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United Water Conservation District and its contractor, Parks Management Company, are happy to report Lake Piru is at its highest level in over a decade. United Water’s Lake Piru is now at 73% full, compared to only 15% full last October.

The Reasoner Cove launch area at Lake Piru has now been reopened. The Juan Fernandez Day Use Area and launch area will also reopen by May 1, 2019, with sand being brought in to develop a quality swim beach.

“This is great news for recreation and water enthusiasts. We encourage people to come and enjoy the day, boating, fishing water skiing, jet skiing, swimming and evenings under the stars camping at Lake Piru,” commented Mauricio Guardado, General Manager for United Water Conservation District.

Advance reservations are encouraged and can be made for pontoon boats, fishing boats, kayaks and paddle boards, which are available for full-day or half-day rentals.

Please reserve online at: www.campone.com or www.camplakepiru.com, or by calling Lake Piru Recreation Area at 805-521-1500. Lake Piru is located at: 4780 Piru Canyon Road, Piru, CA 93040.

About the United Water Conservation District
Who we are, what we do and why it matters:
Since 1927 United Water Conservation District has served as a leader among water agencies by managing, protecting, enhancing and securing the water resources of the Santa Clara River and Oxnard Coastal Plain. The District works to protect the environment’s natural attributes and conserves runoff from all major tributaries of the Santa Clara River including Piru, Hopper, Sespe and Santa Paula Creeks.
United Water Conservation District is committed to managing the area’s water supplies through groundwater replenishment and construction and operation of efficient water supply and delivery systems. The District serves as the conservator of groundwater resources that are utilized by the cities of Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ventura, Santa Paula and Fillmore, as well as several mutual water districts, farms and individual pumpers. United Water also provides surface water for agricultural irrigation and treated drinking water to the cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme. UnitedWater.org.

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Submitted by Jan Lee

Spring has arrived. All around us flowers are beginning to bloom. Time to look around your yard to choose which flowers, potted plants or dish garden you want to enter in the Fillmore Flower Show this year.

Besides single stem cut flowers, there are other divisions for flowers. Division III is Bouquets. Arrange in a vase, cut stem or stems of the same flower variety or mixed colors or type of the same variety, but with no filler. Or, you can enter Division V, Arrangements. Flower displays up to 20” X 20” in your own container that may include items appropriate to the scene. Class A is traditional, Class B is Oriental Manner, Class C is Modern Abstract. Division VI, Miniature Arrangements and Bouquets. Class A not to exceed 4” X 4”, Class B, Not to exceed 10” X 10”.

The theme this year is “100 Years Celebrating Flowers.” The Flower Show has been a fun event since at least 1919. The Fillmore 2020—Civic Pride Committee has planned some special activities for the show this year. There will be live music, a plant boutique, children’s projects, displays from past Flower Shows and other interesting things to see and do. Plan to enter and/or visit.

See you at the Active Adult Center, 533 Santa Clara Street, Fillmore on April 13 and 14, 2019. For more information go to fillmoreflowershow.org.

Bob Crum

I received 391 replies regarding last week's mystery tree contest, but not one correct answer. So I win a scoop of scrumptious Baskin-Robbins ice cream.

The photo presented itself about three weeks ago when I went to Sespe Creek to shoot the muddy torrent. Clouds offered a dramatic background. After the photo shoot, I began to walk back to my vehicle. On the way, I passed a large rainwater puddle. Without thought mind you, I noticed a tree reflection in the puddle.

I instantly recognized the tree reflection on the puddle as a photo op. I didn't think: “Oh, how lucky can I get? Look at this phenomenal photo op. Wait, I must stop and take a picture. Click! Got it! OK, nothing else to see so must hurry back to the vehicle.”

The photographic process involved a series of shots before I got the desired composition I envisioned. This creative aspect of photography is extremely satisfying and immensely gratifying. And addictive!

In the previous column, I wrote: Regardless of the destination, a mindfulness phenomenon is unavoidable. Mindfulness is the practice of maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of the surroundings on a moment-to-moment basis. Try it!

