David Wayne Rowlands

There were a number of items on Tuesday's Fillmore City Council Meeting's agenda requiring the meeting to continue late into the evening. The issue that filled the chamber to standing room only was the renewal of the E. J. Harrison/Santa Clara Disposal contract. Other items included the approval of the new City Manager, placing past due utility charges on the property tax roll for collection, accepting the 2013-2014 Budget and requests for a fee waver and temporary use permit.

NEW CITY MANAGER CONTRACT APPROVED
The Council approved the contract for a new City Manager. David Wayne Rowlands will start on August 12, 2013 with an annual salary of $159,000. Rowlands has been the City Manager for Clayton, Ohio, a city of approximately 14,000 residents, for 12 years. He worked with a full-time staff of 32 which included the Police and Fire Departments. Before Clayton, he served as the Deputy City Manager for Novato, California. Rowlands received his Bachelor of Arts degree from California Lutheran University and a Master of Public Administration degree from California State University Stanislaus. Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Minjares stated the Council was looking for someone with technical skills that could communicate with everyone and they believe they have found that in Rowlands. Fillmore Council Members traveled to the City of Clayton to interview their city staff members and ask questions of those who had worked under Rowlands’ management. Mayor Rick Neal said the staff spoke of Rowlands’ community involvement and was told everyone was saddened to lose him as their City Manager.

E. J. HARRISON CONTRACT RENEWAL
The renewal of E. J. Harrison's contract packed council chambers as speaker after speaker, over 14 in all, addressed the Council with their recommendations to renew the company's contract. Many like Tammy Hobson, President of the Boys and Girls Club, spoke of Harrison's work ethic, community involvement and sponsorship of various organizations and activities the company has provided over the years. Hobson and others agreed that there would be no Boys and Girls Club without Harrison's support. Others spoke of the company's help during natural disasters, such as the earthquake that Fillmore suffered or the recent fire. The company provided services at no charge and does not charge for the street sweeping twice a month the town presently receives because Harrison considered the City's financial situation. Bill Barrette the street sweeping subcontractor spoke about how important this service is to Fillmore stating, "Street sweeping is important because it is the key to clean water ways and a safe and beautiful environment....we have hard working, local, loyal employees which are the backbone to our communities." There are over 20 Fillmore residents whose work is associated directly or indirectly with Harrison.

Fillmore residents pay the second lowest rate in the County for trash removal. The lowest rate payers are Santa Paula residents who contract with Crown Disposal out of Los Angeles County and unlike Fillmore they have all three containers picked up each week. Crowns trucks then travel through Fillmore on Highway 126 to dispose of their loads in Los Angeles County. There were questions brought up about having Harrison trucks do the same schedule here in Fillmore. Nan Drake, Government Affairs and Public Relations for Harrison Industries responded that it would not be environmentally responsible to have three trucks each week on the streets. Presently Harrison trucks have a zero emissions rating due to their commitment of converting waste streams to bio-fuel. According to Drake the addition of another truck would negate that standard.

The Council asked what could be done to help with the overflowing barrels of recycle material that often lands up falling out onto the street due to the small size of the container, which also includes the yard clippings containers. Jim Harrison, owner of the company, responded that all items that are recycled can receive larger 95 gallon containers in exchange for the smaller 64 gallon for free by calling the company. There is no limit on recycled material and it can be turned into energy. The company will gladly pick up extra, Harrison told the Council, but he added, there is no profit to using the landfill.

SENIOR CENTER BINGO
The Fillmore Senior Center is planning on adding a Bingo event to their activities and sent the Council a letter asking for a fee waver. Bingo would be a fundraiser for the Center, three hours per week. The cost of $75 per week was approved by a four-to-one vote with Council Member Steve Conaway the sole No vote. Conaway clarified why he had voted No. He stated that he hopes the Center is successful and his No vote was solely based on his supporting a need to be fiscally responsible due to the City's financial position.

DELINQUENT WATER/SEWER ACCOUNTS
An item that has an impact on most of Fillmore's residents came up for discussion again. That being the collection of delinquent utility bills owed the City and if they should be collected by being placed on the Property Taxes rolls. June 7, 2013 notices were sent to owners of delinquent properties. Of the 229 properties sent notices, 14 individuals were sent an incorrect statement due to processing time in Ventura County's Assessors Office and not having up-to-date data. Fourteen of the property owners who received the notices came to the City and explained they were not owners at the time of the delinquencies. Five others receiving notice came in and paid their debt.

The Council discussed their concern that errors could happen when changing to the new billing and the need of having a clear process. It is important they said that owners know when tenants are in arrears with their utility bills and preventing owners from being notified in error. The Council ended with stating they wanted more time to discuss having a safety net to prevent errors and understand the legal issues involved.
The roughly $100,000 owed in delinquent sewer and water bills is equal to a one or two dollar added each month to the remaining customers rates to make up for the loss. It would also help reduce the 3% increase soon to be added to each bill. Conaway stated that addressing the delinquent customers is a very responsible thing to do and that the residents expect the Council to be fiscally responsible with such items.
A public hearing has been scheduled for June 25, 2013 and the Council must decide with a 2/3 vote agreeing to place the sewer bill on the upcoming property taxes.

BUDGET APPROVAL
The FY 2013-2014 Budget was approved although not without the Council questioning whether it would be better to wait until the new City employees are in place before approving a budget. There is also the issue of sales tax agreements and ongoing negotiations with the State Board of Equalization over what sales tax belongs to the City of Fillmore. It could have a huge impact of the budget, and with a new City Manager and new Finance Director the budget could change. The Council was assured that the budget is a living document that enables the City to respond to changes and the needs of the community and it would at least provide some guidelines at present.

4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS CONTRACT
The contract for the Fourth of July fireworks display was approved. The launch site will be located at Fillmore Middle School as in previous years and will be handled by ExpoShows, Inc. at a lower rate and a larger amount, 688 aerial breaking shells, of fireworks used in the performance lasting 16 1/2 minutes. The cost will of $11,000 is not paid from the General Fund. It is funded by five groups of non-profits and Fillmore Railroad.