Tuesday night’s city council meeting began with Approval of the consent calendar, 4-0.

Public Works Director Bert Rapp asked for authority to proceed with demolition of the garage at 50 C Street. Rapp sought an expenditure of up to $20,000 of Water Recycling Program monies to burn/demolish the old garage building at the closed Waste Water Treatment plant site.

He explained to council that the building stands at the entrance of the plant on C Street, where three acres of grass will eventually be added. The garage was converted into an office and storage building in 1998. The sewer service to the building was terminated when the sewer main to the old plant was abandoned on July 4, 2009. To reactivate the sewer a new sewer main would need to be installed from the garage building to River Street about 500 feet north at a cost of about $150,000.

The building is built low and is subject to frequent flooding. It has not been rented for about 18 months and was last used for storage of bicycle merchandise.

The City of Fillmore would have to obtain a burn permit for the Ventura County APCD and a demolition permit from Fillmore Building and Safety. After the building is burned, the city will process a change order with American Water to complete the demolition with the rest of the WWTP facilities.

Councilmember Jamey Brooks asked about the procedure in burning the abandoned building. Fillmore Fire Captain Rigo Landeros explained that the burning of the old garage would be used as a training exercise for novice and seasoned firefighters alike. The windows and doors will be boarded up from the outside with plywood, as a safety precaution if anyone were to become trapped inside. Each room will be burned strategically, stated Landeros, to get as many burns out of it as possible. A Certified Safety Officer and IC Chief would be onsite, as well as a Rapid Intervention Group, with a support group on the roof to cut holes. Smoke levels and fire activity would be monitored and used to train the team. Landeros said the actual burn exercise was a “tremendous tool” for the fire department.

Mayor Pro-tem Gayle Washburn questioned the $20,000 expenditure, which Rapp said he based on a more complicated burn a year ago, costing $25,000. That burn required 100% demolition, stated Rapp, and involved asbestos removal, which this burn will not. The Motion was passed, 4-0.

Walker read a second reading of Ord. No. 09-815, amendment of municipal code regarding the duties and powers of the city manager and establishing a city manager form of government. The issue was first introduced at the Sept. 22 council meeting. City Attorney Ted Schneider said the ordinance reflects the city manager’s powers to hire, fire, discipline and reorganize city employees without city council approval. However, the ordinance does not authorize the City Manager to exercise such control over city staff without sanctions from Council, excluding the city clerk, city attorney, and the city treasurer.

Schneider said it should be amended to accurately reflect the city manager’s practice of unambiguous power, and existing governmental structure. The Motion carried, 4-0.

Council unanimously approved an expenditure of $2,300 for supplies and services for the N. Fillmore Police Storefront Grand Opening, October 21, from 4:30PM to 7PM. The event will include music and DJ, food and cake, Jolly Jumps, Mariachi, and much more. The community is invited to join the festivities. The expenditure also included advertising for the event and decorations, printing and postage.

The North Fillmore Storefront project has been underway for over seven years. The facility has undergone expansion and renovation through the donation of volunteer time, materials and the contribution of funds from many sources. Donations are being accepted to off-set costs and will be deposited into the North Fillmore Police Storefront budget trust account.

Hernandez thanked City Disaster Coordinator Patrick Maynard who does all the flyers and ads. “It’s incredible the graphics he comes up with.”

Council had formed a subcommittee including Councilmembers Hernandez and Brooks to coordinate with city staff and community members to plan this event.

Redevelopment agency consent – no warrants, passed 4-0.

Direction of Staff-none

Travel report: Mayor Pattie Walker discussed her trip to San Jose and California League of Cities. She informed the council of a crosswalk element one exhibitor featured, where the crosswalk warning lights automatically light up when ramps sense pressure. She suggested the concept be considered for the new B Street crosswalk.
Next, Washburn requested City Manager Yvonne Quiring present a report at next council meeting on the progress of hiring a city finance director, approved.

Mayor Walker invited the public to attend a Senior Summit on October 24 at Cal State University, Channel Islands, Supervisor Linda Parks, coordinator. A bus will be available at the Fillmore Senior Center for anyone wanting to attend. Walker said with the State taking county funding, senior care services like the Brown Bag program are impacted. The purpose of the summit is to bring people together and fill the gaps that are needed, stated Walker. She will be accompanied by city Facilities Director Annette Cardona. Information flyers are available at city hall or go to seniorsummit@ventura.org.

Walker gave a brief report on the Ventura Regional Sanitation District meeting on September 29; and the October 1st public hearing held at Simi Valley City Hall addressing the Total Maximum Daily Load for PCBs, Pesticides and Sediment Toxicity in McGrath Lake. The proposed cleanup methods range from capping the shallow lake with dirt, which would cost $1.4 million, to dredging it of the polluted sediment, which could cost nearly $12 million [ http://venturaecosystem.blogspot.com/2009/09/mcgrath-lake-cleanup.html].

She also advised on the Animal Control meeting held October 8th addressing wildlife issues, such as coyote, bear and mountain lion sightings. Animal Control requested that all city websites add a link to Animal Control to keep the public informed of wildlife concerns.

Brooks reported from the Ventura County Library Commission meeting last Thursday that “no one has been laid off in the library system that wasn’t going to already retire”.

New city manager Yvonne Quiring thanked the community for welcoming her.

Rapp reported that recycled landscape water will used this Friday at Fillmore High School, the first time this has been done in Fillmore.

FEMA mailed out approximately 1500 flyers on Oct. 14, and doorknob hangers will be distributed inviting the public to the October 22 information meeting on required flood insurance, to reach owners and renters. The meeting will be held at the Veterans Memorial building, starting at 6:30PM. There will be an informal Q & A hour, followed by a formal presentation by FEMA and the Watershed Protection District.

Construction will start Thursday, October 15 on the River Street cul-de-sac. It is expected to be finished by January 2010. Construction on the Business Park is to begin in spring 2010.

Mayor Washburn thanked Marie Wren and the Senior Center board for the admiral job they are doing. Washburn announced the Senior Center’s new bowling league, the Fillmore Keglers. They will be competing at the Pleasant Valley Community Center bowling tournament. More information available at the Fillmore Senior Center or contact Annette Cardona at the City of Fillmore.

Council discussed alternate uses for the Fillmore Town Theatre. Hernandez asked that One Step and Wellness Center be put on future council agenda for theatre use for a music festival, to showcase local talent. Washburn suggested a subcommittee to brainstorm other ways to use the theatre. Council agreed.

Walker discussed a City of Chula Vista ordinance to make maintaining foreclosure property the lending bank’s responsibility. It was suggested Staff could contact Chula Vista and imitate their ordinance. Staff was directed to research Chula Vista’s ordinance and the item be put on agenda for discussion and review.

Council adjourned to closed session to confer with city attorney Ted Schneider – Anticipated Litigation: Initiation of Litigation Pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 5495.9 (1 Potential Case.)