Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Governor

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced more than $6 million in grants aimed at promoting health information technology, medical education and coordinated care programs—all focused on improving California’s health care delivery system for underserved populations. This grant funding comes from a total of $50 million in charitable investments required by the state from PacificCare Health Systems when it merged with UnitedHealth Group in 2005.

“These projects provide an important step toward fixing our broken health care system by giving consumers and medical providers better access to telemedicine technology and personal health records,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Expanding health information technology is a major component to comprehensive health care reform: it improves access to underserved Californians, increases patient safety and reduces overall health care costs.”

The funding is going to health care providers, clinics and community groups for such things as developing telemedicine and electronic health record systems for hospitals and clinics, funding gang violence prevention and improving access to mental health services.

Last August, the Governor announced $25 million in new grants for health care and technology projects, and today’s announcement of more than $6 million in grants is the second in four funding cycles over the next three years. $12.7 million has been awarded to date.

Last November, the Governor also announced an additional $22 million in grants to expand telemedicine across the state. A coalition of state agencies and private sector stakeholders, led by the University of California Office of the President, will use these grant funds, awarded by the Federal Communications Commission, to build a new California Telehealth Network linking academic teaching hospitals and rural health care providers to increase access to care for rural communities.

The next application cycle for proposals is July 2 to August 18, 2008. A description of the grant program and current application criteria are available at www.dmhc.ca.gov. The awards are based on a competitive grant process.

In July 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed an executive order establishing a goal to achieve 100 percent electronic health data exchange in California during the next 10 years. Since then, the Department of Managed Health Care and other state agencies have drafted a health information technology action plan to promote its adoption.

The following 12 projects were selected to receive grants:

$277,059 to Community Health Systems, Inc. in Riverside County to purchase and install a new Telephony System at six of its locations and to develop software to make automated phone calls to improve communication between its clinics and its patient base.
$841,140 to King’s View in Fresno County to purchase hardware and software that will increase mental health access for consumers with geographic and cultural barriers to treatment.
$326,357 to the Plumas District Hospital in Plumas County to replace an existing telemedicine system that is no longer serviceable or compatible with its new information technology infrastructure.
$250,010 to the Partners in Care Foundation in Los Angeles to improve access to and utilization of end-of-life care, such as hospice and palliative care, to a target population of terminally ill African Americans.
$444,470 to La Cooperativa Campesina de California in Sacramento County to expand migrant farm worker population and physician use of a personal health records system designed for low income populations who have sporadic access to care.
$322,540 to The Children’s Clinic in Los Angeles County to implement an electronic medical records system in a six-clinic environment. The system will be compatible with Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
$396,057 to Community Health Partnership in Santa Clara County to implement a health care data warehouse for consortium members.
$250,000 to North East Medical Services in San Francisco County for the purchase and implementation of a chronic disease management system targeted to Asian populations.
$334,268 to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation in Nevada County to support the third phase of implementation of a community-wide electronic health record system.
$100,000 to the Center for Community Advocacy in Monterey County to address behavioral health and family mental health root causes to community violence, as part of the launch of a gang violence prevention initiative targeted to farm workers and their families.
$276,859 for the Child Abuse Prevention Council of San Joaquin County for start-up costs for an interactive, evidence-based mental health treatment program that assists parents of children with behavioral problems.
$2.5 million to Health Professions Education Foundation in Sacramento County for clinician development in underserved and rural communities.

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

During the debate for the 2008-2009 State Budget, no issue has caused more public concern than education funding. School districts, teachers and parents criticized the Governor's proposed 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts, which would have included reductions to education funding. This proposal is no longer on the table because the Legislature, including Senate Republicans, is committed to fully maintaining school funding. Yet a little noticed proposal by a non-elected board would effectively reduce the amount of money going toward education because of environmental regulations.
Recently, the Air Resource Board (ARB) adopted a proposal that requires school districts to divert money out of the classroom in order to purchase new school buses in order to reduce diesel emissions. As you may recall, the ARB was given broad authority to regulate emissions under the 2006 California Global Warming Solutions Act, authored by former Speaker Fabian Nunez.

But this proposal, while it claims to improve the environment, carries a hefty price tag, which is especially detrimental to struggling school districts.

The ARB wants school districts to either upgrade or replace older buses in their fleets that do not meet current emission regulations. A retrofit for a bus costs up to $20,000. However, the retrofit is not a viable option for buses that have been in service since the 1970s. Those buses will have to be replaced at a cost of $140,000 per bus.

Many of the buses in use would be too old to retrofit, given that school buses in California are in service for an average of 30 years. It could potentially cost millions for school districts to replace otherwise perfectly usable buses.

School transportation costs fall under the constitutionally guaranteed Proposition 98 funding base for education. This proposal effectively cuts education funding, because schools must devote limited resources that ordinarily would go towards books, teachers and supplies towards replacing perfectly functional school buses instead.

Furthermore, these policy decisions should be under the purview of the Legislature, not the unelected members of the ARB. When AB 32 was debated in the Legislature the Republicans warned about the costly regulations associated with measure. Now it looks as though those costs may adversely affect our struggling schools.

While loud howls reverberated through the Capitol after the Governor proposed cuts to education, not one word has come from my liberal colleagues as this proposal was publicized. Clearly they are choosing the latest environmental causes based on scientifically unproven data over the education of our children.

