[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6327825,"mediaKeyId","2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6","parentId",2322001,"title","Treasurer reports lower year-end cash; council approves increased grant-writing contract and an active-transportation grant award","audioSeconds",5883,"startMs",5055000,"endMs",10938000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6&start=5055&end=10938","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6/thumbnail_5055000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6327825/Montebello/Los-Angeles-County/California/Treasurer-reports-lower-year-end-cash-council-approves-increased-grant-writing-contract-and-an-active-transportation-grant-award","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327825-ce7278642763e75d9fc0fd0001983a4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193605&Signature=NYVSQ2dN0swrrA4Q2ll2SBmXqBAel5KkKkGE6nU-QIwt-YceINzv-h9sNwJO9S20-xaYL4piPxVmd~DUZWQAxgT3pcgas6NNzyqy8qQGpy5gasK~VMnSpSx8z1bUC4g1kKvZkIbxW5NtyScblllh4dJeydcm7nhFUXM6IU4EnSuLSWq56EYLDDg7fm05xqdn8LaAw04cNT4~NeDt21y8mvxeDlguJOP7nn4uYGqX0LOvrJ2Vp~rjPnNBCDTY2jjz0q5VV2rm1MOkDdreL3Hbvd2Bl4GKoGX5K70uSXmI81qv8PSovnwjViWfJUxVTiLcbJPJiwwgQS3kJ90TpovQhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Montebello - Government","date","2025-02-12T00:00:00Z","article","The City Treasurer reported year-end cash balances that were lower at Dec. 31, 2024 than a year earlier, and council approved two items tied to grant programs and grant-writing support.

At the meeting the city treasurer reviewed cash-by-account tables comparing Dec. 2023 and Dec. 2024. The treasurer reported general-account cash of $100,406,644 at December 2023 and $77,083,629 at December 2024, a variance of $23,323,015 reported by staff. The successor-agency account fell from $17,533,756 to $5,000,410 (a variance of about $12.1 million), and staff reported the combined column differences totaled roughly $35,000,616. City staff described the overall city cash position as “strong” and noted liquidity remained sufficient for short-term needs.

On the consent calendar the council approved a limited amendment to the city’s contract with Blaze & Associates (grant writing services) to increase the not-to-exceed amount by roughly $30,000. Acting staff said the city’s use of grant-writing services has yielded significant funding — staff cited the SAFER grant program and other awards and said grant revenue in recent years has funded positions and programs (staff referenced approximately $6 million from one multi-year SAFER award).

The council also accepted a Sustainable Communities / Active Transportation safety grant administered through SCAG. Staff said Montebello requested $700,000 for a cycle-safe corridor project on Whittier Boulevard and received a partial award of $300,000. SCAG prioritized “quick-build” elements such as wayfinding, striping and lighting rather than full paving; staff said the Madison Neighborhood Way project remained on a contingency list for potential future funding.

Councilmembers approved the grant-related items by roll call. Councilmember Scarlett Peralta moved the amendment to the Blaze contract and Mayor Pro Tem Temayo seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Peralta also moved acceptance of the SCAG award, with Temayo seconding; that motion also passed unanimously.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","This Is The City Of Montebello City Council Meeting (02/12/25)","oneSentenceSummary","City Treasurer reported a drop in cash from Dec. 2023 to Dec. 2024; council approved a contract amendment for grant-writing services and accepted a $300,000 SCAG active-transportation award (partial of requested $700,000).","taxTitle","Montebello, Los Angeles County, California","taxId",3840,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327830,"Montebello Fire Department says it completed SB 1205-mandated inspections for 2024",344,5249000,5593000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6&start=5249&end=5593","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6/thumbnail_5249000.jpg","/articles/6327830/Montebello/Los-Angeles-County/California/Montebello-Fire-Department-says-it-completed-SB-1205-mandated-inspections-for-2024","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327830-6699d06272b0cbcea82b1fe6adeebc83/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193605&Signature=Q9PE0cdA7ooYAdedVXJCpW7MUFtZrCj5AHuKyjaZSBgVkm7kkCU8CeUxU7kP9scxlM~Q564yYFbyz85Fs3fnu~x6MeI55mP7lNWnoG6yUiATazgxz5X2YWLPVx7DP2GC3b8t3DlLkJOlsBzj78Sx1C1K-f5H2oEuUDuJIiKtTY6kXZyheffQHlbOPFJSeseQ5azAGNPOLVacNOlpMgNewyiF1jXMWlz~ZfGKXDvMFIfG~oQn4c1aJBHNHWLhq7Cuf8ud8uxJTD~lUPX-BGpqarNX5En4WfBLIvcOO5MACSxdKP5AFvR1yI6q8hoXWUCEuISctId43YXmG2VXm1GKhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montebello Fire Department told the City Council it completed the state-mandated inspections required under Senate Bill 1205 for 2024 and plans to expand the program in 2025.

Fire Department leaders said SB 1205 was adopted after the 2018 Oakland warehouse fire that killed dozens of people and requires municipalities with local fire departments to conduct a list of inspections for certain occupancies and hazards. Fire Chief Elias and Fire Marshal Dan Cifuentes described how the city’s Community Risk Reduction (CRD) unit — which they described as the department’s modernized code- and risk-inspection team — carried out inspections, special-event reviews and arson-investigation partnerships.

