Each year the Fillmore Rotary Club presents Graduation Sashes to the seniors who will be going into the military. Rotary member Kelli Couse started this when she realized these students were not recognized at graduation. The students who received sashes this year are Michelle Setty who will be going into the Navy, and Sofia Ibarra who will be going into the Coast Guard. Not pictured is Alexander Ramirez who will be going into the Marines. Pictured right is FHS Principal Cinda Francesa with Michelle Setty and Sofia Ibarra. Photo credit Martha Richardson.

Posted on 5/27/2026 3:34:00 PM, courtesy https://www.vcoe.org/news/ArticleID/10242/
Teen-Journeys-Solo-to-the-US-to-Pursue-His-American-Dream
Juan Garcia will soon walk across the stage at Fillmore High School to receive his diploma. For many of his peers, graduation is an expected milestone. For Juan, it is the hard-won realization of a dream that began thousands of miles away, fueled by sheer determination and an unwavering belief in himself.
He was born in Camarillo, but his family returned to Mexico when he was just eight months old. He grew up on a remote ranch perched on a mountain peak in the Mexican state of Michoacán, surrounded by sheep, horses, and chickens. While his family provided for his basic needs, there was no money to fund his dream of higher education.
At just 14 years old, Juan made a life-altering, courageous decision: he would return to the United States alone.
As a U.S. citizen, he was able to board a plane, but arriving in California without his family was a daunting reality. “It was very scary because nobody was there to help me,” Juan recalls. “But I was not afraid to work to sustain myself.”
That work ethic quickly became his defining trait. Settling first in Camarillo and later moving to Fillmore to find more affordable rent, he became a student at Fillmore High School and did whatever it took to survive. Last year, he balanced a grueling 37-hour work week at a local restaurant with his full-time high school classes. “My eyes were black because of how little sleep I got,” he said, remembering fighting exhaustion while juggling the demands of work and school.
During the years he spent at his family’s remote Mexican ranch, with few nearby resources, Juan developed a talent for finding solutions to his problems out of necessity. That skill turned into a passion for auto repair. “When I lived on the peak of the mountains, I didn’t have mechanics to help me,” Juan said. “That’s why I wanted to learn how to fix cars.”
Back in the U.S., he was determined to hone his craft, so he walked into a local auto shop and asked for a job. Today, he works 20 hours a week at the shop while also running his own mobile mechanic business. It is not uncommon for him to finish a job at two in the morning before heading to school the next day.
Juan credits his English Language Development teachers for helping him find his footing and master his most important asset. “To the immigrants who come here, I tell them to learn English. It is the most powerful tool,” Juan advises. He also expresses deep gratitude to Norma Pérez-Sandford, a counselor with the Fillmore Unified School District, who he describes as “the most wonderful woman in the district.”
When asked about the increasing negativity toward immigrants, Juan responds with empathy rather than anger. “They grew up with a house, with food, not having trouble. They don’t understand how immigrants grow up. In the United States, it is easier to get food and go to school.”
Juan has already registered at Ventura College to earn a degree in automotive technology, with the ultimate goal of opening his own shop in Ventura or Los Angeles. Though his parents can’t attend his graduation, they will be celebrating from Michoacán, knowing they raised a son who took their lessons in self-reliance to heart.
“My principal dream when I came to the United States was to finish high school,” Juan said. “And I’m going to do it.”

The Fillmore Lions Club would like to announce the students from Fillmore High School that were awarded scholarships for 2026. The scholarship award process is rigorous and requires students to submit an essay, community service log and high school transcript. A scholarship review committee is formed to review these requirements, and though all the students were highly qualified, only eight students were selected.
Three types of scholarships are awarded. The first one is the Hank Carrillo Memorial Scholarship. This was awarded to Brayden Ibarra and Casey Spore. The second scholarship is for students seeking an associate’s degree or vocational school and this scholarship was awarded to Diego Tapia and Aideth Gonzalez. And the third scholarship is awarded to those seeking a bachelor’s degree and this scholarship was awarded to Ruby Bronsten, Lizbeth Mendez, Christine Nguyen, and Anndee Bacerra.

On Monday, May 25, 2026, at approximately 1:21pm, officers from the California High Patrol were in pursuit of a white Subaru in the area of Briggs Road and SR 126. The pursuit was headed toward the City of Fillmore and CHP requested our assistance, as the vehicle was registered to an address in the 500 block of Finch Court in Fillmore. The pursuit ended as the male driver arrived at his residence on Finch Court and was detained by deputies and CHP officers. No arrest was made. CHP handled the investigation. Photo credit Angel Esquivel.

