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Three subjects were rescued from an island in the Santa Clara River on Wednesday, March 22, from 11:15 am to noon. About 25 units stationed in the 700 block of Burlington Street, while VC Swift Water Rescue helicopter, staging at River & E Street, flew in and transported the subjects and a dog out. All three refused medical attention. More photos and information in next week's Gazette. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News. Rescue caught on video: https://www.facebook.com/AENews805/videos/935689417776000

Gonzalo Garcia Jr.

For the first time in the history of the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, a club member Gonzalo Garcia Jr., 16 who attends Fillmore High School from the Fillmore Clubhouse won the title of Coastal California Youth of the Year 2022-2023. Gonzalo competed against 8 other Boys & Girls Organizations on Tuesday, March 8th in Solvang, California, and went through a very rigorous process that consisted of an application, essay, interviews, a speech, and letters of recommendation. Gonzalo will be traveling with the BGC staff to Sacramento later this month where he will compete for the state title of Youth of the Year. Gonzalo has been a club member for 11 years and even his younger brother has started attending the Fillmore site. " The club has helped me succeed by opening doors for me that I never knew existed." (quote from Gonzalo) A quote from CEO Jan Marholin, "We were beyond excited to see Gonzalo represent our organization and win. We thank Cesar Villanueva, Site Director, and his dedicated staff. Sacramento here we come!"

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On March 7th, 2023, Fillmore Patrol Services responded to a domestic violence incident located at the 300 block of Santa Clara Street in Fillmore. On March 8th, 2023, Fillmore Detectives followed up with the call for service and located the suspect, Ricardo Sanchez, in the city of Camarillo where he was arrested for domestic violence charges.

Following Sanchez’ arrest, West County Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) detectives obtained information that Sanchez was coordinating the removal of firearms from his residence to avoid law enforcement detection. West County Special Enforcement Unit detectives obtained a signed search warrant for Sanchez’ residence located in the 500 block of Fourth Street in Fillmore.

Detectives executed the search warrant and located two handguns and one AK-47 assault rifle. West County Special Enforcement Unit detectives supplementally booked Sanchez for possession of firearms while in violation of an emergency protective order, unlawful transfer of a firearm and possession of an assault weapon. Sanchez remains in custody with a $65,000 total bail amount for the cases. Sanchez’ next court date is scheduled for March 10, 2023.

The West County Special Enforcement Unit is comprised of eight detectives, who focus on protecting West County communities by actively investigating illegal firearm activities. The Sheriff’s Office has seen an increase of unlawful firearm activities in Ventura County. If you have any information about illegal weapons, please contact Detective Matt Smith at 805-797-2891.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.

Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

Report Number: 23-30032
Location: 500 block of Fourth Street, Fillmore
300 block of Santa Clara Street, Fillmore
Date & Time: 3/8/2023 @ 12:30 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Special Enforcement Unit – West County, Fillmore Detectives
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
(S) Sanchez, Ricardo, Fillmore, 38
Prepared by: Senior Deputy Matt Smith
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

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).

(l-r) Counselor Corral and Miles Brown
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Thank you FMS Counselor Rick Corral for the information about the game and Miles Brown below:

With more than 35 colleagues in attendance, over 450 kids (FMS and FHS kids), about 25-30 parents, one Hollywood celebrity (huge shout out to Counselor Corral for sharing his nephew, Miles Brown with FMS), a pair of volunteer referees, and a volunteer bus driver for our Piru kids, FMS hosted a memorable community event. Thanks to each of you who were there!

Miles’ family information: Cyndee Corral-Brown (mother, present at the game); Jack Brown (father, present at the game); and Kiana Brown (older sister, who was unable to attend the game). Other family in attendance: Merced Corral (grandfather) and Maria Corral (grandmother).

Info about Rick Corral, School Counselor’s relationship with Miles: Miles is my nephew (my sister’s son).

Since the family has inquired about visiting me at work, it was suggested a fantastic time to do so would be on the day of the Staff vs. Students Basketball Game.

With the approval of FMS Principal Mr. Valdovinos, I asked Miles if he’d be interested playing in the game.

Miles happily accepted the invitation to participate in our school’s annual game.

