As I understand the information provided at the meeting, one error was acknowledged by the City, and was reviewed by the entity which produced the EIR. The error was found to have no statistically significant impact. The study and the City's response will be included in supporting documents to the report, although the City was under no obligation to respond because the report was received months after the close of the 60-day comment period. Listening to the report as it was read aloud at last night's meeting, I noted that much of the report involved features which are not part of the recommended (and subsequently accepted) plan, such as picnic tables and structures.

We've already waited 10 years for improved access to the wilderness area, while a small number of privileged families fight tooth and nail to keep the rest of the city at bay. This report is simply another stall, and as a taxpayer and member of the community, I find the tactic offensive.

I agree. I would bet that if you transported a large number of the typical visitors to Monrovia Canyon Park to the Wilderness Preserve area, that most would not find it preferable or worth frequent visits. MCP has a destination of the falls which is a goal for many. Also the shade and facilities plus convenient parking.

This Wilderness Preserve did prevent the development of a housing track that would have resulted in clearly more traffic besides homes where nature not exists and will continue to exist.

I'm thinking that most of those who really want to go into the Wilderness Preserve area...already are.

Didn't the city get matching funds from the state to purchase this property? Wasn't the requirment for these matching funds that it be open to the public? If so...shouldn't those nearby residents be happy about a few new hikers rather than several new houses, streets and heavily increased residencial traffic?

Ms.McCallum: I can see the intelligence in your comments BUT NOT THE WISDOM or FORESIGHT.The "toxic" comments came from intelligent homeowners wanting to know what "policies" the City would create and enforce BEFORE any large number of people arrived looking for a camping ground or a place for nude sunbathing(sarcasm) .The City has NO POLICIES and that is the problem. The point was that the RMP/EIR (and their content) was a SHAM designed to tactically respond to a Judge's order. The City does somethings very well but hasn't demonstrated any thinking or planning about the real dangers of the Urban Interface. There is NO magic "dome of protection" over Monrovia... your statement about hysterics is correct, the owners are on the edge of their seats and they have very good reasons to be. Ms. McCallum, your statement "They warned of catastrophic forest fires, because we've never had one those before! " - is 100% correct - But you should know better than that - we in Monrovia have just been lucky up to now .The more visitors traveling in the Wilderness Area and the higher the likelihood for a forest fire. So far every San Gabriel Hillside city has had a major devastating fire.So far we are lucky. God Bless Monrovia. What seems to be escaping everyone's understanding is that the FIRST priority is to Preserve the Animals & Vegetation. The second priority to prevent FIRES & any other hazard. The Last Priority is the "privilege" of hiking in the wilderness, it is not a "right".

I agree that some of the comments were toxic. I actually found the comment about opening a park in South Monrovia a bit offensive. If I didn't know better, I thought the woman who made that comment actually was saying to leave the less fortunate below and keep the upscale fortunate alone to live in their peace and quiet. I hike along these places quite often (which are open) and there's hardly anyone on these trails. The comment made by the same person to not let Monrovia turn into Griffith Park was just idiotic.

Paul, those homeowners' concerns have been addressed repeatedly. They refuse to acknowledge the work that has been done to ensure that the Wilderness Preserve is managed properly and with minimal impact to both the hillsides and the surrounding neighborhoods.

My remark about forest fires was meant to be ironic. In my three decades as a resident of northern Monrovia, I've watched huge fires march across the hillsides three times, once coming so close to my house that the fire-retardant chemicals being dropped by helicopters were splashing onto my car - which was packed and ready for evacuation. My point was that we've had fires before and we'll have them again, preserve or no preserve. It's also worth noting that the area is already open to hikers. The new plan simply improves access and installs bear-proof trash cans.

The idea that the EIR and resulting RMP are shams is bizarre. Our city government is not some evil cabal, plotting to develop the hillsides into an entertainment mecca for nefarious purposes which will eventually include world domination! (Irony again, Paul.) In fact, let's look at the Griffith Park nonsense. Griffith Park has the Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Center, and the Greek Theater. The Monrovia Wilderness Preserve has a hiking trail. No comparison. Let's all try to calm down, okay?