For the past 25 years the Sespe Creek levee has served Fillmore well and allowed economic development to slowly march forward. Due to reconsiderations by FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) Fillmore’s future may be placed in peril.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, FEMA has embarked on a mission to restudy all levees in the country. The outcome of the pending study may determine if the Sespe Creek levee provides protection against a 100-year flood event in what is now 24 years post construction. In the event that the Sespe Creek levee is deemed to no longer meet that requirement, it will be decertified.

Decertifying the levee may affect approximately 40 percent of city residents and would greatly affect the economic health of the city. If this happens, it will have devastating consequences. Property values may be reduced, homeowner insurance rates may be affected and the now pending Business Park may be stalled.

For the past 70 years the County of Ventura has collected storm flow numbers from Sespe Creek. The highest recorded flow in Sespe Creek was 85,300 cubic feet a second (cfs), which occurred in 2005. FEMA and the County’s Watershed Protection District currently recognize the 100-year flood flow calculation at 98,000 cfs. The Sespe Creek levee was designed to protect against a flow of 121,000 cfs. The new 100-year flood flow FEMA is proposing is 135,000 cfs. That is an increase of approximately 3158 percent in calculated flow from a watershed which is essentially unchanged from the date the levee was completed. Temporary issues, such as sediment build-up, need to be acknowledged as short term concerns and not permanent problems.

The City has begun working with our Federal representatives to help them understand what impacts we will feel if the proposed FEMA calculations are not reconsidered and revised to more accurately reflect historic flows in Sespe Creek. To date, as a City, we have met with the City of Santa Paula, Supervisor Kathy Long’s office and contacted Supervisor John Flynn to gain their support in our efforts. On Tuesday, City Manager Tom Ristau, Deputy City Manager Bill Bartels, Council Member Scott Lee and I met with Senator Boxer’s Senior Field Representative, Adolfo Bailon, to enlist the Senator’s assistance at the Federal level. We will also be contacting Congressman Elton Gallegly’s office to further our request for reasonableness and assistance. As City leadership we are doing everything we can to seek assistance and relief from what appears to be an unsupported change in the flow numbers. I believe that historical data will support our claims that the proposed numbers are not reasonable and that FEMA should recalculate the 100-year flood flow event numbers. Additional studies will be conducted and it is our hope that through a comprehensive review process we will find that the Sespe Creek levee can continue to serve the City and its residents into the future.

In the event our efforts fail, we will have to search for solutions to this issue. Possible solutions include revising the levee so that it meets FEMA standards and/or removing debris from the river bottom so that freeboard on the levee can be reclaimed. Any solution will require funding and great effort on all our part to complete. I will continue to provide updates to this important issue as we work to solve this problem. If citizens have questions or comments I can be reached by email at sconaway@ci.fillmore.ca.us.

Steve Conaway
Mayor, City of Fillmore

Enlarge Photo

In order to make some sense out of City of Fillmore salaries for top and mid-management employees, the Gazette has provided a schedule of 8 federal legislative, executive and judicial positions, and salaries for all 50 state governors, together with the complete wage scale for all top and mid-management positions in the City of Fillmore. Discretion is suggested when making comparisons; remember, a few positions require graduate credentials, and that certain mid-level employees are especially valued for their dedication, experience, leadership, and competence. One size does not fit all.

May 15, 2007
Salaries -- 109th 1st Session
Legislative, Executive, Judicial
*as of January 2006
President - $400,000
Vice President - $212,100
Senate Pro Tempore - $183,500
Senate Majority & Minority Leaders - $183,500
Majority and Minority Whips - $183,500
House / Senate Members & Delegates - $165,200
Chief Justice, Supreme Court - $212,100
Associate Justices, Supreme Court - $203,000

First, good luck to the new Fillmore Senior Center Board come June 23rd. I think you will have great success from the calls I’ve received this week from SCAN, Assisted Home Hospice, and Ventura County Public Health. They’re lining up to get into the Fillmore Senior Center.
I also received a lot of feedback on my editorial last week concerning the Fillmore Senior Center. The majority agreed with my opinion of mismanagement by Community Services Supervisor Annette Cardona. Several people said the responsibility goes higher up the chain of command to City Manager Tom Ristau. Others said Facility Director Lori Nunez has neglected her duties in seeing that the center operates at the highest level possible. It would seem that there is enough culpability to go around. No one blamed the Board of Directors, since there wasn’t one operating.
Many expressed the opinion that Cardona and Nunez should be held accountable for their past neglect. Fewer thought the community should move beyond placing blame and just concentrate on rebuilding the center’s programs. I think both are in order.
Former Mayor Roger Campbell stands alone in his defense of the center’s management by the city from the responses I have received (see this week’s Letters to the Editor). He sites the importance of the firework’s sales in the funding of the center and Finance Director Barbara Smith and Cardona’s staffing of the booth which has facilitated that fundraiser. Those who attended the June 2 meeting at the center are aware of Smith and Cardona’s volunteerism for that week; they explained to the audience that the firework’s booth had been the target of thievery in the past; therefore they manned the cash register and were onsite to watch over the inventory. I admire anyone who sits in what is essentially a sweatbox during the month of July: I did it for Grad Night Live and worked the snack bar at little league for years. But reason ponders, does one week in July justify years of neglect which has brought us to this point?
Campbell writes that Smith and Cardona do not deserve the “distasteful comments that others are making.” Donna Smallwood pretty much writes the same thing in her letter this week. I agree. Personal attacks and wild rumor, particularly on local blogs, say more about the speaker than the subject. As I stated in my editorial last week, Smith does her job, which is city finance, and treated the audience at the senior center’s meetings with respect. I also gave due to the city for its financial support of the center through redevelopment monies.
As for Campbell’s remark that it is easy to criticize when showing no interest in the center, I say, who knew? I’ve received a slew of comments from the public saying they had no idea the center had diminished so much. And why would they? I found out through seeking information for my elderly mother. But, Tom Ristau, Annette Cardona and Lori Nunez knew because it is their job to know. My question is, will they now do their jobs—Manage, Supervise, Direct?
So let’s stay on course with center issues; three to four years of mismanagement including a non-existent board, minimum grants and funding sought, no center programs outside of lunches. Not fireworks booths and blogs.
And let’s all keep an eye on it this time.

