Bert Rapp, Director of Public Works, shows FEMA’s flood map to council, Wednesday night.

Mayor Patti Walker welcomed everyone to the Joint Fillmore City Council/North Fillmore Neighborhood Committee meeting, Wednesday, October 7, 2009.

Oral communications were first on the agenda. New city manager Yvonne Quiring spoke, saying she was pleased to be part of the “Fillmore family”. She thanked the community for the warm welcome and said she could see why no one ever leaves Fillmore, which drew a laugh.

Quiring began one of her first public appearances with an apology for the failure regarding the Request For Proposals (RFP) that were not sent out in the city’s search for a new auditing firm to meet State deadlines.
“I would like to apologize to the city council and to the community. There seems to be some sort of miscommunication. We have not done a good job as staff at explaining what has gone on with the RFP for audit services so I want to let everybody know that it’s going out for bid at some point in the future, probably in the next several weeks.”

Quiring began her post as city manager on October 1, 2009, before the RFPs were purported to have been sent out as stated by Mayor Walker at the September 22 council meeting and in an October 1st Letter to the Editor to the Gazette. Larry Pennell was city manager at the time.

Quiring went on to say, “I am looking into what exactly CONTINUED »

Caitlin Elizabeth Ann O'Neil-McKeown

2007 Fillmore High School Graduate Caitlin Elizabeth Ann O'Neil-McKeown, 20 years old, is now serving in the United States Air Force. Caitlin also attended Piru Elementary and Fillmore Middle school. While growing up she was active in 4-H, FFA, Art Club and the Mentor Program. She enlisted in the United States Air Force on February 10, 2009 for a 4 year enlistment.

Caitlin is the daughter of Stephen McKeown and Lori Schnieder of Fillmore. Her siblings are; Erica Stout (37) of Germany whose husband Shannon is a Sergeant First Class stationed there with the Army, Michael McKeown (31) of Fillmore, Aimee McKeown (28) of Fillmore, Patrick Wing (28) of Arizona, Morgan McKeown (24) of Arizona, Erin McKeown (22) of Fillmore, Brian McKeown (18) of Fillmore, Ian McKeown (17) of Fillmore, Sean McKeown (16) of Fillmore and Paige McKeown (7) of Fillmore. Caitlin's paternal grandmother is the late Joan McKeown and her maternal grandparents Leori Schnieder and Alvin Schnieder of Oklahoma. Brothers Micheal McKeown served in the United States Air Force and Patrick Wing in the United States Marines. Caitlin's brother-in-law Curtis Kniffen is a Senior Airman with the Air Force stationed in Arizona.

Caitlin is an Airman station at Fort George G. Meade, located near CONTINUED »

Tuesday night’s city council meeting began with Approval of the consent calendar, 4-0.

Public Works Director Bert Rapp asked for authority to proceed with demolition of the garage at 50 C Street. Rapp sought an expenditure of up to $20,000 of Water Recycling Program monies to burn/demolish the old garage building at the closed Waste Water Treatment plant site.

He explained to council that the building stands at the entrance of the plant on C Street, where three acres of grass will eventually be added. The garage was converted into an office and storage building in 1998. The sewer service to the building was terminated when the sewer main to the old plant was abandoned on July 4, 2009. To reactivate the sewer a new sewer main would need to be installed from the garage building to River Street about 500 feet north at a cost of about $150,000.

The building is built low and is subject to frequent flooding. It has not been rented for about 18 months and was last used for storage of bicycle merchandise.

The City of Fillmore would have to obtain a burn permit for the Ventura County APCD and a demolition permit from Fillmore Building and Safety. After the building is burned, the city will process a change order with American Water to complete the demolition with the rest of the WWTP facilities.

Councilmember Jamey Brooks asked about the procedure in burning CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

Since the filing of a petition on September 16th with the Fillmore Unified School District to convert Piru Elementary into an independent charter school, there have been a series of incidents in which certain FUSD employees and other individuals have distributed information about the proposed charter school which is either misleading or false, according to Richard Durborow and Chris Pavik, two of the charter petitioners.