Miles Brown is an 18-year-old actor, executive producer, dancer, and rapper from Oxnard, California, who plays “Jack Johnson” on the hit ABC show “Black-ish”. He is the youngest on the Jr. NBA council board, as the official Jr. NBA/NBA correspondent. He has been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Conan, The Steve Harvey Show, America’s Got Talent, Yo Gabba Gabba, and Battlefield America. Miles started as a dancer at age 3 and hit the stage within one year. He has been blessed to be able to perform for international music and dance festivals. Miles released his debut rap album, “We the Future,” in 2020 and plans to create his own film/TV production company with the vision of creating content to inspire Gen Z. Info courtesy www.imdb.com/name/nm5077468/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Courtesy Jan Lee

The hills are green. The wildflowers are beginning to bloom. Time to look around your garden to decide which flowers you want to bring to the Fillmore Flower Show.

Two exciting divisions for Flower Show entries are potted plants and dish gardens. The Best of Show last year was a potted plant. It was a red, crown of thorns which the exhibitor has been nurturing for MANY years. What do you have? Potted plants are any single variety plant in a container, not too heavy to be carried by the exhibitor. There are 4 categories for potted plants: African violets, Orchids, cacti and succulents, other.

Dish gardens is another division for the Flower Show. Dish gardens are limited to size and weight that can be carried by the exhibitor. This is another fun category. We have had some very beautiful and creative entries in the past. One year, the high school ag students designed some interesting displays. Think about what container you might use. What types of plants work well together? How is the theme, “Garden Treasures” expressed in your dish garden?

Those of you who have limited garden space may have some lovely potted plants and dish gardens. Share them with your community at the Fillmore Flower Show April 15 and 16, 2023 at the Active Adult Center on Santa Clara Street in Fillmore. For more information go to: www.fillmoreflowershow.org.

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On Saturday, March 11, at 10:33, the Fillmore Police Department investigated a traffic collision that occurred in the 200 block of A Street, Fillmore. Arriving deputies found two vehicles with side damage. While units were investigating the crash a deputy advised dispatch the crash was under investigation for a possible DUI. Deputies on scene performed a field sobriety test on a female subject, the breathalyzer was also given, inset. During officers conducting their investigation the female subject refused to comply and was arrested and taken to Santa Paula ER for a blood draw; she was booked at the Ventura County Main Jail. No additional information was provided at the scene. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.

7.A CONSIDER WHETHER TO CONSOLIDATE THE CITY’S ARTS AND PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSIONS
REQUEST That the City Council approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 23-947 to (1) dissolve the Arts Commission by removing Fillmore Municipal Code Chapter 6.18, (2) amending Fillmore Municipal Code Chapter 2.28 (Parks and Recreation Commission) to account for additional duties previously assigned to the Arts Commission, and (3) change the name of the newly consolidated commission.
Dissolving Commissions March 14, 2023 Page 2 of 2 01148.0001/853522.4 As the Parks and Recreation has five commission positions plus two student commission positions, all currently appointed commissioners could serve on the new commissioners, should they want to do so and staff would continue efforts to recruit for the two vacant student commissioner positions. Staff reached out to all active commissioners to gather their feedback on the proposed consolidated plan and commissioners provided full support of the proposed merger. Additionally, one of the commissioners suggested that the consolidated commission be renamed the Cultural, Arts, and Recreation Commission.
Approved 5-0

7.B ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 23-945 - THE 2022 UNIFORM BUILDING CODES AND FIRE CODES WITH LOCAL AMENDMENTS AND FINDING OF EXEMPTION FROM CEQA
REQUEST. The City Council is being requested to: Approve second reading to adopt Ordinance No. 23-945 to adopt the California Building, Residential, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, Green Building Standards, Energy, Fire, Historical, Existing Building, International Swimming Pool Code and International Property Maintenance Code, with local amendments; and find this action to be exempt from CEQA.
Approved 5-0

7.C CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF RELOCATE THE COUNCIL COMMENT PERIOD ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA The Brown Act, California’s “Sunshine Laws”, give members of the public the right to address the City Council and other legislative bodies of the City at their meetings on matters within the subject matter of the body. Hence, agendas for such meetings are required to provide an opportunity for the public to address the City Council on any item of interest to the public within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City Council and before or during the time the council considers each item specifically listed on the agenda. When a member of the public speaks on an item not on the agenda, the Brown Act allows the City Council, or other legislative body, and/or staff to briefly respond to that comment. From staff’s review of the practices of other cities, staff has observed that approximately half of the cities surveyed conduct City Council comments at the end of their agenda and the other half conduct council comments immediately after public comments.
Approved 5-0