With Mayor Patti Walker absent, Mayor Pro-tem Gayle Washburn presided over the May 26th City Council Meeting. The Council honored the new Fire Chief and the outgoing Fire Chief of the Fillmore Fire Department, discussed how to make ends meet in Lighting and Landscaping Districts that are not paying their own way, approved change orders for the Water Treatment Plant, set a public hearing for June 9th to discuss garbage collection fee increases, heard public comments, and heard an update from the public and staff on landscaping at Riverwalk Park.

The Council formally appointed Rigo Landeros as the new Fire Chief. Transitional City Manager Larry Pennell presented the appointment. Pennell explained how the firefighters had been evaluated to determine who would be Chief. He not only said that Landeros was the most qualified candidate, but also complimented him on his training, level of experience, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills. He noted that Landeros had been Volunteer Assistant Fire Chief since 1992, and was 2005 Firefighter of the Year. City Clerk Clay Westling swore Landeros into office. Landeros thanked Pennell, Bill Herrera, the Council, the Fillmore firefighters, his wife Laura, and his family. He said that he would work to preserve the high standards currently in place at the fire department.

The Council recognized Outgoing Fire Chief Bill Herrera for his exemplary service. Pennell congratulated Herrera on a job well-done. Mayor Pro-tem Gayle Washburn on behalf of the Council presented him with a proclamation citing his goodwill, energy, fairness, friendliness, and enthusiasm. The Fillmore Fire Department gave Herrera a commemorative white-leather fire helmet and a large plaque containing a life-size highly-polished axe. They presented red roses to his wife Kathy. Herrera thanked his family, the firefighters, and the duty captains. He said that he was sad to be resigning, but knowing that the department would be in capable hands made it easier. He said, “Rigo’s going to do an awesome job.”

Fillmore has special Districts which assess landowners within the District to cover the costs of public lighting and landscaping within each District. City Engineer Tom Scott presented the Annual Engineers Report and Levy of Assessments for Lighting and Landscape District No. 2. At a previous meeting, the Council had directed staff to present an alternate report showing reductions in service to compensate for the budget deficits in various tracts. The alternate report indicated that in order to eliminate all deficits, the City would have to reduce tree maintenance, stop watering most landscapes, cancel a regularly planned weed abatement, and cut lighting in half in certain neighborhoods—perhaps by removing light bulbs from every other streetlamp. Affected tracts would include the Sorrento development, the County Fair development, the Traditions development, the Symphony development, and the Rosewood development. The Council discussed possible fire hazards and decided it might be a bad idea to let all of the plants except for the trees die due to lack of water. The Council does not want District landowners to be subsidized by taxpayers outside the Districts. The Council voted to approve the original report, acknowledged that the budget could be adjusted later to include reductions in service, and directed staff to ballot individual tracts for increased maximum assessments for those tracts that have negative estimated budgets.

The Council approved the Annual Engineers Report and Levy of Assessments for the Heritage Valley Lighting and Landscape District 2007-1.

The Council approved three change orders to the Fillmore Water Recycling Plant Design-Build-Operate Contract with American Water. Change Order 13 provides for demonstration wetlands within the basin to comply with a grant requirement, and compensates for an increase in the estimated water flow through Sespe Creek by increasing storm water pumping capacity. It will costless than $80,000. Change Order 14 provides for additional exterior landscaping and irrigation to comply with new Fish and Game requirements, but includes a credit of $150,000 for reduced interior landscaping and irrigation. This results in a net credit of almost $24,000 for that change order. Change Order 15 for almost $500,000 provides for River Street paving improvements from C St. to E St. KDF Communities will cover most of that cost through CFD 6.

Washburn officially introduced Todd Gernheuser to the City Council. Gernheuser is Fillmore’s new representative to the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District.

After Fillmore resident Heather Miranda stated her concerns regarding the litter, mud, rocky dirt, and erosion at Riverwalk Park, Public Works Director Bert Rapp provided an update on the landscaping situation there. Apparently, a contractor had dug a trench through the park to do pipe work, and has had difficulty restoring the grass. Rapp agreed that current conditions were “not acceptable in the least,” and said that the city has been working with the contractor to fix the problem. Rapp expects new grass to be established by the end of June.
The Council approved extending the City’s current contract with Ky Spangler to allow her to continue as a limited term assistant to the City Manager and Deputy City Manager. Bill Bartels explained what her role has been, why it was temporarily necessary, and described the work she has done. During discussion, the Council decided to limit her role to facilitating the progress of the Business Park and pursuing stimulus money. The Council appropriated $12,000 from the budget to cover a maximum of 120 hours at $100 per hour.

Fillmore citizens spoke up about two initiatives that are likely to be on the ballot at an upcoming election. Both initiatives concern rent stabilization at Fillmore’s El Dorado Mobile Home Park, but according to a proponent of the second initiative there are significant differences between the two. The advocates for the first initiative expressed antagonism toward the second initiative.

The Council received a proposal for a Fee Adjustment Rate Increase for Santa Clara Disposal Company Refuse Collection and Disposal Services, and directed staff to set a public hearing for consideration of a rate resolution on June 9, 2009. The proposed increases are 3.52% for residential customers and 2.7% for commercial customers. The increases will compensate the garbage company for the tipping fee increases at the recycling facility and the land fill. Increases in such fees are usually passed through to the rate payers.

The Council reviewed City Council Goals for 2009-2010.