Marie Wren received a proclamation from the City of Fillmore after retiring from the Senior Center Board.
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The Sept 14th Fillmore City Council was a joint meeting of the City Council and Planning Commission. The meeting began with about 40 in attendance and went late into the night, ending close to midnight. The agenda covering a wide range of topics that included water and sewer rates, counting of the protest ballots, street cleaning, baseball backstops at Two Rivers Park, Fillmore’s legal publications “Newspaper of Record” along with a few others.

Again, as with the City Council’s last meeting, the main focus was on questions from the public in regard to Proposition 218 which is the Water Ordinance 10-821, a proposed water and sewer rate increase. But the awarding of the contract for legal publications t the Gazette also was of great interest. Consideration for the Award of Contract for City Legal Publications, “Newspaper of Record” for FY 2010-11 became a heated topic with many voicing their views.

Citizen Kenneth Creason stated he was deeply opposed to giving the award to the Fillmore Gazette. He mentioned the Gazette’s lack of coverage of “good news” sighting the paper’s omission of a donation made to the Fillmore Senior Center for their salad bar (Front Page, April 15th edition under “Presentations” - http://www.fillmoregazette.com/front-page/medical-marijuana-city-morator...). Creason also said he cancelled his subscription to the Gazette because “Roy Payne” was allowed to write Letters to the Editor over the 250 word limit while no one else was (a false claim already exposed in response to Councilmember Gayle Washburn’s Letter dated 09/03/09 - http://www.fillmoregazette.com/letters/september-3rd-2009). Both false claims can be viewed as such online (hardcopies available at Fillmore Library for viewing).

Councilmember Jamey Brooks stated, “Mr. Farrell is a slanderer…I will never vote for him.” Councilmember Laurie Hernandez defended the Gazette by speaking directly to the naysayers, “He writes about me too—it’s an opinion. I vote yes.” Councilmember Steve Conaway asked City attorney Ted Schneider, pointedly, if the Ventura Star could publish the city legals. Schneider said “No”. Conaway also asked if awarding the Star the contract would put the city at legal risk. Schneider answered “Yes”.

The City of Fillmore had asked both the Fillmore Gazette and the Ventura County Star to give bids on the contract. The Ventura County Star is not the adjudicated paper of record for the city of Fillmore, the Gazette is, and law requires that if there is a local paper it must be awarded the contract..

A vote was taken with CONTINUED »

“It is the mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to erase Israel from the map of the region.”
(Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei)

“I don’t believe he would have hesitated to give the order to nuke the nation of Israel if he had had the bomb…Allah had given us the responsibility of eradicating the Jews, and my father didn’t question that…”
(Reformed terrorist Mosab Yousef speaking about his father Sheikh Hassan Yousef, one of the seven founders of the Muslim terrorist organization Hamas)

Note: Mosab Yousef is a reformed Hamas terrorist. Mosab has openly denounced terrorism, and assisted the Israeli Security Services in combating numerous acts of murder by fanatical Muslim extremists. Mosab’s fight against Radical Islam is chronicled in the excellent book, ‘Son Of Hamas.’

The entire geographical size of the nation of Israel is smaller than the state of New Jersey. In speaking with an Israeli Air Force F-16 fighter pilot he told me it takes approximately 12 minutes to fly from northern to southern Israel, and approximately 3 minutes to fly from eastern to western Israel.

Almost immediately after the United Nations Partition Resolution 181 of 1947 granted Israel statehood, five Arab nations, Egypt, Iraq, Jordon, Lebanon and Syria attacked Israel. This became known as the War Of Independence. After the Holocaust in which 6 million Jews were slaughtered, and after fending off the attack of five Arab nations who violated the United Nations agreement and attempted to destroy the Jewish people for a second time in 1948, the Jewish people finally had a homeland.

One strategically placed nuclear bomb launched into modern day Israel would destroy the Jewish homeland thus creating a second modern day Holocaust. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stated on numerous occasions and as recently as last week that The Islamic Republic of Iran’s goal is to destroy the “Little Satan” (Israel), and the “Great Satan” (The United States). Recently when Iran paraded its military fighting force and weaponry during a public display of its “military might”, the missiles had “Death To Israel” and “Death To The United States” emblazoned of the side of the missiles.

