The day after a heavy winter rain, the Sespe Oil field is shown steaming from an underground “hot spot”, a thermal anomaly, according to Ron Oatman, spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department. This picture was taken January 23rd by photographer Jeff Muth. Geologists and firefighters have surveyed the area, located in the Sespe Oil field, an active landslide zone with a history of shifting for more than 60 years. Pockets of gas, tar and oil lie several hundred feet below its cracked surface. Cracks along the landslide’s slope allow oxygen to enter the earth, and those natural hydrocarbon materials (gas, tar and oil) to “seep out” of the fine-grain shale. Underground combustion is a possible result, and could be as deep as 100 feet. Since 1987, high heat levels have been recorded in the area as many as five times. “Hot spots” are not uncommon in areas around the world with high concentrations of hydrocarbons. Temperatures have been registered in the low 800’s, about a foot below the surface. Firefighters have cleared brush, and cut a fire line around the area as a precautionary measure. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management owns the acreage (near the Sespe Oil Field), and leases it to Seneca Resources Corp. The rugged, steep terrain is devoid of buildings and equipment, and gated off from public access. The 3,000 acre Sespe Oil Field, producing nearly 50 million barrels of oil since its discovery in 1887, contains more than 300 oil wells, of which 210 are active.

School board member David Dollar was presented “the Power of One” award at Tuesday’s meeting.

FUSD Board President Tony Prado announced at Tuesday's, February 16 Board Meeting, that David Dollar was selected as this month's Power of One honoree for his seven and a half years of service to the Fillmore Unified School District.

Prado presented Dollar who is retiring as a School Board Member March 1, 2010, with a silver clock encased plaque. “Thanks for all your time and effort you put in,” praised Prado.

Dollar served on the board from December, 2002 to 2010. Prado said Dollar's successor will be appointed to complete his term until November's election. Applications are being accepted for the position until March 1 at 4:30 pm. Dollar replied, “Thanks to the community for this opportunity. We have some very strong administrators from the top down.” He specifically mentioned Superintendent Jeff Sweeney, Assistant Superintendents Katy Hadley and Mike Bush along with Bev Jones, Human Resources consultant, as well as the rest of the board members.
In light of the current state and local fiscal crisis the district and teachers have agreed to reopen negotiations. Theresa Marvel, President of the Fillmore Unified Teachers' Association questioned the board concerning the districts decision to hire an attorney. “It is the prerogative of the board to have or not to have an attorney for advice,” said Prado. Items in the talks include salaries, and extra pay, health benefits for retirees, early retirement, class size, summer school, salary schedules and extra pay assignments.
School Board member Liz Wilde reported that she attended a collaboration meeting between Fillmore Middle School and High School instructors. She sad they exchanged ideas and methods of instruction techniques. “I was pleased to see the collaboration discussions,” she said.

Superintendent Sweeney said that the district has learned that the Piru School Charter proponents have CONTINUED »

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Enlarge Photo

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Fillmore, CA - On February 9, 2010 at approximately 11:15AM a severe weather system packing intense periods of rainfall and thunderstorms passed over the City of Fillmore resulting in a period of concentrated rainfall and treacherous lightning conditions rarely experienced in the Santa Clara Valley. Over a three hour period approximately 6 lightning strikes touched down in Fillmore, two of which occurred in residential areas.

The two lightning strikes that impacted the City of Fillmore occurred simultaneously striking a 480 Volt Edison power pole located at A Street & First Street and a 50-foot palm tree located in the 1000 Block of Sespe Avenue. The strike that occurred in the area of Sespe Avenue was believed to be a “positive” and more powerful strike resulting in both a shockwave and transfer of approximately 1 billion volts through the tree into the ground and surrounding structures. Force from the strike shattered neighborhood windows and damaged a block wall laced with rebar. Palm frowns from the tree were found nearly 150-feet from their origin after being jolted with electricity. No further injuries or damage was reported at the conclusion of the incident.