Seeing the tree reflection in the puddle is a typical example of awareness moment to moment. After years of photography, mindful awareness has become mostly an automatic function. Don't confuse this with thinking. It's not a thinking process. Thinking is a deleterious and pernicious habit. Worse, the instant the mind starts 'thinking,' awareness dissipates. Secret: Walk without deliberately thinking! You'll be amazed at the photo ops you'll 'see' that seem to appear magically.

At the scene, it took considerable maneuvering to get the desired composition. Move here, move there, up, back, ah, this will work - click! I made several photos before I got the money shot.

Keep in mind that I am seeing the top of the tree at the bottom of the puddle, the end of the puddle nearest me. I left a little of the dirt around the puddle in the composition.
Back home, I post-processed the image by first cropping slightly. Notice all the little white objects around the tree? They are stones in the puddle but in the reflection, they create a surreal image of the cosmos, IMO. But also in the puddle were some large stones that ruined the overall cosmos effect. I removed them using Lightroom's (LR) content aware tool.

Done in LR, I exported the image to Photoshop Elements for a few minor exposure adjustments with NIK. And executed one last but essential function: flip the image 180°. This created an image with the tree now upright. The dirt that was at the top of the puddle in the original image is now the ground at the bottom for the tree. Voila! A magnificent tree reflected in the rainwater puddle. So much fun!

The photo of the week is a flock of, I think, western snowy plovers. I was at a favorite beach location hoping for a glorious sunset. Didn't happen. But as I was shooting back-lit waves with the sun on the horizon, a speedy flock of the little birds flew by. I had only a second to capture a photo of these fast-flying birds before they were out of range; proof that there's always something interesting to photograph on the coast. Just saying.

Last Saturday, the Fillmore Volunteer Fire Foundation and the Parks & Recreation Department sponsored a 5K run & walk event and a cornhole tournament. See my photo/video of the event on youtube here: https://youtu.be/2K_97KjFN-U

Send comments, suggestions or questions to: focusonphotography@earthlink.net

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Two severely injured animals, a cat called “William” and a Chihuahua named “Viola” arrived at Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, (SPARC) this week after being hit by cars. Both were sent by SPARC to VMSG Animal Hospital for emergency care. Due to Sparc’s Facebook page being down all day on Wednesday, not enough funds were raised to cover costs of their medical care.

Tabby cat, William’s, eye was dislodged from the socket and he has a broken pelvis and several other fractured bones. Viola, a chihuahua, has severe bruising of her abdomen and kidney and liver issues, in addition to pneumonia.

SPARC’s executive director, Nicky Gore-Jones says, “Raising the necessary medical funds to care for sick or injured animals arriving at SPARC, weekly, is an ongoing challenge, as medical costs are over $300K annually.”

In addition to saving lives, community education plays a large role in SPARC’s mission.

Sharing information about the care of animals to students in kindergarten through high school is important to build a better future for animals by raising awareness at an early age.

It also allows children the chance to give back to their community.

Gore-Jones says, “We urgently need the support of the wider community of Ventura County to help us continue our no kill mission. People who would like to volunteer, donate, adopt and foster are all super important to our continued success,”

Donations for animals’ medical care can be made on the shelter’s website at http://www.santapaulaarc.org/donate.html, or called in to SPARC’s main number at 805-525-8609.

SPARC is a 501C3, no kill, city shelter in Santa Paula, Ventura County, whose mission is to give every animal arriving healthy, sick or injured, a second chance at life.

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) has notified seller’s permit holders that new sales and use tax rates will take effect beginning April 1, 2019. The new rates are the result of voter-approved initiatives.

To find the correct rate for your home or business location, visit www.cdtfa.ca.gov and click the Tax & Fee Rates button. Please note that the new rates will not be available online until April 1, 2019, when they take effect.

The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) administers California’s sales and use, fuel, tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis taxes, as well as a variety of other taxes and fees that fund specific state programs. CDTFA-administered programs account for over 25 percent of all state revenue. California’s essential services, such as public safety, transportation, health, libraries, schools, social services, and natural resource management programs, are directly supported by these taxes and fees.