In a past statement CONTINUED »

After just a few weeks in his new role with Fillmore Unified School District as School Resource Officer (SRO) Deputy Leo Vazguez feels right at home during the busy and noisy breaks between class at Fillmore High School. Vazguez mentions, “It’s been busy… a lot of citations and a lot of paperwork.” So far he has visited every campus, although most of his time is spent at Fillmore High, Sierra High and the middle school responding to requests for assistance. When asked about how the kids respond to the SRO on campus he replied, “I’m sorry to say [some are] uneasy… and usually those are the ones that are causing problems. A lot of them are positive. I know a lot of the kids from patrol [and] from my neighborhood, a lot of contacts, good and bad. The ones I’ve had bad contacts [with] they usually walk away, the ones I’ve had good contacts with they come shake my hand.”
Vazguez grew up in the Lincoln Heights area of Los Angeles, and in Arcadia. After high school he served a tour in the military and then worked for ten years as a lab technician. For the past eight years he and his family have called Fillmore home. He has been with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department for 13 years. He enjoys collecting and riding motorcycles with friends and his family, even inspiring students in town to get good grades with the reward of going motorcycle riding. Responding to a question about why he has chosen to work with young people he comments “I just like working with the kids…I want to make sure they grow up to be normal law abiding citizens…hopefully I can help all the kids at all the schools… and make a little difference, hopefully I can help”

Vazguez also serves as CONTINUED »

5:15pm Saturday - Fillmore - Vehicle Accident Leads to Arrest - Olive @ Ventura St. 32 year old Gamino Reyes a Fillmore gang member and convicted felon, caused a three car collision by rear ending a stopped vehicle in front of him. The ensuing investigation revealed that Reyes had a loaded 40. Caliber semiautomatic handgun in the vehicle that was concealed. In addition he had open containers of alcohol. Gang officers arrested Reyes and determined that the gun had been stolen 2 years earlier in Arizona. Reyes was booked for a host of charges including Felon in possession of a gun. Possession of a concealed weapon in a vehicle, loaded firearm, and Stolen Property.

3:30am Sunday - Toland Road - Foot Pursuit - Deputy Gonzales was parked on Highway 126 just west of Fillmore. He was observing traffic, looking for drunk drivers. He attempted to stop a gray Volkswagen Jetta for a vehicle code violation when the driver and his passenger quickly stopped on Toland Road and both fled on foot. The vehicle was stolen out of Santa Barbara. Deputy Gonzales gave chase on foot through the brush. Deputy Gonzales apprehended 29 year old Jason Kohr (From Santa Paula).
Sheriff K-9 dog Vex and his partner Deputy Reeder responded to help Deputy Gonzales.
Vex found the second suspect, 23 year old Elgin Goodwin (From Camarillo), hiding in bushes. He refused to surrender. Goodwin sustained bite wounds from Vex and was captured. Both men were arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and booked at jail. A search of the stolen car reveled a semi auto gun hidden in the passenger compartment.

November 2nd you will be able to vote for TWO candidates

Question #3: The council has expressed the goal to help local businesses. Where do you stand on city support of local businesses (as we saw with Wm L Morris); and if you have a personal problem with a business could you rise above it and be objective?

Adrian Grimaldo: Small business is all around us. I was raised in a small business atmosphere my entire life. Grimaldo Enterprises has been in the same location and in operation for close to 30 years. Some 90% of California's businesses are run by local entrepreneurs and every year they are forced to pay higher taxes, interest rates, and larger utility bills. We need to curb these fee's to allow business to reinvest and prosper. I see these issues as inspiration for a solution. I am an optimist this is where my passion for education comes into play. Assisting local business could result in money for our schools and investments in key elements of our infrastructure like technology. I am a Business and Environmental Science major with an emphasis on small business with a minor in water science.
The year is 2010. It's time to tech up and embrace our agrarian backbone. By empowering innovation we can create jobs, utilize resources and give our economy a much needed boost. I want to see contract negotiations for a turbine facility to be built immediately in our Industrial Park. A similar facility was supposed to be built in Santa Paula, but their loss could be our gain. This would create hundreds of jobs. Entry-level assembly positions could be provided starting at $13.00-$15.00 an hour. For this to be possible we would need to draft a proposal immediately. This money would come from U.S. Department of Energy to support Wind Energy Development; currently being offered as of 9/13/2010.

