Fillmore Chief of Police, Dave Wareham

A proclamation was offered to the Soroptimist Club of the Camino Real Region, at Tuesday's regular meeting, recognizing "Healthy Heart Month.

Public Works Supervisor David Smallwood provided an update on Fillmore's diminished drought conditions. Fillmore's ground water situation has greatly improved due to regular rains the town has experienced recently.

The city's three main wells are running without problems. Our wells usually average a depth of 300 feet. They are now producing at 170 feet due to recent rainy weather.

Fillmore resident Richard Torres asked the Council to alert Caltrans to the fact the traffic light at A Street and Highway 126 needs to be re-timed. Torres told the Council that the present timing does not allow pedestrians sufficient time to cross the street before the light turns red. The Council stated that it would ask Caltrans to investigate the alleged problem.

Two Fillmore residents spoke out against support of any kind for marijuana within the city limits. Reports stating that, for the first time, deaths from drug use have surpassed deaths caused by traffic accidents in the nation.

Fillmore Chief of Police, Dave Wareham, spoke to emphasize that the Ventura County Sheriff's Department is not, and has not, been targeting anyone for being an "illegal alien". He stated that the residents of Fillmore should feel safe at home. Wareham explained that recent raids in the city had nothing to do with any kind of immigration field work. The recent arrest of 3 persons was due to the fact that they were gang members with records for robbery, assault and other crimes. The arrests were of convicted criminals. Three guns were recovered.

Of 160 recent arrests made by the Sheriff's Department, 155 arrestees had previous criminal histories. One of the 3 arrestees in Fillmore was a MS13 gang member from El Salvador, one from Brazil with cocaine conviction, and an Australian with a child molestation record.

Bottom line: The Ventura County Sheriff's Department is not conducting immigration field work. So, we should all feel safe.

Despite strong opposition from Fillmore residents to any presence of marijuana in city limits, the Fillmore City Council is obligated to establish a fee for marijuana growing permits. Proposition 64 was recently passed and made recreational use of marijuana legal. Californian's are now permitted to grow up to 6 plants for their own use. The Council established the expense of growing permits to be $176. This cost is only established by determining the actual city's cost of administering marijuana cultivation within city limits, including such things as inspection, security, site plan, odor control, etc.

One resident insisted that the permit cost should be at least $1,000 considering the numerous control expenses. Permit costs cannot be arbitrary, by law.

The permit cost was approved by unanimous vote.

The Council approved the purchase of a new pickup truck and a wood chipper, for Public Works, to satisfy EPA requirements. The cost of $40,000 was settled through reallocation of funds. The vote was unanimous.

Fillmore Fire Chief Keith Gurrola asked for an application for a "FEMA Safer Grant" to hire additional fire department personnel. The request was also approved by unanimous vote.