Cifuentes said the department identified mandated inspections, scheduled and completed them through 2024 and reported a 100% inspection rate for that year. He credited new staffing and interdepartmental coordination for closing inspection gaps and said the department intends to expand inspection and prevention work in 2025.

Councilmembers commended the team for the work and recognized CRD staff for completing inspections, arson investigations and public-education activities. The presentation was received as an informational item; no action was required.","Fire staff told the council the department completed the state-mandated inspection list tied to Senate Bill 1205 following the 2018 warehouse fire and achieved a 100% inspection rate for 2024.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327834,"Public comment erupts over policing and appointments; attendees allege chief removed, city attorney and manager criticized",1933,4141000,6074000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6&start=4141&end=6074","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6/thumbnail_4141000.jpg","/articles/6327834/Montebello/Los-Angeles-County/California/Public-comment-erupts-over-policing-and-appointments-attendees-allege-chief-removed-city-attorney-and-manager-criticized","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327834-443b29d36a3ee6e8b49402a9f7d51114/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193605&Signature=TQrUJ5IVY~rK3OOUmYWRlKg3nEwdn1itHFsACzF6KzSi2CMoMt0YDNLoI6GVA6LU11OGa6LVDlnTwyfvlB5AN4uAzHbfvY~7lM9DwHllCC-mtN~~UUxAAlRoIqytc7gLV~OWtS00Wwojo8Rgj4SDrDEmO2aWc-DUHjzP7HrW6ADdNLDmr4ggk8MzkiwwHy0vhaUHTNY9Y6R3Vs0kqNHUuhkx6li3cH~LEIHrM6Jg8qp3kdwpwCzS-5xG81~zeVaKd1OPbAP8ZzkcAk2jBg96NkDTho0~7kBfDV9qFGbr27tKq9gmtzOVdBGB~uvShvMK7BCnqvh5vWhRMQ-~WdHubQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of people used the public-comment period to criticize recent personnel decisions, allege improper council conduct and urge council action on policing and appointments.

Multiple speakers named City Manager Raul Alvarez and the city attorney during comments, saying the council and city management had improperly removed or targeted the police chief and made at least one contested appointment without a proper quorum. Speakers alleged the towing contract for the police impound yard (referred to by multiple commenters as “OPG”) had been awarded to an out‑of‑city vendor and questioned whether that choice would send revenue and towing activity outside Montebello.

Several residents repeatedly described former Chief Paula Espinosa as a longtime, respected law-enforcement leader and said her dismissal (as described by speakers) had demoralized the police department. Speakers included Louie Lozano, Sheila Gregorian, Raul Hurtado, Margie Duarte and others who said they had personal contact with officers and the chief and urged the council to reverse personnel decisions or reinstate the chief. One commenter read a March 2022 news item announcing Chief Espinosa’s appointment in 2022.

Other speakers criticized the process used to appoint a District 5 replacement the previous month, saying two council members voted in a meeting the speakers described as lacking a quorum and that the city attorney provided defective legal guidance. Several speakers referenced ongoing or threatened litigation tied to that appointment and urged the appointed member to resign.

In contrast to those statements, the city attorney reported earlier in the meeting that the council had convened into closed session on several items including an existing-litigation briefing and a public-employee dismissal/discipline matter. The city attorney said staff briefed council and that, on the public-employee item, “no action was taken and therefore there’s nothing further to report.” The city attorney also said one council member stepped out of closed session for an anticipated litigation matter and that no action had been taken on that matter.

Speakers asked for accountability, said they planned recalls and lawsuits, and criticized city leadership by name. The council did not take public action during the meeting to reverse personnel or contracting decisions.","Dozens of residents used public comment to criticize city leadership, claim the police chief was removed and to challenge a recent council appointment; city attorney reported closed-session discussions but said no final action was taken on public employee discipline.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327839,"Designs revealed for Whittier Boulevard scramble crosswalk; city to seek public input",332,3196000,3528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6&start=3196&end=3528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6/thumbnail_3196000.jpg","/articles/6327839/Montebello/Los-Angeles-County/California/Designs-revealed-for-Whittier-Boulevard-scramble-crosswalk-city-to-seek-public-input","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327839-bb2c107dddbb0bf35dbba3ac64148817/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193605&Signature=CKq7VSZH4PIhVecPC8-twbilD9npR76va-w~d9qT5z7wqRa~MaERWC2~jfGHHWBhoOOrnRhgVKVTku4DKM-r5sF-HgLsj2KSM2oRrYFkgISghA2yLrYdr-fouqPttsf73Fk1YzqCHpoHLx~4xOTIFvozjQ8ZfujQVywY5DnG6N4VwWSEIWb5Hf7UUAgeRXtHKCEUuiMltV-Na2SpsLHZ8ZMgTvvBq6qGJVBHd0P1nYMzKD42j5x~uo9wRo9yVFtyeYnzLPUie4JYDBJ94YFarqVmKFHoxZY-WH98fEoE~dEibJvc-EluXBa1OhMuc-oAMo9bFz9s6lPaZf~WnmBHXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Design consultants for the Whittier Boulevard and Sixth Street safety project presented two conceptual crosswalk designs to the City Council and said the city will seek public feedback before finalizing a preferred concept.

