[The Gazette’s city reporter was absent this week]
A budget crisis is arising at city hall. City Manager Yvonne Quiring was unable to answer budget questions at Tuesday’s meeting, for the second week. After eliminating “fifty percent” of the city’s work force, in and out of city hall, and replacing many with temporary and contract workers, Quiring does not know what, if any, savings resulted.

For the second week chambers was filled with concerned citizens responding to expressed intentions by the council to close Fillmore’s parks and restrooms. City Manager Quiring suggested last week that, because Fillmore is such a small town, those participating in sporting events at the parks could run home to use bathroom facilities.

Councilman Steve Conaway expressed frustration in the Manager’s inability to provide specific answers to budget questions and time is very short for the mandated budget approval.

Throughout Ventura County the number of people needing help feeding their families continues to grow. Food Share of Ventura County, which was established in 1983, helps address this need with its 150 partnered outreach agencies and over 300 volunteers. In 2010 Food Share distributed over nine million pounds of food to more than 74,500 people each month countywide. This number represents more than 6.8 million meals.

Volunteers are a huge part of all the programs along with faith based organizations that provide 67% of the distribution outreach and non-profits which provide about 25%. The primary source of food products made available are through donations from local grocery stores, supermarket chains, food manufacturers, distributors, the government, foundations, local farmers, harvesting efforts, food drives and private individuals.

One of the biggest food drives, The Postal Carriers’ Food Drive, was recently held. This drive allows the citizens of the county to donate food on a designated Saturday, which was May 12th this year, by putting the items out for their mail carrier to collect and bring back to the local post office. Those items are then distributed to outreach programs.

Bonnie Weigel, CEO and CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On June 4, 2012, the Fillmore Police Department was dispatched to the area of Meadowlark Drive and First Street for 3 male suspects attacking a male victim who was on the ground and in a fetal position. The juvenile victim was kicked in the head during the attack. The person reporting the crime was an off duty police officer. The suspects fled in a vehicle away from the scene. The off duty police officer obtained enough information regarding the suspect vehicle before he lost sight of the vehicle.

The Fillmore Police Gang Unit investigated the crime and learned the suspects are members of a graffiti “tagging crew” and the victim was from a rival “tagging crew.” Witnesses to the crimes identified the suspects involved in the attack. The Juvenile victim received a concussion, laceration to his head, and abrasions to his arms and face during the attack.

On June 12, 2012, The Fillmore Police Department’s Gang Unit and Investigations Unit served multiple search and arrest warrants at the suspects’ residences. The three suspects were arrested without incident and additional evidence was located at the residences.

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On the morning of June 6, 2012, at 8:27 A.M., the Fillmore Police Department, Fillmore Fire Department / Medic Unit, and American Medical Response (AMR) responded to the intersection of Ventura Street and C Street for an injury traffic accident. Initial reports were that a tractor-trailer had collided with a bicyclist in the intersection.

The bicyclist, Mr. Guadalupe Cruz was treated at the scene and immediately rushed to Ventura County Medical Center via AMR. Later that same day, at approximately 4:41 P.M., Mr. Cruz succumbed to his injuries sustained in this collision. The investigation is ongoing and anyone who might have witnessed the accident is asked to contact the Fillmore Police Department/Sergeant Aguirre (805) 524-2235.

Nature of Incident: Serious Injury Traffic Collision – Update - Fatal
Report Number: 12-12816
Location: Ventura Street and C Street, Fillmore, CA
Date & Time: 06/06/2012 @ 8:37 AM
Unit Responsible: Fillmore Police Department and Camarillo Traffic Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
Party-Victor Leija, Bakersfield, 40
Party-Guadalupe Cruz, Fillmore, 81
Deputy Preparing Media Release: Captain Monica McGrath
Media Release Date: 06/07/2012
Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Anthony Aguirre (805) 524-2235
Approved by: Captain Melissa Smith

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

At Tuesday’s Council meeting City Manager Yvonne Quiring presented the 2012-2013 Budget. Councilman Steve Conaway asked Quiring for specifics about laying off employees, only to replace their positions with temps and consultants, including cost savings if any. That data was not reflected in the budget. Quiring said, “It’s not as straight forward as you think…we’ll get you what we can.” The Gazette will print that information for public knowledge when it is made available.

Tuesday, June 05, 2012 Fillmore’s City Manager presented the City Council an overview of the 2012-2013 Budget. The special meeting was the first of four workshop hearings to discuss major changes that Fillmore will have to adjust to in one way or another. The budget meetings will continue every Tuesday in June and possibly be adopted on June 26, 2012.

As had been disclosed at previously council meetings and repeated by City Manager Yvonne Quiring on Tuesday, Fillmore’s expenditures have been greater than its revenue for four years running, and with little reserves left, the City is running out of options. Quiring gave a grim view of where the City stands; more layoffs, employee concessions, park closures and possibly another ballot tax measure being considered. Finance Director Glenda Jay described best, “This is like the perfect storm” referring to so many negative things happening at once; the abolishment of the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) by the State, tax money being held back by the Board of Equalization due to litigation/appeals over sales tax agreements that are in dispute, increase in operating costs and the economy/recession resulting in less property tax revenue.

The City can no longer provide the service level even after the layoffs just recently. This second round of layoffs will mean that the City will have cut its staff by 50% in two years. The positions being proposed for layoffs are: administration (1); Community Development (1.5); Community Services (1); Finance (1.25) Public Safety/North Fillmore Storefront (.25); Public Works (3). These proposed layoffs are based on seniority. Thus employees with the least amount of service in some positions will be those laid-off. Also, employees who are bumped back to lower positions will be paid at the lower positions’ rate. The City Council authorized lump sum payment of $3,507 for seven months of medical insurance to unrepresented employees who may be laid off.

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When I received the email from Susan Golson to write an article for the Fillmore Gazette on the upcoming California Honey Harvest Festival to be held on June 9th and 10th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm I didn't think it would be a very interesting article to research and write! I have to admit did I ever find that to be a false assumption on my part! I started my research on their very informative and professionally presented website and then made a visit to their farm to meet with Susie Alvary, Bennett's Honey Farm's Office Manager and a very knowledgeable person about the honey production business. I found my visit to Bennett's Honey Farm to be fascinating and I think the visitors to the California Honey Harvest Festival will be equally fascinated to learn about honey production in the Santa Clara Valley!

Susie told me the idea of the California Honey Harvest Festival is meant to be an educational opportunity for the public on the production of honey. To accomplish this there will be at least fifteen honey related vendors located at the Fillmore's Central Park, as well as bee keepers along the route the train will take to Bennett's Honey Farm. Once at the Honey Farm there will be an approximate 45 minute tour of the honey production plant at the production site providing valuable and educational information to visitors. Susie also told me the Festival and the tours are free, but the costs associated with the Festival are only for the train ride out to Bennett's Honey Farm and back to the Festival site in Fillmore's Central Park. Those visitors not wanting to ride the train are still encouraged to visit Bennett's Honey Farm by driving out and following the signs to Bennett's Honey Farm. Because some people are allergic to bee stings Susie asked me to make the public aware that bees are present throughout the Honey Farm and that there is a potential of a bee sting occurring. If you, or a family member has an allergy to bee stings please use caution in your decision to take this tour, or to be present where bees are active in pollination of crops throughout this Valley.

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