Judy Dressler received a commendation for her six years of service as Chair of the Vision 2020 Civic Pride Committee. Dressler was one of the founding members of the Committee. Mayor Patti Walker thanked Ray Dressler (shown) and the Committee for their support and hard work.

Fillmore City Council met at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at City Hall. The Council heard presentations from local service organizations, honored Judy Dressler, and discussed construction projects.

Council Member Jamey Brooks had corrections for the minutes of three past meetings, and the Council discussed whether the January 13th minutes should contain direct quotes regarding City Clerk Clay Westling's presentation.
Mayor Patti Walker, on behalf of the Council, presented Judy Dressler with a commendation for her six years of service as Chair of the Vision 2020 Civic Pride Committee. Dressler was one of the founding members of the Committee, and served many years as Secretary before becoming Chair. She thanked Ray Dressler and the Committee for their support and hard work. The Committee supports the annual Art Walk, yard of the month, business of the month, street fairs, and the Spring 2009 flower show.

The Council appointed Tom Fennell and Vance Johnson to the Planning Commission.

The Council discussed allocation of the 2009-2010 Community Development Block Grant provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The City has $25,575 available for public service programs, and it has $136,734 available for public improvement projects.

Doug Caldwell, of the Boys & Girls Club, said that the Club serves 255 children at the First Street location and 63 children at the North Fillmore storefront location. He said over 89% of received donations go directly into program services.

Yvonne R. Gutierrez, Executive Director of El Concilio del Condado de Ventura, said that El Concilio focuses on preventing teen pregnancy, provides classes on reproduction healthcare and healthy dating, and is working with Fillmore High School counselors to develop workshops. She said Fillmore has the second highest teen pregnancy rate in the county, and 86% of teen moms are Hispanic. The program would provide teens with resources and skill sets, and improve their communication skills through interactive instruction. Council Member Laurie Hernandez was the strongest advocate for this program in the ensuing Council discussion.

Kristy Pollard, of FOOD Share, Inc., explained the Brown Bag for Seniors program. Seniors who earn less than $1150 per month receive a supplementary bag of groceries each week. Because the food bank buys in great bulk, $1 in donations provides $18.50 worth of food.

Jim Stueck, advocate for the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, said that 75 Ombudsman volunteers visit the elderly in skilled nursing facilities weekly and visit the elderly in residential facilities twice per month.
The One Step Center and the Fillmore Piru Mentor Program had many advocates: Lynn Edmonds and several participating students. The students explained that the Center provides a safe place to hang out and ask questions about homework or life. Students praised the mentor program. Middle school and high school students mentor elementary students, and are mentored by community adults.

Brenda Davison, advocate for RAIN Project Transitional Living Center in Camarillo, said that RAIN provides for the homeless or nearly homeless: 14 rooms for families, 8 rooms for individuals, case management, life skills, and transportation to and from employment. A required savings program helps residents transition to permanent housing.

David Deutsch, of Turning Point, said that the organization serves adult with mental illnesses by providing a year-round shelter, a transitional living program, a shuttle service, a place for the homeless to shower and do laundry, and referrals to other service providers.

Dwight Magnus, of the Veterans Memorial District, said that over 30,000 Fillmore residents have used the building, and the bathrooms need work because they are over fifty years old.

Angel Patrel, of Women's Economic Ventures (WEV), said that WEV provides small business loans, and a 14-week training program for people wanting to start their own business or improve their small business.

The Council proposes to allocate the following service funds: $13,075 to Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley—Fillmore Unit; $4000 to El Concilio; $3000 to FOOD Share, Inc.; $1000 to Long Term Care Ombudsman Program; $2500 to One Step Center and the Fillmore Piru Mentor Program; $1000 to RAIN for transportation services; and $1000 for Turning Point. The Council proposes to allocate the following project funds: $79,234 to City of Fillmore Community Park Project; $50,000 to Fillmore-Piru Veterans Memorial Building; and $7,500 to WEV. There will be a final public hearing at the February 24th Council meeting.

