It was a pleasure to attend last night's council meeting. Several presentations were awarded. Most impressive to me were those made to the individual volunteers responsible for the creation of Fillmore's new "Pump Track Park". If, like me, you didn't know what such a park was, it's a truly great bicycle recreation area. Our park is unique in Ventura County, being the only one in existence to date.

It is a carefully designed earthen obstacle course for bicycles, including ramps, and numerous jumping areas and curves. What's really neat about the course is the fact that kids of all ages can use it. I've watched very young children run their bikes over the bumps while moms supervised the activities. It's a low-maintenance area designed to burn a lot of energy while negotiating the various-sized hills and valleys. Combined with our new state-of-the-art skateboard park, no kid in Fillmore can complain about not having exciting things to do!

Our new Pump Track Park is just one of the impressive list of Fillmore City Council accomplishments completed during the past couple of years. Please also note the names of individuals and companies who VOLUNTEERED their time and money to create these new facilities. Both the extensive (and expensive) Boys & Girls Club and Pump Track constructions involved extensive, difficult, and time-consuming effort by these extraordinary volunteers.

A plaque at both locations should thank these volunteers to let future beneficiaries of their labor know how the facilities came to be. See two stories on the front page for more details, and fillmoregazette.com.

List of city accomplishments during past couple of years:
Economic Development
Economic Development Strategic Plan – Adopted 2014
Surveyed Downtown Businesses
Fillmore Development Council
The Retail Coach - Retail Analysis
The Stop Project
Family Dollar
Revising Business Park – CAIF allocation formula
Revised Subordination/1st Time Homebuyers Program

Communication
Approved contract new web site
Mobile App
Communication Plan – Adopted 2014
Approved Upgrade of Server Hardware, Internet Services and Phone System

Fiscal
2.4 M carry over in 2013-14 Budget
California Society of Municipal Finance Officers – Operating Budgeting Excellence Award FY 2014-15.
Monthly financial report provided to Council
Investment Policy
Provide detailed analysts on warrant list expenses allocations
Upgraded Financial Software System and added Building/Planning and Human Resources Modules

Infrastructure
Central Avenue Repaved
Traffic Signal Mountain View and 126 on Schedule – Working with Cal Trans project warranted.
Valley Express Bus Service (Santa Paula, Fillmore and Ventura County)
Heritage Valley Regional Transit JPA approved

Litigation
El Dorado Case Settled
Sales tax issue settled

Public Safety
Replaced aging Fire Engine using CDBG Funding
Approved replacement of aging Fire Squad Truck – Using CDBG Funding for 80% of cost.
Obtained a $500,000 Cal-Grip Grant to help suppress and prevent further gang violence through a cooperative effort of police and the community.
Part 1 crimes continued to decrease due to the dedication of resources to problem areas.
Obtained a $215,000 grant from the Fillmore Fire Foundation for replacement hand-held radios and self-contained breathing devices.
Obtained bullet proof vests.
Fire house remodeled

Organizational
Revised Facility Use Policy
Adopted Volunteer Program
Hired - Finance Director, City Manager, Community Development Director, City Engineer and Building Official, Building Inspector, Planning and Building Technician, Assistant Finance Direct, Administrative Assistant, Reclassification of Admin Asst/ Deputy City Clerk to Human Resources Director/Deputy City Clerk. Hired and trained 3 academies of Paramedics and EMTs in the Volunteer Firefighter Program
Eliminated 5% of salary reduction from Employees’ Medical Cafeteria Allowance and Restored to full amount of $675.00
Provided 2% Salary Increase to Employees

Community Services

Competition of the new kitchen equipment at the Multi-Purpose Center for the Senior Nutrition Program. (Oven, hood exhaust system, freezer, refrigerator and kitchen ceiling tiles)
New Senior Nutrition Meal Site – North Fillmore Store Front.
Maintenance at Shiells Park and Delores Day bathrooms. (painted)
Re-model back three rooms and bathroom on the stage area at the Memorial Building.
Memorial Building back patio re-done and painted and the back west outside wall of the Memorial Building was also completely painted.
Three Friendship games for Youth Basketball were held with Santa Paula. Two games in Fillmore and one games in Santa Paula.
Competition of the Tot Lot Play Equipment at Two Rivers Park.
Pump Track Completed

Planning/Building
Completed an update of the City's General Plan Housing Element.
Completed and submitted to the State Department of Finance a Long-Range Property Management Plan for successor redevelopment agency properties as required by state law.
Ventura Street Guidelines adopted and reviewed.
Planning Commission received professional training for first time in 15 years

Other
Gold - Emerging Energy Leader Award – VCREA
Platinum Energy Level Award – April Anticipated
Equestrian Center
Approved adding Enhanced Active Adult Programs
Approved Active Adult Commission
Centennial celebration
Negotiation of an agreement with the school district to resolve the unpaid athletic field water bill matter. Plan in place to fix grass area.