Fillmore City Council
Fillmore City Council
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Cindy Jackson, right, owner of Ocean Gold, listens to Raelene Chaney extoll the product’s benefits for arthritis and joint pain. Chaney uses the CBD for relief.
Cindy Jackson, right, owner of Ocean Gold, listens to Raelene Chaney extoll the product’s benefits for arthritis and joint pain. Chaney uses the CBD for relief.

Dr. Greg Gillesie, Chancellor, Ventura County Community College District, addressed the council in a lengthy discussion concerning the District's history of expansion into the Fillmore area and future goals.

Fire Chief Keith Gurrola presented an up-date on fireworks booths and Fourth of July services. He reported that problems with the fireworks booths application system required some correction. Two booth applicants were found to be out of compliance within their filings and their permits were pulled. All non-profit applicants must show money received on sales stays in the City of Fillmore. One applicant was from Santa Paula, the other disqualified applicant was 3 months short of minimum time for activity in the city. One of the 3 applicants qualified and received its permit, which was Fillmore Christian Academy.

Chief Gurrola said the 4th was a busy night, which included two small fires. Sixteen citations were issued for illegal fireworks. The Chief recommended changes in the fireworks booth ordinance for next year.

The first amendment to the Franchise Agreement for Solid Waste Handling Services between the City of Fillmore and Santa Clara Valley Disposal was unanimously agreed to.

The recommendation to have Council adopt Resolution 18-3662 revising Section 6 of Resolution 18-3655 regarding deadline for filing arguments for and against a City Ballot Measure was passed 4-1.

Planning Commission's recommendation to adopt a Zoning Ordinance Amendment updating regulations for Commercial Highway (CH) Zone and finding an exemption from CEQA was approved.

New projects at Two Rivers Park were discussed.

Resident businesswoman Cindy Jackson promoted a medical marijuana product to be sold in the City. The product's beneficial effects were attested to by resident Raelene Chaney.

Resident Steve McKinnon addressed some long standing problems at the Fillmore Equestrian Center. In general, McKinnon stated that things at the Center were "going downhill" due to management deficiencies, also referring to unspecified "bullying". He asked the Council to investigate the problems.

An unusually lengthy presentation on the California Choice Energy Authority-Lancaster CCE-Program was provided, with question about whether to join. The decision was deferred for further study.

 


 

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announces scheduled overnight lane closures on SR-126 between the Ventura Co. / Los Angeles Co. line and the city of Santa Paula for a long-term pavement rehabilitation project. These closures are subject to change and are scheduled as follows:

Starting the night of Monday July 9, 2018:

• Westbound SR-126 from the Ventura Co. / Los Angeles Co. line to the city of Santa Paula the right lane of two will be closed each night from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday, re-opening each morning.
• Once the westbound lanes have been re-paved, crews will move to the eastbound lanes of SR-126. The project is expected to be complete by the summer of 2021.

Additionally, ramps will be constructed at the location of at least 19 intersections within the city of Fillmore to make them ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant and accessible for persons with disabilities. The right shoulder / parking lane at these intersections will be blocked for construction from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday until the ramps are complete. Travel lanes will remain open.

The total cost of this Caltrans pavement rehabilitation project is 25.01 million dollars.

Please go to our Planned Lane Closure web page for confirmation of each night’s closures at https://lcswebreports-new.dot.ca.gov/SearchPreAction.do?district=7. And also to: twitter.com/CaltransDist7.

 