Ms.McCallum. Thanks for your reply. I think when we get to the point of " I say white and you say black." , that conversation becomes pointless. You wrote that you claim to have lived through a variety of forest fires - yet you advocate the riskiest of efforts to allow access to the Preserve. Even Fire Chief Donovan stated at the Council meeting that the more hikers that are present therefore the greater chance of forest fires (please watch the KGEM broadcast again). You stated "the work that has been done to ensure that the Wilderness Preserve is managed properly" .What work are you talking about ?? "Give us all a break" (please) - nothing has been done to control human foot traffic & control what people are actually going to do in the "seclusion of the forest",and who will supervise these people.All we did was open the access - that's all we did. Just a couple of points and this is about all I can stomach of this absurd stuff I am reading:
(1)Are you a Monrovia City EMPLOYEE ? (come on tell the truth)
(2) Is hiking more important than actually preserving the Wilderness preserve?
If its hiking we want-then call it a Park for hiking.
(3)Can you be unbiased & actually list five(5) real RISKS that YOU agree are dangerous and cannot be avoided? If you cannot, then you obviously have a vested interest in seeing your "agenda" promoted - and you do NOT really care about the obvious dangers that the City will confront. TIME WILL TELL. and God Bless Monrovia

So the city kept its regularly-scheduled meeting - listed on the city website and the city council's facebook page - a secret by removing flyers from Edison utility polls. It's good thing they did that, too, because if it hadn't been a secret, the overflow crowd would have filled the entire City Hall instead of just the meeting hall and the front foyer. What a bunch of sneaky plotters our city council members are!

What I saw last night was a lot of hysteria, most of it coming from a group of homeowners who were happy to allow the residents of Monrovia and the state of California to spend $25 million or so to buy the Wilderness Preserve, but are now shocked - SHOCKED! - to learn that the people who put up the money expect to be allowed access. Most of the speakers from that group started by warning the city of the threat of lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my! (Okay, not tigers.) They warned of catastrophic forest fires, because we've never had one those before! Then they moved on to Griffith Park-like crowds! Long lines of traffic! Finally, they got to the real problems: parking. Maybe there's not enough. Noise. Maybe there'll be too much.

To that I say: the city will have to monitor the situation and if the problems of parking and noise materialize, they'll have to come up with solutions. I think any solution requiring the citizens of the city to shell out for the backyard vistas of a handful of folks who deny access to the rest of us is a non-starter.

I agree. And between the theatrics and the length of the meeting, it was quickly obvious why the 'short straw' is such a bad thing to end up with. :-)

First, apologies to Joe for calling him Joel. Secondly, over the course of the last two nights, I posted on Facebook a series of articles from the Washington Post on Congressional ethics, or the lack thereof. One dealt with directing funds to organizations where there was a direct familial connection. The other had to do with pushing through projects in the geographical area in which the Congress persons lived or held businesses. These occurred on both sides of the political aisle. Therefore, to read that our home grown's either held themselves to or were compelled to set a higher ethical standard is extremely refreshing and assuring. To Joe, i would just say, how did you get so lucky? Alternatively, you pay the cost to be a City boss (smile).

The "recusal" process was a setup. It was not a coincidence that the Mayor opted out ..it is just a highly explosive political issue and it appears that Mayor Lutz is a smart politician. Mr. Adams is a prominent and important Real Estate Broker and it is understandable that he would not want to take sides on this issue. Although they are both very nice people, they really should have found a way to take a stand on this issue - so the voters know what to do for the next Monrovia election.

Paul, I am not sure if you missed the legal part of why we drew straws. If you did, I am sorry. One thing is certain, following the law is never a setup. As for the next election, since 80% of the voters asked for this I would think the next election, relative to this, would be a walk in the park.

