Montebello · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Montebello public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Employee termination appeal
A city employee is appealing a termination, and the Civil Service Commission is the body that reviews whether the dismissal was proper under the city's civil service rules. The outcome could mean reinstatement, other remedies, or upholding the termination.
Business license and administrative appeal procedure reforms
The temporary freeze on new business licenses, in place since March 2021, is officially over — a signal the city is open for business again.
Police recruitment incentives reinstated
The council considered continuing a recruitment incentives program to help the police department attract qualified officers and dispatchers amid ongoing staffing challenges.
District 2 fire station facilities
Council Member Peralta flagged that her district's fire station is the oldest and smallest and may not fit new equipment or provide facilities for women firefighters; she asked for future planning discussions.
Red-light traffic safety cameras
Council Member Alonzo pushed for data safeguards in the new Obvio Inc. camera contract: citation footage erased within six months, unused video within 15 days, and no AI training on driver-facing footage.
Blue curb disabled parking requests at 320 Morris Place and 425 North 16th Street
Two residents got approved ADA parking spots — one at 753 Bradshaw (no driveway) and one at 1345 Caribbean (driveway under 14 feet wide).
Congestion at Marketplace Drive and Paramount Boulevard and speeding on Lincoln Avenue
Two neighbors described dangerous lane-jumping and blocked turn lanes at the Marketplace Drive intersection near the 60 freeway since the 2018 shopping center opened, proposing a second right-turn arrow or a combined straight/right lane.
Barbering trade school and workforce development
A local barbershop is becoming a state-licensed barber school, giving residents and high schoolers a chance to train for a trade close to home. Students will also offer discounted haircuts as part of their training.
Flock camera privacy oversight
Speakers split sharply on proposed Flock surveillance cameras — one resident supported them for safety despite privacy fears, while another denounced them as racist surveillance.
Capital improvement projects for 2026-27
A resident found a nearly $2.5 million gap between two funding tables in the carryover budget item. The council continued the item to reconcile the numbers before approving.
Capital Budget Carryover and Grant Funding
Consent items would roll over unspent capital project money into the new budget year and pursue grant funds for the Bluff Road slope stabilization storm drain project, plus police technology and traffic safety grants.
All-Way Stop Request at Rio Del Sol Avenue and Rancho Drive
Data says no crashes and 23 mph speeds, so staff recommended denying the all-way stop and adding red curb instead. But weekend park crowds weren't counted, so the study is being redone across all seven days.
City-Owned Billboard Policy & Fee Structure
The council established rules and discounted advertising rates for local nonprofits and schools on the city's new digital billboard at Rio Hondo.
Utility Box Beautification Program
The city is launching a new round of its utility box art program, inviting local artists and students to submit Montebello history-themed designs for display across town.
Round One Entertainment at The Shops of Montebello
Round One wants to open a Japanese food hall and arcade venue with a full liquor license at the mall, filling a big vacant tenant space. It's being framed as a way to bring families, jobs, and foot traffic back to a mall that many residents remember from its busier days.
$3.1M park loan proposal for six city parks
The city floated a low-interest federal loan to fund park walking paths, playgrounds, shelters, ADA upgrades, and a big City Park parking lot. Councilmembers mostly loved it — except Alonzo, who objected that Chet Holifield Park didn't qualify under federal income rules. Final decisions come early next year.
MCAP homeless outreach program showcase
The city's fire-department-based homeless outreach team got a spotlight, including a former resident who credited the program with getting her housed, into school, and reunited with family. The Operation Stay Safe tiny homes program houses 30 participants.
Federal grant application for City Park upgrades
The city is applying for a National Park Service grant to add a soccer field, parking, paths, restrooms, and court renovations at City Park — and the potential Section 108 loan could double as the required match.
Bellaverde Golf Club Driving Range Reopening
The driving range reopened February 7 after a full overhaul — new netting, turf, irrigation, and an automated ball machine that needs no staff on site. It's open seven days a week and generating revenue for the city.
Summer Events Season
The Downtown Street Fest drew roughly 10,000 attendees, and residents told the commission they enjoyed the event and felt safe. A strong sign the city's community events programming is landing.
Aquatics Programming and Adaptive Recreation
Staff gave updates on youth basketball, aquatics, Concerts in the Park, and the Downtown Street Fest. The newly filled ad hoc committees will help plan arts and special events programming going forward.
Walking and biking path on SCE property; Ashiya Park lease
The city is pursuing use of Edison-owned land for a walking and biking path with water-saving landscaping, and renewed its lease to keep operating Ashiya Park.
2026 Speed Limit Survey
The council adopted a new engineering and traffic speed survey covering ten street segments, keeping local speed limits legally enforceable by state law.
New Planet Fitness at Montebello Mix Shopping Center
A 24/7 gym is filling the long-vacant former Rite Aid space, adding jobs and foot traffic to the center. A nearby resident raised concerns about bright signage on Montebello Boulevard affecting her home; that signage will go through a separate permit review.
Alcohol license upgrade at Montebello Jr. Market
The family restaurant on Whittier Boulevard can now round out the dining experience with beer and wine served with meals, keeping a long-time restaurant location active.
