A Proclamation went to Joemil Reguindin, District Liaison, California State Board of Equalization, for their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) which offers free income tax preparation in Ventura County for those with incomes less than $53,000. Pictured right, Mayor Douglas Tucker.

Tuesday's Fillmore City Council meeting contained three new business items and three proclamations on its agenda. The restructuring of the Fillmore Senior Center was the first agenda item, with a new web site developer and appointments to commissions the second and third items.

During Public Comments Donna Volker, past President of the Fillmore Senior Center (FSC) Board, Charlie Alvarez, a present Board Member, and Bob Stroh addressed the Council. All spoke of their displeasure over the loss of the Multipurpose/Senior Center Building lease. There were a number of accusations directed at specific Council Members and statements that letters from FSC Board Members to the City Manager David Rowlands had been ignored. Volker asked if any of the Council had visited the Senior Center during regular hours, then answered herself stating "No" adding they had only came during their Open House. She then accused Council Member Diane McCall of turning her back on her when Volker tried to speak with her. She also stated that Rowlands purposefully refusing to speak with her. Members of the Council expressed surprise at the accusations. Immediately after speaking the three walked out of the Council Chamber.

The Senior Center was the first agenda item. It addressed creating an Active Adult Commission (AAC) for the Center. This is the first step in establishing an oversight to the Center. The AAC's responsibility will be to advise the Council on the establishment and provision of services to seniors in the community. They will make recommendations on the best way to operate the FSC including programs, activities and policies with a goal of promoting and assisting seniors to maintain maximum health, well-being and independence.

A big concern of the Councils’ was adding layers of red tape to getting things done. Council Member Manuel Minjares told the other members he wanted quick decisions and questioned who should make the final decisions regarding the FSC. McCall agreed with Minjares adding she wanted the people to have a voice.

Mayor Douglas Tucker commented how disappointed he was that Volker, Stroh and Alvarez walked out immediately after their public comments and did not stay to hear, or comment on, the FSC agenda item, stating, "Moving forward we want there to be a positive move."

The new commission will consist of five members, starting with staggered terms of two to four-years. Each member will have an equal vote and be required to follow the Brown Act. The five members select a Chairperson and vice-chairperson. Of those first appointed, two will be appointed for two years and two for four years, and one Council Member for one year. The following years' appointments will be for four years.

The AAC will work with the City on day-to-day operations and submit an annual program requests for funding to the Council by May 1st of each year.

The AAC requirements are; one must be 50 years of age (unless they are a City Council member) and a resident of Fillmore. The City Clerk's office is accepting applications, and interviews will be conducted by the Interview Selection Committee.

The City will be holding public meetings for community input on programs residents would like to see offered at the Senior Center. There will be four meetings scheduled on Wednesdays: two at the North Fillmore Store Front, 642 Lemon Way, March 4th and March 18th, at 9:00-11:00 a.m. And two meetings are scheduled at City Hall Council Chambers, 250 Central Ave, March 11th and March 25th, at 1:00-3:00 p.m..

The next agenda item was entering a contracting with Vision Internet out of Santa Monica to develop a web site for the City of Fillmore. The initial cost to develop the new web site is $26,395 with an annual fee of $6,600 in one year and the annual fee increases 5% per year for four years. The City budgeted $45,000 for this item.
Council Member Carrie Broggie commented that the web sites of cities she was familiar with that Vision designed had "hit the nail on the head" when it came to depicting what the cities offered. McCall commented on the ease of navigating the web sites of the towns that Vision had designed. Fillmore's go-to IT guy, Patrick Maynard assured the Council of Vision’s reputation for web sites.

Rowlands ended the discussion by saying the web site will not go live until approved by the Council.

The third agenda item was appointment of Tim Holmgren to the Planning Commission, along with Lily Feliciano and Gena Lagree to the Film Commission.

Proclamations were presented to the Ventura County Sheriff Explorers Post 2958. The 15 Explorers present were: I. Garibay, D. Ramirez, J. Vargas, A. Mejia, M. Jimenez, A. Castrejan, C. Robledo, L. Medrano, D. Amezcua, I. Galvez, N.Bartels, M. Hammond, J. Herrera, R. Regalado.

The second Proclamation went to Joemil Reguindin, District Liaison, California State Board of Equalization, for their Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) which offers free income tax preparation in Ventura County for those with incomes less than $53,000.

The final award presented went to the City of Fillmore's Finance Director Gaylynn Brien from the California Society of Municipalities, Finance Officer Certificate of Award of Excellence for Fiscal Year 2014-2015. The award was for meeting the criteria established to achieve the Operational Budget Excellence Award.

Fillmore resident Raymond Brown, a member of the Ventura County Grand Jury, informed everyone that the Grand Jury is taking applications, and to announce an open house on March 18th, 3:00-6:00p.m., 646 County Square Dr. Ventura.