David Lugo: First I want to apologize to the voters of Fillmore for not answering last week’s question. Had I answered it I would have said…My vision for Fillmore is to improve the services the city provides without raising taxes, reduce the cost in the budget and assure that the city builds back its’ reserves. In the last two years this Council over spent and reduced the reserve account from 40% of the general fund to only 21%. I remember Councilman Scott Lee lead the effort to have a healthy reserve and pledge to follow his lead. Another one of my priorities is to have a slow well planned growth that pays for its’ self. It is a privilege to build in Fillmore not a right.
Now today’s question.
I feel the city should help its local businesses as much as possible. We need to keep our businesses in town and also figure out ways to make it easier for new businesses to become locals. There are too many empty store fronts in town as it is and by helping our locals we can possibly keep that number from rising and who knows they can probably expand their businesses by opening a second location or renting an open vacancy next to them. I have not had a problem with a business in town but if I did that would be personal and like I always say don’t take your personal problems to work with you so I could be objective. “Your Voice”.

Patti Walker: I will continue to support and help local businesses at every level.
For instance, through the Storefront Rehabilitation Improvement Program a business owner can apply for financial assistance to offset lease payments, make improvements to the exterior or interior of their building or to comply with handicap access or seismic safety requirements.
Financial assistance has been provided to various local businesses and individuals throughout the years and all decisions to do so were based on varying factors with each having their own terms and conditions of repayment.
Policies are in place which provide the Council with the guidelines that govern to whom and to what degree financial support can be given.
In one instance, I did not support providing financial assistance to a local business. In that matter, I and one other council member voiced concern about providing assistance to a business desiring to move from Central Avenue to the Railroad Promenade. We expressed a concern the move would cause a reduction in foot traffic down Central Avenue. My concern was not based on any personal problem with the business but the affect the move would have on the downtown as a whole. The move did occur and that business has since closed.
I strive to base my decisions not only on the application but also on the location of the business and the surrounding businesses, whether the business has a competing business nearby, if it will provide a service to the community, and the financial impact to the City.

Brian Sipes: Being a small local business owner, I know firsthand how important it is to support our local businesses throughout Fillmore. When I attended the City Council's Goal Setting Workshop back in March, I made a presentation to the City Council listing ways that the City Council can support our local businesses. I firmly believe if we intend to be a "business friendly community", then we must focus on eliminating blight. When I served as a Board of Director for the Fillmore Chamber of Commerce, I repeatedly heard from potential entrepreneurs that blight was a colossal deterrence in bringing their business to Fillmore. This is an issue that I will tackle if elected.
I was pleased to see the majority on the City Council approve an ordinance that gave a 5% credit to local businesses bidding on City projects. If elected, I will also work to implement reduced business license fees to encourage business growth and assist businesses that are struggling through difficult times.
A responsible City Council member must be objective and rise above personal issues with a specific business. My line of business has given me opportunities to deal with situations and rise above conflict. Just as any legitimate business person recognizes their duty to their customers regardless of personal issues. My professional experience will assist me in fulfilling my duties as a City Council member.

November 2nd you will be able to vote for THREE candidates

Question #3: Where do you stand on adding, or not adding, Charter schools into the District? Explain your supporting reasons? Some of the community interpreted the transfer of teachers from Piru to other schools as reprisal for supporting the Charter. What is your interpretation and opinion of the transfers?

Tony Prado: For the purpose of clarification, being the only candidate who is a current Board Member, I am not speaking for the Board or the School District. Also, my duties and responsibilitiles as a Board Member require me to speak carefully regarding school employees and their rights.
My opinion, on the first part of this question is very simple, if the desire for a charter school is parent-driven and a majority of the parents want a charter school, then I would support it. The fact is, the Piru Charter School issue was not parent-driven nor were the majority of parents in favor or it. Also, the Spanish speaking parents were ignored, the Piru English speaking community was ignored and the District was ignored. There was little or no concern as to how it would effect the teachers in the District or the students in the District. The Charter was an ill-conceived idea by a small selfish group of individuals.
There was an Emergency declared at Piru Elementary School. The teachers at Piru School were divided. Feelings and emotions by the teachers were very strong. There appeared to be a lack of courtesy and respect by those for and against the Charter. Effective teaching and learning were in danger in the classroom. Action was necessary and with the recommendation from the District staff an emergency was declared. The Board voted in favor of this emergency.
Today the environment at Piru Elementary School is calm and peaceful. Effective teaching and learning is taking place.

