SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, R-Camarillo, today announced that Assembly Republican Leader Connie Conway, R-Tulare, appointed him as Outreach Chair on the Assembly Republican Leadership Team.

“It’s an honor to be chosen for this new position,” Gorell said. “Assembly Republicans have proposed some reasonable and responsible policy solutions that should be taken directly to Californians for their evaluation. I am prepared to help accomplish that task.”

“During a time when the state is dealing with past budget failures, and Californians are receiving mixed messages from Sacramento about how the problems should be fixed, the Republican goal of defining our state’s priorities and encouraging financial responsibility is a message the public is eager to discuss."

The Republican Outreach CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

NOTICE AND CALL OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE OVERSIGHT BOARD TO THE SUCCESSOR AGENCY OF THE FILLMORE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Thursday, MAY 10,2012
2:00 p.m.
Fillmore City Hall
Council Chambers
250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, California
TO: ALL MEMBERS OF THE OVERSIGHT BOARD TO THE SUCCESSOR
AGENCY OF THE FILLMORE COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY AND THOSE REQUESTING NOTICE OF SUCH MATTERS:
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that pursuant to California Government Code Section
54956, the Board Secretary has called a Special Meeting of the Oversight Board to be
held on Thursday, MAY 10, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at City
I
1 Hall, 250 CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

CITY OF FILLMORE SUCCESSOR AGENCY REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 8,2012 6:30 P.M. FILLMORE CITY HALL CENTRAL PARK PLAZA 250 CENTRAL AVENUE FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 9301 5-1 907

AGENDA

6:00 p.m.
Successor Agency Meeting Agenda - May 8,2012
1. Call to Order: 6:30 P.M
2. Roll Call: Successor Agency Members Steve Conaway, Successor Agency
Member A. Eduardo Gonzalez, Successor Agency Member Brian
Sipes, Vice Chair Jamey Brooks and Chair Gayle Washburn.
3. Public Comments
4. Successor Agency Consent Calendar
Recommendation for Items A. through 5. is to Approve.
A. Warrant List for MAY 8, 2012.
B. Consideration and Adoption of Resolution No. SA 12-2, A Resolution of
the City of Fillmore, As Successor Agency of the Fillmore Redevelopment
Agency, Approving a Reimbursement and Operating Agreement between
the City of Fillmore CONTINUED »

City of Fillmore

ClTY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL AND FILM COMMISSION JOINT MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 8,2012 6:30 P.M. FILLMORE ClTY HALL CENTRAL PARK PLAZA 250 CENTRAL AVENUE FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA

1. Call to Order: 6:30 P.M.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call: Councilmembers Steve Conaway, A. Eduardo Gonzalez, Brian Sipes,
Mayor Pro Tem Jamey Brooks and Mayor Gayle Washburn.
4. Approval of Agenda
5. Presentations and Announcements
6. Public Comments
7. Joint City Council
A. Review Prior
I Film Commission Business Items
Year Items/Activities.
B. Consideration of and Direction to Staff to Address Safety Issues and
Waive Fees Related to Volunteer Efforts to Remove the Downtown Area
Palm Trees CONTINUED »

For the ninth year, the California State Assembly recognized Holocaust survivors, children of survivors and World War II veteran liberators during California Holocaust Memorial Week.

The moving ceremony included stories of Holocaust survivors. Their courage and conviction is a testament of the human spirit. It is vivid and personal testimonies such as these that will help prevent another horrific genocide.

In the interest of recognizing veterans for their service and sacrifice, I pushed for the passage of my legislation to allow retired and honorably discharged veterans to have a “VETERAN” designation on their driver’s license or identification card.

Veterans give up so much in serving our country and protecting our freedoms.

As more and more service men and women return home from war zones, a “VETERAN” designation on their driver’s license will be an easier way to prove their eligibility for education and social benefits as well as employment opportunities.

