City of Fillmore

On Tuesday, March 26, 2013 Bill Herrera conducted a Goal Setting Workshop with the Fillmore City Council. The objective of the workshop was setting the City’s priorities with regards to its common goals, both immediate and long standing.

The meeting started at 3:30 p.m. and ended at 6:15pm with less than half of the priorities covered, so a second workshop will be scheduled in the future. The priorities covered so far were broken down into categories: Governmental, Economic, Public Safety and Community Wellness, Public Works, and Infrastructure.

Beginning with Government, the Council prioritized their goals starting with resolving the sales tax issue with the Board of Equalization. The next goal is Council unification, and third is hiring a City Manager. Final goal of Government is to hire a Finance Director.

Ideas also discussed relating to Government were; record retention and staff identifying what records they have, wanting staff reports to be efficient and concise, an open and transparent government, having the Council meet twice a year with joint commissioners, filling vacant staff positions, education of staff on housing element, code of ethics/conduct, landscaping and lighting, Vision 2020, and code enforcement.

The second of the common goals is Economic Outlook. The first priority is to stabilize and lower sewer rates; next, balance the City's budget and build a cash reserve. Third is economic development strategy, and fourth is a monthly financial review. Other items discussed were; a collection policy on debt services to prevent it from getting out of control, a process to streamline business permits and be competitive with other cities, and a staff member to bring businesses to Fillmore.

In order, the priorities for Public Safety were; Fire and Police, active recruitment of Citizen Patrol, and 100% sign up of VC Alert. The Council stressed the importance of a public recruitment of a Neighborhood Watch Program, and the need to educate the public on what to do in case of a disaster.

Next on the list was Community Service. First goal, promote community involvement and volunteerism. Second is improving communications between Government and community, and third is the 100 Year Celebration.

Specific ideas were the elimination of graffiti and vandalism while working with State officials, and reducing the number of shopping carts abandoned throughout the town. Also discussed was a dedicated phone line to leave comments and suggestions and subtitles of presentations in Spanish.

Public Works and Infrastructure priorities are: improve quality of streets and sidewalks, landscape and lighting, maintenance of City properties and buildings, water and sewer line evaluation, and subsurface irrigation. Suggestions included Bike Path caution signs to warn of snakes, and picking up after your pet.

Community Wellness priority goals are; Superfund site cleanup and communication with Environmental Protection Agency, Assessment of Parklands both current and future such as a dog walk, maintenance and funding of the Aquatic Center and Wellness events through grant funding.

Also, Business Development; Business Park, future business land along with job potential and communicating with County officials, economic development volunteer, and filming commission. Next is to promote and streamline business development application, City staff with understanding of marketing Fillmore, and relocation economic development. Last is tourism and filming.