Mr.Adams,Thanks for posting your reply. Please tell us where you stand with Wilderness access? Would you have voted to postpone the RMP for modifications OR left the RMP as presented,.if you could have voted on 02/07/12 ? I have the utmost respect for you. However there is skepticism from the community about the workings of the City Council, it seems the City Council "rarely" disagrees with City Management, especially on topics such as the Wilderness area. I think we all know that City of Monrovia doesn't have deep-pockets & when we finally experience that once in a lifetime fire in the Preserve (God forbid), it will be the Classic "I told you so" moment. According to Fire Chief Donovan, the number of hikers in the preserve is the determining factor for potential fires. The 2nd concern are animal attacks, one big headline is all we need to change the reputation of Monrovia as a "safe town" -which it definitely enjoys. Here's a link to a list of Mountain Lion attacks someone created (..not me). The list includes the attack in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Orange County (01/08/04). http://tchester.org/sgm/lists/lion_attacks_ca.html
"Ann Hjelle,30, Santa Ana, a former Marine who works as a fitness instructor, was jumped by a mountain lion. while she was riding her mountain bicycle. The lion jumped her from a slight rise on the trail, from under high brush. The lion quickly had Anne's face in its mouth -despite Ann's helmet. Ann was airlifted to Mission Hospital".

Paul, I'd be happy to let you know my feelings. Since I work for all of Monrovia and Monrovia was very clear when they went to the ballot to approve Measures A & B which lead to the purchase of the land. That ballot measure said, in part, to allow for passive recreation. I do believe that the people who own the land have some reasonable expectation of use. Everything in life carries risks, we have had fires since the beginning of time and wild animal attacks since the beginning of time. The voters were very clear and it is the voters wishes that the council is charged with carrying out. By the way, let me know your last name, I may know you?

I said it before, and I'll say it again. If the concern is that citizens using the park might be attacked by wild animals, there is no magic glow that surrounds the residents that live adjacent to the preserve. They are no less vulnerable, and probably order of magnitude more so, so that argument fails on its merits. Bear cubs have been seen as far south as Royal Oaks and Mountain. The animals are going to go where they're going to go, and people who use this or any other preserve must be cognizant of potential dangers. I should chance to guess there would need to be some sort of signs about potential wildlife. That said, the most dangerous creatures in all the preserve are the type that fall into the category homo sapiens. Whether cavalier about their surroundings or uptight and neurotic that some other element might be in their neighborhood, the potential exists they could cause the most damage. Ignorance and arrogance do far more damage than bears and snakes.

Ms.Montgomery - just reading your last comment about wild animals. If I understand your LOGIC clearly - If the residents in the Foothills are vulnerable to animal attacks then let's open the door to innocent hikers and make them ALL VULNERABLE ???
That's your solution -- seriously?? SOME PEOPLE ARE AT RISK - SO LET'S PUT EVERYONE AT RISK ??? ( ..are your for real ? Get a grip on reality- please.)
You must be another City of Monrovia Employee - just say you are an employee if that is true.
I'll cut/paste this from prior comment again for your contemplation: -->
The 2nd concern are animal attacks, one big headline is all we need to change the reputation of Monrovia as a "safe town" -which it definitely enjoys. Here's a link to a list of Mountain Lion attacks someone created (..not me). The list includes the attack in Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park in Orange County (01/08/04). http://tchester.org/sgm/lists/lion_attacks_ca.html
"Ann Hjelle,30, Santa Ana, a former MARINE who works as a fitness instructor, was jumped by a mountain lion. while she was RIDING HER MOUNTAIN BIKE. The lion jumped her from a slight rise on the trail, from under high brush. The lion quickly had Anne's FACE IN ITS MOUTH -despite Ann's helmet. Ann was airlifted to Mission Hospital".

R. Ray - it sounds like you might be new to Monrovia? There is more than 11 years of history and blood, sweat and tears on this issue to protect Monrovia's hillsides from residential development. A good start to learn about it might be the presentation made by April Soash during the council meeting (its a bit long and dry but it calls out several key points along the decade plus that brought us here).

You can go in now through the entrance on off Ridgeside Dr. It's the Clamshell Truck Trail. You won't encounter any picnic benches or trash cans but otherwise I believe it is about the same as they intend it to be...except for additional entrances.