In what is apparently an escalation by those opposed to the charter, this past Friday, says Chris Pavik, two of the teachers at Piru School who signed the petition were approached separately by another teacher with close personal ties to the District Office. They were both told by this well-connected teacher that the School Board will not rehire any person who goes to work at the charter school and later decides to return to the District. In addition, one signer was told that the County Office of Education has the list of the signers’ names, and that no other school district in the county will hire them because they signed the charter petition, and the other was told that the Superintendent had said that any teacher who signed the petition, but now withdrew their name, would suffer no repercussions from the District. Says Chris Pavik, “these seem like not-so-veiled threats of intimidation, and they cross the line. As far as the School Board telling Piru staff that there will be no ‘right of return’, I have heard from several sources that such a statement was made at a District administrator’s meeting on last Thursday, that principals were directed by one of the Assistant Superintendents to verbally give this warning to their staffs. Such a statement is tantamount to bargaining away from the table, because that issue is bargainable, and it is illegal for the District to go around the unions and try to negotiate with individual members. I have informed the FUTA President and a CTA organizer of what I heard, and discussed the fact that this is an unfair labor practice, and that the District must stop doing this.” At this time, the petitioners plan to turn over the name of the teacher involved, and the names of those whom the teacher implicated, to legal counsel for possible litigation.

The petitioners first became aware of this apparent misinformation campaign when CONTINUED »

Pictured above Bert Rapp shows how high the levee should be when it is finished.
Enlarge Photo

On Thursday October 22nd FEMA and Ventura County Watershed Protection District representatives will update Fillmore residents on the status of the FEMA Flood Insurance update for Fillmore. The meeting will be held at 6:30 P.M. at the Memorial Building at 511 Second Street.

With the new update approximately 1,500 homes and businesses will have to purchase flood insurance by January 20, 2010. The insurance will cost about $50 to $100 per month. See the attached map for the affected properties. You can see more detailed maps on the City of Fillmore web site at www.fillmoreca.com

FEMA is updating the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) for Fillmore and other communities in Ventura County. All properties that will be in a Flood Zone A on the new maps will have to purchase flood insurance when the maps become effective on January 20, 2010. If you purchase your flood insurance before the map becomes effective you can be grandfathered in at a lower rate saving about 50% on your flood insurance. FEMA will have their insurance specialists at the October 22nd meeting to fully explain the insurance options.

The new flood insurance requirements are result of the FEMA policy to CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

An overflow crowd filled the Fillmore School Board meeting Tuesday night October 5, 2009. Before the regular session began at 6:oo pm, more chairs were set up to accommodate all waiting community members as they streamed into the room. Fillmore Middle School Principal Todd Schieferle introduced his team of staff members responsible for the new Response to Intervention Model program for student success to board members David Dollar, Virginia De La Piedra, Liz Wilde, and meeting leader Tony Prado. Board President John Garnica was absent. Schieferle stated that he explored advisory programs at De Anza Middle School in Ventura, and Pioneer Middle School in Orange County. Assistant Principal Tricia Godfrey, Anna Morielli, and Scott Carroll and he attended a Response to Intervention workshop.

As a team, each member discussed the strategies for student success by implementing the three level-tiered program structure.

Ms. Morielli explained that Level 3 is the Intensive Core. The focus is directed in grades 6-8 history and Language Arts. For students with math deficiencies, An Intense Math Program is provided. This program also includes ELD level newcomers. Intensive Reading Instruction involves comprehension and decoding. There are also classes for Intense Responsibility Support. Evaluation of student progress with common assessment is every three weeks.

Morielli went on to say that homework is tied to the California State CONTINUED »

On November 28, 2008 Lucia Cardoza, 25 of Fillmore, was driving east on Highway 126, west of 10th Street at 2:36 a.m. when she swerved from the left lane to the right shoulder. Her car hit the metal guardrail and spun back into traffic lanes, where it was struck by an eastbound van. In the car were Cardoza’s two sons, ages 4-years and 1-year. Ricardo Nuno Jr., 4, was thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene. Cardoza was intoxicated.

She was sentenced on September 30th in Superior Court by Judge Edward Brodie to a year in jail and five years probation. Cardoza is nine months pregnant. She will begin her sentence in December.
The driver of the van, Maria Rangel, 46 of Ventura, and her three adult passengers suffered minor injuries and were treated at Santa Paula Hospital.

