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City Takes Financial Hit in Short Sale
 By Jean McLeod — Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011
 Esteban Almazan received a proclamation from Mayor Gayle Washburn for his Eagle Scout Rank.  At the January 25, 2011 Fillmore City Council meeting Council Member Brian Sipes stated “There is a lot on the Councils agenda” but the February 22, 2011 open session meeting, which ended just after an hour, did not fit that description. The Council’s agenda was mostly finishing up and approving old business and reporting on committee meetings Council Members had attended. This meeting’s agenda consisted of the appropriations limit for Fiscal Year 2010-2011, a Joint Use Agreement between the City of Fillmore and the Fillmore Unified School District, an interim Ordinance Citywide Moratorium on establishment and operation of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries for 1 year, and approval of Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP). One item on the Redevelopment Agency agenda was a request to accept a short payoff on a First Time Homebuyers Loan (FTHL) of $43,000 taken out in July of 2008 and the home is now for sale due to divorce. The FTHL was used as the 15% down payment on the home’s $292,000 purchase price. The selling agents informed the City the property had decreased in value and the offering price today is $280,000 which is less than the payoff amounts of both the primary loan and secondary FTHL Agency loan. The seller’s settlement shows a shortfall and loss to the city of $18,936.71 with a pay back to the city of $24,863.29 or approximately 57% of the Agency’s original $43,800 loan. All of the loss is coming out of the FTHL which carried the second on the property, but there was little the City could do to prevent taking all of the loss. Both Cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme have also suffered such losses. All Council Members reluctantly agreed to accept the short payoff. The Council approved an extension of the moratorium on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries, so the dispensaries will not be coming to Fillmore anytime soon. A little less than a year ago the City Council adopted an interim zoning measure that prohibits the establishment or operation of such dispensaries throughout the city in order to allow City staff time to study the related land use impact. The City Council directed staff to review all available options, including permitting and regulating the dispensaries. The City Council has extended the moratorium for an additional year to allow City Staff time to study input from any local individuals who might have a medical need for the dispensary. Esteban Luna Almazan, Eagle Scout B.S.A. from Troop 406 received a proclamation from the City of Fillmore commending him for his hard work and achievement in planning and implementing a garden for the 1st grade classrooms at Sespe Elementary School. Almazan, who started with the Scouts in 1999 and the Boy Scouts in 2004, was accompanied by 16 of his fellow Scouts and friends to receive the proclamation. Norma Amaro, ower of Vintage Pleasures, addressed the Council during Public Comments with regards to the filming on Central Avenue, stating she appreciated the filming being done on days of low activity such as Sunday and Monday. She also mentioned how much it helped that the stores are compensated for the disruption by those filming and that those same people often buy from the local business and eat at local restaurants. Amaro also mentioned other Fillmore residents who had addressed the Council with their concerns about the public not knowing the opening times of the pool. She suggested Swim Hour Gift Certificates and offered to sell the certificates in her store on Central Avenue. Fire Chief Rigo Landeros also asked that Firefighter and City Disaster Coordinator Patrick Maynard be recognize for his great work as a liaison between the film industry and the City. Walker also wanted to correct a statement she made a few weeks ago and inform the public that the Senior Citizen Center is no longer issuing dog licenses, but the licenses can now be purchased at A&M Pet Store in town. |