Above is evidence uncovered during the investigation. Photo credit Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

On 05/21/2026, Daniel Robles was found to be in possession of a firearm and controlled substances. He was arrested for several felony weapons and drug related offenses.
At about 10:55 AM, patrol deputies from the Sheriff’s Fillmore Station responded to the 1300 block of Goodenough Road in unincorporated Fillmore reference a suspicious vehicle. As deputies arrived, they contacted (S) Daniel Robles as he was exiting his vehicle. As the patrol investigation unfolded, deputies developed probable cause to search Robles and his vehicle. As a result, deputies located a loaded, unregistered firearm, and controlled substances.
Ultimately, Robles was arrested for felony violations of Health & Safety Code § 11370.1(a) – [Possession of a Controlled Substance While Armed with a Firearm], Penal Code § 27545 – [Unlawful Firearm Transfer], Penal Code § 29805 – [Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm], Health & Safety Code § 11550(e) – [Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance While in Possession of a Firearm], Penal Code § 30305(a)(1) – [Prohibited Person in Possession of Ammunition], Penal Code § 25400(a) – [Carrying a Concealed Firearm in Vehicle], Health & Safety Code § 11370(a) – [Possession of a Controlled Substance], and Health & Safety Code § 11350(a) – [Possession of a Controlled Substance].
Robles was transported to the Sheriff’s Pre-Trial Detention Facility where he was booked pending court proceedings.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to responding to public concerns in a manner that builds confidence in our agency and strengthens relationships to empower businesses and residents to be the eyes and ears of the community.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on “X” @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF and @FILLMOREPD, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.
Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote
News Release Date: 05/22/2026
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon
Booking Photo Release: NO
***
Nature of Incident: Subject Arrested for Firearm & Drug Related Offenses
Report Number: 26-64754
Location: 1300 block of Goodenough Rd, unincorporated Fillmore
Date & Time: 05/21/2026 @ 10:55 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
(S) Daniel Robles, Fillmore, 37
***
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

On Friday, May 15, Fillmore Police Department held a Driver’s License & DUI Checkpoint on Central Avenue, north of Ventura Street from 6pm to 1am. A total of 293 vehicles passed through the checkpoint and 248 drivers were contacted. Above and below are some photos of the officers conducting sobriety tests on drivers. Photo credit Angel Esquivel.
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The Fillmore Police Department conducted a Driver’s License/DUI Checkpoint on May 15th, 2026, on Central Ave between Ventura Street and Santa Clara Street from 6:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M., in the city of Fillmore. Ventura County Sheriff’s Office personnel were assisted by the Oxnard Police Department Motor Traffic Unit. A total of 293 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, with 248 drivers being contacted.
Two drivers were arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (23152(a) CVC) and Driving with a Blood Alcohol Level of 0.08% or More (23152(b) CVC). One driver was arrested for Delaying or Obstructing a Peace Officer (148(a)(1) PC). One driver was arrested for Concealing One’s Identity while in the Commission of a Crime (185 PC). One driver was arrested for Illegal Concealment of a Firearm (25400 PC). Additionally, 20 drivers were cited for various vehicle code violations including Failure to Obey Signs (21460(a) CVC) and Driving while Unlicensed (12500(a) CVC).
DUI Checkpoint locations are determined based on reported incidents of impaired driving- related crashes. The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the roadway.
Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Fillmore Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Prepared by: Deputy Chennault
News Release Date: 05/20/2026
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon, Chief of Police
***
Nature of Incident: Five People Arrested during Driver’s License / DUI Checkpoint
Location: Fillmore, Ca
Date & Time: May 15th, 2026 (6:00 PM to 1:00 AM)
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department, Camarillo Police Department – Traffic Bureau, Oxnard Police Department – Traffic Bureau