At its regularly scheduled board meeting on Wednesday, October 14, the United Water Conservation District will consider banning alcohol at Lake Piru. Over the past several years, a large number of boating and camping incidents have occurred in which alcohol was involved. In an effort to ensure that the public has a safe and enjoyable time at the lake, District’s Board asked its staff to prepare a policy banning alcohol throughout the park, including the campgrounds, day use areas, and on the lake. The Board also requested that an exemption to the alcohol ban be developed that would allow special events, such as wedding receptions, festivals, and fishing tournaments to apply for and receive an alcohol permit provided they agree to follow certain procedures.

Lake Piru Reservoir was created in 1955 when the Santa Felicia Dam was CONTINUED »

Alex Estrada and David Joseph Garcia.

David Joseph Garcia, 34, a Fillmore native, and Alex Estrada, 33, of Ventura were killed early Sunday morning by an alleged drunk driver on Highway 118, after leaving the American Cancer Society Relay for Life event in Fillmore. Garcia’s wife, Sonia Garcia, 26, was critically injured in the crash.

The suspected drunk driver, Jorge Hernandez, 24, of Oxnard was also seriously injured.

Garcia and Estrada were well-known DJ’s in Ventura County, and had DJ’ed the Relay into Sunday morning. The cause was close to Garcia’s heart, his mother survived cancer and his father died of the disease.

David was a Fillmore High 1994 graduate, a big man known for his gentle ways.

David was also known as DJ Gorilla, a nickname he picked up when he played junior varsity football at Fillmore High School. He was also known as DJ Bibi. Estrada was known professionally as DJ Alex E.

David was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision. Estrada was pronounced dead several hours later at Ventura County Medical Center.

Hernandez was driving a pickup truck westbound in the eastbound lane of the roadway when he crashed into the car, apparently without headlights.

A dinner fundraiser will be held Thursday, October 1st, from 6pm-10pm at Ruby's Cafe in Oxnard for the families of DJ Alex E and DJ Gorilla.

MEstrada's family is accepting donations at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, account # 122220593, Alex Estrada Memorial Account. The Garcia Family is also accepting donations at Bank of America acct. # 0912130005.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Christian Giusti
Enlarge Photo

Location: 800 Block Edison Lane Fillmore, Ca. 93015
Date & Time/ RB#: September 26, 2009 @ 3:20 P.M. / 09-23791
Unit Responsible: Fillmore Police Gang Unit / Sheriff’s Gang Unit

Suspects Address Age

Christian Giusti Fillmore 23
Minor (Male) Fillmore 17

On the afternoon of September 26, 2009, members of the Fillmore Police and Sheriff’s Gang Units went to a residence located in the 800 Block of Edison Lane in the City of Fillmore in search of a known Fillmore gang member wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant.

The officers located and arrested a seventeen year-old Fillmore gang member wanted on a juvenile arrest warrant without incident. The minor was not the intended focus of the search. The officers entered the home in search of the wanted subject and found Christian Giusti, another Fillmore gang member who is on probation. Officers searched Giusti and found him in possession of bullets and a handgun.

The minor was lodged in Juvenile Hall pending his appearance in court. Giusti was booked in county jail facing charges of being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition and a firearm; both are felony charges.

Enlarge Photo

Joanathon “Jon” Gerlach, 20 years, a 2008 graduate of Fillmore High School is stationed in Germany and was recently promoted to Private First Class (PFC) in the United States Army. Jon's entire education was within the Fillmore Unified School District where he also attended San Cayetano Elementary School and Fillmore Middle School.

Jon enlisted in the United States Army in June 2008 right after graduation from FHS. When Jon enlisted in the Army he knew he wanted to make the Army a career and he enlisted for 4 years. PFC Joanathan Gerlach is married to wife, Carmen (Barocio), and they have a daughter Addison 8 months. His mother is Barbara Gerlach of Piru and his siblings are brother Niles Gerlach 31, of Piru and sister, Andrea Rodriguez 28, of Fillmore. Maternal Grandparents are Jack Sivils of Lake Isabella, California and the late Bonnie Sivils. Grandfather Sivils worked most of his life on the Vanonni Ranch in Saticoy. Jon’s Paternal Grandparents are the late Rudolph and Doris Gerlach of Ventura.

