The newly elected City Council Members, City Clerk, and City Treasurer were sworn in at the City Council Meeting on December 9, 2008. The Council honored outgoing City officials for their public service, elected the Mayor and Mayor Pro-tem, made appointments to City Council Committees and Outside Agencies, and conducted City business. After intense discussion, the Council decided not to provide a track at the Fillmore Middle School.

City Clerk Shirley Spitler administered the oath of office to Council Members Gayle Washburn, Jamey Brooks, and Steve Conaway. She then administered the oath of office to incoming City Clerk Clay Westling and incoming City Treasurer Norma Gutierrez. Westling then presided over the mayoral election.

The Council elected Patti Walker as Mayor, and Gayle Washburn as Mayor Pro-tem. Laurie Hernandez was also nominated for Mayor Pro-tem, but was not elected.

County Supervisor Kathy Long presented honors to Cecilia Cuevas and Scott Lee. Long noted Cuevas's work on the Library Commission, noted her work with the Red Cross (especially with disaster preparation), and praised her "willingness to take on tough issues and do her homework". Long said that Lee had served for a total of thirteen years, and thanked him for stepping up to fill the vacancy left when a Council Member resigned in March 2007. She noted that his passion for serving the community extended beyond City Council to the Boy Scouts and other organizations.

Walker presented honors on behalf of the Fillmore Friends of the Library. Walker thanked Lee for donating 100% of his Council salary to the Friends, praised Cuevas for her service on the Library Commission, and thanked her for the expanded library hours.

Walker presented proclamations on behalf of former Mayor Conaway and the Council to Lee, Cuevas, outgoing City Clerk Shirley Spitler, outgoing City Treasurer Grace Donahue, and former City Treasurer Angela Mumme, commending and thanking them for their service. The Council recessed for a congratulatory reception with coffee, cookies, and cake.

Jim Higgins from the Higgy Foundation appeared with young people, Alissa Reyes and Joe Salazar, to: thank Scott Lee and Cecilia Cuevas for their service; remind Council Members to be models of honesty and integrity for community youth; and announce that they had provided refreshments for the reception. They requested that the Council meetings start with a prayer, like Congressional and Senate meetings, and that the City have an annual Youth Summit to set community goals.

The Council approved an enlargement of the Water Maintenance Building on FHS land to provide room for FHS to store athletic equipment with the condition that the School Board approve. The Council justified spending up to $150,000 instead of up to $100,000 on the building because the school has cooperated with the City on this project, and the Council wants to be a good neighbor. Brooks voted against approval.

Public Works Director Bert Rapp had recommended an FMS change order on the Recycled Water Conversion project for $20,000 to move the Maintenance Building on FMS land further north, minimize fencing, and provide initial design development for a running track at FMS. The Council approved a $5000 change order to move the building and reduce fencing. At the September 30th joint City-School District Meeting, an ad hoc committee of members of the Council, members of the Board, and concerned citizens recommended that the City build a track at FMS to accommodate runners displaced by the upgrade to the FHS track. At the time, they believed that building a track would be less expensive than replacing turf. Turf is fifty cents more per square foot than crushed cinder block, according to Rapp. Glen Hille, VP and Director of Engineering at Boyle/AECOM, was present at the September meeting. He had said that construction of a track would not delay the project, had said the track could be ready by October 2009, and did not point out that the track would require significant planning changes and cost increases. At press-time, Hille had not returned the Gazette's call asking for a comment on the change in projected cost. Rapp explained that irrigation would have to be re-designed to avoid watering the track into mud. Rapp noted that City staff and Assistant Superintendent Mike Bush had discussed whether the track would need a material border to maintain its shape. Rapp implied that the cost of the border and alternatives to a border had not yet been thoroughly examined. City Manager Tom Ristau expressed concern that the quarter-mile track shown on the rough design agreed to by the school was not appropriate for serious runners because of unusually sharp corners. The Council decided to try to convince the School Board to open up the FHS track for public use rather than build a track at FMS. The School Board has been adamant in its refusal to allow public use of the FHS track. The Council will also examine the option of setting up a running club which could rent the FHS track under the Civic Center Act.

The Council authorized City staff to schedule a Public Workshop in January to discuss Fillmore's Draft Housing Element. The previous Housing Element Workshop covered State requirements, but did not go over Fillmore's Housing Element in specific detail. The Council directed staff to not only provide a lecture, but also allow for public input in an interactive setting. Maps will be available. Community Development Director Kevin McSweeney said that staff expects to revise the Housing Element many times, and will need to align the Housing Element with Measure I.

Laurie Hernandez mentioned that toys can be dropped off at the Fillmore Fire Station or Police Station. Volunteers are needed to distribute the donations on December 22nd at 3 p.m. in North Fillmore. Donors are invited to a chicken dinner this Sunday at the Fire Station from 5 to 7 p.m. (eat-in or take-out).

The Council appointed its members to serve on various committees and to act as liaisons to various agencies. Deputy City Clerk Steve McClary went through the list of posts, Council Members volunteered, and the Council approved the volunteers by consensus. The appointments are as follows: Cable Television Committee—Washburn and Walker; Finance Committee—Washburn and Conaway; Interview/Selection Committee—Brooks and Hernandez; Water Recycling Plant Committee—Washburn and Conaway; Going Green Committee (ad hoc)—Washburn and Brooks; Chloride Committee—Brooks; Greenbelt Committee—Hernandez and Walker; FEMA Committee (ad hoc)—Conaway and Walker; Chamber of Commerce Liaison—Hernandez; Film Commission Liaison—Walker; North Fillmore Neighborhood Committee Liaison—Hernandez; Senior Center Board Liaison—Washburn; Veterans Memorial District Liaison—Walker; Vision 2020 Steering Committee Liaisons—Brooks and Walker; School Board Liaison—Hernandez; Parks Commission Liaison—Hernandez; Planning Commission Liaison—Conaway; Animal Control Commission—Walker; City Selection Committee—Mayor; Child Care Planning Council—Hernandez; Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County—Walker; Groundwater Subcommittee (30/30)—Walker; Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau Board—Steve McClary; Library Services Commission—Brooks; Ventura Council of Governments—Mayor; Ventura County Transportation Commission—Walker; Ventura Regional Sanitation District—Walker; Vista 126 Advisory Committee—Walker. The Council also appointed alternates where appropriate.

Ristau and Walker are expected to meet with Santa Paula Mayor, Santa Paula City Manager and Supervisor Kathy Long on December 15th regarding barriers along Highway 126.

The Council directed Ristau to bring the new Council Members up to speed on current issues. Brooks specifically requested copies of Council Policies and all City contracts.

Ann Ray said that Steve Conaway had been a fantastic mayor, and requested speed bumps on Burlington St. because children's safety is of utmost importance.

The Council congratulated the FHS football team. Walker said that they were "proud of the efforts of the young men and coaches." David Esquivel, a football parent, mentioned that the last time the team was this successful was in 1972.

The Council will hear a progress report on downtown business signage at an upcoming meeting.