Dave Wilde: Last year I had the opportunity to be on the Piru campus at least once a week working with one of our second year teachers. I can tell you for certain that there was a lot of tension between the two groups of staff members. Even after the California State Board of Education turned down the charter group the tense atmosphere continued. I had a number of concerns. Two are very important. The first is whether a positive learning environment could be created and maintained for the students of Piru under those conditions. The second is whether affective collaboration between instructors in an effort to improve instruction could exist. With those huge concerns in mind I don't think the district had any choice but to move some people around. Those individuals involved still have jobs including benefits. I think we would all agree that the well being of the Piru students comes first.
I have no real feelings about charter schools in particular. I do, however feel that providing parents with a choice is important. A couple of years ago a committee was formed of parents and district staff to discuss ways to improve our schools and the idea of magnet schools and academies was talked about. With budget problems some of those ideas have been put on the back burning, but I would love to see them re-explored. Schools to address gate students and those with special interests in math, science, arts, and language skills would be great for our community of students.

Kim Rivers: I feel FUSD has a great opportunity at collaboration with instructors who are striving to foster academic excellence. It is the duty of a Board that when any discussion, proposal or formal petitions for a charter are brought before them, they consider whether it will enhance the educational options already offered within FUSD. Both California State law and policies of VCOE encourage charters as a way to improve academics, and expand educational options.
To transfer teachers involuntarily FUSD had to declare an emergency and invalidate a section of the certificated contract. How did this action benefit students? To invalidate a labor contract is a serious action, which I know has many district personnel concerned. I feel that this action was taken to prevent any further efforts by these teachers to create a charter school within the District, a right that California Law grants to a majority of certificated members at any school. As a Board member it will be important to me that the District has the highest regard for the legal rights of staff at all levels and that the actions by the District, and ultimately the School Board never leave the District vulnerable to legal action.
I am also concerned about the environment created by Board decisions. It may be hard for employees of FUSD to question a policy, proposal or action, or to suggest something new, if there is a culture that uses reassignment, termination or any other form of intimidation to prevent collaboration. www.votekimrivers.com

Lucy Rangel: Because of the manner in which the Piru Charter proposal was handled by the Petitioners and the District this past year, I would not be in favor of a Charter school in our district at this time. This controversial issue caused division in our district among parents, staff, administration, and our communities of Piru and Fillmore. I would, however, be in favor of a Charter school or even a Magnet school in the future. It takes a great deal of time planning and organizing any type of public educational institution if it is to be successful. Collaboration with the District is a must; and of course, the parents, staff, and community must be supportive of this concept. Everything planned must be in the best interest of all our students.
As far as the transfer of teachers from Piru to the other schools, I can certainly understand why some of the community interpreted these transfers as reprisal for supporting the charter. Since I was not in attendance at all the meetings regarding the Charter proposal, I do not know all of the details. My opinion, however, is that the District was aware of the potential effect that the State’s decision would have not only on Piru School, but also on the entire community. From previous meetings, they also had known that the school climate had already been affected. They should have taken immediate steps to facilitate recovery for all parties. Then, perhaps, the transfer of teachers would not have been necessary.