Senate Bill 1355 CONTINUED »

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assembly Bills 1982 and 2117 authored by Assembly Member Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) successfully cleared major hurdles today as they received bipartisan approval from their respective policy committees.

AB 1982 which deals with legislative review of the most expensive state regulations was approved by Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection, while AB 2117 which addresses problems with state regulation of storm water runoff was passed out of Environmental Safety.

“As California struggles to recover from economic recession, we need to send a message to job creators encouraging them to invest in our state,” stated Gorell. “Our elected legislators must be responsible for creating a business environment that provides needed jobs.”

The California Chamber CONTINUED »

Sacramento, CA – Senate Joint Resolution 19, authored by Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Moorpark) passed unanimously in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

SJR 19 encourages the California Congressional delegation to help keep California military bases open if the U.S. Department of Defense goes forward with a new round of base closures. In the 2013 Budget, U.S. Department of Defense plans to ask Congress to approve two rounds of military base closures, the first in 2013 and another in 2015, through the Federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission program.

“Military bases across the state benefit all people in California, so we need to send a message to Congress to let them know just how important our military bases are,” Sen. Strickland said. “California’s diverse military bases are vital to national security, as well as California’s continued safety.”

“California’s military bases CONTINUED »

SACRAMENTO, CA – In a banner week for Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo), where fellow legislators passed six of his authored bills out of policy committees, the lawmaker found bi-partisan support for his slate of four military veteran employment support bills, all aimed at getting veterans back to work.

“The rate of unemployment for California’s military veterans is as high as 20 percent,” said Assemblyman Gorell. “We have an obligation to help these men and women find jobs and transition back into our economy. My slate of veteran bills will create a one-stop shop for veterans seeking benefits and support at the California Department of Veteran Affairs, where most veterans call to seek help.”

AB 1930 seeks to help veterans qualify for state employment by providing notices of upcoming State Personnel Board promotional exams to the California Department of Veterans Affairs.

AB 1931 will CONTINUED »

There’s a very important day this week—a day even more significant than when your taxes are due. In the State of California, Tax Freedom Day finally arrives on April 20.

Calculated annually by the Tax Foundation, Tax Freedom Day is the day on which the average Californian has finished earning enough money to pay all of his or her federal, state and local taxes this year.

So, congratulations! Just a mere 110 days into the year (not counting February 29), you can finally start working for yourself instead of the government.

But before you break out the champagne, note the following:

1. Tax Freedom Day is four days later than last year. It would have been even later had the Governor and Legislature succeeded in their efforts to raise car taxes, income taxes and sales taxes.

2. Californians must work longer for the government than residents of other states. The average American achieves tax freedom three days earlier than the average Californian. That’s one reason many workers leave our state as soon as they retire.

3. If taxes were raised high enough to pay for all government spending, California’s Tax Freedom Day wouldn’t come until May 17.

Tax Freedom Day used to arrive much earlier in the year. According to the Tax Foundation, in the year 1900 Americans paid only 5.9% of their income in taxes and Tax Freedom Day was January 22.

Over the years, the CONTINUED »

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today’s oversight hearing will examine the use of fraudulent documents by illegal immigrants who are seeking employment and how E-Verify can help to eliminate a problem that negatively affects millions of Americans and legal immigrants who are unemployed.

However, before discussing my views on this issue, I want to explain why one of the witnesses initially invited to the hearing will not be testifying this morning.

My staff contacted ICE over two weeks ago. We requested that an ICE official testify about the specific issue of how pervasive fraudulent documents are in the context of employment authorization. We asked that ICE provide an overview of the issue as well as relevant statistics and data.

Unfortunately, the testimony CONTINUED »

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assembly Bills 1982 and 2117 authored by Assembly Member Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) successfully cleared major hurdles today as they received bipartisan approval from their respective policy committees.

AB 1982 which deals with legislative review of the most expensive state regulations was approved by Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection, while AB 2117 which addresses problems with state regulation of storm water runoff was passed out of Environmental Safety.