The Council discussed a draft ordinance regulating pushcart vendors and door-to-door solicitors. According to the relevant memo, restrictions include: "Vending is only permitted between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Vendors cannot peddle within 500 feet of any school from the hours of 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on school days. Vendors must operate at least 100 feet from any public park . . ." The Council approved the draft, and will hold a first reading of the ordinance at a future meeting.

Public Works Director Bert Rapp noted that the FEMA flood maps of the Fillmore area will not go into effect until January 1, 2010. FEMA will hold a public information workshop in October. The Ventura County Watershed Protection District and Fillmore are working together to analyze and improve the Sespe Creek Levee so that Fillmore residents adjacent to Sespe Creek will not be required to have flood insurance. The Council authorized an additional $17,500 for hydraulic analysis of the Sespe Creek to expedite that process. Rapp explained that the analysis will use a more advanced modeling method than FEMA's cross-section method, which cannot take into account the complications caused by islands and non-perpendicular bridges as accurately as the District's 2-D model.

The Council awarded the Design and Construction Administration Contract for the B Street Extension from 2nd St. to 3rd St. to the engineering firm Penfield & Smith in the amount of $45,300. Rapp noted that Penfield & Smith showed the most in-depth understanding of the project, were highly qualified, had shown themselves to be detail-oriented by touring the project, and plan to use the services of a successful traffic engineer. The street extension will involve a jag in the road to go around private property which the owner was unwilling to sell to the City for a reasonable price. Mayor Pro-tem Gayle Washburn indicated that the property owner might be willing to reconsider, so the Council agreed to remain open to that option for another two weeks, so far as it will not delay the project.

The Council declined KDF Communities's request to offset costs owed by KDF to the City for upsizing the storm drain against costs owed by the City to KDF for River Street improvements because the storm drain construction is happening now, the street improvements will not start until April, and it is unclear how much the City will owe KDF.

The Council directed staff to have the palm trees removed from the traffic island on Central Ave. at no cost and plant society garlic flowers there.

The Council accepted Roy Payne's resignation, and waived the 30-day notice requirement so that his resignation is effective as of February 10th.

The Council discussed an Amicus Brief that the City of Santa Barbara had filed in City of Irvine v. Southern California Area of Government (SCAG) regarding the right of cities to seek judicial review of Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) Allocations. Santa Barbara argues that judicial review is essential to prevent the Council of Governments from unlawful actions, and to prevent the merging of executive and judicial powers.
The contest to name River Park something else will end in March.

Volunteers are needed on the weekend of February 28th at the North Fillmore storefront to work on the addition. Framers, drywallers, electricians, and roofers are especially welcome, but even people who can sweep up would be helpful. Contact Laurie Hernandez at City Hall for more information.

The Council formed an ad hoc committee consisting of Gayle Washburn, Laurie Hernandez, and City Attorney Ted Schneider to look into allegations of lease agreement violations at the Equestrian Center.

Bert Rapp provided an update on the status of the Middle School Effluent Disposal Project. The project will be completed by the end of December. Much of the grassy areas and clay courts, as well as the parking lot, will be available for school use at the end of the summer break. The basketball court has already been re-paved.
The Council discussed a few unwritten policies in detail, and directed staff to write them up as formal policies to be adopted at a future meeting.

Norma Amaro thanked the past Council, the present Council, the City, and local landowners for the new signs along Highway 126. She said new customers who had never been to downtown Fillmore before are coming in as a direct result of the signs.

Norma Perez-Sandford said that the Neil Schmitt Family Resource Center (NSFRC) has relocated to room 17 on the Fillmore High School campus, next to the Boys & Girls Club on First Street. She said that the Center disseminates information to children and families about contests, scholarships, help with fees, and free events. Sandra Martinez spoke about the free Spanish GED-preparation classes for adults at the NSFRC. Call 524-6114 for more information.