Amber Hawkes, co-director of HEAR, and colleague Shannon Davis described concepts developed from community outreach: “Embrace Montebello,” a stylized group-hands design celebrating diversity, and “Montebello in Bloom,” which incorporates the city flower and an identity element that reads “We are Montebello.” Hawkes said the consultant team had collected input at a pop-up event and through an online survey.

Staff said the scramble crosswalk includes a new traffic signal. Cesar (city staff) reported the traffic-signal design is about 95% complete; signal poles and equipment have long fabrication lead times (roughly 24 weeks) and staff said the signal and crosswalk work could be finished by the end of the year if bidding and fabrication proceed on schedule. Staff also said the next step is publishing the concepts on the city website and social media to solicit community votes on preferred designs.

Councilmembers emphasized the safety need at the intersection, which sits near Boulevard Market and the Angry Horse Brewing site. Councilmember Scarlett Peralta described the project as “extremely dangerous” for pedestrians currently and said the scramble crosswalk combined with a signal will add “much needed safety.” Council members asked staff to make the design options available to the public for selection by survey.

The consultants said color palettes may be adjusted during final design and that selected materials and colors must comply with traffic-safety and durability requirements before installation. The project team said they were aiming for a “quick-build” schedule for the crosswalk artwork and a conventional procurement schedule for the traffic signal.","Design consultants presented two concepts for an artful scramble crosswalk at Whittier Boulevard and Sixth Street, and staff said the traffic signal is nearly fully designed and could be completed this year.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327845,"Montebello council votes to fill District 4 seat by appointment, rejects special election option",209,4434000,4643000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6&start=4434&end=4643","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322001-c13c2bca4741e6936e9e393938f3fda6/thumbnail_4434000.jpg","/articles/6327845/Montebello/Los-Angeles-County/California/Montebello-council-votes-to-fill-District-4-seat-by-appointment-rejects-special-election-option","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327845-3671cd10ea4e040984fcc064b88ba623/orig.mp4?Expires=1771193605&Signature=SEPT5X57kGRCiBOfvdB9oAgAeKVVQsACSzqv7yYK-e~5eamY12n1eLuoxoNSWZANdXCuI5XoQO-gwTXazUOKXTl1dgqzF66YxR-2RY8bR4b6zi2jmPyQWQ6FxOqF1zN51OGPWkW43lsrQJFG6eUX15KZfdD~VQ0fhcrF5UNwi1H0cRiTxtlsJ1HtdPZ2adV2keYgUHigExHT4t3ChcllRTB5uv9oCkR2CzUVhL85j~XpIBQMktRqpZ4AuBWv5zlST7vrPHlZ2M25~gRFrgg8M~Pw0miu0t6gtX20eMoUNL4B8LrjXfO8HMSrTuRaGw19Ppvxp3tI0gcMRpBTjY~5dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montebello City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to fill the vacant District 4 council seat by appointment rather than call a special election, city staff said at the meeting.

City Manager David Merritt told the council that state law (Gov. Code §36512(b)) gives the council 60 days to either call a special election or make an appointment to fill the unexpired term. Merritt said a special election would be costly — the county estimated roughly $450,000–$510,000 for a single-district special election and staff warned the final number could be higher because District 4 has approximately 6,889 registered voters, more than a recent District 5 contest.

The appointment process the council approved directs staff to advertise the vacancy and accept applications; any appointee must be a U.S. citizen, a District 4 resident and a registered voter, Merritt said. If the council appoints, the appointee will serve until the next general municipal election (Nov. 3, 2026) and then a candidate elected at that time would complete the remainder of the term.

City staff provided a proposed timeline: advertise the vacancy and accept applications, consider applicants at a regularly scheduled meeting (staff recommended the Feb. 26 meeting), and, if an appointment is made, the appointee would need to be sworn by March 29 to take the seat at the council’s March 12 meeting.

City Attorney Arnold Glassman summarized the legal options and confirmed the council may solicit applications and interviews although the Municipal Code does not prescribe a specific appointment procedure.

The council made the appointment decision by roll call vote. The clerk recorded Ayes from Mayor Pro Tem Temayo, Councilmember Peralta, Councilmember Malonzo and Mayor Melendez.

The city manager cautioned the council that the city’s budget does not include the cost of an unscheduled special election and that a special election would be administered and billed by the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder.","The City Council voted unanimously to fill the District 4 vacancy by council appointment rather than call an expensive special election, setting a schedule and eligibility rules for any appointee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Treasurer reports lower year-end cash; council approves increased grant-writing contract and an active-transportation grant award

Montebello Fire Department says it completed SB 1205-mandated inspections for 2024

Public comment erupts over policing and appointments; attendees allege chief removed, city attorney and manager criticized

Designs revealed for Whittier Boulevard scramble crosswalk; city to seek public input

Montebello council votes to fill District 4 seat by appointment, rejects special election option