Residents raise streetlight safety and sober-living concerns during Monrovia public comment period

Monrovia — During public comment at the June 3 City Council meeting, residents urged the city to act on streetlight outages and voiced concerns about a proposed for-profit sober living facility on May Avenue.

Monrovia resident Tom Doer said he wanted the city to monitor and act on streetlight outages after a friend was involved in an accident that he linked to a dark roadway. Doer asked for more proactive maintenance and faster repairs to improve public safety.

Resident Sam Ueland and others spoke about a planned sober-living residence on May Avenue. Commenters said their primary concerns were that the operator is a for-profit company, that oversight and supervision of residents were unclear, and that the facility could change the character of a residential block if not properly managed. Speakers said zoning rules may allow the use if it meets code and that neighbors can pursue complaints if operations violate conditions.

Council and staff responses: City staff and councilmembers acknowledged the concerns. Staff explained that if the property is properly zoned for the proposed use, options to block the facility are limited; neighbors may file complaints if operations contradict zoning or permit conditions. On streetlights, staff confirmed repair and monitoring procedures and encouraged residents to report outages through the city's standard reporting channels.

Ending — The speakers asked council to monitor both safety issues and any operational compliance if the sober-living facility opens; staff committed to follow-up and to providing information on reporting procedures for streetlight outages and nuisance complaints.