“As California struggles to recover from economic recession, we need to send a message to job creators encouraging them to invest in our state,” stated Gorell. “Our elected legislators must be responsible for creating a business environment that provides needed jobs.”

The California Chamber CONTINUED »

SACRAMENTO, CA - Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced two bills in the fight against human trafficking passed out of legislative committees today. The vote comes during National Crime Victims' Rights Week, an opportunity to remember victims and advocate for victims' rights.

One bill will aid in recovering money for victims of human trafficking and the second bill will require that predators convicted of even one instance of sex trafficking of a minor forfeit any profits earned from their crimes.

This legislative package continues Attorney General Harris' commitment to fighting human trafficking. As District Attorney of San Francisco, she co-sponsored the California Human Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2005, which first made human trafficking a felony. Since taking office, she has convened meetings across the state with law enforcement agencies, NGOs and victim advocates to assess the status of human trafficking efforts in California and determine next steps. Attorney General Harris has also launched a website to connect various anti-trafficking groups across the state and provide tools to help Californians identify and report human trafficking in their communities. The website also has help for victims available in 18 languages.

"Human trafficking is a criminal industry that is expanding rapidly across the globe, including here in California," Attorney General Harris said. "I am proud to sponsor these bills against human trafficking and am committed to this fight. The same transnational gangs that traffic drugs and guns across our border also traffic human beings and we must counter their threat."

The first bill, Senate CONTINUED »

Sacramento, CA – Senate Joint Resolution 19, authored by Sen. Tony Strickland (R-Moorpark) passed unanimously in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.

SJR 19 encourages the California Congressional delegation to help keep California military bases open if the U.S. Department of Defense goes forward with a new round of base closures. In the 2013 Budget, U.S. Department of Defense plans to ask Congress to approve two rounds of military base closures, the first in 2013 and another in 2015, through the Federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission program.

“Military bases across the state benefit all people in California, so we need to send a message to Congress to let them know just how important our military bases are,” Sen. Strickland said. “California’s diverse military bases are vital to national security, as well as California’s continued safety.”

“California’s military bases also provide a great economic benefit to their surrounding communities. They provide jobs to hundreds of thousands of service-members and civilians alike and help boost local small businesses,” Sen. Strickland added. “In my district alone, Naval Base Ventura County is the one of the largest employers and provides an estimated 19,000 jobs.”

“With the passage of SJR 19, it’s my hope Congress sees the importance of our military bases and does not move forward with President Obama’s proposal to cut funding for national security,” Sen. Strickland added.

Sen. Strickland has also sent a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown, asking him to authorize the creation of an unpaid, volunteer task force for the strategic purpose of preserving California’s military bases. Similar task forces were authorized in 1993 by Gov. Pete Wilson and in 2004 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, but both have since expired.

SJR 19 now heads to the Senate Floor for a vote.

Sen. Strickland is available to the media for an interview or comments.

Tony Strickland represents California Senate District 19, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.

Lyons, NE - Today the Center for Rural Affairs called upon Senate Agriculture Committee members to adopt crucial amendments to the Farm Bill proposal currently before the committee. They are expected to begin debate on amendments today, Wednesday, April 25th.

“Unfortunately, the farm bill proposal before the Senate Ag Committee slashes investment in rural small business development and value-added agriculture while increasing crop insurance subsidies for some of the nation’s largest farms and wealthiest landowners. There are opportunities to fix some of these issues right now, while the Committee debates amendments to the bill,” said Traci Bruckner of the Center for Rural Affairs.

According to Bruckner, the amendment* offered by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) is an important first step. It would deny farm subsidies to individuals with taxable income over $500,000 and married couples making over $1 million. The money saved would be invested in revitalizing rural communities through small business development, beginning farmer programs, value added agriculture and assistance for small towns in updating water and sewer systems.

