Ruben Cendejas Estrada, Fillmore, 42

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Fillmore Police Department, arrested Ruben Estrada for two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, hit and run, and driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

On July 4, 2014, deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office responded to a disturbance in the 600 Block of Manzanita Drive in Fillmore. Two separate callers reported a male driving a red truck up and down the street challenging people to fight. Prior to deputies arriving on scene, the male driver, later identified as Ruben Estrada, got out of his truck and became involved in a physical fight at the location. Deputies arrived on scene and attempted to detain Estrada as he got into his truck. While a deputy attempted to remove Estrada from his truck, Estrada shifted the truck into drive and accelerated forward. The truck pushed the deputy up against a patrol car and onto the hood of the patrol car. Responding deputies began to pursue Estrada as he drove away from the area. Estrada then directed his truck towards a responding patrol unit nearly missing it. Estrada collided with a vehicle as he fled the area. Estrada stopped his vehicle in a nearby alley and fled on foot through backyards and was later located at his residence where he was arrested without incident.

The deputy pushed onto the hood of the patrol car was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

Nature of Incident: Assault with a Deadly Weapon / Hit and Run / Driving under the influence of alcohol.
Report Number: 14-15190
Location: 600 Block of Manzanita Drive Fillmore, CA
Date & Time: July 4, 2014 @ 8:02 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Ruben Cendejas Estrada Fillmore 42
Prepared by: Sgt. J. Hendren
Media Release Date: 07/05/2014
Follow-Up Contact: Detective J. Fox 805-524-2233
Approved by: Captain Dave Wareham.

The July 8, 2014 Fillmore City Council Meeting was filled to capacity as over 100 people attended, with many coming to speak during Public Comments. There were three subjects of interest brought forth by those who spoke; the Chevron Superfund Site, the Equestrian Center and the Fillmore Western Railroad. Other agenda items included a presentation on access to a renewable energy infrastructure, establishing a Fillmore Development Council, modification of a housing development in the North Fillmore and forming a committee with the Fillmore Unified School District.

The meeting began with a Proclamation to retiring Detective Senior Deputy Taurino Almazan, who twice received Officer of the Year (1994 and 2003) and completed his last day of assignment on June 28, 2014. Almazan began his career in law enforcement in 1979, coming to work in Fillmore in 1989. He was promoted to Senior Deputy in 1996 and was assigned to the Main Jail in Ventura for two years. In October 1998 Taurino returned to Fillmore where he was continuously assigned. Taurino told those in attendance, "I don't regret anything with my career."

The Public Comments lasted almost two hours as speaker after speaker addressed the Council. Julie Longoria, a fifth generation Fillmore resident, voiced her health concerns with the Chevron Superfund Site which is also called the Fillmore Works Project. Others voiced the same concern and asked the Council to not approve moving forward with the project until a more in-depth study has been conducted on the potential health risks to residents.

There were a number of Public Speakers who spoke on Fillmore Equestrian Center's new $2 per day fee ($60 per month) for storing horse trailers along with the requirement that dogs be kept on a leash and the lack of communication from the City. Chuck Brian asked "Where are you (the Council) going with the Center?" adding he had contacted City Hall with questions that were not answered. He informed the Council that the plumbing in front of his horse stall has had a leak for a year and wanted to know what City employee is responsible for its repair. Brian, along with Steve McKinnon from Santa Paula, complained about the Center's lack of direction and said that people are leaving due to the cost.

The cost to CONTINUED »

The steam-whistle blowing in the distance. The autumn ride through the orchards to the pumpkin patch. The thrill of the mystery dinner train. All that may be a distant memory soon. A judge evicted Fillmore & Western Railway from the Santa Paula Branch line last week, perhaps the final blow in the dispute between Railway owner Dave Wilkinson and the Ventura County Transportation Commission.

The Commission filed a lawsuit in March against the Railway when they ignored the agency’s demand to stop running the train operation. The Railway countersued, claiming the Commission terminated its 20-year lease wrongly. What does it mean for Fillmore financially? Only time will tell.