At the city council meeting Tuesday night Grad Nite LIve was presented several checks totaling $4750. Pictured above but not in order: Toby Waxman, Raelene Chaney, Roger Campbell, Shirley Spitler and a representative from Toussig & Associates.

City Council began Tuesday’s regular meeting with a 45 minute executive session over issues relating to anticipated litigation. No announcement was provided concerning that meeting.
June 9 through June 15 was designated United States Army week in the City of Fillmore.
A fee adjustment rate increase for Santa Clara Disposal Services (Harrison Bros.) was unanimously approved. The Harrisons were thanked for the many things they do for the City, including Clean-up Day.
Considerable time was spent explaining the complications involved with options regarding the referendum filed against City Council Resolutions 08-3111 and 08-3112 to reconsider the approval of the Reider Project, located at the corner of “A” Street and Goodenough Road in north Fillmore.
In the opinion of City Counsel, the referendum is “probably” unconstitutional because it seeks to amend administrative acts rather than legislative, but, by law the City must take action on the referendum. According to City Counsel, this sets up a scenario whereby the City could sue the proponents of the referendum, the proponents could sue the City for not acting, and the developer could sue the City for denying his plan which has been approved, with a valid development permit.
Council chose to place the issue on the November Ballot for residents to vote on. It appears that the Reider development cannot be stopped at this point, regardless of the election outcome.
Councilwoman Cecilia Cuevas took to her soapbox to vent against what she described as “Ballot box [city] planning.” Fillmore resident Clay Westling countered during oral arguments, stating that the referendum was necessary because “you wouldn’t listen to us”. The objection to the Reider development was primarily due to its density, not the fact that it included low income housing. The density question, which the city repeatedly ignored, necessitated, according to Westling, two initiatives and two referendum attempts.
Acting Fire Chief Bill Herrera explained this year’s Fourth of July fireworks rules, stating that a $1,000 fine would be imposed for violations. Any fireworks that explode, fly into the air or do not have the Safe and Sane label on them are considered illegal.
The high school football field, AND ALL OTHER SCHOOL PROPERTY, WILL BE CLOSED to the public for the Fourth this year. The city will not have a fireworks demonstration. The Fillmore Police Department will strongly supervise all fireworks activities. Fireworks may be used only from June 28 through noon of July 5th.
Gloria Hansen spoke, questioning management of the Fillmore Senior Center. She asked for the books, questioned Board membership and participation, and particular management duties. She also questioned the number of years when no board meetings were held.
The Council unanimously approved the $2,000 travel expense for each member, and eliminated the requirement for Council approval for travel outside the state.
Council recommended that the Equestrian Center lease be extended another 5 years for lessee Dillan Snow. It also chose to designate the Center as a landfill. Questions about ownership of “fixtures” at the Center remain.
The meeting ended with a foreboding announcement by Special Projects Manager, Roy Payne, concerning a new, as yet unofficial, 100-year flood plain and floodway map recently produced by FEMA. The new map shows about one third of the City of Fillmore to be located in the floodplain, which may dramatically effect development of the newly proposed business park, and insurance requirements for many home owners.
A special LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Committee) meeting in Ventura, Wednesday morning is reported to have concluded with a split decision as to whether to approve annexation of 41 acres for the new park. A decision to permit a 30-day continuance for the issue resulted.
According to Payne, if this new flood map is approved the City of Fillmore would be financially devastated. A position paper is being prepared by the City and developers in hopes that the new map will not be adopted.
Ground was broken for the new swimming pool this week. It is anticipated that the pool will be completed by January, 2009.
The final touches are being added to the high school football field’s new artificial turf. The new $30,000 scoreboard is in place as well.

At last night’s city council meeting it was determined by City Attorney Ted Schneider that the following city staff salary figures are permitted for public disclosure. Following are the present and proposed salaries for Fillmore’s eight top and mid-management city staff. These figures reflect base salary and total benefits packages. Salary reviews are built into the draft budget, occurring at a 3-year cycle at management and classified level, according to Mayor Steve Conaway, with the following going into effect on July 1, 2008. They will be made final, according to Conaway, in August or September.
Fillmore City Management Level: CITY MANAGER-Present $191,018, Proposed $203,994: PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR-Present $181,031, Proposed $193,401: FINANCE DIRECTOR-Present $163,025, Proposed $174,476: FIRE CHIEF-Present $154,438, Proposed $150,875: DEPUTY CITY MANAGER-Present $138,336, Proposed $144,339: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR-Present $129,108, Proposed $134,733. Fillmore City Mid-Management Level: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES MANAGER-Present $95,874, Proposed $100,248: COMMUNITY SERVICES SUPERVISOR-Present $88,066, Proposed $95,771. TOTAL $1.2 MILLION