Mark Austin: California state law has promoted the creation of charter schools (which are public schools) primarily to increase learning opportunities for low-achieving students. This has been done by encouraging and allowing for the creation of charter schools to use innovative teaching methods. In others words, to think outside the box. The state intended to create competition within the public school system by allowing charter schools to innovate and thus provide an educational alternative. Adding charter schools within the boundaries of the Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) would allow for the provision of unique educational programs. This alone would result in competition between charter schools and the FUSD schools for students. The addition of charter schools would cause the FUSD to scrutinize itself internally and externally, and would force the FUSD to improve the overall quality of education or continue to lose students and funding to charter schools. But the real issue is not whether charter schools should be added in the FUSD. The issue is that existing schools within the FUSD are not meeting the grade.
The involuntary transfer of four teachers to other schools seems to be related to their support of the Piru Elementary School Charter. One merely needs to review the Resolution adopted by the FUSD (June 3, 2010) - that links the involuntary transfers to the Charter attempt. The Charter is mentioned numerous times within the Resolution and is used as the primary reason to declare an emergency circumstance, thus allowing for the transfers. www.votemarkaustin.com

Coral Vega

The Fillmore Gang Unit served three search warrants Saturday morning and arrested three subjects in connection with a gang related brandishing that occurred last week.

On 8-27-2010, patrol deputies responded to a disturbance in the 600 block of Lemon Way, Fillmore. Deputies found that just prior to arriving, a group of six gang members had confronted two rival gang members outside a residence. Witnesses reported that two of the six gang members displayed a handgun.

The Fillmore Gang Unit took over the investigation and identified a male juvenile and 24 year old Jose Barocio 24, as the two suspects. Investigators believe both Barocio and the juvenile brandished a handgun. Their investigation found that just after the confrontation, the juvenile ran to a residence in the 600 block of Via Rodeo. While in the residence, suspect Coral Vega 36, knowingly hid the gang member to avoid arrest.

On 9-4-2010, the Fillmore Gang Unit served three search warrants in an attempt to recover the handgun used in the gang disturbance. During the service of the search warrants, the suspects were at their homes and were arrested. The 17 year old male was lodged into Juvenile Hall and remains in custody without bail. Suspect Coral Vega, was booked into the Ventura County Jail for aiding a felon after the crime and Street Terrorism. She remains in custody on $100,000 bail. Jose Barocio was booked into the Ventura County Jail and remains in custody on $110,000 bail.

The handgun was not located during the searches. Any tips from the community will assist police with recovering the dangerous weapon. Gang Investigators expect to make more arrests.

Question #2: What is your vision for Fillmore if elected? What do you perceive as the 5 most important
priorities for the city?

Patti Walker: I believe in a Fillmore where we live, work, and play; a Fillmore that flourishes and thrives. A vision centering on our quality of life:
environment, housing, transportation, and preservation of all we hold dear.
We have public lands and a scenic river corridor we have not tapped into.
Many priorities Fillmore faces are placed by regulatory agencies - Regional Water Quality Control Board and state and federal legislation.
. RWQCB recently issued a county-wide stormwater permit. The first of many phases requires us to test the stormwater estimated to cost $150,000 a year.
. As co-chair on the Compact for a Sustainable Ventura County we need to comply with SB375 and AB32 to reduce greenhouse gases.
. In spite of my votes against building in the floodplain, building happened. FEMA now certifies levees every five years. Not all Fillmore's levees were in compliance and many residents may need to purchase flood insurance. I was part of the discussions with FEMA and successfully obtained a two-year extension to provide additional data to support our position the levees should be certified. Data is presently being compiled with the help of the County.
. Fillmore continues in its crusade to keep our sales tax revenue earned from businesses with offices in Fillmore. Without these taxes we will be hard-pressed in achieving a strong economy.
We need to focus attention on a plan to promote a strong economic development policy that provides a balanced, sustainable economy so Fillmore prospers well into the future.

Brian Sipes: My vision for Fillmore focuses on our quality of life and fiscal prudence. I strongly believe in a sustainable community that promotes small business growth, communication, customer service, anti-blight initiatives, and improving our work force. My vision also endorses the City of Fillmore's Vision 2020 plan.
My vision does NOT include high density development with three and four story buildings that have been advocated by a few current and past City Council members. Being a native of Fillmore, I respect and adhere to the concept of keeping Fillmore the last, best, small town, in Southern California.
Having attended the City Council's Goals Setting Workshops that were offered to the public in March of 2010, I provided input to the City Council on what citizens have expressed to me. I feel to be an effective leader, you must be able to reach out to all citizens of our community and include all suggestions, concerns and comments.
My vision for Fillmore is universal. I am confident that my leadership and vision will move our City forward so we can adapt to progress for the betterment of this great town.