Hotel Bond Refinancing Savings
Refinancing the Home2 Suites hotel bonds should save about $435,000 a year and roughly $8.7 million through 2046, strengthening the hotel's finances and the general fund transfers it supports.
Railroad Crossing Blockages
A longtime resident again demanded action on freight trains blocking the Vale, Maple, and Greenwood crossings for up to hours at a time, saying the city has never followed up on his complaints.
Revocation of dormant commercial cannabis permits
Two cannabis businesses that stopped operating — Saint's Place at 728 South Vail and GW Montebello at 1616 Beach Street — lost their city permits for abandoning their sites and owing the city tens of thousands of dollars. This clears the way for the properties to be reused, though the city currently bans new cannabis applications.
District 5 Representation and Public Trust
Two District 5 residents criticized the absence of their councilmember during the budget vote and raised questions about transparency, the EIFD feasibility study selection, and the proposed train project's impacts on Washington Boulevard.
Alley parking enforcement on Maple Avenue
Several residents and a property owner asked the city to revisit new parking citations along the alley behind Maple Avenue apartment buildings, where people have parked in front of their garages for decades and now compete for scarce street parking.
Local Manufacturing and Labor Practices
Montebello businesses could get a boost if they play by the rules! LA County is launching a new program to support local factories, but they're also cracking down on companies that mistreat their workers, especially immigrants. This means your tax dollars might start going to businesses that treat people fairly.
Old Dominion Freight Line facility expansion
A major freight employer is rebuilding and expanding its Montebello maintenance operation, replacing a rundown 1980s building with a modern facility. The company plans to also redo its main site, potentially adding 10 to 30 jobs with benefits over the next few years.
Lincoln Avenue cleanup and workforce grant
A $200,000 Caltrans grant funds litter, graffiti, and bulky-item cleanup along Lincoln Avenue, with local youth getting paid work and OSHA/CPR certifications through the LA Conservation Corps. Staff may also revive dump cameras to deter illegal dumping.
Annual Homeless Count
The city's annual homeless count happens January 21 at City Hall — volunteers are needed, and the count determines how much state and county funding the city can pursue.
Homelessness shifting into South Montebello
A resident warned that homeless individuals appear to be moving east out of downtown LA ahead of the World Cup and Olympics, and asked the city to prepare a plan for South Montebello.
Grant Rea Park Field Renovations
The city renovated the baseball infield at Grant Rea Park's field three, laser-leveled all fields, and overseeded the outfields. The work wraps up just in time for the MBA league's opening day on March 14.
$2.4 Million in Federal Grants for Fire and Police
The city landed $2.4 million through Congresswoman Sanchez's office — $1 million for a Fire Department wildland station to speed wildfire response, and $1.4 million to modernize police radios.
Montebello Bus Lines Short Range Transit Plan
The three-year transit plan keeps Montebello Bus Lines eligible for state and federal funding and covers hydrogen buses, a bus stop overhaul, and a possible mobility hub on Montebello Boulevard.
New GIS Technician program
Montebello currently has no dedicated GIS staff, which hampers mapping, data-driven decisions and services across fire, police, planning and public works. The new three-level classification is the first step toward building an in-house GIS program.
Citywide ADA sidewalk enhancements
A $1.23 million contract will fix sidewalks across part of the city this year, prioritizing streets with the most injury claims to reduce trip hazards and litigation risk.
Proposition A fund exchange with Pico Rivera
Montebello will swap transit money with Pico Rivera — giving $2.25 million and receiving $3 million, netting the transit fund $1.55 million after other exchanges.
Immigration Lawsuit
Montebello is teaming up with other cities to sue the feds over immigration raids. They're arguing that federal agents are overstepping their authority and causing problems in their communities.
Immigration Raids Lawsuit
Montebello is joining forces with the ACLU and other cities to fight back against immigration raids in Southern California. They argue these operations are disrupting local neighborhoods and causing harm.
Immigration Enforcement
ICE raids are reportedly happening in Montebello, and the mayor is addressing the situation. This raises questions about how these enforcement actions affect residents and what the city's official position is.
Police Chief Investigation
The Montebello police chief is in the clear! A state commission has wrapped up its investigation into misconduct allegations and found no wrongdoing. This means the chief can get back to leading the department without this hanging over their head.
Transit Worker Reinstatement
Great news for 27 Montebello transit workers who got their jobs back! The SMART Union is celebrating this win for its members.
Gender Discrimination Lawsuit
A former detective is suing Montebello, alleging she was denied a vaccine exemption solely because she's a woman. This legal battle could force the city to rethink how it handles employee requests and potentially set new precedents.
Lawsuit Settlement
Montebello is settling a lawsuit with its ex-city manager. We don't know the exact cost yet, but it's going to hit your wallet.
Hero Pay Lawsuit
Montebello is facing a lawsuit over its attempt to force grocery stores to give workers extra 'hero pay' during the pandemic. The stores are fighting back, saying the city overstepped its bounds.
Labor Dispute
Your local grocery stores might be getting more expensive! A grocers group is suing Oakland and Montebello, saying they were unfairly forced to raise wages. This legal fight could hit your wallet.