Congressman Elton Gallegly
Serving the 24th Congressional District encompasses most of Ventura County and inland Santa Barbara County.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties) today announced a program to send periodic newsletters by e-mail on a variety of issues.
Residents of the 24th Congressional District can subscribe to the newsletters on a variety of topics by visiting Gallegly’s website, http://www.house.gov/gallegly

“E-mail newsletters are yet another way for me to keep in touch with the concerns of the people of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties,” Gallegly said. “In addition to providing residents with updates on what is going on in Washington, DC, every newsletter will give subscribers an opportunity to provide feedback to me on a variety of issues.”

Gallegly’s e-mail newsletters complement other methods residents can use to interact with Gallegly, including e-mail, phone, fax, and U.S. mail.

U.S. mail should be addressed to Gallegly’s Thousand Oaks office, 2829 Townsgate Road, Suite 315, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361-3018.

Residents can e-mail Gallegly through the House of Representatives’ Write Your Representative site, https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

Signed faxes may be sent to (202) 225-1100 in Washington, DC; (805) 497-0039 in Thousand Oaks; or (805) 686-2566.

Gallegly’s phone numbers are 202-225-5811 in Washington, DC; (805) 497-2224 in Thousand Oaks; and (805) 686-2525 in Solvang.

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

In the liberals’ attempt to grapple with the state budget deficit created by their own fiscal irresponsibility, they are calling for “widening” the tax base.
But don’t be fooled. This euphemism simply means they want to raise your taxes. However, the people most adversely affected will be the middle and working class people who liberals claim to champion.

For instance, in Board of Equalization Member Judy Chu’s recent proposal to “widen” the tax base, sales taxes would be added onto services such as repair shops, towing companies and car washes. Taxi and limousine drivers would also see their taxes increase. Other groups targeted by this onerous sales tax increase include mechanics who repair precision, mechanical, and household equipment; dry cleaners and nail salons.

These business people and their employees are hardly the top income earners of the state. The workers in these industries can least afford to be taxed, especially when they already face record high fuel prices, food costs, and foreclosures.

Would you pay 25 cents for a grocery bag?
State Assembly passes bill that would impose a 25-cent tax on grocery bags.
TAKE A POLL.

Taxes are the wrong prescription to cure the ills of the state budget. Why should hard working families be further squeezed when the state’s revenues have been increasing? The real solution is Sacramento needs to bring spending in line with revenues – just like families must do.

Let’s face it: there is no excuse for the massive deficits facing our state when revenues have increased about $31 billion over the past ten years.

That is a whopping 43 percent increase. By comparison, California’s population between 1999 and 2007 has only increased by around 13 percent. The growth in size of the budget has also outpaced inflation.

By all measures, state government has enough resources and is spending more dollars per resident than it has in the past. There is no reason for tax increases on our working families.

The service sales tax only affect workers from lower educational and income brackets. These proposed service taxes regressively tax the working class, and will be opposed by Senate Republicans.

Taxes, especially taxes on middle class and working class Californians are not a part of the solution to our state’s budget woes. The budget should be balanced by eliminating wasteful government programs, not the bank accounts of working Californians.

VENTURA – State Senator George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) and Ventura County Sheriff Bob Brooks today announced that Secretary of State Debra Bowen has qualified a statewide anti-gang initiative for the November ballot.
"The Safe Neighborhoods Act is a comprehensive and extremely well thought-out initiative designed to combat some of the most serious aspects of criminal behavior plaguing our society," Brooks said. "Among other areas, it enhances our ability to fight criminal street gangs, methamphetamine related crimes, and felons who use guns."
In order to qualify for the ballot, the initiative needed 433,971 valid petition signatures, which is equal to 5 percent of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2006 General Election. The initiative proponents submitted 789,668 signatures in late April.
"Now California voters have a chance to do what the liberal Legislature has failed to do: Pass true gang reform," said Runner, one of the initiative's authors.
Brooks added: "On a daily basis, officers in our communities are confronted with these serious problems. They deserve all the help they can get in making our communities safer for all residents, including the children who would be further protected by the laws strengthened under this initiative. I fully support the Safe Neighborhoods Act."
Some of the provisions of the initiative would do the following:
• Increase penalties for felons and gang members with guns;
• Create the Early Intervention & Rehabilitation Commission;
• Prohibit bail for illegal aliens charged with violent or gang crimes;
• Heighten penalties for criminal accomplices;
• Strengthen Section 8 Housing compliance;
• Protect witness testimony;
• Create a statewide gang registry;
• Punish smugglers of prison contraband
• Toughen laws for methamphetamine distribution and sales;
• Establish the "Use a gun and lose a car" law;
• Allow counties (that are under federal court order to release jail inmates) to operate temporary jail facilities;
• Impose felony penalties on serial graffiti offenders.
The Safe Neighborhoods Act also has support from Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten, State Senate Candidate Tony Strickland (Camarillo) and former Gov. Pete Wilson.

It is supported by every elected California sheriff, the California Police Chiefs' Association, the California District Attorneys Association, Chief Probation Officers' of California and nearly every other law enforcement group including rank and file law enforcement organizations like the Peace Officers Research Association of California.