United States Army PFC Joanathan Gerlach attended Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South. Carolina. While he was in Basic Training he was CONTINUED »

Fillmore Unified School District

Nine teachers from Piru Elementary School, working with their former principal Richard Durborow, mailed a charter school petition last week to Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Superintendent Jeff Sweeney and Board Members beginning the process to obtain charter status for Piru Elementary School. Piru Charter School (PCS) plans to open their doors beginning in the 2010-2011 school year. The charter petition is a result of collaboration which began last spring during a District reorganization planning process, and which continued despite the efforts of the FUSD administration to halt it.

District Superintendent Jeff Sweeney released this statement to the Gazette: “The District first became aware last year that a small group of Piru staff and parents was interested in pursuing a charter due to concerns being raised by staff who were not in favor of the potential charter. By the end of the school year, these growing concerns divided the staff and was becoming a disruption to the school. Consequently, I directed interested staff not to work on the charter during school hours, but rather on their own time. The Fillmore Unified School District received a petition for a charter conversion on September 16, 2009, without the consensus or knowledge of the whole staff. That was the first official notice that a charter was being considered. No decision on the charter has been reached. A public hearing will be held on October 21 at 6:00 p.m. to review the application. The District will consider the application according to Board policy.”
Following are questions submitted be the Gazette and facts regarding the proposed Charter School supplied by Piru teachers Richard Durborow, Susan Jolley, and Chris Pavic.

Did you apply for Charter status last spring? CONTINUED »

Mary Ford addressed the School Board and City Council.
Enlarge Photo

John Scoles spoke about use of the track.
Enlarge Photo

The Fillmore City Council and Unified School District board have decided to set up a pilot program for use of the new high school track by the general public.

The mechanics of how the use will be managed has yet to be determined. A local adult running club presented arguments to the meeting on why they should be allowed access to the track. Both the city and the school district are concerned about liability issues. School Board member Liz Wilde said the city should be taking the lead in this issue but the students should have priority in using the track. School trustee Tony Prado stated that adults need to use the track in the evening. District Superintendent Jeff Sweeney said, “The safety of our students is a priority. Students use the track until 8 or 9 p.m. We are concerned about students mixing with the adult community.”

Both groups discussed charging a $25 signup fee for people wanting to use the track. Deputy City Manager Bill Bartels said CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

09/02/09-09/08/09
SEARCH WARRANT
09/02/09
500 Block Main Street
700 Block Third Street
200 Block Sespe Avenue
100 Block Bridlewood Lane
500 Block Saratoga Avenue
09/03/09
500 Block A Street
09/04/09
200 Block Third Street
09/07/09
900 Block Wileman St.
09/08/09
800 Block Edison Way
SHOTS FIRED
09/06/09
Central Ave. / Foothill Dr.
THEFT-IDENTITY CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Date & Time: September 29, 2009 4:00 PM
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services

At 10:48 AM on September 29th, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 8.0 occurred in the Samoa Islands region.

A Tsunami Advisory is in effect which includes the coastal areas of California and Oregon from the California-Mexico border to the Oregon-Washington border.

A Tsunami Advisory means that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is imminent or expected. Significant, widespread inundation is not expected for areas under an advisory. Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.

According to the National Weather Service, Ventura County can expect a minor wave up to one foot. The arrival time in Santa Barbara is expected at 9:03 p.m. this evening. The arrival time in Santa Monica is expected at 9:11 p.m.

For updated information, please visit the County of Ventura website and click on the Disaster Information page (www.countyofventura.org/disasterinformation).

Final Fire Information:
Acres Burned: 17,500 acres
Containment 17,500 acres - 100% contained
Structures Destroyed: 1 outbuilding destroyed
Injuries: 10
Cause: Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies: Ventura County Fire Department, CAL FIRE, USFS, Ventura County Sheriff, CHP, Ventura County Animal Control, CalEMA, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, CCC, BLM, City of Moorpark, Southern California Gas, Southern California Edison and Red Cross.
Total Fire Personnel: 1,168 (977 CAL FIRE)
Engines: 70 (60 CAL FIRE)
Fire crews: 28 (25 CAL FIRE)
Dozers: 6 (4 CAL FIRE)
Water tenders: 15
Costs to date: $9.8 million
Major Incident Command Team: CAL FIRE Team 10 is in unified command with Ventura County Fire
Conditions: Firefighers continue to construct containment line, mop-up and monitor for any fire activity.
Phone Number: (805) 388-4276 (Guiberson Fire Information)

Fire video from this week