Fillmore High School Swim Team Coach Cindy Blatt expressed her frustration over the fact that her team could not yet access the new swimming pool. With meets scheduled only days away, the team must continue to use the Santa Paula pool because the pool heater and two other minor problems prevent County approval of the facility.

Fillmore City Council met at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at City Hall to cover a brief agenda. Mayor Pro-tem Gayle Washburn was absent. The Council heard public comments, allocated grant money to non-profits, moved toward regulating push-cart vendors, discussed paving Central Ave., waived fees for the Relay for Life, and thanked Deputy City Clerk Steve McClary for his services.

The Council heard the first reading of a proposed ordinance regulating push-cart vendors and door-to-door solicitation. Council Member Jamey Brooks voted against the ordinance, because he considers it too much government. In response to various fundraisers' concerns, Council Member Steve Conaway reported that Police Sergeant Dave Wareham has said that the spirit of the ordinance would be enforced if the ordinance passes. Both the Council and School Board have for months desired an ordinance regulating push-cart vendors in order to keep students safely out of the path of traffic after school.

After hearing representatives from FOOD Share, Women's Economic Ventures (WEV), and the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, the Council allocated the $170,500 2009-2010 Community Development Block Grant provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The previous meeting's staff report had mistakenly listed the Ombudsman Program's desired funds as $1000, although $4000 was requested. The Council decided that the limited amount of money should remain allocated as decided at the previous meeting. It allocated: $13,075 to the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley—Fillmore Unit; $4000 to El Concilio del Condado de Ventura; $3000 to FOOD Share, Inc.; $1000 to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program; $2500 to One Step Center and the Fillmore Piru Mentor Program; $1000 to RAIN for transportation services; $1000 for Turning Point. $79,234 to the City of Fillmore Community Park Project; $50,000 to the Fillmore-Piru Veterans Memorial District; and $7,500 to WEV. The remaining money was needed for administration costs.

Deputy City Clerk Steve McClary will be leaving for a position as Assistant City Manager in Ojai. Conaway thanked McClary for his service, and said that he was a great addition to City staff. The Council agreed that he would be missed.

Public Works Director Bert Rapp and the Council discussed the Central Avenue Overlay Project in detail. The project includes paving Central Ave. between Sespe Ave. and Highway 126. Pre-construction work is expected to start in March, and the project should be completed by the end of May. The Council noted that paving Central Ave. between Sespe Ave. and 1st St. is a separate project, and Rapp expects that area to be paved by the end of March. The Overlay Project has two parts: the construction itself, which went out for sealed bids; and the construction administration and inspection. The City received bids for both rubberized and conventional asphalt options.

Rapp presented the advantages and disadvantages of paving with rubberized asphalt. He explained that the rubberized asphalt stretches in hot weather and is UV resistant because it is made from recycled tires. Conventional asphalt starts cracking after six months or a year, but rubberized asphalt generally lasts five or six years before cracking. Rapp expects rubberized asphalt to last 30 years rather than 15 or 20, and "look nicer longer". Rapp noted that for the first couple of years, the rubberized asphalt might track oil across the red crosswalks, so the City should plan to wash the crosswalks every six months, like Camarillo does. Rubberized asphalt is more expensive, but within budget. 88% of the project's costs are covered by a grant, and 88% of any savings would have to be returned to the granting agency. Mayor Patti Walker noted that if rubberized asphalt needs to be patched, it is almost always patched with conventional asphalt, resulting in a patchwork of lighter gray rectangles. The Council decided to proceed with rubberized asphalt, and authorized staff to award the project to the lowest qualified bidder.

The Council discussed the expense of having construction administrated and inspected by a Boyle/AECOM consultant. Staff and Council members agreed that other contractors would be considered for future construction administration, but noted that Doug Haack has been successfully administering Fillmore's downtown construction. The Council decided it was important for him to finish the project, especially since the downtown merchants value his communication skills and the project would have to go out for bid again if that factor were changed.

The American Cancer Society's Relay for Life will be held at Shiells Park on September 26-27, 2009. The Council waived the park usage fees and lighting fees for the event. Fillmore-Piru Relay for Life Logistic Chair Janice Schieferle had sent a letter requesting meeting space at the Senior Center for planning purposes, and the Council agreed to waive fees for the meeting space as well, provided that it is available on the dates requested. City Manager Tom Ristau said that the waived fees totaled approximately $1000.

The Council hopes to receive public input regarding unmet transportation needs at the March 10th Council meeting. Comments will be forwarded to the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

Volunteers will work on the addition at the North Fillmore storefront this Saturday. Framers, drywallers, electricians, and roofers are especially welcome, but even people who can sweep up would be helpful. Contact Laurie Hernandez at City Hall for more information.