Montebello · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Montebello public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Lincoln Avenue fire hydrants and water main
Lincoln Street has no fire hydrants — a serious gap in a mutual threat zone. A partnership with San Gabriel Valley Water will install them, with surveys underway and completion expected in 2027.
Citywide prohibition on AI data centers
A resident warned the council about a proposed 250,000-square-foot AI data center in Monterey Park near the Montebello border, citing water, power and emissions concerns and urging the city's SCAG representative to raise it.
Fire Station 56 remodel completion
Chief Pelaez reported the department is at about 100 employees, manages $15 million in grants, and expects Fire Station 4 in the hills to be built within one to two years with six to eight staff — pending more grant funding.
Street repaving and rehabilitation projects
Consent items put $640,000 of SB1 gas-tax money into rubberized asphalt street resurfacing and $287,354 into emergency-vehicle signal preemption (Opticom GPS).
Zoning Updates: ADUs, Landscaping, and AI Data Center Ban
Staff announced a special Planning Commission meeting on February 10 to present the city's comprehensive rezoning ordinance — the first real zoning overhaul since the zoning map was drawn in 2014 and the code tied to a 1973-era General Plan. It's meant to bring zoning in line with the current General Plan and streamline development review.
Prohousing Designation Program participation
Speakers described homelessness and the lack of wheelchair-accessible, affordable housing in Montebello, urging the council to act despite community opposition to new housing projects.
Crossing guard at South 5th Street and West Los Angeles Avenue
The city wants a crossing guard at this intersection near Montebello Christian School and drafted a letter to the school district — but who pays (police budget vs. district vs. private school) still needs sorting out with the City Council.
Fire Engine Fleet Replacement
Three of the city's six engines are 17–24 years old. New Pierce Enforcers will cost about $3.6 million over a 10-year lease, with delivery around 2029 due to nationwide backlog.
Whittier Boulevard paving project
The main Paving the Way project will resurface Whittier Boulevard end to end, starting around November and finishing by June 2027, with outreach to businesses to keep access open during construction.
New Cal Water drinking water wells at 716 Washington Boulevard
Cal Water will build two new wells and an equipment building on a vacant commercial lot to pump more local groundwater instead of buying imported water. The company says this cuts costs and keeps water flowing during droughts and disasters. Nearby apartment residents get noise buffers — sound enclosures, mature trees, and 24/7 monitoring — as conditions of approval.
Preferential Parking on W. Victoria Avenue
Residents of W. Victoria Avenue say overflow parking from nearby apartments, Wilcox Elementary, and a gym leaves them unable to park at home, with trash, vandalism, and hit-and-runs in the mix. The commission recommended a permit-parking district; the City Council makes the final call.
Court-ordered approval of 301 Jackamar housing project
A judge ruled the city's denial of developer Bill Molinari's project violated the Housing Accountability Act, so the council had to implement the court order approving it. Residents are furious — many collected hundreds of signatures against the 15-unit project and feel the city's legal defense failed them.
Pedestrian Safety at Washington Elementary School
Redundant signs near Washington Elementary will come down, and stop signs on W. Madison Avenue get solar-powered blinking LEDs to grab drivers' attention during school rush times.
Chet Hollyfield Park Water Conservation and Improvement Project
The council authorized applying for a $3 million state grant to fund major park improvements at Chet Holifield Park on the south side.
Urban forest management and tree planting
West Coast Arborists presented an update on the city's urban forest inventory, noting over 11,000 trees and outlining plans to plant 500 new street and park trees along with distributing 250 fruit trees.
California State Audit
The council discussed the ongoing state audit in closed session; no action was taken and details were not made public.
Montebello Bus Lines Grant Application and Fund Exchange
The city is seeking $9.1 million in federal money for new CNG buses. Speakers used the item to share negative experiences riding Montebello buses and to call for free or reduced fares for homeless and low-income riders.
Senior Center Basement Remodel moves to bid
After two failed rounds of bidding, the senior center basement finally gets rebuilt with a fitness room, computer lab, ADA restrooms, and multipurpose space. Construction could wrap by fall 2027. It's funded with Measure A and transit money, not the general fund.
Bus Stop Improvement Project cancelled over $9.6M deficit
The citywide bus stop upgrade project — new shelters, benches, ADA improvements at up to 100 stops — was cancelled because the construction estimate hit $12.3 million against a $2.7 million budget. Staff plans a peer review of the numbers and will hunt for grants before bringing back a reworked version. Nothing gets built for now.
Sidewalk repairs and trip-and-fall liability
The city faces frequent trip-and-fall claims from broken, lifted sidewalks and currently only applies makeshift asphalt ramps. A new Cement and Concrete Worker classification would let Public Works repair sidewalks, curbs and ADA ramps in-house at a fraction of contractor cost.
Homeless services funding from Los Angeles County
The city accepted about $753,000 in county funding across two agreements for homeless services and prevention programs in FY 2026-27.
Montebello Bus Lines Fleet Modernization and Wayfinding
The council accepted $2.3 million in federal grants for bus tire leases and preventive maintenance, and moved to apply for a hydrogen fueling infrastructure grant. This keeps Montebello Bus Lines running and moving toward cleaner fuel.
SB 79 Moratorium on Washington Boulevard Transit-Oriented Development
The city has a temporary 45-day freeze on accepting, processing, or approving certain SB 79-related development applications within the Washington Boulevard Transit-Oriented Development Specific Plan area. Tonight's vote just filed the legally required status report — the pause itself remains in effect.
Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District (EIFD)
The council took the first step toward an EIFD that could capture up to $90 million in future property tax growth along major corridors for infrastructure, parks, and affordable housing — with no new taxes and no eminent domain. Some residents feared it echoes the old redevelopment agency and eminent domain fights.