 
On Tuesday, July 3rd around 7am on Highway 23 between Fillmore and Moorpark the road was closed for several hours due to an overturned truck filled with bell peppers. There were no injuries reported and CHP was able to open the roads after 11am later that day. Photos courtesy CHP.
On Tuesday, July 3rd around 7am on Highway 23 between Fillmore and Moorpark the road was closed for several hours due to an overturned truck filled with bell peppers. There were no injuries reported and CHP was able to open the roads after 11am later that day. Photos courtesy CHP.
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(above) The 2018 CIF Baseball Champions smile for a photo holding their banner and plaque. Fillmore High School held their Parade of Champions on Friday, July 6th at 6pm in downtown Fillmore to celebrate the CIF championships won by the baseball team and swimmer Katrionna Furness. People were able to hear the players and coaches speak, meet the team, and celebrate our champions. The players autographed complimentary 8x10 photos for the children. They had food trucks, vendors and entertainment for everyone to enjoy. Food Vendors: Fernandos Churros,  Amecis Pizza, Central Station Street Tacos, Raspado House, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Oh my gosh hot dogs. Parade line up: Police Chief Eric Tennessen, Cross Country, Heritage Valley Blazers, Fillmore Raiders, Girls Softball, Little League, Voltage Cheer, AYSO, Fillmore Bears, Girls Soccer CIF Champions, Kat Furness Swim CIF Champion, 1988 Baseball CIF Champions, and the 2018 Boys Baseball CIF Champions.Entertainment: Fillmore High School Ballet Folklorico, DJ Danny Ibarra. Photos courtesy Bob Crum.
(above) The 2018 CIF Baseball Champions smile for a photo holding their banner and plaque. Fillmore High School held their Parade of Champions on Friday, July 6th at 6pm in downtown Fillmore to celebrate the CIF championships won by the baseball team and swimmer Katrionna Furness. People were able to hear the players and coaches speak, meet the team, and celebrate our champions. The players autographed complimentary 8x10 photos for the children. They had food trucks, vendors and entertainment for everyone to enjoy. Food Vendors: Fernandos Churros, Amecis Pizza, Central Station Street Tacos, Raspado House, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Oh my gosh hot dogs. Parade line up: Police Chief Eric Tennessen, Cross Country, Heritage Valley Blazers, Fillmore Raiders, Girls Softball, Little League, Voltage Cheer, AYSO, Fillmore Bears, Girls Soccer CIF Champions, Kat Furness Swim CIF Champion, 1988 Baseball CIF Champions, and the 2018 Boys Baseball CIF Champions.Entertainment: Fillmore High School Ballet Folklorico, DJ Danny Ibarra. Photos courtesy Bob Crum.
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The baseball team and Katrionna signing autographs for the line of people waiting to meet and take photos.
The baseball team and Katrionna signing autographs for the line of people waiting to meet and take photos.
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Members of the 1988 CIF Champions Baseball Team who also road in the victory parade.
Members of the 1988 CIF Champions Baseball Team who also road in the victory parade.
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Photo of the Week "Gorgeous Chevy. If only it were for sale. If only I had sufficient money!" By Bob Crum. Photo data: Canon 7DMKII camera, ISO 400, Tamron 16-400mm lens @16mm with polarizing filter, aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/320 second.
Photo of the Week "Gorgeous Chevy. If only it were for sale. If only I had sufficient money!" By Bob Crum. Photo data: Canon 7DMKII camera, ISO 400, Tamron 16-400mm lens @16mm with polarizing filter, aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/320 second.
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Remember DeSoto?
Bob Crum
Bob Crum

The Fillmore classic car show downtown on July 4th was awesome. Gorgeous cars all. Did you go? If not fret not, I'll take you there vicariously along with a trip down memory lane.

In 1956, my Uncle Willie bought a high-performance DeSoto Adventurer. The DeSoto was powered by a hemi-sized 341 cubic inch, 320 horsepower motor. Standard equipment included push button control Powerflite automatic transmission, power steering, power seat, power windows, power brakes, windshield washers and electric clock. All for only $3,678.

One day Uncle Willie took ill. Before leaving for the hospital he tossed me the DeSoto keys. “Be careful”, he said, “it's fast!”. A teenage daredevil, imagine my excitement. I practiced driving the car on the farm before the open road. That car was soooo long that when going around a sweeping curve, I couldn't see the back end in the rear-view mirror. With pedal to the metal it was so fast that it took a few seconds for the back half to catch up.

Having saved money from years of farm work, I purchased my first new car – a gold-colored Plymouth Fury – as a high school graduation present to myself. Powerful engine and push-button tranny like the DeSoto. While my friends laughed about the rear fender “fins”, I took revenge (and delight) by beating (humiliating) their Chevys and Fords in every drag race. But as fast as my Fury was off the line, was as fast as I lost those friends. But they eventually got over it and we were soon all friends again.

