At this Tuesday's Fillmore City Council Meeting a new fire truck was approved along with funds for the City's 100-year celebration, a new pump track bike park, a request to help fund a new Watershed Coordination position, and a wave of a Temporary Use Permit by the Lions Club.

The Council approved going forward with the installation of a new pump track/bike park at Two Rivers Park. Jose Ibarra, Park and Recreation Commissioner, put together a volunteer group to build the pump track, which includes a donation for the cost of professional designs. The track is a mixture of compacted clay and dirt and takes a few days to build. The volunteer work crew will be supervised by a pump track/bike park professional to meet specific requirement and limit the City's liability/risk. It will require yearly maintenance and be an unsupervised ride at your own risk park. The cost is expected to be around $9,500 to build and require 8 to 10 hours maintenance yearly. The City will be applying for a $10,000 grant on December 1, 2013 to help cover costs. It will first be set up as temporary but it was suggested by a Council Member that they consider making it permanent. Ibarra stated that the closest pump park is in Fresno, and Mark Langton, of CORBA, the Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Association (the local chapter of the International Mountain Biking Association), informed the Council that the County of Los Angeles is on track to build three pump tracks very soon. Ibarra was asked who would take care of any weeds and he responded that the users often maintain the track similar to how the skate park is swept by those skating there.

The desire for the new sport track has grown out of mountain bike racing and is something both parents and children of all ages do together. A pump track is a continuous circuit of dirt rollers, berms and jumps that loop back on itself as the riders propel themselves by shifting their body weight; similar to one shifting their weight on a swing to propel higher. The pumping allows the rider to propel forward without having to pedal. As the bike moves up and down and sideways the rider's goal is to keep the torso, the center of the body's mass, in as straight of a line as possible and as quickly and fluidly as possible. Pump track riding challenges the participant and requires a great deal of energy and exercise in a short amount of time.

Council Member Diane McCall informed those in attendance that when she was a young girl she raced mountain bikes and could understand the amount of interest in a pump park. Council Member Steve Conaway commented on what a success the skate park has been and added, "People will come to Fillmore to ride it."

There was discussion on where to place the pump park with some Council Members preferring east of the skate park and others the west side. Mayor Rick Neal suggested letting the Parks and Recreation chose the location. Conaway responded, "If we're going to support it we shouldn't be planning it down the road.... and not let it fall on Parks and Recreation." It was decided the west end was best with the Council suggesting a $1,000 annual maintenance fee be added to the budget. There are future plans of a basketball court, tennis court and parking area also at Two Rivers Park.

Also on the agenda was authorization to purchase a new fire engine for the Fillmore Fire Department. The lease to buy purchase which totaled $458,331 was approved and will be paid in eight annual payments. Fire Chief Rigo Landeros informed the Council that the new engine is needed to replace the 25-year old fire truck that does not meet today's safety standards. The old truck has an open cab and cannot be used as shelter in an emergency. Landeros explained that in 2008 a strike team was overtaken by flames and took shelter in their closed cab engine, which saved their lives, adding that an open cab would not have protected them.

The Fillmore Fire Department operates three fire response vehicles, a 2006 Quint ladder truck with a lease that will be paid off in 2016, a 2003 Pierce Saber fire engine and a 1989 Pierce Dash (open cab) fire engine both owned outright by the City.

Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Minjares asked if there was a liability to using the old engine and was told it can be dangerous to the firefighters. Landeros was then asked if the old engine would be going out on the types of fires where the flames could overtake the men and instead wouldn't the department use the other two engines they have at their use. Landeros responded that it is possible for the engine to be taken out if a large fire happens and all of the departments resources need to be used. Conaway stated, "Sitting up here I have to weigh the expense, but most important is safety." Neal suggested the City should keep the old engine, instead of selling it for the expected sale price of $6,000 use it for training or other purposes.

The City received a $58,863 Community Block Grant that will cover the first annual payment due November 2014 and the City will continue to apply for more grants. Neal asked "What if the grant funds do not come in?" Landeros explained the fire department would do what they could to get more grant monies and they could only try, but nothing is guaranteed, and they would do their best. The new engine will be built to the specific needs of Fillmore and the price paid will cover tax and delivery.

Another item was the request to wave the Temporary Use Permit (TUP) fee for the annual Lion's Club Holiday Parade. City Manager David Rowlands reminded the Council that the fees had never been waved in the past, but suggested the Council consider waving one TUP per year for service clubs. Representing the Lion's Club was Scott Lee, who had served as Fillmore's Mayor and Councilman for 14 years. Lee reminded the Council of the many things the Lion's Club does for the City and suggested not waving all TUP but instead each request should be weighed for what it is. He went on to say the recently held Enchilada Dinner was a fundraiser and events like that should pay the TUP, but the annual Holiday Parade does not make any money and it would seem proper to wave the TUP. The Council unanimously agreed to wave the fee.

It looks like the celebration is on as Fillmore reaches a milestone as an incorporated city in 2014. The Celebration Ad Hoc Committee has requested $5,000 go towards the upcoming 100 year celebration. At the last Council Meeting it was requested that the staff look into the possibility of allocating the needed funds. They were found in the Cable TV/Community Promotion budget (Public Education and Government Access Fund) which is earmarked for Council Chamber improvements. The City's cable television franchisee pays approximately $14,000 each year in fees which can be used for the event.

The County of Ventura is requesting the City of Fillmore donate $4,000 to go towards a new position; the Santa Clara River Watershed Coordinator. Susan Hughes, Deputy Executive Officer Government Affairs, addressed the Council and requested a one time donation to help pay for the new position. Council Member Douglas Tucker asked what was in this proposed position that would reduce Fillmore's water rates. Hughes responded that to have a positive impact Fillmore needs a staff member to participate and be involved in the meetings adding, "We must work together." She also reminded the Council that Fillmore had received a $3 million in grant money. Conaway reminded Hughes that the County had voted against Fillmore in a request regarding the Fillmore Towne Theatre and asked if that was an example of working together.