produce. Seniors and CalFresh by boiling then mashing. for funding the Bruggemeyer Library (via recipients without young children can still Measure C on the April 14, 1998 ballot). That qualify for up to $5 of Market Match. See Monterey Park’s Farmers’ Market runs special tax will expire on June 30, 2018. the Information Booth on Fridays for more rain or shine every Friday at 318 S. Ramona Revenue generated from this special tax info. Market Match Program supported by Avenue from 4-8 p.m. Eligible CalFresh, can only be used for the following purposes: Hunger Action LA and First 5 of LA. WIC and SSI customers can receive up • Expanding library service hours. Get healthy this year with more fruits to $10 in free farmers’ market money • Increasing technology services. and vegetables! The Monterey Park Farmers’ Market Tip of the Month through our Market Match program. Have • Acquiring books and materials. Farmers’ Market continues to help local Cauliflower may seem boring at first, a question? Email the market at info@ • Improving the library facility and families and seniors purchase affordable but it’s actually one of the more versatile farmermark.com. infrastructure via capital improvement projects. • Funding maintenance and operating costs for the above library services, equipment, and infrastructure. Tree Memorial Award Measure LL would impose an annual Nomination Period Now Open special tax as follows: • $25 on each single-family residential Nominations for the 2017 Tree highest level of community involvement take place in May or June. Plaques will dwelling unit or each dwelling unit in a Memorial Award are now being accepted and can be awarded to a person living or be installed under designated trees as residential condominium project. through February by the Recreation and deceased. Nominations will be reviewed recognition of their accomplishments. • $50 on each parcel improved with two Community Services Department. The by an ad hoc committee of Community residential units, which is not a condominium Tree Memorial Award was created to Participation and Recreation and Park Groups or individuals who wish to project. recognize individuals who have made Commissioners. nominate an individual must complete the • $75 on each parcel improved with three a significant positive impact on the application process. For an application or or more residential units, which is not a community. The committee will make their more information, please visit or contact condominium project. • $75 on each parcel improvement with a recommendation to the Monterey Park the city hall Recreation and Community nonresidential building. This prestigious award is reserved for City Council in March or April and a Services Department at 626-307-1388. an individual who has demonstrated the ceremony honoring the individuals will These tax rates are the same as originally approved by voters in 1998. It is estimated that the special tax will generate annual revenue of $500,000. Tax revenue cannot be Monterey Park Code Enforcement: used for any other purpose. The special tax imposed by Measure LL would expire on July 1, 2037. More Than a “Carrot or Stick” Approach Many people may believe that Monterey Paul and Christine are a popular team in business objectives to improve their To be adopted, Measure LL must be Park Code Enforcement only uses a “carrot the community who are loved by their business, customer base and desire for approved by a 2/3 majority of the voters in or stick” policy to obtain compliance customers. There is always a line outside additional access for customer parking. the city of Monterey Park. A “yes” vote on with Municipal Codes from transgressors Measure LL favors the Measure. A “no” vote the restaurant waiting patiently to be Paul and Christine worked with the on Measure LL opposes the Measure. of city rules. On the contrary, the Code served. For years, Paul and Christine had planning division, code enforcement and Enforcement Division has worked with only a few parking spaces in front of their other departments to enlarge the parking businesses and home owners to improve the café. Many times customers would drive at the site, pave the parking lot and stripe appearance of residential neighborhoods past the restaurant because there was no parking spaces. The new parking area and business areas without issuing notices parking. The deteriorated appearance of created by a collaborative effort between 中文版第14頁 or citations. Code enforcement would rather their parking area was also an issue. The a local business and the city has helped work with residents and business owners problem was that Paul and Christine did Hong Kong Café improve its business Español Pagina 14 than take an authoritative or enforcement not own the land, only the business. potential. This is just one example of code position. Personnel in the division realize enforcement and city departments not using that the city’s residents and businesses are With the assistance of the code a carrot or stick approach, but collaborating the true elements of the city and the division enforcement division and city personnel, with business owners to improve their works to maintain a positive relationship to additional parking was approved, including business and the appearance of the city. maintain a sense of community. improvement to the deteriorated parking PAID area without the use of a carrot or stick. To read more about the unique character ECRWSS PERMIT# 97 PRSRT. STD U.S. POSTAGE A case in point is Hong Kong Café, Code enforcement worked with Paul and and atmosphere within the Hong Kong MONTEREY PARK a small restaurant nestled gently at 162 Christine discussing the city’s property Café, please look for the Business Spotlight W. Garvey Avenue since 1986. Owners maintenance requirements and their article this issue of the Cascades. Langley Senior Center Holds Blood Pressure Clinic with Local Pharmacy The Rite Aid in Monterey Park hosted the community lead healthier lives for services in supporting our blood pressure Postal Customer its first blood pressure screening at more than 20 years," said Rite Aid Wellness clinic in December to our senior members Langley Senior Center, one of the city's Ambassador Ezra Yu. and community. most prominent recreational facilities for Monterey Park, CA 91754-91755 Park, CA Monterey senior citizens. The program was facilitated About 30 senior citizens attended the Monterey Park’s Langley Senior Center by a Rite Aid pharmacist and Wellness blood pressure clinic. The pharmacist took is located at 400 W. Emerson Avenue, Ambassador, in conjunction with Langley blood pressure measurements and advised Monterey Park, CA 91754. Hours are staff members. seniors on their results within the context of Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday- their overall health. Sunday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information "It was a great opportunity to partner about Langley Senior Center programs, with Langley and serve our community's Langley center staff would like to please see their full page listing in this issue City of Monterey Park Ave. Newmark W. 320 91754 Monterey Park, CA senior population. Our pharmacy has been thank the Rite Aid health and wellness of the Cascades or visit www.MontereyPark. providing services and resources to help team for their professional and caring ca.gov and search for “senior programs.” Page 2 Citywide News for Business, Community and Education February 2017 CITY OFFICIALS Monterey Park Receives Acclaim for Mitchell Ing, Mayor Teresa Real Sebastian, Vice Mayor 2016-17 Budget Presentation Stephen Lam, Council Member By Annie Yaung, Controller, City of Monterey Park Finance Department Hans Liang, Council Member Peter Chan, Council Member The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Vincent D. Chang, City Clerk Canada (GFOA) awarded a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for Joseph Leon, City Treasurer the City of Monterey Park’s 2016-17 annual budget. The Distinguished Ron Bow, Interim City Manager Budget Presentation Award is the highest form of recognition in Mark Hensley, City Attorney governmental budgeting and represent a significant achievement by the city, especially for finance department staff. In order to receive this award, a governmental unit must publish a budget document that meets program CITY COUNCIL, COMMISSIONS, criteria as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan COMMITTEES AND BOARDS MEETING and as a communications device. SCHEDULE CITY COUNCIL The city’s budget process is coordinated by the finance department 1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m. and this is the 26th time that Monterey Park has been awarded for City Hall Council Chambers excellence in its budgeting. Copies of the budget document are available COMMISSION ON AGING for download from the city website by searching for “city budget” at 3rd Monday, 11:00 a.m. www.MontereyPark.ca.gov. Langley Senior Center, 400 W. Emerson Ave. BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Quarterly, 3rd Thursday, 3:30 p.m.