Message from the Mayor
Community Chronicles: A Recap of Events and Programs
Lunar New Year Celebration
The City of Duarte’s Lunar New Year Celebration featured vibrant live cultural performances that brought the spirit of the holiday to life. Attendees enjoyed delicious food, hands-on arts and crafts, and traditional games that highlighted Asian cultural heritage. The festive atmosphere provided a fun and educational experience for community members of all ages!
EGGFEST
EGGFEST delighted families with a fun-filled day of springtime cheer, featuring thousands of candy-filled eggs in exciting egg hunts. Kids enjoyed festive crafts, lively games, and upbeat music throughout the event. The highlight for many was snapping a photo with the Easter Bunny, creating lasting holiday memories.
State of the City and Schools Address
The 2025 State of the City and Schools Address brought together Mayor Cesar A. Garcia and DUSD Board President Dr. James Finlay to celebrate Duarte’s progress and shared vision for the future. Community members gathered to reflect on key achievements and ongoing collaboration between the City and School District. The evening highlighted how Duarte’s strong partnerships continue to drive positive change and growth.
At its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 25, the Duarte City Council recognized the annexation of the Royal Oaks Retirement Community into the City of Duarte.
“For the first time since the City’s incorporation, we’ve expanded our City boundaries. This is a night of celebration,” said Mayor Cesar. A. Garcia. “I would like to formally welcome all Royal Oaks residents to the City of Duarte. These individuals had Duarte pride long before tonight and I can’t think of a better group to welcome into our City. We are grateful to have them here and look forward to the talents, contributions, and sense of community they will provide.”
The annexation process began at the January 23, 2024 City Council meeting, where the City Council approved the pre-annexation agreement with HumanGood. The agreement supported HumanGood’s Local Agency Formation Commission for the County of Los Angeles (LAFCO) application requesting the annexation of Royal Oaks Retirement Community into the City of the Duarte.
“This is one of the first things that came across our desk when I first got elected, and it’s really exciting to see it come to fruition,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tera Martin Del Campo. “This was made possible because of the Royal Oaks residents showing up and everything they brought to the table. There’s no way anyone could deny that they don’t belong here in Duarte.”
The City of Duarte worked alongside Andrew Smith, the executive director for Royal Oaks and Westminster Gardens for the time, and other representatives from HumanGood throughout the annexation process.
“On behalf of all of HumanGood, I want to express how excited, thankful, and passionate we are about Royal Oaks joining the City of Duarte,” said Smith. “We have a long and positive relationship with the City and we are so grateful to see that relationship expand. Thank you to the City Council and City leadership who were great partners throughout this process. We’re very confident that this is great for HumanGood, the City of Duarte, and our residents at Royal Oaks.”
Since its founding in 1959, Royal Oaks has offered enriching and supportive living experiences and services for seniors including independent living, assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing and short-stay rehabilitation. The annexation marks a new chapter, ensuring long-term stability and integration with Duarte’s municipal services.
“The history of Royal Oaks is very entwined with the City of Duarte, and after 65 years, we’re finally glad to have a city to call home,” said Royal Oaks resident Jim Lawler. “We thank LAFCO for their decisions and the City of Duarte, the Council, and the Planning and Economic Development Commission for their actions to welcome us. I trust we’ll be good neighbors.”
The City of Duarte is proud to announce the installation of four new utility box art designs as part of its Utility Box Art Program. These vibrant and inspiring designs, created by talented local artists, celebrate Duarte's history and community values.
Following a competitive selection process, the Duarte City Council approved the final designs at its November 12, 2024, regular meeting. Each piece was thoughtfully chosen to reflect unique themes, enhancing the city's public spaces through creative expression.