Photographing classic cars at a show is, politely speaking, a pain in the buttocks. Certainly taxes the patience quotient. No sir, no problem at all just go right ahead and step right in front of my camera. Everybody does it! (grumble grumble)

The flip side of the patience of Job: Deference. It's about the 'event' not the cars! Point well taken I said to myself (I can't be the only one who talks to himself). Result: Lots of photos of gawkers full of gawkiness gawking at classic cars. C'est la vie.

From having photographed previous car shows, I noticed that car colors were often not as punchy in the digital images as I saw with my eyes. Not an insignificant factor considering that I could take five cruises with the money that some of the cars’ paint jobs alone cost. Must do something in an attempt to do justice to those luscious paint colors.

So this year I decided to shoot the show with a polarizing filter on my lens to enunciate the colors. Given the advantages of a polarizing filter, it was nevertheless a gamble. Remember, a polarizing filter's effects are most effective when shooting at a 90° angle with respect to the sun. Otherwise, it's as if it doesn't exist so no effect. Upon viewing the photos made, it was effective most times. At least the blacks are blacker!

Such are the creative challenges that make photography addictive and so delightfully rewarding. Equally significant, the creative aspects of photography tickle the soul. Well, at least mine.

Hark... a contest! Not counting fireworks photos, guess the number of photos I shot of the car show and chili contest. Email me your guess. Deadline: 6 p.m. Monday July 16. The closest guess wins one scoop of Baskins-Robbins ice cream. In case of a tie, the earliest entry wins. One entry per reader.

Photo of the week: Gorgeous Chevy. More firework photos next week. Happy photoing!

Send comments, suggestions, questions & contest entry to: photography@earthlink.net

 
Stock photo of Fillmore City Hall taken by Bob Crum.
Stock photo of Fillmore City Hall taken by Bob Crum.
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Moody's Investors Service has assigned an issuer rating of A1 to the City of
Fillmore, CA. The issuer rating is equivalent to the rating we would assign to bonds secured by the city's general obligation unlimited tax (GOULT) pledge. Moody's maintains an A3 rating on the city's sewer revenue bonds.

RATINGS RATIONALE
The A1 issuer rating reflects the currently strong financial position of the city's very small operation, which stands in contrast the city's financial condition during the Great Recession. The city's financial situation deteriorated significantly between 2008 and 2013 due to the combined impact of the recession, redevelopment dissolution, and a dispute over a tax sharing agreement that resulted in the Board of Equalization (BOE) withholding more than four years of sales tax revenue. With these revenue challenges addressed, the city's finances have improved significantly in the last four audited fiscal years with the city's available fund balances and cash balances now exceeding the medians for the A1 rating category. The A1 rating further reflects the city's small tax base relative to A1-rated cities in California, but which is larger than its ratings peers nationally. The A1 rating incorporates the city's extremely low level of outstanding debt and slightly elevated pension liability.

RATING OUTLOOK
Outlooks are not typically assigned to local governments with this amount of outstanding debt.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE
- Significant and sustained growth in the city's assessed valuation
- Material improvement in socioeconomic characteristics

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE
- Decline in the city's assessed valuation
- Significant deterioration of the city's financial position

LEGAL SECURITY
The issuer rating is equivalent to a rating that we would assign to a typical general obligation unlimited tax
(GOULT) debt issue and is used as a reference rating for other securities.

PROFILE
The city of Fillmore encompasses 2.5 square miles in the Santa Clara River Valley of Ventura County (Aaa stable) and has an estimated population of 15,650. The city was established in 1887 when the Southern Pacific railroad was built through this agricultural belt. A general law city, Fillmore has about 26 employees and provides basic municipal services.

METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in this rating was US Local Government General Obligation Debt published in December 2016. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on
www.moodys.com.

Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating review. Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued the rating. Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.

 
Photo courtesy Ventura County Sheriffs Department.
Photo courtesy Ventura County Sheriffs Department.
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Ricardo Nuno, 34, Fillmore, Ca
Ricardo Nuno, 34, Fillmore, Ca

Earlier this month, Sheriff's detectives obtained information indicating illegal fireworks were being sold by (S) Ricardo Nuno from his residence at 900 block of Ortega Street, Fillmore. Detectives conducted an investigation and believed Nuno was in possession of a large quantity of fireworks that are illegal in California.