The initiative is co-authored by Mike Reynolds (father of Three Strikes) and San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt.

Learn more at www.safeneighborhoodsact.com

City of Fillmore

FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2008

REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
6:30 P.M.

FILLMORE CITY HALL
CENTRAL PARK PLAZA
250 CENTRAL AVENUE
FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA

IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK: Oral Communications is the time for citizen presentations or comments on items not on the agenda, but within the responsibility of the City Council. Please complete an Audience Participation Form prior to the beginning of oral communications and hand it to the clerk if you wish to speak. Please stay within the time limit indicated by the Mayor. If you wish to speak on an item on this agenda, please fill out an Audience Participation Form and hand it to the clerk prior to that item.
AUDIBLE DEVICES: Please ensure all audible devices (pagers, telephones, etc.) are off or otherwise not audible when the Council is in session. Thank you.
AGENDA TIMES: Please note the time listed for each agenda item is the suggested/estimated time for that item to begin. Items may be heard earlier or later than the listed time. The estimation includes providing an occasional 10-minute break. No new business will be considered by the City Council after 11:30 p.m. unless a majority of the Council determines to continue.
MEMORANDUMS: Memorandums relating to agenda items are on file in the Administrative Assistant’s Office. If you have questions regarding the agenda you may call City Hall at (805) 524-3701 or come to City Hall for information. Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the City Council after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the Administrative Assistant’s office at City Hall during normal business hours. Such documents are also available on the City of Fillmore’s website at www.fillmoreca.com subject to staff’s ability to post the documents before the meeting.
City Council and Redevelopment Agency Agendas are posted on the Web at: www.fillmoreca.com/cityhall/agendas

ITEM REFERENCE**

1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Oral

2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Oral

3. CITY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE SESSION
3A. Conference with Legal Counsel – Anticipated Litigation: Significant Exposure to Litigation Pursuant to Subdivision (b) of Section 54956.9: One (1) Potential Case.
3B. Conference with Real Property Negotiations Section 54956.8; Property: Riviera Park Estates, River St. and Highway 23; Agency Negotiator: City Manager and Heather Johnson; Negotiating Parties: Riviera Park Estate Homeowners Association; Under Negotiation: Price and Terms of Payment for Utility Easement.

4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Oral
Oral Communications is the time for citizen presentations or comments on items not on the agenda, but within the responsibility of the City Council. Please complete an Audience Participation Form prior to the beginning of oral communications and hand it to the clerk if you wish to speak. Please stay within the time limit indicated by the Mayor. If you wish to speak on an item on this agenda, please fill out an Audience Participation Form and hand it to the clerk prior to that item.

5. CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR (6:40p)
5A. Warrant List for June 10, 2008. Copy
5B. Trust Warrant List for June 10, 2008. Copy
5C. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 08-3128: Fiscal Year 2008-09 Appropriation Memo/
Limit. Reso.
5D. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 08-3141: Appointing Tomas Garcia as Reso.
Tenant Commissioner to the Ventura County Area Housing Authority Board.
5E. Minutes of April 15, 2008 City Council Meeting. Memo 5F. Agreement with Fillmore Gazette for Publishing of Legal Notices from July 1, 2008 Memo
Through June 30, 2009.

6. PRESENTATIONS

6A. Proclamation: Recognizing June 9 through June 15, 2008 as United States Proc.
Army Week in the City of Fillmore.
6B. Proclamation: Employee of the Quarter for January through March 2008. Proc.

7. CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS

Deputy City Manager
7A. Fee Adjustment Rate Increase for Santa Clara Disposal Services. Memo
(7:30p)
City Engineer
7B. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 08-3135: Annual Engineer’s Report and Memo/
of Assessments for Storm Drain Maintenance Assessment Districts No. 1, Reso.
1-A, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7. (7:45p)

7C. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 08-3131: Approve Engineer’s Annual Levy Memo/
Report for Fillmore Lighting and Landscape Maintenance District No. 2 for Resos.
Fiscal Year 2008-2009; Adopt City Council Resolution No. 08-3132: Ordering (8:00p)
The Collection of Assessments within the City of Fillmore Landscape and
Lighting Maintenance District No. 2 for Fiscal Year 2008-2009; Adopt City
Council Resolution No. 08-3133: Approve Engineer’s Annual Levy Report for
Fillmore Heritage Valley Lighting and Landscape District 2007-1 for Fiscal
Year 2008-2009; Adopt City Council Resolution No. 08-3134: Ordering the
Collection of Assessments within the City of Fillmore Heritage Valley
Landscape and Lighting District 2007-1 for Fiscal Year 2008-09.

8. JOINT CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARINGS – None.

9. CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS ITEMS

City Attorney
9A. Consideration of Options with Respect to Referendum Filed Against Oral
City Council Resolutions Nos. 08-3111 and 08-3112 “Reconsider Resolution (8:15p)
08-3111: Approving TTR 5679, Subject to Conditions of Approval and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program” and Resolution No. 08-3112:
“Approving DP 06-03, Subject to Conditions of Approval and Mitigation Monitoring
And Reporting Program” (Property Located at the Corner of “A” Street and
Goodenough Road, Reider Project).

