A Proclamation accepted by Lynne Brooks (center) recognizing the Soroptimist’s efforts on behalf of Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Prevention Month. Also pictured Patti Walker (left) and Mayor Gayle Washburn (right).

The November 8, 2011 Fillmore City Council meeting had proclamations and a few disagreements, and former city manager Roy Payne bringing to council and city’s attention the contract associated with the Hwy 126 Business Park concerning $1 million owed the city. Also on agenda was the future of the Town Theatre, Passport Applications, the contracts between the Tourism Bureau and the Fillmore & Western Railway, the City’s contract with E. J. Harrison for street cleaning and solid waste removal, and the resignation of Councilmember Patti Walker.

Former City Manager Roy Payne and Rod MacDonald of KDF Communities addressed the Council about the past Business Park contract with the City. Payne reminded the Council that all those involved in the contract negotiations are no longer with the City and the details and the money owed the City could be forgotten. Payne asked that it be reviewed annually and the resolution be put on the record and reminded the Council that when City Engineer Bert Rapp left there was over $1 million owned the City on the project.

Also, shortly after the meeting started, Walker stepped down from the dais and addressed the remaining Council announcing her resignation as of the end of the night’s meeting, stating, “The following statement is addressed first to the citizens of Fillmore and second to you, Mayor and the Fillmore City Council.

It is with heavy heart I am announcing my resignation from the Fillmore City Council. An unexpected opportunity presented itself that my family and I could not overlook. We have purchased a home in the Fillmore zip code, but located outside of the Fillmore City limits. With your indulgence, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratefulness I have experienced in my representation of the City for nine years.
First, I want to acknowledge the citizens of Fillmore who have on three occasions elected me to serve as their elected official. I have been honored to be your delegate here in Fillmore and as your representative on various county commissions and districts. I trust I have represented your interests well.

Lastly, I have had the honor to work with a wonderful group of people who comprise the staff and my current colleagues Mayor Gayle Washburn, Pro Tem Jamey Brooks, and Council Members Brian Sipes and Steve Conaway. As volunteers for the greater good of Fillmore you have taken on what many term a thankless job. I thank you for the hard work and time you devote to keep Fillmore on track. It has been my pleasure to be a part of the process and I wish you all the best.” When asked what prompted Walker to run for City Council back in 2004, she responded, “I fought City Hall and I won.”

The remaining Councilmembers responded to Walker with heartfelt gratitude for her hard work and dedication as a councilmember. Mayor Washburn saying, “There is a huge loss to not having you on the Council.” Sipes responded, “I will be contacting you when I need advice.” Conaway commented that Walker was always prepared before coming to a meeting. Brooks agreed and added, “Patti served through blood, sweat and tears…she did her homework and ours.”

The law requires the council seat be filled within 60 days, if that is the course council decides to take (fill out an application and be interviewed by the selection committee or full Council in open session, or through an appointment). The seat may also remain open until the next election, June 5, 2012. Mayor Washburn scheduled a special meeting for 11am the following morning, Wednesday, to address it, but there was some disagreement on the timing; the Brown Act requires 24 hours advance notice be given the Council Members and City Manager Yvonne Quiring had not sent the notice out in time to meet that requirement. The next scheduled time that all members could agree upon was not until December 13th which is the next Council Meeting.

A real problem with regards to the newly vacant seat was covering the 16 committees that Walker sat on and required quick action by the Council to decide who would or could cover them. Conway commented, “Patti has been the most diligent in attending those community meetings.”

Also on the agenda was the Towne Theatre and what the City should do with it. The Theatre is the pride of Fillmore’s downtown and many of the town’s residents have an emotional attachment to it, but in recent years the Theatre has been a financial drain and owes $400,000 to the General Fund. There was a consensus among the Council that the future contract/lease being offered require the Theatre be available for all forms of entertainment and open to the community. Conaway reminded the Council that the City also needs to protect its assets, such as the projector. Janet Foy of the Sespe Players told the Council she has a committee trying to gather information on what they can do on a possible association with the Theatre.

Fillmore & Western Railway (FWR) representative Julie Latshaw told the Council the FWR does not want to lock and unlock the doors to the public restrooms anymore and that they did not agree to the restroom’s maintenance. There was an agreement and a contract drawn between the Tourist Bureau and the FWR that stated they would maintain and lock/unlock the restroom doors. As stated in the original proposal to the Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau from the FWR; Fillmore & Western Railway Co. would like to assume control of the public restrooms attached to the building. The key would be available for check-out for restroom use, much like a service station.
Because of that proposal a contract was then agreed upon, but was later not signed and completed by FWR. This agreement to take responsibility for the restrooms was part of the exchange for reduced rent on a building owed by the City. The rent which was originally $9,000 per year was reduced to $10 per year for a period of one year, but the city has not received any money to date. It was agreed to arrange a meeting with the Tourist Committee on the matter.

The City’s Finance Director Glenda Jay brought up the problem of having less staff to meet the services once offered by the City. She told the Council the City is finding it difficult to process passports due to the cuts in employees and suggested those seeking the service go to the Post Office. The processing can take up to an hour and a half for a family and there is not enough City staff to provide this service any longer. In the past the City had up to four individuals certified and trained to accept passport applications. Today there are only two employees processing passports and those employees also service the main counter; as a result sometimes service is backed up for other customers. Jay informed the Council that the City is required to pass an audit to be a certified processing agency and the two employees must be re-qualified. Conaway asked if doing it by appointment would improve the situation, and was told No. Jay said the $25 application fee is set by the Federal Government and each application costs $5.25 in postage, but when the Post Office provides the service they do not have to pay that additional cost. A vote was taken and with a 3 to 2 vote, with Conaway and Sipes No, Washburn, Walker and Brooks Yes. The Council decided to no longer process passports effective December 1, 2011.
Quiring asked the Council to extend the Franchise Agreement with Santa Clarita Valley Disposal one year in order to merge the Street Sweeping Contract and the Franchise Agreement into one document and to incorporate the revised deal terms into the new agreement. The Council was also reminded that the residents of Fillmore have not been charged the additional $.85 each month for street cleaning and the City’s commercial solid waste removal also has not been charged. The extension was approved.

There was a Proclamation accepted by Lynne Brooks recognizing the Soroptimist’s efforts on behave of Breast Cancer Awareness and Domestic Violence Prevention Month.

Video: Meeting Highlights