Below is a message from Mayor Manuel Minjares to the community of Fillmore:

The eviction of Fillmore & Western from the Santa Paula Branch Line has been a truly frustrating and unfortunate event. As a commissioner with VCTC, I had the opportunity to be exposed to the details of this process but not allowed to share those details with the public, which would have given a better understanding of both sides of this issue. All I can say is that I truly believe there were opportunities for a middle ground to be reached but it did not happen.

The absence of Fillmore & Western will undoubtedly exert a financial impact on the City of Fillmore. The tourist train, Thomas the Train, Holiday Train, fundraising events and annual Railfest gave the City of Fillmore an identity unique to the County of Ventura and exposed families near and far to our wonderful, unique town. Our identity and cultural roots are critical to the long term economic sustainability of our community. I am committed to working diligently with our staff, members of our City Council, the Ventura County Transportation Commission, Fillmore Chamber of Commerce, Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau, the Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historic Society, and other economic development groups to do our part to bring a viable railroad operator to the Heritage Valley.

This is an endeavor that must be embarked upon with haste but is also an endeavor that will likely not be resolved over night. It will take the commitment of all those dedicated to the reestablishment of a railroad operator on the Santa Paula Branch Line. We must take what we learned from our time working with Fillmore & Western and build upon that to ensure the long term success of our next venture.

To quote Henry Ford, “If everyone is moving together, then success takes care of itself”. I know we all won’t agree whether or not VCTC should have evicted Fillmore and Western, but one thing we can and must agree on is the fact that Fillmore needs a railroad tourist attraction for our community’s financial health and identity. Please be a part of the process to move forward and move forward successfully.

Sincerely,
Manuel Minjares
Mayor,
City of Fillmore

City of Fillmore

06/17/14
Hit & Run – Non Injury
2nd St./Saratoga St.
Keep the Peace
400 Blk. 2nd St.
200 Blk. Blaine Ave.
Theft
300 Blk. Central Ave.
06/18/14
Battery
400 Blk. Clay St.
Forgery
1000 Blk. Tudor Ln.
Lost property
500 Blk. Central Ave.
06/19/14
Search Warrant
1400 Blk. Waterford Ln.
Robbery
500 Blk. Sespe Ave.
Disturbance Fireworks
Casner Way/Cook Dr.
06/20/14 CONTINUED »

David Rowlands

This is the latest post in our series “Growing up in City Hall” where we take a look at what it’s like to have a parent that doubles as a city manager. This week we hear from David Rowlands of Fillmore, California.

David Rowlands is currently city manager of Fillmore, California. David graduated from California Lutheran with a political science degree and California State University with a master’s degree in public administration.

David started his career as an administrative assistant in Mason. He left that job in 1995 to be West Carrollton’s city manager before becoming the deputy city manager in Novato, Calif. in 1998. He then became the first city manager ever in Clayton, Ohio.

RowlandsHe is the son of David D. Rowlands, city manager of Chula Vista, California. David’s grandfather, also David D. Rowlands, was a longtime, respected manager and president of ICMA in 1966–1967.

Dave-RowlandsDavid D. Rowlands, Tacoma’s city manager for 13 years, helped lead the city to national prominence amid an “Urban Renewal” movement that aimed to revitalize decaying inner cities across America. He landed millions in federal grant dollars to launch a municipal bus system, develop sewage treatment plants and built two downtown parking garages in the 1960s. He also tore down dozens of buildings, saw Weyerhaeuser leave Tacoma and eventually supported a new mall that gutted the downtown retail core. “It was a heady time for Tacoma, and Dave was right at the center of it,” said former Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma

He also served as City Manager of Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Huntington Beach. He also taught at California State University, Long Beach.

Q & A with David

What was it like growing up with a parent who was a city manager? Was there anything you liked, anything you could have done without?

For me it was great. Both my grandfather and father were city and county managers. We were able to go to events and meet people we otherwise would not have met.

downloadWhen I visited CONTINUED »