Likewise, Bruckner stated that the amendment offered by Senator John Thune (R-SD), Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) helps reverse the perverse incentive in current farm policy to break up marginal, erosion prone grasslands.

“Their amendment limits crop insurance benefits and premium subsidies for crops grown on native sod or land that a producer cannot verify has ever been tilled,” Bruckner continued.

As the Senate Agriculture Committee begins debating the next farm bill, they will undertake consideration of over 100 amendments offered by members of the committee. According to Bruckner, this is a time when much of the direction of the Senate Farm Bill will be determined.

“Moreover, in today’s economy it is more important than ever that the Senate make wise choices,” said Bruckner.

She further explained that under current and proposed farm policy, if one corporation farmed an entire state - her home state of Nebraska, for example - then the federal government would pay 60 percent of its crop insurance premiums on every acre, every year, even in times of record profits.

“This does not reflect rural America’s priorities or our values. We face a simple choice, either lavish subsidies on mega-farms, or, invest in rural America’s future. The best choice is obvious,” Bruckner added. “And there will never be a more important time for rural Americans to let their Senators know how they come down on that choice than right now.”

* The Sherrod Brown/Ben Nelson Amendment to the farm bill would deny farm payments to individuals with adjusted gross income of over $500,000. The savings would be used for the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program ($25 million over 5 years), Value Added Producer Grant Program ($100 million over five years), beginning farmer programs ($45 million over 5 years), Water and Sewer replacement backlog ($150 million) and RBEG/RBOG business development programs ($10 million over 5 years).

Established in 1973, the Center for Rural Affairs is a private, non-profit organization working to strengthen small businesses, family farms and ranches, and rural communities through action oriented programs addressing social, economic, and environmental issues.

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - Acorn Newspapers and California Lutheran University are hosting a 26th Congressional District Candidates Forum at 7 p.m. Monday, May 7, in CLU’s Lundring Events Center.

In this closely watched election for the newly drawn congressional district, the top two vote-getters from the June 5 primary will advance to the general election in November. This year is the first time California voters will choose congressional candidates from a single primary ballot rather than selecting nominees for each party.

Six candidates are vying for the chance to represent the district that includes most of Ventura County in the U.S. House of Representatives. The contenders are: Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Oak Park; Ventura real estate agent Albert Maxwell Goldberg, a Democrat; Oxnard Harbor District commissioner Jess Herrera, a Democrat; Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, an independent; Sen. Tony Strickland, R-Moorpark; and Westlake Village businessman David Cruz Thayne, a Democrat. All candidates have been invited and are expected to attend.

John Loesing, managing editor of the Acorn Newspapers, and Herb Gooch, director of CLU’s Masters in Public Policy and Administration Program, will serve as co-moderators. Questions, which will be generated by the Acorn and CLU’s political science department, will focus on key issues of national importance as they relate to the localcommunity, such as job creation, education, immigration and transportation. Questions will also be collected from the audience, and at least one will be asked of the candidates.

Time Warner Cable will record the debate and make it available throughout the region by way of its Video on Demand service.

The forum is free and open to the public. Lundring Events Center is in the Gilbert Sports and Fitness Center,which is north of Olsen Road near Mountclef Boulevard on the Thousand Oaks campus. For more information, contact Gooch at gooch@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3348 or Thousand Oaks Acorn Editor Kyle Jorrey at tonewstip@theacorn.com.

