Sespe 4-H announced a Sock-Box collection for homeless, battered and needy women. Boxed will be located around town in different business. Watch for locations to be announed in the Gazette.

Councilman Steve Conaway makes a cash donation to a Sock-Box, sponsored by Sespe 4-H.

Fillmore City Council and Fillmore Redevelopment Agency met Tuesday night.

Oral Communications began with Fillmore Police Capt. Tim Hagel announcing a prescription drug turn-in program. Unwanted, unused and expired prescriptions can be dropped into a receptacle at the sheriff’s station, Monday-Friday, 8AM-5PM. They will be disposed of at the crime lab free of charge. One benefit will be that the drugs will not affect the city’s sewage recycling center, said Hagel. He thanked Sgt. Dave Wareham for his work in bringing the program to Fillmore.

Ray Harper and Michele Morgan of RDF Communities gave a brief update on the Business Park. Harper said they are importing dirt to raise level of the park, which will provide1,300 construction jobs, and 2,600 long term jobs, doubling the employment base in Fillmore, according to Harper. Morgan stated that they worked with Caltrans and the Sheriffs Department to mitigate any problems.

Sespe 4-H President Toni Ruiz announced community service, “Sespe Socks” -- a sock collection program to benefit battered and homeless and needy women. The group will provide sock-drop boxes around town for collection of new socks. Box locations will be announced in the Gazette. Councilmember Steve Conaway suggested cash donations also, making a donation along with several others. Sespe 4-H leader Sue Maynard thanked council for the opportunity to announce the program.

Proclamations were presented to several business owners and representatives for their volunteer work at the Fillmore Storefront remodeling. Thanked were Suncal of Santa Clarita, Griffin Industries, Value Electric, Sespe Roofing, RL Design, El Pescador, Fillmore Rentals and Fillmore Heating and Air, and Ruben Hernandez Framing.
Faith Lugo was also presented with a Proclamation for the Sept. 26th Fillmore/Piru Relay For Life 2009. The theme was “Show Us Your Hope”. Lugo thanked the Fillmore Fire Department and city employees for their assistance. Lugo said the event raised over $70,000, and over 1,000 persons were remembered and honored. She thanked the community for the opportunity to educate the public about cancer.

Tom Perrington, Special Redevelopment Agency counsel, discussed approval of the down payment assistance program for the Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. project located at Main Street and Mt. View. Eight townhomes will provide owner-occupied housing to low and extremely low income families. Besides the down payment assistance, Cabrillo will offer four loans to help offset the cost to the new owners. The Assistance Program is structured differently from the city’s First Time Homeowners Assistance program, said Perrington. The motion was adopted, 5-0.

Washburn suggested reducing council meetings saying the city held 31 in a one year period opposed to 24 in other cities. Council members agreed to consolidate several meetings to increase efficiency.

Council moved to Closed Session for conference with legal counsel – regarding Existing Litigation, Dylan Snow v City of Fillmore.

City Clerk Clay Westling announced the city’s intent to place a lien on 341 D Street to insure the city can collect monies (and attach property lien) due over a blight dispute which began in October 2005. The history of the conflict was review by Michael McGivney, Fillmore Code Enforcement Officer. Homeowner Diana Salas addressed council, asking that the lien not be placed, asking for an “opportunity to attempt to resolve this matter.” After much discussion among council members including proposed reduction of the $10,000 owed in administrative penalties, council passed 3-2, in favor of the lien and a 24-month payment plan to disperse the fine(s), with Councilmember Jamey Brooks and Washburn casting a No vote. Washburn sought to reduce the fine(s), and Brooks stated the $11,696 penalties “excessive as a penalty.” Walker, Conaway and Hernandez expressed that the homeowner had been given ample opportunity to correct the infraction, with Conaway classifying it as a “slippery slop to hold firm to municipal code once you start a precedent.” Capt. Hagel explained the ease of the process Salas could have sought through the DMV to cure the complaint. Salas will also be held responsible for $1,696 in administrative costs. Mayor Walker made motion for stipulation to reduce the penalty to $7,000 in 24-months to satisfy the lien. Motion died for lack of 2nd.

Bill Bartels, Deputy City Manager, discussed the Request for Proposals (RFP) for operation of the 1972 Closed Landfill/Equestrian Center on Chambersburg Road. He began with defining the site as 18.5 acres, as opposed to existing 30 acres. The city has requested FEMA fund a Clean Closure project on the premises, referring to the complete removal of all waste and waste residuals, including contaminated soils from a sold waste disposal site. The city is seeking to offer a “full service facility available to the whole community with group areas available for use by all,” an RFP to be “active in the relationship with the clubs that use the facility,” stated Bartels. One of the new contract stipulations would be a maintenance fund providing a bond for non-performance. Conaway requested a yearly CPI adjustment, and changes to premise residence. Motion passed 3-1, with Washburn voting No, wanting the CPI issue separate. Mayor Walker recused herself.

Bert Rapp, Director of Public Works, proposed a water feature at the new water reclamation Plant. He described it as a “canary pond”, referring to the miner’s canary used to warn of poisonous air. Fish in the pond would serve the same function while adding beauty to the entrance of the plant. Rapp asked that the city provide the building permit to the project a $400 cost. Motion passed 5-0.

City Manager Yvonne Quiring announce the intent to issue RFPs to invite audit consulting services and to appoint an Audit Committee consisting of Council Finance Committee members and a finance professional from another public agency. The RFPs will go out November 12, 2009, inviting three firms, with a due date to the City Clerk of January 8, 2010. They will be reviewed by Audit Committee on January 11 through February 5, 2010, with the audit contract presented to City Council on February 23, 2010. An auditing firm will be selected by March 9, 2010. Issuance of RFPs and Audit Committee formation passed, 5-0.

Quiring reiterated her earlier apology for the failure of RFPs to be sent out to auditing firms, calling it a miscommunication with city staff. Hernandez stated it was not a miscommunication on staff’s part but the fault of then-interim city manager Larry Pennell.