Bert Rapp Receives Prestigious ACEC Award. Rapp lead the city in engineering excellence for 20 years. The American Council of Engineering Consultants 2010 Engineering Excellence Honor Award for the City of Fillmore Water Recycling Program was presented to exiting Public Works Director Bert Rapp after 20 years of excellent service to the city. Presenting the award was Mayor Gayle Washburn and Doug Haack, Construction Observer with AECOM.

Bert Rapp being recognized after 20 years of service to the city of Fillmore.

This Tuesday’s City Council Meeting was the first full meeting for Council Member Brian Sipes, Mayor Gayle Washburn, Mayor Pro Tem Jamey Brooks and the last meeting for Public Works Director Bert Rapp.

The meeting began with Proclamations for the Vision 2020 Civic Pride Committee and a posthumous proclamation recognizing the contributions of Roy Arnold. But the accolades going to Rapp for his almost 20 years of service to the City were so numerous it was hard to keep count.

One of the many beautiful plaques Rapp received at the meeting was from Jeff Gorell 37th District Assemblyman and presented by District Director Ernie Villegas. Rapp was thanked for his numerous contributions to the City that included hours of work helping obtain grants to improve the town, along with helping design our City Hall, bike path, flood protection levees, storm drains, water recycling plant, the downtown street design, raised bridges over gutters on Central to cross the street safely, and speed table in front of the Town Theatre to keep the traffic flow at a safe speed to name just a few. Many spoke of how easy Rapp was to work with and Laurie Hernandez, stated Rapp’s leaving was “a tremendous loss to our city”. Hernandez spoke of how much he will be missed and what a pleasure it was to work with him. Council Member Patti Walker stated Rapp always had “environmentally sound designs” and when the town was concerned with flood control problems Rapp was always out there keeping watch. He was so appreciated that every address brought a standing ovation from everyone in attendance.

During the Public Comments section a Fillmore resident spoke of her desire to have a dog park, and that she has spoken to sponsors who were willing to help with the project. The Council was very receptive to the idea and assured the speaker that they would be available with what ever help the Council could do to help get the project underway and suggested that the speaker bring flyers to the City Hall atrium to let others know how they could help.

Laurie Hernandez addressed the Council stating she was there as a citizen of Fillmore and questioned the Council as to why City Manager Yvonne Quiring’s work hours, both on and off, are not clocked. Hernandez stated that all City Staff’s hours are clocked and she feels the City Managers hours should be as well. Hernandez also asked when a Vote of no Confidence letter (read to the council by Scott Lee September 28) on will be addressed and questioned why the City needs so many consultants, adding that the recent $8 an hour raise for a temporary consultant at this specific time of economical hardship was not in the town’s best interest.

Also presented was a proposal to conduct a Proposition 218 election ballot measure for the area of Landscape and Lighting Assessment addressing District No. 2. It is reported that presently District No. 2, which is an area of Fillmore, is unable to collect funding needed for the everyday maintenance costs.

Jim McGuire, the Senior Project Manager of Willdan Financial Services presented the Council with a proposal to prepare a 1972 Act Feasibility Study in regard to the existing Storm Drain and Landscape & Lighting Assessment Districts in Fillmore to address the issue.

City Engineer Tom Scott informed the Council that various sub-zones in Fillmore are underfunded and unable to pay for the day-to-day maintenance costs. The total shortfall of all the districts is approximately $33,474 annually. There are sections of Fillmore that are already paying the fees needed for the maintenance through their tax bill, but others in newer sections that are not. The desire of the ballot was to spread the costs and benefits equitably. Also the City Engineer would like to create a new city-wide storm drain assessment district that would provide for the mandated State and Federal requirements for the Region Water Quality Control Board Storm Water Discharge Permit.

The Council agreed that the improvements are needed, but in today’s climate of economic turmoil the Council doubted that a ballot measure asking for a new tax or fee would pass at this time. Council Member Sipes questioned McGuire about the hourly charges for the storm drain analysis which start at $50 for Staff Support and go up to $210 for Group Manager. McGuire responded saying that typical storm drain analysis usually runs around $70,000 and that they have presented the City with a very reasonable cost of service which is under $20,000.

Walker reminded the Council that the cost will not be less down the road, and starting sooner might financially be a better choice. The Council agreed that the improvement could be addressed in six months or later; the item was tabled.

Dwight Moore addressed the Council about an item on the agenda that would extend the time for Caltrans Bicycle Transportation Account Grant (BTA) which is a grant to purchase land at Hwy 23.

Moore addressed the Council with the following written statement. “I am speaking with regards to two related items on tonight’s agenda. Item 7E, Authorization for Time Extension to Purchase the Land at Hwy 23 for Caltrans Bike Path and Item 13B Closed Session Real Property Negotiations Property APN 041-0-290-060. I am not speaking on anyone’s behalf.

First with regards to the request for a time extension: To my knowledge, as a director and shareholder in the Fillmore Irrigation Company and thus a part owner of this property, nothing remotely qualifying as negotiation has occurred. What has occurred has been deceit and misrepresentation by the City Irrigation Company to make sure that their title is clear. Evidently the City is basing its claim on Irrigation Company’s deed to Greywes for land west of Hwy 23. The Fillmore Irrigation Company also has other legal support for its ownership. The City should know better. After all, you do have legal counsel and have hired at least on appraiser and a property negotiating firm.

The City’s proposed closed door session, Item 13B sends exactly the wrong message. It says to me that the City has something to hide. Property law requires disclosure, and yet, the City proposes to use its optional authority, you notice it’s not required, to hid its discussions behind closed doors. This lack of transparency deceives the public and hinders negotiation. Dwight Moore”.

The agenda item Moore was referring to involved the Councils need to address a time sensitive grant that is aging out. In 2007 the City applied for a $315,000 BTA grant to purchase AP041-0-290-060 which is 4.11 Acres of land to be used for future construction of a bike trail from the existing trail crossing under the SR23 Bridge east to the new trail along the KB Homes Santa Clara River levee. The land is mostly in the river bed. The northern end of the parcel includes the river bank and perhaps a half acre of land above the river bank. The land is unprotected from river bank erosion and cannot be developed without the construction of levee protection. The site is in the unincorporated County area.

In January 2009 the City Council accepted the grant. Per the grant agreement the acquisition must be completed by June 2011 or it will expire. While processing the land purchase several complications arose making it difficult to complete the acquisition on time. To date the City spent $27,000 on an appraisal, title report, survey, legal services and appraisal review by the County Appraiser. There was some discussion by Staff of a home built across property lines and a question of property ownership. There are tasks that are outside of the control of the City such as: reaching agreement with Fillmore Irrigation on the value of a quit claim, negotiation a lot line adjustment from the northerly property owner and obtaining legal access to Hwy 23.
If the acquisition is not be completed by May 2011 the City could have been at risk of not being reimbursed. The Council granted the extension.

David Crockett representing the Chamber of Commerce came to thank those who attended the recent blood drive and made it such a success and to remind those in attendance of the Chambers coming events.