Dave Roegner, advocate for rent control within the El Dorado Mobile Home Park, addressed the council Tuesday night, regarding an initiative.
Enlarge Photo

The City Council met Tuesday, June 23rd at 6:30 p.m. The most controversial items under discussion were the "Fair Rent and Homeownership Initiative", possible uses of the former ice cream parlor, and Addendum #37 to the Water Recycling Project. Postal workers expressed concerns regarding a proposed consolidation of services.
The Council authorized the City Attorney to cooperate with the California League of Cities, and other cities and counties, to challenge any seizure by the State of California of the City's street maintenance funds. Fillmore will support litigation if necessary.

After much discussion, the Council ordered an Initiative report on the potential impacts of the "Fair Rent and Homeownership Initiative". The Initiative report will include in-house analysis of the Initiative's potential impact, and the Council authorized up to $8000 to be spent on a consultant to analyze the Initiative's financial impact on the City. Council Member Jamey Brooks had not wanted to spend that much, but City staff explained that financial impact would be complex, and they would be unable to provide an accurate detailed analysis of the financial impact. The Council voted unanimously for the report, but Jamey Brooks and Steve Conaway voted against allocating the $8000 and were outvoted. CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On Monday June 22, at 10:30 am, Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies Cadman and Meixner made contact with the driver of a blue Nissan Path Finder in front of the 800 block of A Street. When Deputy Cadman asked the driver for his identification, the driver ran from the vehicle into a near-by residence. Deputies Cadman and Meixner chased the driver into the residence. While chasing the suspect, Deputies Cadman and Meixner contacted additional subjects that were involved in criminal conduct. Deputy Meixner detained the subjects while Deputy Cadman continued chasing the fleeing driver through the house and into the backyards of local residences.

Two of the subjects in the house displayed signs of being under the influence of acontrolled substance. Matthew Duenas, 21 and Brina Salas, 41, were both arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Salas also had three outstanding warrants for her arrest for prior drug related charges.

During the same time, additional deputies located and detained the fleeing driver, later identified as Marshall Perez, 32. Perez was under the influence of a controlled substance and had methamphetamine in his possession. Perez was arrested for 148(a)(1) PC/ Resist, obstruct or delay of a peace officer, 11377(a) H&S/ Possession of a controlled substance and 11550(a) H&S/ Under the influence of a controlled substance.

The three suspects were booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility. The Ventura County Sheriff’s
Department and Fillmore Police Department wants to recognize all the local citizens who assisted in the search and arrest of these suspects. With partnership efforts like this, we will make the community a safer place to live and work.

Enlarge Photo

The Fourth of July is just around the corner. Here is a list of the booth locations: Chamber of Commerce, east of 1149 Ventura St.; Christian Praise Assembly, 955 W. Ventura St.; Fillmore Athletic Booster Club, 725 Ventura St.; Fillmore Future Farmers of America Booster Club, Lot #14 Telegraph Rd. (E. Hwy 126 & El Dorado); Fillmore High School Athletic Boosters, Ventura Street & A Street (Balden Town Plaza); Fillmore Historical Museum, 725 Ventura St. (Super A Foods Center; Fillmore Lions Club, 1462 W. Ventura St.; Fillmore Senior Center, 251 Telegraph Rd (vacant lot); Fillmore Women’s Service Club, 446 Ventura St. (Margaret’s Restaurant); Fillmore Youth Football, 460 Ventura St.; First Assembly of God Church, 251 Telegraph Rd.; Maranatha Fellowship, 131 E. Telegraph Rd.; Piru 4-H, 501 Central Ave. (NW Corner of Ventura & Central); Rotary Club of Fillmore Noontime, 613 W. Ventura St.; Rotary Club of Fillmore Sun Risers, 908 Ventura St. (McDonalds); Sespe 4-H, 1049 Ventura St.; St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1048 W. Ventura St.; VC Search & Rescue, NW corner of Los Serenos & Ventura St.; Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 9637), 502 Ventura St.; Santa Clara Valley Grange, 251 Telegraph Rd.; Santa Clara River Valley Railroad Historical Society, SW corner Ventura St., & C Street; Fillmore Church of Christ, Balden Towne Plaza (VONS); Fillmore Girls Softball, 572 W Ventura St., (Balden Town Plaza-Burger King).
Have a Safe & Sane Fourth of July!

