Kristen Dunst of San Cayetano Elementary School. Photo credit Brandy Hollis.
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Courtesy Brandy Hollis

One of the greatest things about small town living is personally getting to know our teachers. It makes us so unique from other towns.

Ms. Kristen Dunst teaches 1st grade at San Cayetano and I am habitual about requesting her for my own kids. She jokes around that on breaks and weekends she’s just Kristy from the block. She’s been with the district now 20 years and subbed a year before being hired on. That’s another nice thing, we have good teachers that not only live in Fillmore but they are here to stay.

I love that my little kids get the opportunity to have Ms. Dunst in first grade. My children have gone from kindergarten to her class with ease and comfort, to start being prepared for their educational careers with such fluidity that maybe my older children didn’t grasp before coming to Fillmore.

She is very creative and all about the Aloha and Hawaiian themes with school career readiness. I love that her class performs a ukulele Hawaiian themed song at the winter performances but also the kids take home a seashell decorated frame for their parents as a rite of passage in her class. I know I have mine put up every Christmas, adding my last seashell frame this year.

I’m nostalgic as I write this as I’m getting ready to see my youngest get an award, and reflecting this will be my last year having Ms. Dunst as a first-grade teacher. Thankfully, Kristy from the block is here to stay, and not only is she a great teacher, but also a quiet and kind community member who is willing to help when she can.
Congratulations, Ms. Dunst, on your 20 years with FUSD and hopefully more to come. You are appreciated and valued. Thank you for serving this community! Aloha!

Nature of Incident: Robbery and Assault / Request for Public Assistance
Report Number: 24-8603
Location: 100 block of Chambersburg Road, Fillmore
Date & Time: 1/21/2024 at 6:55 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol, Fillmore Station Detectives, Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
S1 – Unknown Male Unknown Unknown
S2 – Unknown Male Unknown Unknown
V – Male Fillmore 49 Unknown

Narrative:
On 1/21/2024, at approximately 6:55 PM, deputies from the Fillmore Police Department responded to a robbery that occurred along the 100 block of Chambersburg Road in the city of Fillmore. The victim was walking on the west side of Chambersburg Road and was approached by a dark colored sedan that was traveling south on Chambersburg Road. Two suspects exited the sedan, assaulted the victim, and robbed the victim of his property. After the robbery, the suspects went back to the vehicle and fled south on Chambersburg Road.

During the assault, the victim sustained multiple wounds. The victim was transported to a local area hospital for treatment and has since been released.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau believes the robbery could have been witnessed by other passing motorists and are requesting assistance. If you have any information regarding this crime, please contact Detective Corey Stump at 805-384-4745 or by email at Corey.Stump@Ventura.Org.

Prepared by: Detective Corey Stump
News Release Date: 1/23/2024
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Corey Stump
805-384-4745
Corey.Stump@Ventura.Org

Approved by: Captain Victor Medina

Booking Photo Release: NO

PRESENTATIONS

5.A DONATION FROM EL DORADO MHP (EDMHP) SOCIAL CLUB (SC) TO THE FILLMORE FIRE FIGHTERS' FOUNDATION BY MR. PATRICK MCKENZIE & CHARLES RICHARDSON.

5.B U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF DISASTER RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE PRESENTATION BY CLAUDIA ANDERSON, GEORGE KOSTYRKO ANDERSON AND CLAUDIA K. DETAILED DISCUSSIION OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES.

9.A DISCUSS APPROPRIATING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDS FOR TOWN THEATRE IMPROVEMENTS.

RECOMMENDATION That the City Council discuss whether to appropriate $90,000 in ARPA funds for improvements to the Town Theatre. Should the City Council elect to approve this appropriation, or a smaller amount, the City Council is also requested to approve an agreement to award such funds and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement. APPROVED 5-0
9.B PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF VESTING TENTATIVE TRACT MAP NO. 6053 FOR CREATION OF 134 PARCELS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, DEVELOPMENT PERMIT 20-04 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 133 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES (“CREEKSIDE”), 20 OF WHICH WILL CONTAIN AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT, AND A CEQA EXEMPTION. (Item continued.)

9.C PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF AN INTERIM URGENCY ORDINANCE EXTENDING FOR 10 MONTHS AND FIFTEEN DAYS THE CITY’S MORATORIUM ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OR EXPANSION OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES OR FACILITIES AND MOBILE MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES WITHIN CITY LIMITS, DECLARING THE URGENCY THEREOF, AND FINDING AN EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT.

RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends City Council take the following actions: 1. Receive the staff report and conduct the public hearing; 2. Waive full reading and adopt by four-fifths vote Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 24-961 (Attachment 1), extending for ten months and fifteen days the temporary moratorium prohibiting medical marijuana facilities and mobile medical marijuana dispensaries within City limits, as read by title only; 3. Find that Interim Urgency Ordinance No. 24-961 is exempt from CEQA; and 4. Direct staff to continue to study appropriate modifications to the Fillmore Municipal Code to mitigate the conditions outlined in this staff report and Section 2 of the Urgency Ordinance that arise out of developing, maintaining, and expanding medical marijuana facilities and mobile medical marijuana dispensaries. The Community Development Director is further directed to report back to the City Council with his findings at least 10 days prior to the expiration of this ordinance. (Approved 5-0).

9.D PUBLIC HEARING: ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO CLARIFY EXISTING REQUIREMENTS AND ESTABLISH NEW REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR SELF-STORAGE AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE STORAGE FACILITIES IN THE CITY AND FINDING THIS PROJECT TO BE EXEMPT FROM CEQA.
RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions: 1. Receive the staff report and conduct the public hearing; 2. Discuss the proposed ordinance and potential additional language to elevate the facades of self-storage and recreational vehicle storage facilities; and 3. Approve first reading to introduce Ordinance No. 24-956 (Attachment 1) amending the Fillmore Municipal Code to clarify existing regulatory requirements and adding new regulations for self-storage and recreational vehicle storage facilities within City limits, and finding of exemption from CEQA. (Approved 5-0)

9.E APPOINTMENT OF PRIMARY AND ALTERNATE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS (SCAG)

RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council: 1.) Appoint an elected official to attend the SCAG General Assembly as Primary Delegate and to serve as the regional representative; and 2. ) Appoint an Alternate. (Approved 5-0).
9.F DISCUSS INCREASING CITY COUNCIL SALARIES AND ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 24-962.

RECOMMENDATION That the City Council discuss whether to increase the City Council’s salary from $300 per month to $600 per month effective January 1, 2025.

(Approved 3-2, Gurrola and Austin nay.)

On Tuesday, January 16, crews were working on Santa Clara Street between Fillmore City Hall and east of Giessinger Winery on the city of Fillmore’s utility undergrounding beautification project.
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An overhead utility undergrounding beautification project is underway along Santa Clara Street between City Hall and east the Giessinger Winery. The Project will eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of overhead electric and telecommunications facilities. To carry out the undergrounding, the City created a utility underground district consistent with Sothern California Edison’s (SCE) Rule 20A tariff criteria and is using the City’s Rule 20A funding credits for the work. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulation, known as Rule 20, pertains to the conversion of overhead power lines and other equipment to underground facilities where there is a public interest to do so.

The project will remove four SCE poles (shown it the picture below) and place all the overhead wires underground in pipelines and vaults. The total cost estimate is $431,200, all of which is paid for using the Rule 20A funding available to the City. One pole removal will include a streetlight replacement to the decorative downtown style street lamp. There will be incremental traffic and parking control on Santa Clara Street this time. It is expected to be completed in March.

On January 10, 2024, the Fillmore Flashes Girls Soccer Team hosted AYSO Epic Night where the AYSO Epic Team attended a Meet & Greet with the team as well as run out on the field for the starting lineup in their game against Carpinteria. Pictured above are some of the kids smiling as they have their picture taken with the players. Photo credit Daniel Cruz. Lady Flashes Girls Soccer hosted AYSO Epic Team last week, giving kids the chance to talk with the players, take photos and do a team cheer to end the night. Photo credit Daniel Cruz.
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Article by Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez

Last Wednesday evening was very special at Fillmore High School; not only did Lady Flashes soccer team score two big wins against Carpinteria, but they hosted AYSO EPIC Night!

AYSO’s EPIC Team was treated to a night of fun, which included a Meet & Greet with the ladies and the chance to run on the field with the starting lineup!

This memorable experience was made possible by the coaches, Lady Flashes, and their Social Media Coordinator, Nancy Vaca.
AYSO EPIC (Everyone Plays In our Community Program) provides athletes with disabilities the additional support they need to fully participate in a quality soccer experience with the help of buddy volunteers.

The program has more than doubled in its second year thanks to the help of EPIC Coordinator, Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez, the AYSO board, led by Regional Commissioner, Arnold Muñoz, and buddy volunteers.

AYSO EPIC is currently looking for buddy volunteers for the 2024 season which starts in August. For more information please contact Nancy at (323) 385-1106 or aysoepicfillmore@gmail.com.

A 19-year-old Fillmore resident was arrested for spray painting gang graffiti on Fillmore City property and causing hundreds of dollars of vandalism damage within the city of Fillmore.

During the month of December of 2023, detectives assigned to the Fillmore Police Station noticed an increase in graffiti vandalism crimes throughout several locations in the City of Fillmore. Detectives coordinated resources and collected evidence in several “Hot Spot” areas that had been vandalized. Detectives were able to identify specific spray paint related to gang writings and monikers.