Note: This news release may discuss complex tax laws and concepts. It may not address every situation, and is not considered written advice under Revenue and Taxation Code sections 6596 and 55045. Changes in law or regulations may have occurred since the time this news release was written. If there is a conflict between the text of this news release and the law, decisions will be based upon the law and not this news release. For specific help, please contact the CDTFA at 1-800-400-7115.

As severe weather continues to beat up much of the country, U.S. blood centers are struggling to maintain adequate supplies. Wednesday’s historic bomb cyclone in Colorado, which reached as far south as New Mexico and Texas, caused sustained hurricane-force winds and blizzard conditions. Vitalant closed multiple donation centers and canceled blood drives in Colorado, Wyoming and South Dakota resulting in a loss of nearly 1,000 blood donations. Additional Vitalant locations were unable to transport blood samples to our laboratory for testing, delaying the release of units to hospitals, due to extreme high winds and canceled flights.

Other parts of the country are now experiencing or bracing for dangerous conditions from Winter Storm Ulmer—tornadoes, snow, flooding and impassable roads are impacting an estimated 105 million people.

Donors are strongly encouraged to give blood today through next week to immediately rebuild the community blood supply. To schedule an appointment to give blood, go to vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825. Walk-in donors are always welcome.

“We’re strongly urging our donors here in the Central Coast to give blood now in support of those areas severely impacted by this storm and to rebuild the blood supply,” said Susan Noone, Regional Director at Vitalant. “The severity of this issue has the potential to negatively impact patient care. It’s imperative that every person who feels healthy and is eligible gives blood now.”

There is a critical need for all blood types. Locally, Vitalant needs to collect approximately 1,225 donations of all types per week to replenish the supply and meet the needs of area patients. Our team can assist you in determining the most optimal donation based on your blood type and other factors.

Volunteer blood donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger, and donors who are 16 and 17 must have signed permission from a parent or guardian.

About Vitalant
Vitalant is the nation’s second largest community blood service provider, supplying comprehensive transfusion medicine services for nearly 1,000 hospitals and health care partners for patients in need across 40 states. Vitalant inspires local communities to serve the needs of others and transform lives through the selfless act of donating blood. Every day, almost 5,000 blood donations are needed to meet the needs of people throughout the country, and Vitalant’s 780,000 donors supply 1.8 million donations a year. In addition to blood products, Vitalant offers customers transfusion services, medical consulting, quality guidance, ongoing education, research and more. For more information and to schedule a donation, visit vitalant.org or call 877-258-4825 (877-25VITAL). Join the conversation about impacting the lives of others on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Highway 126 RV applicant Don Duncan filed an appeal of one condition of approval requiring applicant to underground existing utilities in connection with the construction of a recreational vehicle sales, service, and storage facility at 245 E. Telegraph Road. City staff recommended that the City Council deny his appeal and uphold the decision of the Planning Commission. Council granted the appeal unanimously.

Fillmore Police Chief Eric Tennessen presented information concerning a Public Safety Academy in Spanish. The Academy session is scheduled for April 7, 2019, and will be held at Ventura State Beach. It is also partly supported by the Fillmore Rotary Club.

8. The City Council is requested to provide direction to staff on whether to make a new change to the recently adopted Development Impact Fees.
This report addresses the City Council’s goal to encourage development. The RECOMMENDED ACTION, that City Council provide direction to staff on whether to pursue a change in the multi-family categories from > 700 SF and < 700 SF to > 900 SF and < 900 SF was unanimously approved.

8.B REQUESTS: The Applicant, Spring Road LLC, has filed an appeal of one condition of approval requiring Applicant to underground existing utilities in connection with the construction of a recreational vehicle sales, service, and storage facility. City staff recommends that the City Council deny this appeal and uphold the decision of the Planning Commission.
Staff recommended that Council grant the appeal and remove the requirement to undergrounding the existing utilities. The new project is seen as a significant benefit to the City of Fillmore, perfectly fitted to the narrow property involved. Council granted the appeal unanimously.

8-C REQUEST: City Staff requests that the City’s Municipal Code be amended to implement a program to regulate sidewalk vending pursuant to State law. The Planning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt Ordinance 901, Zoning Ordinance Amendment 18-07, to Implement a Sidewalk Vending Program and Finding of Exemption from CEQA. The Planning Commission's recommendation was approved to adopt Ordinance 901.