On June 28th, detectives served a search warrant at the location and seized approximately 800 pounds of illegal fireworks. These fireworks were found throughout the residence, including the garage and a bedroom shared with two minor children, and posed a significant threat of injury and fire, not only to the suspect's family, but to the public, as well. It was also determined that Nuno was manufacturing his own explosive devices, which posed a significant threat of injury or death to Nuno and/or his family.

(S) Nuno, who was not present at the time of the service of the search warrant, but was located at his work and arrested. He was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility on the following charges:
Health and Safety Code Section 12305 / Felony possession of an explosive
Health and Safety Code Section 12677 / Misdemeanor possession of illegal fireworks
Penal Code Section 18720 / Felony Possession of materials with intent to make a destructive device
Penal Code Section 273a(a) / Felony Child Endangerment

Nuno’s bail was set at $100,000 and his next court date is July 2nd, 2018.

'Safe and Sane' fireworks, bearing the seal of the State Fire Marshal, can be legally sold, possessed, and enjoyed in the city of Fillmore between 12:00 PM, June 28th, and 12:00 PM, July 5th. All other fireworks, including altered 'Safe and Sane' fireworks and fireworks that explode and/or launch into the air, are illegal in Fillmore and throughout the state.

Violators may be cited for violating the city municipal code and subject to a $1,000.00 fine, or they may be arrested for more serious crimes. If you witness any illegal activity, please call the Fillmore Police Department at 805-524-2233 or, if there's an immediate threat to life or property, 9-1-1.

Below are several safety tips to ensure you and your family enjoy a safe Independence Day celebration:
- If you witness a crime or fire in progress involving illegal fireworks, call your local authorities by dialing 9-1-1.
- Only 'Safe and Sane' fireworks bearing the seal of the State Fire Marshal are legal in the city of Fillmore. All other fireworks, including altered Safe and Sane fireworks and those that explode or leave the ground, are illegal.
- Kids should not play with fireworks. Fireworks are intended for use by adults in open spaces with plenty of active supervision for every child present.
- Always have a bucket of water on hand to dispose of fireworks and a hose connected to water ready in case of fire.
- Do not place fireworks in trash containers.
- Fireworks, including sparklers and flares, can cause serious burns as well as blast injuries that can permanently impair vision and hearing. Teach your children what to do if their clothing catches on fire-'stop, drop and roll'-and how to call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

Prepared by: Sergeant Mike Harris
Approved by: Captain Todd Inglis

 
A dual cab pickup truck crashed into the utility pole in front of Taco Bell, 800 block SR 126, at 2:54 p.m., Monday. The toppled concrete pole narrowly missed the entrance of the fast-food restaurant. Traffic was backed-up to the west for about a half-hour. An ambulance was on scene and the single-car crash is under investigation.
A dual cab pickup truck crashed into the utility pole in front of Taco Bell, 800 block SR 126, at 2:54 p.m., Monday. The toppled concrete pole narrowly missed the entrance of the fast-food restaurant. Traffic was backed-up to the west for about a half-hour. An ambulance was on scene and the single-car crash is under investigation.
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Last week the Fillmore Police and Fire Crews responded to calls about a man on a roof top at the corner of Clay and Ventura Street. No injuries were reported and crews were able to get the man down safely. Photo courtesy Fillmore Fire Department.
Last week the Fillmore Police and Fire Crews responded to calls about a man on a roof top at the corner of Clay and Ventura Street. No injuries were reported and crews were able to get the man down safely. Photo courtesy Fillmore Fire Department.
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On Thursday, June 28th at 3:15pm Fillmore Fire and Police Departments responded to reports of a 2-car collision at the corner of Santa Clara and B Street. A black Jeep Grand Cherokee and a tan vehicle collided. No injuries were reported at the time of the accident. Cause of the accident is still under investigation.
On Thursday, June 28th at 3:15pm Fillmore Fire and Police Departments responded to reports of a 2-car collision at the corner of Santa Clara and B Street. A black Jeep Grand Cherokee and a tan vehicle collided. No injuries were reported at the time of the accident. Cause of the accident is still under investigation.
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