Over the course of the investigation, detectives identified Bryan Vega as the suspect involved in several vandalisms. On January 8, 2024, Fillmore patrol deputies and detectives contacted and arrested Vega in the 1900 block of Old Telegraph Road. Vega was in possession of additional evidence linking him to these vandalism crimes. Detectives obtained and served a search warrant at Vega’s residence located in the 1900 block of Old Telegraph Road. During the search warrant, detectives seized additional evidence related to the vandalisms.

Vega was subsequently booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for violations of Graffiti Vandalism and Participation in a Criminal Street Gang. Vega remains in custody with his bail set at $100,000.

Report Number: RB # 24-2197
Location: 500 Block of Telegraph Road Fillmore, CA
Date & Time: January 8, 2024 @ 1:00 PM

(S)uspects
(S) Bryan Vega Fillmore 19

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

Leonardo Morales, 31, of Fillmore, Ca. Photo courtesy ktla.com, June 2021.
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A 31-year-old Fillmore resident was arrested for spray-painting graffiti on numerous businesses throughout the city of Fillmore and causing hundreds of dollars of vandalism damage to these private business owners.

On January 7, at approximately 10:14 PM, the employees of a Fillmore business located in the 900 block of West Ventura Street called Ventura County Sheriff’s Communication Center (SCC) to report an in-progress vandalism crime at the establishment.

Fillmore patrol deputies responded immediately to the scene and positively identified Fillmore resident Leonardo Morales as the suspect. Morales is currently on probation for similar vandalism crimes. During a search of Morales, deputies located spray paint cans on his person, which were used to commit the graffiti vandalism in question. Deputies arrested Morales for felony vandalism.

Following Morales’ arrest, deputies and detectives assigned to the Fillmore station located additional victims of vandalism crimes linking Morales as the suspect. These business locations were in the 900 block of West Ventura Street, 700 block of West Ventura Street, and Fillmore City property located in the 900 block of Old Telegraph Road.

Morales was subsequently booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for violations of felony Graffiti Vandalism and violation of probation. Morales remains in custody with his bail set at $20,000.

Report Number: RB # 24-2794
Location: Numerous business locations throughout the City of Fillmore
Date & Time: January 7, 2024 @ 10:41 PM

(S)suspects
(S) Leonardo Morales Fillmore 31

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

Right is Jeff Wurm, Investment Division Director from the California State Treasurer's Office, who joined in virtually for Tuesday night’s City Council meeting to discuss the local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF) along with Debra Cavaletto, Finance Director.
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All New Business items passed 5-0 (9.A-D)

5. PRESENTATIONS:

5.A WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES - VIVIAN
VASQUEZ, WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC STRATEGIES. SENIOR ASSOCIATE,
PROVIDING AN UPDATE ON BRADBAND CONSORTIUM PROJECT
5.B LOCAL AGENCY INVESTMENT FUND (LAIF) - DEBRA CAVALETTO, FINANCE
DIRECTOR AND JEFF WURM, INVESTMENT DIVISION DIRECTOR FROM THE
CALIFORNIA STATE TREASURER’S OFFICE
AMEND FILLMORE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 6.16 – FLOOD DAMAGE
PREVENTION.

SR - Second Reading of Floodplain Ordinance No. 23-960. Final.pdf
9. NEW BUSINESS

9.A ADOPTION OF SPECIFICATIONS FOR PROJECT SPECIFICATION NO. 22-04, THE CITY HALL ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR CONSTRUCTION BIDS.

RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended the City Council adopt the specifications for a modernization of the elevator at City Hall, known as Project Specification No. 22-04 (“Project”) and authorize the advertisement of the Project for construction bids.

9.B ADOPTION OF PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND COST ESTIMATE FOR PROJECT SPECIFICATION NO. 23-05, DOG PARK ADA IMPROVEMENTS AT TWO RIVERS PARK PROJECT, AND AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR CONSTRUCTION BID.
Passed 5-0

9.C DISCUSS ADOPTING A FACILITY NAMING POLICY.

RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council review the draft facility naming policy, discuss and adopt the Facility Naming Policy.

Passed 5-0

9.D FILING OF NOTICES OF COMPLETION FOR “C” STREET EMERGENCY SEWER REPAIR PROJECT.

RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council: 1. Accept the services provided for the Preliminary Phase of the “C” Street Emergency Sewer performed by Ferreira Construction Co, Inc. (“Ferreira Construction”); 2. Accept the completed improvements for Project Specification No. 23-01E – “C” Street Emergency Sewer Repair Project provided by Toro Enterprises, Inc. (“Toro Enterprises”); 3. Instruct the City Clerk to file the attached Notices of Completion; and 4. Authorize the final payment to the contractors of owed retention and Release on Contract pending clearance of the 30-day lien period.
Passed 5-0