Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean (above) addressed the council of concerns in maintaining the strides law enforcement has made in recent years.

The June 14, 2011 Fillmore City Council Meeting/Budget Workshop was the second meeting on the proposed budget cuts and mainly an ask-answer session of the budget proposals presented to the Council on June 7th by City Manager Yvonne Quiring. Also discussed was an annual review of the Storm Drain Maintenance Assessment Report and a levy assessment along with the proposed termination of the Heritage Valley Parks Project Development Agreement.

One budget cut proposal presented was the elimination of three Sheriff Officers; a Motorcycle Officer, a School Resource Officer and a Gang Task Force Officer. Ventura County Sheriffs Chief Geoff Dean addressed the Council and expressed his concern in maintaining the strides law enforcement has made in recent years to combat crime in Fillmore. Dean said to expect a press release informing the public of the 11 gang members arrested in the last two days in Fillmore and Santa Paula.

Mayor Pro Tem Jamey Brooks remarked to Dean that Fillmore is in a budget crisis and mentioned the 3% increase in cost for the Sheriffs services next year. Dean responded, “I feel your pain….they’re not easy decisions.” He informed the Council that the city’s charge is what it costs the Sheriffs Department and there was no profit involved, adding that it would be illegal for him not to charge that. “In the past (the Sheriffs) could work with you on it, but not today.” He then told the Council if they cut the three positions he would “find a way to make it work.” Dean commented that visitors to Fillmore on the 4th of July come because they know it’s a safe place.

Another item on the calendar was the resolution regarding the Landscape and Lighting Levy Assessment, but before it could be discussed Council Members Patti Walker and Brian Sipes, who both reside in the tract districts, recused themselves. Walker, who lives in the Hometown Track, did speak to the remaining Council as a resident. She stated the storm drains benefit all of Fillmore residents and the costs to maintain them should be passed along to everyone not just those tracks where the drains are located. The Council agreed to discuss Walker’s recommendation at the June 28, 2011 Public Hearing on the matter.

The meeting continued on with what other cuts could be made to help resolve the City’s financial problems. It was decided that the City News Letter would only be available on line and would no longer be printed and mailed out saving the City $2,400. Also the Print and Advertising budget for legal notices to the Gazette would be reduced from $6,750 to $1,500 and would be done without a contract on a need-to bases. The Information Technology Technician/Computer Support (IT) will be reduced by 1.84 positions and the IT provider has lowered the cost by $100 per month saving the city $1,200 annually. Walker asked the City Manager for the scope that the IT provides and Mayor Washburn asked for a job description of the IT.

Also on the chopping block were two Senior Water Maintenance and two Intermediate Maintenance positions (eliminated), saving the City $285,553. A Meter Reader will be added, costing $75,068 annually.

Council Member Conaway was concerned with all the proposed cuts, which in some cases are severe, and questioned if the City can function with this proposed budget and cuts.

The termination of a Development Agreement with Griffin Homes was again the focus of the Council. In 2002, the City entered into a Development Agreement with Griffin Homebuilders Group for the development of Heritage Valley Park. Due to financial difficulties Griffin sold a portion of the project to Hearthstone Multi-Asset Entity. In January 2010 the City was notified Williams Homes were interested in purchasing 31 vacant lots and 3 model homes in the detached condo area known as Oak Haven and on April 26, 2011 Lance Williams, the President of Williams Homes, addressed the Council asking if the Development Impact Fees (DIF) could be lowered. At that time he also told the Council the selling price for the homes would range from $250,000 to $290,000.

The term of the Development Agreement originally extended until 2017 if an elementary school was built by 2008, if not the Agreement was to be shortened by 5 years to 2012. The school was not built and the agreement is set to expire in November 2012.

Conaway read the letter sent to the Council and City Manager on June 14th from Williams Homes. It reads, “Terminating the development for 34 ready to build lots in the City of Fillmore will discourage new housing starts and cost jobs. The proposed impact fee increase would come at a time when municipalities across Southern California are slashing building impact fees. New construction creates jobs and demand for many goods and services that will benefit local business. I strongly urge you to side with your planning commission and abandon the termination of the development agreement as proposed today. Go further and create an incentive for builders to pull permits sooner rather than later.”
Walker stated that at present, Williams Homes is not an action to the Development Agreement because the property is presently owned by Comerion and that originally the homes were planned to sell for $450,000 to $475,000.
If the agreement is not terminated the fees would be less than current or future rates and would not be paid for 18 to 24 months. Brooks responded saying developers need to pay a standard fair share. Sipes added the town needs amities, “Do we let developers have reign over our city?” Conaway then gave his opinion stating, “If we leave it in tack, the developer may build 5 or 6 homes…A bird in the hand is better than none.” Adding that what the Council was doing was double dipping and this was a new source of revenue and a long term plan, “I think it is short sided to pull this agreement.”
If Williams homes was allowed to build and they pulled all 34 permits between now and November 2012 they would infuse the city with over $900,000. That does not include Entitlement permit fees. Williams homes was working to build about 5 to 7 homes this year, which means when the DA terminates in 2012 they would be paying the prevailing fees for the yet to be constructed homes.
Sipes responded to Conaway saying that he is asked all the time why the Two Rivers Park isn’t done. “He’s (Conaway) saying set the parks aside.” Mayor Washburn told the Council that when this item had been discussed (at the April 26th Meeting) it bothered her all night and after thinking about terminating the agreement she was not completely in favor of doing so adding that Fillmore’s DIF’s are the highest in the County. A vote was taken and the agreement was terminated with Conaway and Washburn voting no and Sipes, Walker and Brooks voting yes.