Finance Director
9B. Adopt City Council Resolution No. 08-3136: Declaring Intention to Establish a Memo/
Community Facilities District and to Authorize the Levy of Special Taxes Therein-Resos.
Fillmore Business Park (CFD #8); Adopt City Council Resolution No. 08-3140: (8:45p)
Declaring Intention to Incur Bonded Indebtedness of the Proposed City of Fillmore
Community Facilities District No. 8 (Fillmore Business Park).

9C. Adopt City Council Ordinance No. 08-809: Sewer Rate Increases Effective Memo/
July 11, 2008 and July 1, 2009. Ord.
(9:15p)
Deputy City Manager
9D. Overview and Direction on Equestrian Center Lease. Memo/
(9:25p)
Assistant City Planner
9E. Agreement between the City of Fillmore and Fillmore Irrigation Co. to Relocate Memo Irrigation Water Pipeline and Easement, Property Located at 575 First Street. (10:00p)

Public Works Director
9F. Authorization to Advertise for Bids for Fillmore Middle School Subsurface Drip Memo Irrigation & Landscaping Project. (10:15p)

9G. Schedule Storm Water NPDES Permit and Chloride Control Workshop. Memo
(10:20p)
City Attorney
9H. Discussion and Direction on the Draft Right-to-Farm Ordinance. Memo
(10:35p)
City Manager
9I. Review and Comment on the City Travel Policy. Memo (10:45p)

9J. Request to Defer Development Impact Fees Until Certificate of Occupancy, Memo
(The Groves) 970 Ventura St., Gerry Caruthers, Applicant. (11:00p)

10. JOINT CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BUSINESS ITEMS – None.

11. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS, DISCUSSION AND APPOINTMENTS
11A. Information/Direction to Staff on Legislative Matters and Emerging Issues. Oral
11B. Request(s) for Approval of City Council Member Travel / Travel Reports. Oral
11C. Other Discussion/Information from Mayor, City Council and City Staff. Oral
11D. Any Council Member may propose items for placement on a future agenda. Oral
Members may discuss whether or not an item should be placed on a future agenda and the description of the agenda item. Any direction to the City Manager shall have discretion as to when the item will come back on the Agenda, unless the City Council identifies a specific meeting for the item’s return.

12. ADJOURNMENT – City Council adjourns to a regular meeting, set for Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at Fillmore City Hall, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, California. (11:30p)

PLEASE NOTE: If you challenge the actions of the City Council in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the public notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing. (Calif. Gov't Code §65009).
Any legal action by an applicant seeking to obtain a judicial review of the City Council's decision on a Hearing listed on this Agenda may be subject to the 90-day filing period of, and governed by, Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Administrative Assistant at (805) 524-3701. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II)
City Council Replay Schedule: City Council meetings will re-broadcast on Wednesdays at 10 a.m., Saturdays at 10 a.m., and Sundays at 6 p.m.

City of Fillmore

CITY OF FILLMORE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
REGULAR MEETING

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2008
6:30 P.M.

FILLMORE CITY HALL
250 CENTRAL AVENUE, FILLMORE, CA 93015-1907

AGENDA
ITEM REFERENCE*
1. CALL TO ORDER

2. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS (See City Council Agenda for Oral Communications.)

3. REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY CONSENT CALENDAR
3A. Warrant List for June 10, 2008. Copy
3B. Request to Delay Payment, JRW Group (Parkview Senior Apartments). Memo

4. REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PUBLIC HEARINGS – See City Council agenda for any joint public hearings.

5. REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BUSINESS ITEMS – See City Council agenda for any
joint business items.

6. REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY EXECUTIVE SESSION – None

7. ADJOURNMENT: Redevelopment Agency adjourns to regular meeting, set for Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 6:30 p.m., at Fillmore City Hall, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, California.

* Memorandums and/or reports relating to agenda items are on file in the Administrative Assistant’s Office on the Public Notice Board. If you have questions regarding the above items you may call the Administrative Assistant at 524-3701 or go to City Hall for further information. Materials related to an item on this agenda submitted to the Agency after distribution of the agenda packet are available for public inspection in the Administrative Assistant’s office at City Hall during normal business hours. Such documents are also available on the City of Fillmore website at www.fillmoreca.com subject to staff’s ability to post the documents before the meeting.
** Items marked with (**) are found in the City Council reports for the same date.

City Council Replay Schedule: City Council meetings will re-broadcast on Wednesdays at 10 a.m., Saturdays at 10 a.m., and Sundays at 6 p.m.

Parks & Recreation Commission:
Adults and youths with an interest in the City’s parks and recreation programs are urged to apply for a seat on the Fillmore Parks & Recreation Commission.
The Parks commission generally meets the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at city hall, and makes recommendations and provides input to the City Council on issues concerning the City's parks, parkland acquisition and development, as well as recreational programs and other offerings. The seven-member volunteer board consists of five adult voting members and two non-voting student representatives.
The City is seeking to fill one adult position and two student representative positions. The adult commissioner would be appointed to a four year term. The adult appointee may live outside the City, as a minimum of four of the adult commissioners must live within the City and currently do. Student representatives are appointed to serve one-year terms and must be between the ages of 14 and 19 and reside within the boundaries of the Fillmore Unified School District.
Local residents interested in being considered for appointment to either commission must submit a City Commission Application Form no later than 5 p.m. on June 12, 2008 to the Administrative Assistant, Fillmore City Hall, 250 Central Avenue, Fillmore, CA. 93015. Applications are available at Fillmore City Hall or on the City's website at www.fillmoreca.com/comfaq.htm
Appointments will be made by the mayor, with approval of the city council, following an interview with and recommendation from the City Council Interview/Selection Committee.
For further information on the application process please call (805) 524-1500, extension 269.