Pictured is Danny Golson reading the names of those who died in service of their country. Photo credit Gazette staff.
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Pictured is the Rt. Rev. Robert Hammond who gave the inspirational speech, including Psalms 23 and 65, and Isaiah 25:6-9. He ended with John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Photo credit Gazette Staff.
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Above are Fillmore’s Boy Scout Troop 406 holding flags representing the five branches of the military. The troop, as well as Cub Scout Troop 3400, helped with the Pledge of Allegiance during the Memorial Day ceremony. Photo credit Gazette Staff.
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Monday, May 25, 2026, Bardsdale Cemetery held its annual Memorial Day Service. At 11am the public was invited to honor those who sacrificed their lives in service to our country. This year’s speaker was Jamie Arundell Latshaw. Also, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ordinary Robert Hammond gave the inspirational message. Music was provided by local resident Greg Agostinelli. The local VFW Post 9637 and Boy Scout Troop 406 assisted with the program. Danny Golson read the names who died in service of their country. Taps was performed by board member Bill Morris. Water and cookies were provided after the service.
Below is Jamie Arundell-Latshaw’s speech in full:
Memorial Day Speech
Jamie Arundell – Latshaw
May 25, 2026
It is an honor to be here in Fillmore, the town where I grew up, on Memorial Day, in a place set apart for remembrance. There are some places where words feel too small, and a cemetery on Memorial Day is one of them. We gather here with gratitude, with humility, and with the understanding that this day is not about speeches or pageantry. It is about memory. It is about sacrifice. And it is about the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country.
Memorial Day is different from Veterans Day. Veterans Day honors all who have served. Memorial Day asks us to pause and remember those who never got to come home, those who did not get the chance to grow old, raise families, build careers, or tell their own stories. It is a day to remember the fallen, to honor their families, and to reflect on the cost of the freedoms we enjoy.
I grew up in a family where service was part of the story. As many of you know, my mom and dad were elementary school teachers out at Piru. As the daughter of two teachers, I witnessed my parents serving every day. Serving their students, their school, their community. But before my dad, Jim Arundell, served as an educator, he served in the United States Marine Corps. My uncle, John Arundell, served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam. My husband, Leroy, retired after 21 years in the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot. My sister Julie served in Afghanistan, as an Army nurse, and my brother-in-law Ian served there as an Infantry officer. So when I stand here today, I do not stand here as one veteran talking about her own service. I stand here as part of a family shaped by service across generations.
And I also stand here as someone deeply rooted in this town.
In many ways, my family’s story is woven into the story of Fillmore. Thomas Arundell, a beekeeper, homesteaded in Pole Creek in 1879. My great-uncle Art Arundell, whom many of you may remember as Fillmore’s beloved librarian, also served during World War II. My Aunt Judy, who was born here as a fellow Arundell, is still in Fillmore, and while our family remains part of this community, I am the last person in Fillmore who was born with the Arundell name. That makes standing here, in this town and in this place, especially meaningful to me. It feels personal, and it feels like home.
Fillmore taught me a great deal about service before I ever understood what military service really meant. It taught me that you show up for your neighbors. That you work hard. That people know your name, know your family, and expect you to be part of something bigger than yourself. In a small town, service is not just a concept. It is how people live.
After graduating from Fillmore High School, Class of ’93, I went to the United States Military Academy at West Point. West Point challenged me in every possible way. I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going. After screwing up and failing over and over again, West Point taught me that leadership isn’t about rank or recognition. It is about responsibility. It is about taking care of the people to the right and left of you. It’s about doing your job well when it is hard, when nobody is watching, and when the stakes are real.
After West Point, I was commissioned as a transportation officer in the U.S. Army. My assignments took me to Germany, Macedonia, Kosovo, Greece, Poland, to Fort Irwin in the Mojave Desert, and later to recruiting command in Northern California. My job was not the kind that often becomes the subject of movies or headlines. I wasn’t kicking down doors, I was moving people, equipment, and supplies where they needed to be. But I learned quickly that in the military, every job matters. Convoys matter. Ports matter. Logistics matter. Training matters. Leadership matters. The jobs that sound ordinary are often the very jobs that keep others alive.
One of the most meaningful experiences of my life happened during a 1999 deployment to Macedonia in support of Operation Joint Guardian. That is where I met my husband, Leroy. He was a helicopter pilot. I was a logistics officer. At the time, we were just two young officers doing our jobs, serving our country, and we had no way of knowing that deployment would shape the rest of our lives.
That deployment also gave me one of those unforgettable “it’s a small world” moments that I have carried with me ever since.