The last documented lightning strike to occur within the City of Fillmore was in 2000 when a palm tree located in the 800 block of North Fillmore was struck by lightning and caught fire.

Fillmore residents are reminded to seek refuge during inclement weather and let this serve as a reminder that Californians are susceptible to the same dangerous weather conditions many other states experience on a very regular basis. These conditions are rare, however they are real and are armed with the potential to injure citizens and damage property.

Bill Morris, of Wm L. Morris Chevrolet Fillmore, addressed Council Tuesday night, thanking it for considering larger businesses in its Local Small Business Resolution preference.

Fillmore Senior Center
Tuesday night’s city council meeting began with a report from Deputy City Manager Bill Bartels, reviewing the Fillmore Senior Center. Bartels touched on the background of the City and Center’s relationship, Use and Service Agreements, On-site staff and volunteers, and budget.

In 1989 the City and Fillmore Senior Center entered in to a Lease and Service Agreement for the purpose of allowing the Center to operate a multipurpose senior citizens social services center at the facility. In 1995, the City and Center replaced the 1989 Lease with the current Fillmore Multipurpose Senior Center Use Agreement. The purpose of the new agreement was to more correctly define the duties and responsibilities of the parties for operation of the facility.

Councilmember Steve Conaway recommended revising the 1995 agreement and bringing it back to Council. Who has authority over city employees was “murky” stated Conaway. He said he would like clarification on “who is responsible, who they report to and take direction from,” calling for “better language and clarity” in the “line of authority”.

Councilmember Laurie Hernandez thanked CONTINUED »

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an order to a longtime Fillmore area resident to cleanup rocks and other fill in the Sespe River he placed there in an attempt to build a crossing in the river.
James Van Trees has to come up with a solution to reverse the fill material and restore steelhead passage, encompassing approximately ¾ of an acre.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers first inspected Van Trees’ property last year and issued a cease and desist order demanding he stop putting rocks and dirt into the creek. The EPA later inspected the river and began its investigation. The EPA is now requiring Van Trees provide documentation of all his activity in the river since 2005. He has several deadlines over the next two months, to present a solution to the problem. Failure to meet the deadlines could result in the EPA filing charges against him.

Also, the Ventura County Resource Management Agency has noticed Van Trees of violation regarding a bridge he built across Sespe River, and an unpermitted mobile home on the property. He has until February 22 to correct the violations or face possible civil penalties.

On Sunday, January 31st. at approximately 7:46 p.m. Santa Paula Police Officer Michael Hoppin was on routine patrol when he drove into the overpass in the 900 block of Faulkner Road. When he did so he discovered four subjects had been spray painting the walls of the underpass. The four subjects were identified as Rene Mariscal, 22 years old, Saul Torrez, 22 years old, Martin Torres 21 years old, and Jose Lira, 21 years old. All four subjects are from the city of Fillmore. Inside their vehicle, located under the underpass, were numerous spray paint cans, rubber gloves, and marijuana paraphernalia. All four subjects were charged with felony conspiracy and misdemeanor vandalism. Martin Torres was also charged with felony vandalism due to previous convictions for the same offense. All four subjects were transported to Ventura County Main Jail.

By Rich McKee
Californias Aware
While the City Council's public statements suggest a commitment to open government and the requirements of the Brown Act, their actions tell an entirely different story.

In the City of Fillmore’s January 27th press release, the City attempts to absolve itself of its most recent Brown Act violation. But their cries of innocence sound oddly familiar. Maybe that’s because it’s not the first time the City has denied violating the Brown Act.

After we demanded cure for Brown Act violations involving illegal closed sessions back in August, the City Council and City Attorney immediately declared we were wrong. However, less than two months later, they admitted to the violations, paid our attorney’s fees, and attended a Brown Act refresher training in order to settle our lawsuit.

This time the City Council held a closed session to CONTINUED »