Sacramento – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the schedule for the (FY) 2008 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP), through the National Preparedness Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The FY 2008 CEDAP compliments the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate’s other major grant programs to enhance regional response capabilities, mutual aid, and interoperable communications by providing technology and equipment, together with training and technical assistance to public safety agencies in smaller jurisdictions and certain metropolitan areas.

“The money from this grant program will serve to improve the State’s capabilities and I strongly encourage State and local law enforcement agencies and other emergency responders to apply,” said Matthew Bettenhausen, Director of the California Office of Homeland Security. “This is another way we are working to bring Federal money back to California. By taking advantage of these types of grants California first responders will be better prepared and can better leverage dollars to enhance what we’re already doing at the State level.”

Eligible applicants include State or local law enforcement agencies and other emergency responders. In addition, FY 2008 CEDAP awardees cannot have received funding and/or equipment under the Urban Areas Security Initiative grant program, or the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program for which the award date was October 1, 2006 or later. Applicants must demonstrate in their application that the equipment will be used in working relationship with other first responders (for example: plans for sharing of equipment, joint training or use of equipment, or joint operational planning). Some examples of eligible items include the Advanced Vehicle Tracking System (AVTS), a covert wireless GPS-based tracking system designed for law enforcement for vehicle and high-value asset tracking, and Stedi-Eye Stabilized Day/Night Binocular, which removes 99% of all vibration from a shaking body or hand or from platform vibration from a moving aircraft, boat, or vehicle.

Applications may be submitted via the Responder Knowledge Base (www.rkb.us) starting at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Friday, May 30th, and continuing until 5:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, June 30th. Note that the equipment choices and practice application for CEDAP 2008 are not yet available for review.

Questions regarding the CEDAP program should be referred to the Centralized Scheduling Information Desk (CSID) at 800-368-6498.

For further information on the CEDAP program, please contact Amber Lane at (916) 322-2743 or at amber.lane@ohs.ca.gov.

For further information regarding the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security please visit our website at www.ohs.gov.

Assemblywoman Audra Strickland
Serving the Thirty Seventh District that includes Camarillo, Fillmore, Los Angeles, Moorpark, Ojai, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks

SACRAMENTO—Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) and Assemblywoman Audra Strickland (R-Camarillo) today joined forces to protect California’s children from lead in products intended for children under 12. The bipartisan effort passed the Assembly Floor on a vote of 56-6.

AB 2694 establishes enforceable standards for lead in accessible parts of children’s products, beginning in 2013. The standard of 100 parts per million is six times stronger than current federal guidelines of 600 parts per million, and substantially broader because the federal guideline applies only to paint on toys, while AB 2694 covers any accessible part. Although there has been progress on federal legislation to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission, California’s action ensures the state’s kids are protected regardless of the federal outcome.

“Today, the California Assembly demonstrated that Democrats and Republicans can work together to protect our most vulnerable residents from harm,” said Assemblywoman Ma. “Last year, I couldn’t get a Republican vote on toy safety. This year, we worked with environmentalists, toymakers and academic experts to forge a bipartisan consensus to limit lead exposure. That’s progress.”

Assemblywoman Audra Strickland announced her co-authorship of the measure and spoke in support of AB 2694 on the Assembly Floor, “As a mother of two children, it is my first and foremost responsibility to protect my children from harm.” Strickland, who has requested to be a co-author of AB 2694, commended Assemblywoman Ma for working with all parties stating, “This bill will help ensure that our children are better protected.”

AB 2694 will next be heard in the California State Senate. Assemblywoman Ma is committed to continue working with all groups as the bill moves through the Senate.

Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Governor

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the award of $66 million in traffic safety grants to 153 agencies and communities across the state, illustrating the Governor’s continued commitment to saving lives on California’s roadways. The funds will be administered by the Office of Traffic Safety through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency and will allow state, county and local agencies to combat impaired driving, encourage seat belt and child safety seat usage, enhance emergency medical service response, advance pedestrian and bicycle safety, and assist in the enforcement of traffic laws aimed at saving lives.

“These grants provide essential resources and re-enforce our commitment to saving lives and preventing injuries on California’s roadways,” said Governor Schwarzenegger.

In the coming year, the federally funded grant programs will emphasize time-tested practices with proven results while also expanding into new areas. Local and state agencies will develop and carry out grant activities through operations like sobriety checkpoints, DUI saturation patrols, red light running enforcement and combating illegal street racing.

Important behind-the-scenes programs will also take place, such as the expansion of DUI prosecutor education, intense monitoring and supervision of repeat DUI offenders, free assessments of pedestrian safety conditions in cities, and more real DUI trials being moved from courthouses into high school auditoriums across the state.

“We have come a long way in California in the last five years,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety. “The number of people buckling up has grown by 1.1 million and the number of injuries has dropped to the lowest level in 24 years. But each needless death or injury points to the continued need for the enforcement and education provided by these grants.”

Today’s announcement includes grants to eight regions of the state. Summaries of the awards can be found at www.ots.ca.gov.

Fast facts:

· In 2006, 4,195 people died and 277,373 people were injured in California traffic collisions.

