Citizen About Town

By Nancy C. Arcuri, Editor and Publisher

Email: nancyarcuri@thecitizensvoice.net

Fax: 626-307-9081

At the August 20 Monterey Park City Council Meeting during the discussion of the Garvey Reservoir I was amazed that so many of the residents are not familiar with the city’s water history.

John Wallace from the Metropolitan Water District did remind the Council and audience that Monterey Park has numerous springs in the city. He presented the history of the Garvey Reservoir that was constructed between 1952 and 1954.

He identified the different cities that use this water facility and stated that Monterey Park has access to the water in case of an emergency.

Mr. Wallace explained that this potable water reservoir has approximately 40 acres of surface area and a maximum capacity of 1,610 acre-feet.  It is permitted, regulated and inspected by DSOD. He would provide the city with a copy of the paperwork from this government agency.

He clarified all of the repairs made since the 1987 Whittier earthquake cracked the asphalt lining that caused water seepage from the ground surrounding the reservoir.

As the repairs were being made the residents had a chance to tour the reservoir. I joined several other residents with then City Manager Chris Jeffers on the tour.

In 1993 the MWD agreed to install and maintain seepage and groundwater level monitoring system and provided monthly reports to the city as well as semiannual survey and survey reports. They also provided an extended level survey every five years.   The MWD also agreed to a 10-year operating restriction.

The MWD settlement agreement was modified after May 2009 and they advised the city of their intent to resume normal operations of the reservoir.

The MWD and the city have been meeting since February 2013 to amend their agreement.

The Council majority (Anthony Wong, Hans Liang and Teresa Real Sebastian) voted to accept the new agreement that also included additional park acreage and $50,000 to fund upgrades in Garvey Ranch Park.

Peter Chan had to abstain since he lives within 300 feet of the park and Mitch Ing was absent to do illness.

Mike Hart now retired from the Sunnyslope Water Company, spent years researching the various water sources from the San Gabriel Mountains that flowed down into Pasadena, San Gabriel and other points south.  His research was done mainly for the San Gabriel Mission.  He drew a map with an overlay that points out various streets that were once streams.

Mike Hart’s maps are located in the San Gabriel Mission Museum and the Huntington Library for public review.

Monterey Park’s Historical Society has pictures of the Browning family’s well when they drilled in town to try to strike oil.  They struck water as our city has a very high water table.

The current baseball diamond at Garvey Ranch Park was once a small lake where Richard Garvey Senior taught the local children to swim. These youngsters shared their experiences at the museum. He tied them to a tree so they would not drown as they swam around in a circle.

When we added a second story to the library we had to dig down into bedrock and add a heavy-duty foundation to support the second floor because of our high water table.

The Garvey Reservoir was built between 1952 and 1954.

The Whittier Earthquake struck in 1987.

Yet one speaker recalled that in 1967 they had water under their house and had to have it pumped out.  This flooding happened before the earthquake.

This Council spoke about compensating the residents living near the reservoir with the $50,000 that the MWD was giving the city for upgrades.

If you are going to use our taxpayers’ money then only compensate the original property owners who homes were constructed before the reservoir was built in 1952.

The property owners should have been aware that their homes are located at the base of a reservoir. They have enjoyed the privacy of not have other homes over looking theirs for years.

This is a real estate matter called “buyer beware”.

At the September 3 Monterey Park City Council Meeting the hot topic was the LAX north arrivals affecting Monterey Park.

Kathryn Pantoja, the Environmental Affairs Officer, made a presentation to the Council and residents explaining about the current flight patterns and flight procedures.  The majority of the planes flying over Monterey Park are planes arriving from the east coast. They loop over the city, turn down south and fly to LAX.

The planes fly over the city at a minimum height of 2,400 feet from sea level. The extended downwind approach to LAX causes the most noise exposure for the residents.

The city has been dealing with the FAA and LAX since 1998 to help reduce Monterey Park’s over flights.

Ms. Pantoja did remind the Council and the residents that LAX has no power over the flight patterns and noise levels. The FAA has the sole authority to control flight operations in the air and on the ground.

Currently the FAA is finishing with the procedure design process for their OAPM project, which is expected to be completed for public review in the mid 2015.

Monterey Park is a longtime member of the LAX/Community Noise Roundtable which meets every second Wednesday of every odd numbered months at LAX.

Currently the city has not been attending the meetings. The Council asked City Manager Paul Talbot to assign a staff member to represent the city at these important meetings.

Any LAX noise complaints maybe reported to 424-64-NOISE or www.lawa.org.

Please remember and pray for our fellow Americans who lost their lives on 9/11 to terrorists.

Please remember and pray for all of our military members who are fighting to protect us from harm across the world.

Please ask God to bless America and pray for all of us in these troubled times.