Kathy Meza addressed the city council.

Last night's 3-hour regular city council meeting was a standing room only affair. As council meetings go, this would have to be classified one hundred percent positive.

Fillmore's Chief of Police, Sheriff's Captain Dave Wareham, led off with the 2017 mid-term crime report. Once again crime in Fillmore is reported to be low and on the decline. For complete statistics please visit our website, (fillmoregazette.com). Our Police Department continues to do an excellent job, making Fillmore one of the safest among California's 50 cities as it was found to be in 2014.

MOORPARK-BROAD BEACH SAND TRUCKS
City Manager David Rowlands reported that a contract between the City of Moorpark and the Broad Beach consortium to replenish sand on Malibu's Broad Beach, was nearing completion. This plan involves removing sand from the Grimes Canyon quarry, at the rate of 500 belly-dump loads per day, for at least 10 years. The trucks are set to deliver their loads down Highway 23, through the hairpin turns of Grimes Canyon, through the City of Fillmore, and down Highway 126 to Broad Beach in Malibu. This proposal will seriously impede traffic on Highway 23, including emergency vehicles, for the foreseeable future. The City of Fillmore has filed suit to block this agreement. The outcome is uncertain.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROPOSAL UNANIMOUSLY DEFEATED
The big issue, whether or not to permit medical marijuana cultivation in the city, drew residents and non-residents alike, many carrying signs indicating their preference. A report on the listening session held several weeks ago concerning medical marijuana cultivation showed that approximately 150, mostly residents, attended. The idea of permitting cultivation in town was at that time voted down by a margin of three to one by the group. Fillmore was also the only city in Ventura County which voted NO on State Proposition 64 which permitted recreational marijuana use, despite the federal ban of the substance as a schedule 1 drug. The City of Fillmore has always strongly opposed marijuana in any form.

During public discussion of this issue both sides had strong arguments. Those in favor of introducing medical marijuana emphasized the large monetary potential; millions per year to the city coffers. Those adamently opposed to any marijuana business in town argued its proven harmful effects upon the community, particularly upon youth. Though "medical" marijuana, these residents admit, has legitimate medicinal uses, the overwhelming effects upon communities involves crime, violence, and many other negative influences.

So, the no on marijuana crowd can rejoice upon hearing of the unanimous Council vote against admitting medical marijuana into our community. The vote was essentially about money versus morals and, for a pleasant change, morals won out.