The newly installed artwork includes:
"Snapshots Down the Ol' Route 66" by Raquel Martinez Rodriguez
Location: Southeast corner of Huntington Drive and Mountain Avenue
Theme: Route 66
"Hope and Healing" by Laishan Mui Ito
Location: Southwest corner of Duarte Road and Circle Road
Theme: Medical Health
"Tracks of Time" and "Connected Journeys" by Samantha Chang
Location: Northeast corner of Fasana Road and Highland Avenue
Theme: Transportation
"ABC, 123!" by Cheyne Ellett
Location: Southeast corner of Huntington Drive and Crestfield Drive
Theme: Childhood
Each utility box now features a QR code that links directly to the Utility Box Art Program webpage, offering more details about the artists and their inspirations. To explore the artwork and learn more about the program, visit AccessDuarte.com/Utility-Box-Art-Program.
The City of Duarte invites residents and visitors to enjoy these new installations and celebrate the creativity that brings our streets to life!
The City of Duarte is committed to enhancing community safety and empowering youth with the tools and experiences necessary to thrive. As a testament to the investment in our younger population, the City received a $25,000 grant from Walmart to enhance the City’s youth programs and make a lasting impact in the lives of young people in our community.
“My colleagues on the City Council and I are extremely grateful to Walmart for this investment in our community,” said Mayor Cesar A. Garcia. “There are many teens who take advantage of the robust programs that we have here in Duarte. The Boxing and D.A.R.T. programs have changed lives thanks to generous contributions from the coaches and everyone who works with our youth. This funding will go directly towards expanding the programs, which is just in time for the expansion of the Teen Center. We’re growing in number, growing in square footage, and most importantly, growing together.”
The Duarte Teen Center is the cornerstone of our mission to create a safe, supportive environment where youth can grow, succeed, and contribute to a stronger, more resilient community. It serves an average of 100 youths daily, offering unique after-school programs and activities such as the Duarte Boxing program, C.H.Y.L.L, Duarte Dance, D.A.R.T., The A-Team, and the Mayor’s Youth Council.
The activities and work funded by this grant aim to create meaningful change in the lives of at-risk youth, their families, and the community at large. The City is allocating $10,500 of the grant funding for new equipment, including dance supplies, a new projection and screen, games, and a new boxing ring. The remaining $14,500 will be put towards youth field trips for 200 youth over the next year.
The upcoming field trips include visits to theme parks, museums, the beach, hikes, camping trips, college visits, and more for youth to build connections, network, and explore as a team. These activities will provide structured after-school and weekend programming, deliver targeted interventions for at-risk youth, and facilitate enriching experiences beyond City boundaries.
This funding will ensure the Teen Center remains a vital resource for the community’s most at-risk population, offering hope, stability, and a pathway to a brighter future.
For more information about the Teen Center programs, please visit the Teen Center webpage.
The City of Duarte is developing a Strategic Plan that will guide city services, programs, and initiatives over the next ten years. This plan, known as the Duarte 2035 Strategic Plan, will serve as a blueprint to ensure that the City's efforts reflect the community's vision, values, and priorities.
The Strategic Plan will include a shared vision for the future of Duarte, outline the community's core values, and identify top priorities to focus on in the coming decade. It will also include a timeline for implementation, helping the City stay on track, and accountable as we move toward 2035.
Your feedback will help us understand what matters most to you. We want to know:
- What makes Duarte special?
- What should the City focus on over the next ten years?
Your answers will help shape a plan that reflects the unique identity and aspirations of our community.
We invite you to share your thoughts by completing our short community questionnaire. Your responses will help the City of Duarte understand what you value most, what makes Duarte special to you, and what you think the City should focus on through 2035.
The questionnaire is available in both English and Spanish and should take approximately 4 to 6 minutes to complete. You can respond at your own pace, and all answers will remain anonymous. The questionnaire will be open through Saturday, May 31, 2025.
Community Spotlight
Duarte City Council Recognizes Pam Romero for Her 40 Years of Service
At its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 11, the Duarte City Council recognized Pam Romero for her 40 years of public service.
