Council members all worked long into the night taking care of city business.

During Tuesday night’s council meeting, John Scoles spoke in regards to allowing the community to have access to the high school’s all-weather track. As it stands the public is not allowed to run on the track.

Local pastors Bob Gartner and Ernie Rangel were in attendance at Tuesday night’s council meeting. Rangel and Gartner asked the council to waive the fee’s for their event that will be held at Delores Day Park, February 15. The Fillmore Area Misterial Association will be hosting festivals to reduce crime and violence in Fillmore.

Fillmore City Council met at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at City Hall. The meeting lasted approximately 6 hours before going into executive session. Almost 10% of the agenda was postponed to future meetings, but the new Council is becoming substantially more efficient with each meeting. The Council heard City Clerk Clay Westling, honored the Fillmore Flashes Football Team, received updates on downtown signage, made plans to modify the Housing Element, discussed safety laws for the new skate park, and supported upcoming community events.

City Clerk Clay Westling presented a proposal intended to specify his responsibilities and request the Council's help in implementing new procedures and policies regarding those responsibilities. After extensive discussion and some compromises on both sides, the Council and Westling reached an agreement. Westling and City Manager Tom Ristau will meet after City staff's Agenda Preparation Meetings, so that Ristau can receive input from Westling on how to make each Council Meeting Agenda more readable to ordinary citizens. The Council decided to require staff to provide agenda packets by the Wednesday evening a week prior to the City Council Meetings, so that council members have time to ask questions and receive answers about agenda items before the meetings.
Westling and Ristau will cooperate to find a staff member who is willing to be Deputy City Clerk and allow Westling to provide some sort of input on his or her performance review. Ristau will familiarize Westling with the locations of City records. City staff has provided Westling with a workspace in City Hall, where he will be on weekday mornings at 10 a.m., and access to a private conference room as needed. Some issues were tabled to gather more information for future discussion.

The Council authorized City Manager Tom Ristau to enter into a contract amendment with HDR Engineering so that the Housing Element could be modified to accommodate Measure I. The amendment is not to exceed $16,500.The California Department of Housing and Community Development requested major revisions, including the identification of where the units removed from the North Fillmore Specific Plan could be located. Fillmore will host a second Housing Element Workshop at 6 p.m. on January 28th.

The Council held the first reading of a proposed ordinance to require users of the new skateboard park to wear helmets, elbow pads, and knee pads. The safety ordinance includes restrictions on alcohol, amplified music, and improper use of the park. Ralph Rees and Kenneth Creason spoke about the need for children at the new skateboard park to wear protective gear.

Public Works Director Bert Rapp provided a progress report on the Brine Discharging Water Softener Buyback Program, and explained that water samples will show whether the program is effective.

The City Council approved a re-designation of the second 8'x12' downtown business sign to be placed near Highway 126, so that both 8'x12' signs can receive permits and be placed where traffic will see them. The City plans to repair the downtown kiosk. Relocation of construction equipment has reduced construction vibration, dust, and dirt near the corner of Santa Clara and Central where Mimstar and Mirage are located. The Council decided to ask that military banners honoring active military replace the red banners on Central Ave. That program is part of a joint effort with the school district. Deputy City Manager Bill Bartels will continue to provide the Council with updates.

John Scoles, Evaristo Barajas, and Manuela Twitchell spoke at length about the community's need for access to Fillmore High School's all-weather track. Scoles and Twitchell argued that the previous FHS track had few or no vandalism incidents and injury-related lawsuits. The Civic Center Act was not specifically mentioned by anyone present, but Council Member Steve Conaway noted that the Parks & Recreation Commission is considering the formation of a running club.

Police Chief Tim Hagel thanked participants for making the December 22nd Christmas Outreach program in North Fillmore amazing and incredible. He said over 47 volunteers distributed gifts, clothing, turkeys, and/or Christmas trees to 1100 people.

Mayor Patti Walker, on behalf of the Council, presented a commendation to the Fillmore High School Varsity Football Team for its outstanding season. The team reached semi-finals, achieved a 10-3 win-loss record, and broke school records. Head Coach Matt Dollar thanked the City for its support.

The Fillmore Area Ministerial Association will be hosting festivals to reduce crime and violence in Fillmore. The first event will be held at Dolores Day Park on February 15, 2008. Clergy from Fillmore and Oxnard, including local pastors Ernie Rangel and Bob Gartner, were present to expound upon the Neighborhood Park Outreach Program, describe a similar program's success in Oxnard, and ask that fees be waived. Police Chief Tim Hagel explained the role of the Sheriff's Department in the events, and noted that the events would not cost the Sheriff's Department any money.

The Council appropriated $10,000 for an appraisal, title report, and City Attorney time to participate in review and negotiations for purchase of a Sespe Creek river bottom property. Public Works Director Bert Rapp presented the advantages, disadvantages, potential fiscal impacts, and issues involved in the potential purchase. That particular portion of the river bottom includes the area under the Highway 126 bridge which FEMA had issues with when drafting the much discussed flood map. Rapp noted that City control of the land would probably improve the flood map by ensuring that sediment is cleared from under the bridge. The Council will wait for the appraisal before deciding whether to negotiate a purchase.

The Council found that not all of the land given to the City by Fillmore Riverview LLC for levee and bike path construction was needed by the City. Due to the elimination of a slope in the business park, the City needed less space for the levee than expected. The levee and bike path are in place, and the Council decided to return the leftover land, a half-acre 30'-wide parcel, so that the land can be used for parking.

The Council voted to save $42,000 by not replacing hydro seed with sod at Riverwalk Park. Norma Perez-Sanford suggested that the Council look into placing promotional material at the California Welcome Center. Marie Wren noted that the Senior Center is developing new activities, plans to start Wii Bowling near the end of this month, and will provide weekly updates to the Gazette.