8-D REQUEST: City Staff requests that the City’s Zoning Ordinance be updated to comply with State laws regarding Accessory Dwelling Units ["Granny Flats"] Accessory dwelling units.

City Staff requests that the City’s Zoning Ordinance be updated to comply with State laws regarding Accessory Dwelling Units.

RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve and introduce the first reading of Ordinance 902 approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment 19-01, to Update the City’s Zoning Ordinance to Comply with State Laws Regarding Accessory Dwelling Units and Finding of Exemption from CEQA.

Council approved the Zoning Update.

8-E REQUEST: City Staff requests that the City’s Zoning Ordinance be amended to remove certain findings which are required before either Development Permits or Conditional Use Permits may be approved.

RECOMMENDATION: Approve the introduction and first reading of Ordinance 903, approving Zoning Ordinance Amendment 19-02, Pertaining to Findings Required for Development Permits and Conditional Use Permits and Findings of Exemption from CEQA.
City Staff's recommendation to approve Zoning ordinance Amendment 19-02 was unanimously passed.
8-F REQUEST: City Staff requests that the City’s Zoning Ordinance be updated to clarify the appropriate review authority for land use and planning items.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:SECTION 1. Section 6.04.0215(1)(F) of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fillmore is hereby amended to read, in its entirety, as follows:“F. AUTHORITY The Commission shall have final decision-making authority over or make recommendations to the City Council as designated in Section 6.04.5001, Table IV-1, of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fillmore.”SECTION 2. Section 6.04.8025 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fillmore is hereby amended to read, in its entirety, as follows: et sec.
8-G REQUEST City Council authorize purchase of a new backhoe to replace current backhoe in the Public Works Department.

RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council approve (1) the reallocation of $37,000 from line item 302-4850-0051-538 to line item 302-4850-0051-539, (2) the execution of a contract signed by the City Manager to purchase the John Deere backhoe for $97,147.05, and (3) the sale as surplus of the Ford backhoe to offset the purchase cost of the new one.
8-H City Council members serve as official representatives of the City to various intergovernmental agencies. The California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA) Board of Directors is made up of an elected official from each member agency. The last four years the Council has appointed a Councilmember as the Primary and Human Resources Director (Risk Manager) Diana Impeartrice as the Alternate. The Risk Manager attended as the alternate all four years and has found the meetings to be informative and relevant to the Risk Manager position.

City Council appointed Council member Lynn Edmonds to position of Primary Director.

On May 9, 2019, the Fillmore Police Department will begin its Public Safety Academy, tailored toward the Latino community, by offering a ten week course in Spanish. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has long recognized the importance of building relationships in all of our communities. By providing a Public Safety Academy instructed in Spanish, the Sheriff’s Office hopes to continue to create trust and foster positive and lasting relationships.

The course is designed to give participants an overview of the Police Department’s function and operational procedures. There will be presentations by Ventura court representatives, narcotic and gang officers, demonstrations by SWAT and the Bomb Squad, and many others. There will also be tours of the Fillmore Police Station, the Pre-Trial Detention Facility (Main Jail), the Communications Center and the Sheriff’s Heliport. Participants will also have the opportunity to go on a Ride-Along with a patrol deputy. The sessions will be instructed by Spanish speaking veteran deputies.

Anyone interested in attending, may get an application at the Fillmore Police Station or Fillmore’s City Hall. Potential candidates must be at least 18 years of age, live or work in Fillmore or the surrounding unincorporated areas, have no felony arrests or convictions, no misdemeanor convictions within one year of applying, and be Spanish or a limited English speaker.

The sessions will meet on Thursday evenings beginning May 9th, 2019, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm for ten weeks, at the Fillmore Active Adult Center, 533 Santa Clara Avenue, Fillmore.

For additional information, contact Senior Deputy Javier Chavez via e-mail, javier.chavez@ventura.org, or by telephone at 805-524-2233 (Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm).

Prepared by: Senior Deputy Javier Chavez
Approved by: Eric Tennessen, Chief of Police