“Pam’s tenure with Duarte speaks volumes about her character and loyalty,” said Mayor Cesar A. Garcia. “She has made an incredible impact and touched the lives of so many Duarte residents. We are endlessly grateful for her dedication and commitment to our community.”
In 1969, Romero moved to the City of Duarte and has been a resident ever since. She joined the Duarte City staff in 1982 as a contract employee teaching aerobics. In 1984, she transitioned into her current role as the Parks and Recreation Department’s administrative secretary. Romero serves as the “face” of the department, greeting patrons at the front desk and working directly with the Parks and Recreation Director to keep projects running smoothly.
“Paying homage to this incredible person is one of the most meaningful things I’ve had the honor of doing standing at this podium,” said Parks and Recreation Director Manuel Enriquez. “There is nobody like her. It’s not every day that we get an employee serving with a smile every single day, both internally and externally, for over 40 years. She has an incredible capability to erase any negative mindset and put me back into what really matters. I’m inspired by her and forever in her debt for taking me under her wing and assisting the department with accomplishing great things in Duarte.”
As the administrative secretary, Romero oversees facility rentals, website updates, and ActiveNet registrations. Day-to-day, she creates agendas, gathers content for the quarterly newsletter, supports her team, and much more.
“Pam has always been an incredible help to me both with City Councilmember items and personal matters as a resident of the City,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tera Martin Del Campo. “She’s been so welcoming and I always look forward to seeing her every time I walk into the building. Knowing that any constituent looking for help at the Parks and Recreation Department will get it, no matter who they are, is something to be admired. Nobody deserves this more than her, and I can’t wait to see her celebrated on all levels this year.”
Romero’s unwavering commitment, hard work, eagerness to learn, and passion have made a lasting impact on the community and set a remarkable example for all City staff for the last four decades.
“There’s a lot of people that work 40 years in their lives but it’s very rare to spend 40 years in one location or one City,” said City Manager Brian Villalobos. “Duarte is made up of a lot of special people, but Pam is at the top of that heap. I’ve known her for 25 years and I don’t think I’ve ever seen her without a smile or a kind word to say to people. It’s a rarity to have someone with the City of Duarte for this long, and I don’t think it’s something we’ll see again.”
Her incredible commitment to public service has not gone unnoticed. Romero was recognized as a 2025 Woman of the Year recipient by Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio. This is yet another remarkable accolade that she has received during her time with the City.
“This small community is so special and has grown so much over the years,” said Romero. “I’ve loved helping the community and working with my fellow employees whether they’re in my department or not. I wouldn’t have made it to 40 years without Manuel because of his creativity and constant thread of ideas on how to make things better. I’ve never even thought about leaving. I’ve always felt lucky, grateful, and appreciative of my job knowing that I can help the community I live in, and I’ll never take that for granted.”
Upcoming Events
Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Show: Fireworks will light up the sky as the City of Duarte hosts its annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Show on Thursday, July 3, from 6 - 9:30 PM at Duarte Sports Park (1401 Central Avenue). Gates open at 5:30 PM, and the fireworks show will begin at 9 PM.
Families are encouraged to arrive early to stake out the perfect spot for viewing the show and enjoy an evening filled with food trucks and vendors, live musical entertainment by Latin Soul Band, a beer garden, and a variety of vendor booths. The celebration also includes a family play area featuring mechanical rides, inflatables, and lawn games.
Summer Concerts in the Park: The City of Duarte invites the community to enjoy a lively evening of music, food, and family fun at our Summer Concerts in the Park series, taking place every Thursday in July from 6 - 9 PM at Beardslee Park (2000 Buena Vista Street).
Each week features a different live band performing from 7-9 PM, with a DJ kicking off the festivities from 6-7 PM. Guests can enjoy a variety of food trucks, vendor booths, and a family fun zone with activities for all ages.
Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and your dancing shoes! Duarte’s Summer Concerts in the Park are the perfect way to spend a summer evening outdoors with friends and family.