· Persons killed in alcohol involved collisions increased slightly from 1,769 in 2005 to 1,779 in 2006.

· California’s 2007 seat belt usage rate is 94.6%, which is significantly better than the national average of 81% and up from 93.4% in 2006.

· In 2006, about half—458 of the 917 unrestrained fatalities would be alive today had they simply buckled up.

· In 2006, teen fatalities decreased 6.7% from 527 to 492 – the lowest level since 2001.

· Motorcycle fatalities continued to spiral upward; from 469 in 2005 to 506 in 2006.

· Motorcycle fatalities have increased each year since 1998, when there were 204 fatalities.

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

In the ongoing California prison saga, the federal three-judge panel that was appointed last year to upgrade prison healthcare is expected to release a proposal tomorrow that will, among other provisions, recommend that the state divert 30,000 non-violent felons from state prison back to the counties.
Republicans – and some Democrats – are opposed to this plan for two simple reasons: We know that there are few truly non-violent inmates in state prison and we believe the illegal aliens who are occupying our prison cells should be dealt with first.

Let’s start with the first problem of releasing so-called non-violent inmates. Most people understand that anyone who has made their way through the state prison system didn’t arrive there because they ran a stop light or because they were caught with a Baggie of marijuana. They had to work pretty aggressively – leaving victims in their paths.

Furthermore, first-time drug offenders are not sentenced to state prison. Proposition 36 precludes imprisonment for first or second time offenders who possess drugs of any type –including heroine and methamphetamine.

We need to drop the notion that non-violent inmates exist. What does exist are “non-violent offenses,” but even that term is misleading and here’s why:

Non-violent offenses include such offenses as residential burglary; felony in possession of a firearm; transporting explosives and tampering with water supply. In fact, most types of assault are not classified violent.

Do the people who are guilty of these crimes deserve a slap on the wrist? Do we want them in our neighborhoods any earlier than necessary? Most people would say no.

Regarding illegal alien inmates, the federal government should step up to the plate and house these prisoners in federal facilities – as required by law – or reimburse California for doing the federal government’s job.

But neither scenario is happening. Instead, California continues to bear the burden of housing, feeding and providing health care services for wards of the federal government–to the detriment of our cities and towns.

Therefore, it’s presumptuous of the federal judges to demand the California Correctional Department to redirect 30,000 convicted felons into our neighborhoods while ignoring the federal government’s obligation to deal with the 30,000 illegal aliens taking up prison cells.

The obvious solution to California’s prison crowding problem is to move the illegal aliens to federal penitentiaries or build more beds in California prisons using federal dollars.

Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Governor

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement today following action taken by the California Transportation Commission allocating $382 million in transportation funding from Proposition 1B.

"When the people of California voted for the $19.9 billion transportation bond they wanted action – and this is that action," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “We are getting the money out the door and that ultimately strengthens California's economy and improves the quality of life in our state."

The Proposition 1B projects that received funding allocations today are:

· Los Angeles - $39 million was allocated to the city of Los Angeles to repair Interstate 710 from the Imperial Highway to Firestone Boulevard.

· Humboldt County - $21.6 million was allocated to convert a four-lane expressway to a four-lane freeway and construct a new interchange on Highway 101 near Alton.

· Sonoma County - $61.3 million was allocated to add 16 miles of new HOV lanes on Highway 101 in Santa Rosa and Windsor.

· Alameda County - $10 million was allocated for station and track improvements at the Emeryville Station.

In addition to these projects, the $250 million Traffic Light Synchronization Program (TLSP) - a component of Proposition 1B which provides funds for 83 projects statewide to improve the safety, operations and effective capacity of local streets - was also approved. For information about the approved TLSP projects, visit: http://www.dot.ca.gov/docs/TLSP-Approved-Projects.pdf

A total of $2.6 billion in Proposition 1B funding has been allocated during the current fiscal year to improve California’s transportation infrastructure. In addition, the Schwarzenegger Administration has allocated the following in Proposition 1B funding:

· $40 million for port security

· $221 million for diesel emission reduction projects

· $15 million for rail security

Monday 6/2/2008
Install 20" water line thru Santa Clara Intersection. Continue on Catch Basin decks and local depressions. Remove median and center pole at st.18+50 on Central Ave

Tuesday 6/3/2008
Install 20" water line thru Santa Clara Intersection. Continue on Catch Basin decks and local depressions.

Wednesday 6/3/2008
Install 20" water line thru Santa Clara Intersection. Continue on Catch Basin decks and local depressions.

Thursday 6/4/2008
Install 20" water line thru Santa Clara Intersection. Place base and prepare to pave. Continue on Catch Basin decks and local depressions.

Friday 6/5/2008
Install 20" water line thru Santa Clara Intersection. Pave trench and re-open Santa Clara Intersection. Continue on Catch Basin decks and local depressions.

Monday 6/9/2008
Starting at st 18+00, south of the median on Central, excavate and install 60" Storm Drain. Central Ave will continue to be closed from Hwy 126 to Santa Clara St.

Tuesday 6/10/2008
Continue to excavate and install 60" storm drain.

Wednesday 6/11/2008
Continue to excavate and install 60" storm drain.

Thursday 6/12/2008
Continue to excavate and install 60" storm drain. Form new footing for center pole at median.

Friday 6/13/2008
Continue to excavate and install 60" storm drain. Pour footing for center pole at median.