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

POLICE BLOTTER
THEFT OTHER
06/14/09
600 Block Ventura Street
06/17/09
1000 Block Ventura Street
BURGLARY
06/17/09
500 Block Sespe Avenue
BATTERY
06/11/09
500 Block Sespe Avenue
06/11/09
600 Block Ventura Street
THEFT VEHICLE
06/13/09
4th St. / B. Street CONTINUED »

Gregorio Aguilar

“I just killed my first man.” Those were the chilling words of Gregorio Aguilar, 19, of Fillmore, according to the testimony of Adam Solorio at Aguilar’s June 2 preliminary hearing for murder.

Under oath Solorio testified that Aguilar didn’t think Ventura Circle K clerk Sean Odle, 30, was taking him seriously during the December 26 attempted robbery. Solorio said Aguilar told him that Odle made a face like he was “making fun” of him. He also testified that Aguilar pulled the trigger, realized the safety was on, released the safety and fired, killing Odle with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Odle was shot about 4:25 a.m., and taken to Ventura County Medical Center, where he died.

Solorio wore a concealed recording devise and testified in exchange for leniency in connection with January 2009 charges of residential burglary, grand theft auto and receiving stolen property. He stated that he and Aguilar drank alcohol and smoked marijuana together and committed the residential burglary. CONTINUED »

At Tuesday’s council meeting Public Works Director Bert Rapp noted that the construction of the City’s Reclaimed Water Transmission and Distribution System was delayed at FMS in order to receive bids within budget and save money. According to Rapp’s memo to the Council, “Amendment # 2 provides a time extension for Substantial Completion from August 4th to August 28th.” American Water is still responsible for and expects to meet the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board’s water quality requirements by its September 9, 2009 deadline. Rapp’s memo states, “There is a cost savings to the City of about $50,000 associated with approving contract Amendment # 2 because of the avoidance of the importation, processing and disposal cost of additional biosolids.”

Fillmore City Council held a joint meeting with the Parks & Recreation Commission on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. Together, they heard an update on the possibility of building baseball fields at Two Rivers Park, discussed the Aquatics Facility construction delays, and considered converting the old Water Treatment Plant into a park area with observation points. Then the Council approved Amendment #2 to the Service Contract between the City of Fillmore and American Water for the Water Recycling Facility, received a report on the new budget management system under development, and heard an update on the City’s affordable housing distressed home purchase plan.
Public Works Director Bert Rapp explained that when the City contracted out the development of Two Rivers Park, there was not enough money to pay for the three desired baseball fields. It was hoped that near the end of the project, contingency funds would become available to install baseball facilities. Rapp estimated that only $150,000 would be available and suggested that it would be unwise to re-allocate that money before September. He presented a Community Works Design Group Preliminary Cost Estimate showing that constructing three basic baseball fields would cost over $483,000. That includes backstops, fences, bases, and clay, but does not include dugouts, bleachers, or lighting. Various members of both bodies spoke about the importance of having the fields completed with at least basic facilities. Steve Conaway said that he thought $150,000 of DIF funds might be available to augment the contingency money. The Commission and Council agreed to work with local sports organizations, especially Little League, to find out whether money is available through grants. The City might contribute a permanent Little League field in order to obtain construction money through grants. Currently Little League rents fields from schools at $10 per hour, and spends over $8,500 annually.

Replacement of a drain in the children's play structure at the Aquatics Center could delay the start of recreational swimming or close the pool for two weeks in July. The replacement part will arrive June 30th, but the demolition involved in the repair will take 5-7 working days, resulting in up to two weeks of construction, according to the latest estimates. The Council directed staff to find out whether the pool could remain open with reduced capacity during that time. Lap swimming and water aerobics classes are already available. Lifeguards hired to supervise recreational swimming will be finished with training by June 26th. CONTINUED »