City of Fillmore

The December 13, 2011 Fillmore City Council Meeting began with a salute to exiting Council Member Patti Walker and continued with a decision on how to replace the vacant seat along with a plea to reconsider opening to the public the Fillmore High School running track and adopt a resolution to annually review the Fillmore Business Park.

About 30 people came to honor Walker for her nine years of service to Fillmore; in attendance were Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long, Mark Lawler and Sheriff’s Captains Randy Pentis, Tim Hagel, Bruce Macedo, Monica McGrath and Sgt. Dave Wareham among others.

Mayor Gayle Washburn presented Walker with a proclamation and spoke of Walker’s hard work on various committees and civic pride as a community leader. Lawler said he had known Walker for about five years and that she has done an incredible job of representing Fillmore, thanking her for her years of service adding, “There are very few people who can calm a room just by their presence.”
Long presented Walker with a proclamation signed by all five Ventura County Supervisors and stated “(Walker) always understood we have to work together….It’s been a pleasure to work with you.”

Walker told those in attendance, “I’ve had the opportunity to work with some wonderful people and county representatives, business men and women who volunteer because they believe in the cause, and various individuals who do what they do out of love for their communities. I was given the opportunity to work with some Fillmore citizens, City staff and Fillmore City Council Members who came together not because it was politically correct, or for the photo op, but they came out, rolled up their sleeves and went to work planting, painting, demonstrating for an issue because they believe in it and have a great affection for the City of Fillmore. Thank you for giving me this great opportunity to represent the City, locally, regionally, and at the State level. I am truly humbled, proud and honored to have been a Fillmore City Council Member.”

The Council decided by unanimous vote to appoint someone to fill the vacant seat left by Walker. Some of the reasons for doing so were that it would fill the seat faster than an election and that the cost of putting it on the June 5th ballot is not something the City can afford today.

During public comments both John Scoles and Joan Archer again brought the issue of access to the running track at the high school. Scoles, who was struck by a vehicle in the crosswalk of the trail on “A” Street near Old Telegraph Road, reminded the Council that public safety was a concern he brought to the Council last year when discussing access to the running track.

Archer, through her frustration at all the past effort to get access to the running field, addressed the council stating, “I have listened repeatedly this past year to comments made by City Council members, City Staff, Parks and Recreation Commission Members, School Board Members and School District staff in public and other meetings as well as phone calls and email conversations. I have documented the responses and lack of action on the part of the City and lack of follow through by City Council Members and ad hoc committee. No meetings have been held in over a year as far as I can tell and we cannot confirm if even one meeting was ever held. At the last City Council meeting I spoke at, one of the two Council Members assigned to the Committee was not sure if he was assigned to the committee. Are there any minutes of meetings? Over a year ago I requested that at least some meetings be held in the evenings so working adults could participate. Although John Scoles and I have been very vocal about access to the track, neither of us have ever been invited to be part of the committee. It is easy for the City Council Members to state they support public access to the track and then do little if anything to make it a reality. How can problems be addressed and resolved when no one on the City Council is actively engaged with citizens on a regular basis to work through those problems to a successful resolution? I have been told that the City cannot afford the track program. That is not accurate, the City chooses not to support the track program…there are more walkers and runners than lap swimmers…the City continues to spend three times the cost for staff and energy to heat the pool. The track program costs one-third the staff time and no maintenance fees for energy expense…most people need a year round fitness program, not a seasonal one.”

The response by the Council was to readdress the gate to the running track with two Council Members, Jamey Brooks and Brian Sipes, wanting to put it on the Council’s agenda and Councilmember Steve Conaway and Mayor Washburn wanting an ad hoc committee.

The Fillmore Business Park was once again brought before the Council. Rod MacDonald of KDF Communities and Jack Maxwell of Sespe Creek Properties, both supported documenting Resolution 11-3325, “Update to the Fillmore Business Park Common Area Infrastructure Fees” that would require the City to annually review a resolution Burt Rapp had worked out with the both MacDonald and Maxwell. Sespe Creek Properties is owner of 18 acres and KDF owns 34 acres of the Fillmore Riverview Project; part of the business park. The agreement was to reimburse both companies and the City of Fillmore as new developers came on board with the project and as they pay for fees/improvements in common areas already paid for by KDF and Sespe Creek. The next payment could be as much as $467,000 with 75% going to the City and 25% to the Fillmore Riverview Project. In total the City of Fillmore is owed more than one million dollars when the business park is completed.

Sheriffs Captain Monica McGrath wanted to announce the 16th Annual City of Fillmore Community Public Safety Toy Give Away at the North Fillmore Storefront located on Lemon Way and sponsored by the Fillmore Fire Department and the Sheriff/Police Department. The drive takes place December 18th from 4pm-7pm. The public is encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy valued at $10 or more and receive a complimentary BBQ chicken dinner prepared by the Fillmore Fire Department.

Last year 300 families, 920 children and 425 adults benefited from this event. In the events 16 years, 14,584 children and adults have attended the program. Last year 50 volunteers participated. McGrath extends her many thanks to so many caring individuals and organizations, including the Storefront coordinator Max Pena.

Another group of caring individuals also announced a program being held January 16, 2012 between 9am-1pm at Two Rivers Park. Bryan Poole and Juliana Gallardo would like volunteers to join them on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service: Two Rivers Park Clean Up. A free breakfast and lunch will be served while volunteering a day of helping the community. The groups involved are Cabrillo Economic Development Corp., NeighborWorks, Boys & Girls Club, and One Step A La Vez.

City Attorney Ted Schneider would like to inform those interested in the El Dorado Park hearing; the court date change was agreed to by the parties involved and the hearing date is now March 8, 2012.