City of Fillmore

CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL AND FILLMORE SENIOR CENTER INC. JOINT MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2012, 6:30 P.M.
FILLMORE CITY HALL, CENTRAL PARK PLAZA, 250 CENTRAL AVENUE, FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA
1. Call to Order: 6:30 P.M.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Roll Call: Councilmembers Steve Conaway, A. Eduardo Gonzalez, Brian Sipes, Mayor Pro Tem Jamey Brooks and Mayor Gayle Washburn.
Board Members: Vivian Johnson, Neva Picketts, Alternate Scott Painter, Treasurer Iris Martin, Secretary Gloria Hansen, Vice President Don Murphy, and President Donna Voelker.
4. Approval of Agenda
5. Public Comments
6. Joint City Council/Fillmore Senior Center Inc. Business Items
A. Review Prior Year Items/Activities.
B. Discuss Current Activities.
C. Discuss Funding for Fiscal Year 2012.
D. Status of Agreement between the City of Fillmore and Fillmore Senior Center Inc.
7. Senior Center Inc. Adjournment – Fillmore Senior Center Board adjourns to its next regular meeting scheduled for Monday, May 21, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. at the Fillmore Senior Center, 533 Santa Clara Street.
8. Presentations and Announcements
9. City Council Consent Calendar
Recommendation for Items A. through F. is to Approve.
A. Warrant List for APRIL 24, 2012.
B. Appointment to Area Housing Authority Resident Commissioner Position.
C. Approval of the Refinance and Subordination Agreement for 208 Blaine Avenue; and Authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to take all necessary actions relating to the execution and recordation of the Subordination Agreement.
D. Approval of the Refinance and Subordination Agreement for 949 Santa Fe; and Authorize the City Manager, or her designee, to take all necessary actions relating to the execution and recordation of the Subordination Agreement.
E. Acceptance of Field Inventory of Properties Requiring Weed Abatement and instruction for Fire Chief to notify property owners, and adoption of
Fillmore City Council and Fillmore Senior Center Inc. Meeting Agenda – April 24, 2012
City Council Resolution No. 12-3333 setting a public hearing for the abatement of weeds for May 8, 2012.
F. Authorization for the Mayor to sign the proposed letter to the California Public Utilities Commission Encouraging the Adoption of a No-Cost Opt-Out Provision for Smart Meters.
10. Public Hearing
A. Public Hearing to Set Aside City Council Resolution No. 10-3274; Reconsider Vesting Tentative Tract Map 5844 (Subdivision of El Dorado Mobilehome Park into 302 Condominium Lots and One Common Area Lot) in Light of Ventura County Superior Court Order dated October 20, 2011, and Stipulated Order to hold a hearing on the Vesting Tentative Tract Map 5844 by April 24, 2012.
Recommendation: 1) Open public hearing and receive public testimony; and, 2) Continue public hearing to May 8 in light of ongoing settlement discussion between the litigants and applicant trust account deficiencies.
11. Committee, Commission, and Board Reports
12. City Council Reports, Recommendations, and Comments
A. City Councilmember Travel Requests/Brief Reports
B. Any Councilmember May Propose Items for Placement on Future Agenda
C. Council Referrals/Brief Comments
13. City Manager
A. Follow-Up on Requests from the Public/City Council
14. Closed Session
A. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (subdivision (a) of Section 54956.9). El Dorado Estates v. City of Fillmore, Case No. CV11-07562 SJO, United States District Court for the Central District; and El Dorado Estates v. City of Fillmore, Case No. 56-2009-00358555-CU-WM-VTA, Ventura Superior Court.
15. Adjournment: City Council adjourns. The next City Council meeting is a joint meeting with the Film Commission scheduled for Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 250 Central Avenue.
Agenda Posted: April 19, 2012, 5:00 p.m.

After returning from his military deployment to Afghanistan, Assemblyman Jeff Gorell will be resuming his series of “Sidewalk Office Hours” where he looks forward to meeting with constituents and discussing their concerns.

The next public event will be on Friday, April 27th in Moorpark in front of the Grinder Restaurant on West Los Angeles Avenue from 9:00 am until 11:00 am. Please come by and share your opinions and ideas with Assembly Member Jeff Gorell in person on Friday, April 27th in front of:

Grinder Restaurant
1 West Los Angeles Avenue
Moorpark, CA 91321

Grinder Restaurant is located near the corner of West Los Angeles Avenue and Moorpark Avenue in the city of Moorpark. For complete directions you can visit GoogleMaps at: http://g.co/maps/u73cq

Jeff has already held sidewalk office hours in Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo and Simi Valley prior to his military deployment, and his office continued these meetings throughout the 37th assembly district during his absence. This will be the first sidewalk office hours since his return from Afghanistan.

