Monrovia council approves CDBG residential rehab program, raises traffic impact fee, buys historic Cypress Avenue home and sets ADU hearing

The Monrovia City Council on Jan. 21 approved several staff recommendations: allocating the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation to a residential rehabilitation program, adopting an update to the city’s transportation impact fee (TIF), authorizing purchase of a historic property at 222 East Cypress Avenue, and introducing a revised accessory dwelling unit (ADU) ordinance and setting a Feb. 4 public hearing.

At a public hearing, staff presented a tentative CDBG allocation of $242,871 for fiscal year 2025–26 and recommended using 100% of the allocation to continue the residential rehabilitation grant program. Jesse Wu, staff presenting the program, said the funding goal is to complete six to seven home‑repair grants in the coming fiscal year and that the city received 43 applications in the last intake. The program pays contractors selected by the city; Wu told council staff expect average project costs of about $20,000–$25,000. Council moved to adopt resolution No. 2025-05 to approve the program and the allocation.

Council also considered the annual traffic impact fee report. Community Development Director Sherry Bermejo presented the TIF balance and proposed an adjustment tied to the California construction cost index. For fiscal year 2023–24 the TIF fund began with a $680,512 balance, collected $157,169 in fees (largely from the Station Square South project), and closed the year with $867,598. Staff recommended a fee adjustment; the council voted to adopt the annual report and a 2.3% increase to the TIF (resolution 2025-01). Staff said the adjusted fee resolution would take effect 60 days after the hearing (March 24, 2025) if no further action is required.

On a separate agenda item, council approved a purchase and sale agreement to acquire a Victorian home at 222 East Cypress Avenue for $1,530,000 with a 10% contingency ($153,000) for closing costs and related expenses. Staff said the house dates to 1892, sits on four contiguous parcels (approximately an 80‑by‑180‑foot lot), and includes an older interior and utilities that will require repairs. The purchase agreement allows the seller to occupy the home through April 15 and gives the city a 30‑day due‑diligence window; staff will return after the Planning Commission makes findings about general plan conformance before the sale is finalized.

Separately, staff introduced an ordinance to update Monrovia’s municipal code on accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs to comply with recent state law changes while preserving local, objective design standards where legally allowed. Senior Planner Jennifer Driver described two compliance tracks: (1) the state’s streamlined minimum standards that allow smaller ADUs by right, and (2) alternative local standards that permit larger ADUs but require objective Monrovia‑specific design matches to the primary dwelling. The council introduced the ordinance (waived further reading) and set a public hearing for Feb. 4, 2025.

Votes at a glance: resolution 2025-05 (CDBG residential rehabilitation program) — approved; resolution 2025-01 (TIF annual report and 2.3% fee increase) — approved; Purchase & Sale agreement for 222 E. Cypress — approved; introduction and setting of public hearing for ADU ordinance — approved (motion to introduce and set hearing).

Ending: City staff said they will return with additional details and the required Planning Commission findings on the Cypress property, and will continue outreach to residents about the CDBG program and the ADU ordinance before Feb. 4 public review.