Montebello Boulevard Center Divider Impacts on Businesses
Business owners say the new center divider is killing business — no left turns, red-painted curbs, and multiple crashes in a month. They want it ripped out or fixed.
Fire Department Leadership Dispute — No Confidence Vote
A former mayor urged the council to directly address an unresolved personnel matter involving firefighters, saying it is damaging morale and public safety and cannot be left to the fire chief alone.
Denied all-way stops near West Los Angeles Avenue schools
Two intersections (Spruce and Fifth at Los Angeles) failed state warrants for four-way stops despite commissioner concerns about kids crossing. Red curbs were added, and a letter to the school district will push for crossing guards at Fifth Street.
Olympic Boulevard Complete Streets Project
A big redesign of Olympic from Ford Street toward Garfield: bike lanes, bulb-outs, sidewalks, and lit crosswalks — largely paid for with state and federal safety grants.
Whittier Boulevard pedestrian crossing safety
Eleven uncontrolled crossings on one of the city's busiest corridors were studied. Seven dangerous ones will be removed, new signals will go in at 18th Street and Greenwood, and a flashing beacon will be installed at Third Street.
Chet Holifield Park Community Garden
The long-awaited community garden is close to reality — the construction contract goes to council next week, with a build starting by end of May and opening this summer.
Montebello Boulevard Center Divider and Business Access
A business owner says the center divider installed during construction has cut her business by more than 50%, forced fire trucks to drive on the wrong side of the street nine times in three weeks, and caused crashes near the March exit. She's asking the council to remove a 20-25 foot section.
Adventist White Memorial Hospital Investment and Services Expansion
After a hospital bankruptcy left billing in chaos, the city faced nearly $900,000 in invoices for jail medical care. Police and finance staff audited every bill and got it down to $28,000, and the new agreement sets fixed prices going forward.
Fire Department Leadership and Staffing Concerns
A former mayor urged the council to directly address an unresolved personnel matter involving firefighters, saying it is damaging morale and public safety and cannot be left to the fire chief alone.
Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Modification Project
The Army Corps will spend hundreds of millions starting this fall to armor the dam against catastrophic failure, protecting a million people downstream. Expect lane narrowing on Lincoln and Rosemead, trail closures, and the permanent closure of Rooks Road; a town hall is set for June 30.
FY 2026-27 City Budget Adoption
120 people came to budget forums and 361 took the survey. Top asks: fix streets, public safety, parks, cleanliness, and bring in new businesses.
Eastside Light Rail Extension comes to Montebello
Metro's nine-mile rail extension will include a Montebello station at Greenwood and Washington, with service targeted for 2035-2037. The city faces a 3% local match of an unknown amount, and residents can comment on the environmental document through June 26.
Federal and state funding uncertainty
Two speakers warned the council that federal money is drying up and urged extreme caution with spending — a warning echoed by a county supervisor's representative, per one speaker.
Clean Task Force and vacant property enforcement
The city's multi-department Clean Task Force has demolished chronic nuisance properties, cut calls for service dramatically, and grown vacant property tracking from 21 to 67 properties, with reoccupancy up to 26.9%. New grants totaling $592,181 fund tobacco enforcement and illegal dumping cleanup through 2028.
Armenian Genocide Martyrs Monument and Scout House protection
Covenants will be recorded against the land to permanently protect the monument and the 75-year-old Scout House. The Scout House covenant was reassigned from Scout Troop 330 to the Lions Club so it survives even if the troop dissolves.
Whittier Boulevard property acquisition
The city is spending about $3.28 million to buy four parcels at 602-610 West Whittier Boulevard, citing General Plan goals for preservation and economic development.
Youth Employment Program
The city's teen summer jobs program filled all 75 applications in 40 minutes this year, showing huge demand. About 40 to 50 youth will be hired after interviews the week of April 6.
Park ADA Improvements
New ADA-compliant paths, ramps and concrete are coming to nearly every major city park starting Monday. This makes playgrounds, ballfields and restrooms easier to reach for wheelchair users, seniors and families with strollers.
Park restroom restoration and park safety
A resident blasted the broken, filthy restrooms at Grant Rea Park, contrasting Montebello with Santa Fe Springs and calling it a failure of priorities over basic facilities.
911 Dispatcher Response and Police Accountability Complaints
Residents raised sharp complaints: a dispatcher allegedly told a frightened 911 caller to open her door to a stranger, and a speaker accused the city manager and police leadership of promoting officers lacking integrity. Another speaker tied the council to a police report against a resident critic.
860 Truck Way land purchase for hydrogen fueling station
The city is spending $2.22 million from the transit fund to buy a half-acre lot near its bus yard for a permanent hydrogen fueling station, needed as Montebello Bus Lines switches to zero-emission fuel-cell buses by 2040. Staff hope to eventually sell hydrogen retail to recoup costs.
City Council Ceasefire Resolution
Montebello’s City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and CAIR-LA is cheering it. It’s a symbolic local move on a global issue—so don’t expect city services to change, but it signals where your council stands.
Immigrant Relief Program
Montebello is launching a $100,000 program to support residents affected by immigration raids. This initiative aims to provide crucial assistance to individuals and families facing hardship due to these enforcement actions.
Police Chief Termination
Montebello's Police Chief was fired while on medical leave, sparking accusations of illegal activity. This move has created significant turmoil within the city's leadership.
Whistleblower Lawsuit
Get ready for some City Hall drama! The interim city manager is suing Montebello, saying they're getting back at her for speaking up about potential shady stuff. This could shake things up.
No-bid Contracts
Montebello is reportedly locking in 30-year no-bid contracts for connected insiders, meaning your tax dollars are committed for decades without competitive bidding. That limits competition and makes it harder to know if the city is getting a fair deal. Ask your council representative who approved these deals and why.