For additional information, please call Jeff's district office at (805) 230-9167.

George Runner today announced that Senator Bob Dutton will soon introduce Runner’s proposal to cap the gas tax.

“Senator Dutton is stepping forward to fight for California consumers who are sick of high gas prices,” said Runner. “Lawmakers like to complain about high gas prices. Now they have a chance to do something to help.”

The legislation would cap the state excise tax on gasoline at 35.7 cents and limit sales tax to the first $4.00 per gallon of gasoline. It would also cap diesel taxes at their current levels.

“I’m excited to carry this piece of legislation developed by Senator Runner,” said Senator Dutton. “It will allow government to get its fair share of the gas taxes, while ensuring taxpayers aren’t gouged by additional taxes when gas prices rise above $4 a gallon, as motorists have experienced the last several months.”

Dutton added, “I believe California’s economy is best served when the residents have the ability to hold on to more of their hard-earned paychecks. We all feel the financial burden of increased gas prices and those high prices should not result in a windfall for government.”

Both elected officials warned that should the average annual fuel price rises just one dollar—from $4 to $5 per gallon—the typical California consumer would be forced to pay 8 cents more in taxes per gallon. For most consumers this would translate into a $1 or more in additional tax for each tank of gas.

As a whole, California consumers would be burdened $1.4 billion more in gas taxes each year – on top of the nearly $7 billion in taxes they are already paying.

“Most Californians don’t realize they’re already paying about $10 in tax each time they fill up their gas tank,” said Runner. “Without a cap, that number could get even worse.”

According to the American Petroleum Institute, California's gasoline taxes and fees, averaging 69 cents per gallon, are the second highest in the nation. California’s diesel taxes, averaging 79.5 cents per gallon, are the highest in the nation.

Among these taxes and fees are a federal excise tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, a state excise tax of 35.7 cents per gallon and a sales tax that averages 3.12%. Notably, the sales tax is calculated on the total price of the fuel sale including excise taxes, resulting in double taxation—California consumers pay a tax on a tax.

The measure would not worsen the state’s budget, as Governor Jerry Brown’s budget proposal projected average quarterly fuel prices of no greater than $3.82 during the 2012-13 fiscal year.

The proposal, which has received early support from the National Tax Limitation Committee, will be amended into SB 1396 with an urgency clause, ensuring that it will take effect immediately once signed by the Governor.

CAMARILLO, CA - Senator Tony Strickland, a candidate for Congress in California’s open 26th Congressional District announced today that he raised $770,000 in the first campaign reporting period and will report $720,000 cash on hand.

“I’m very humbled by the tremendous support our campaign has received in just 11 weeks,” said Strickland. “Our fast start will allow us to deliver our message of job creation and uniting our community around economic policies that provide hope for families struggling to make ends meet.”

Although California’s 26th Congressional district is rated by the respected Cook Political Report and Larry Sabato’s “Crystal Ball” as a true “toss-up” race, Strickland begins the campaign with a large advantage having already represented every part of the Congressional District during his service in the State Assembly and State Senate.

Running in California’s new top-two primary system means that Strickland, as the only candidate with significant name identification, will be able to save a significant amount of resources for the general election in November.

“Strickland’s first quarter total is more than two and a half times what the top Democrat front-runner reported and is among the top first quarters for any candidate in an open seat in recent U.S. history,” said respected California fundraiser Jeff Miller.

State Senator Tony Strickland was elected to the California State Senate representing parts of Ventura, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara Counties in 2008. He previously served the area as a member of the State Assembly from 1998 to 2004. He is married to his wife of 14 years, Audra. Together they have two small children: Ruby Ruth and Anthony Paul.