During one convoy, as our unit was passing through the Macedonia-Kosovo border, we were stopped for a security check. I was sitting in the back of a HMMWV, tired and dusty after a mission, when an American woman in a Red Cross uniform walked up to our vehicle. She was talking to soldiers and handing out care packages. She came up to me and asked where I was from.
“I’m from California, ma’am.”
She said, “Oh really, whereabouts?”
I said, “Southern California.”
She said, “What city?”
And I said, “A small town in Ventura County called Fillmore.”
Now, I usually did not say Fillmore, because most people had never heard of it. But when I said it, she stopped in her tracks: “Fillmore?! I used to live in Fillmore… on Island View Street.”
I looked at her and said, “Are you serious? When I was a baby, WE lived on Island View Street.”
She looked down at my uniform nametag and said, “Arundell? Jim and Diane Arundell? They lived across the street from me. I remember your grandfather and your great-uncle, Ginnie and Art Arundell. I remember when you were born. I was standing outside in my driveway when they brought you home from the hospital.”
That woman’s name was Margaret Williams. Who would have thought that in the middle of a dusty road, halfway around the world, on a military deployment, I would meet my neighbor from Fillmore for the first time?
That story has always reminded me that no matter how far we travel, how far we serve, or how far life takes us, we’re never too far away from home.
Later on in my career, I served as a company commander at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, where I saw firsthand how important realistic training was for the men and women deploying into dangerous places. That experience stayed with me and ultimately helped shape the work Leroy and I would later do together. After leaving active duty, we co-founded Lexicon, a company focused on cultural training and military support services. We essentially train our service members on how to shoot, move, and communicate on the battlefield. In many ways, that work grew out of the same belief we had in uniform: that if we can better prepare service members before they go into harm’s way, then we should. And we’re still training soldiers 21 years later.
But on Memorial Day, the most important part of the story is not mine.
The real story is the men and women we remember today.
For me, Memorial Day also carries the weight of remembering classmates and fellow servicemembers. When you attend a place like West Point, service and sacrifice become very real. In fact, seven members of my class, the Class of 1998, were killed in the Global War on Terror. Seven. That is not just a number to me. It is a reminder that service is personal. It has faces. It has names. It leaves empty seats at reunions, in families, and in communities.
That is what Memorial Day asks of us. It brings sacrifice back down to the human level. It reminds us that history is made up of individual lives — one son, one daughter, one husband, one wife, one best friend, one hometown kid who raised a hand and served.
And that is why remembrance matters. It is not just feeling patriotic for a few minutes and then moving on with the rest of the day. It is choosing not to let sacrifice become invisible. It is teaching our children that freedom is not free. It is showing up to ceremonies like this one. It is visiting the graves. It is speaking the names. It is remembering that behind every flag placed at a headstone is a life that was given in service to others.
I think one of the reasons Memorial Day matters so much in a town like Fillmore is because this kind of place remembers people well. Look around this cemetery. Look at the Fillmore Museum. Walk down the streets of Central and Sespe. Visit the Veterans Memorial Building. This is a town of roots and stories and families. We do not just honor the fallen as distant symbols. We honor them as neighbors, classmates, relatives, hometown kids, and members of families we know. Memorial Day is national, but it is also deeply local. We honor those who died for this country, and we do it right here in the communities that raised them and loved them.
So today I want to say thank you.
Thank you to the fallen, whose sacrifice we can never fully repay.
Thank you to the families who carry the burden of service and loss.
Thank you to the veterans here today, who understand in a very personal way what Memorial Day means.
Thank you to the volunteers who make this ceremony happen year after year.
And thank you to this community, for continuing to gather, remember, and honor.
Before I close, I want to leave you with this thought: the best way we can honor the fallen is not only by remembering them, but by living in a way worthy of their sacrifice. We can serve where we are. We can strengthen our communities. We can care for one another. We can love this country not only in words, but in action.
So on this Memorial Day, may we remember well.
And, as one of the last remaining Arundells still in Fillmore, in this beautiful community on this beautiful day, it means more than I can say to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today.
MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM, MAY 25, 2026
Fly Over - David Vanoni, David Swett, Kurt Young & Eric Johnson
Opening Remarks - Lynda Edmonds
Secretary, Board of Trustees
Presentation of Colors - Veterans of Foreign Wars, Fillmore Post 9637, Tom Ivey & Ismael Alonzo
Pledge of Allegiance - Boy Scout Troop 406, Cub Scout Troop 3400
Music-USA Medley - Greg Agostinelli
Memorial Day Message - Jamie Arundell Latshaw
Placing of Wreath - Ruben Jaramillo & Reynaldo Rivera
Music - Amazing Grace - Greg Agostinelli
Inspirational Message - Rev. Robert Hammond
Reading of the Names of Those Who Died in the Service of our Country - Danny Golson
Volly - Veterans of Foreign Wars Fillmore Post 9637
Taps - Bill Morris
We would like to thank the Boy Scouts and the Bardsdale & Sespe 4H for placing and removing flags and PEO for the refreshments
Board of Trustees: Greg Taylor, Lisa Hammond, Bill Morris, Aileen Wokal and Lynda Edmonds
Staff - James Brink, Manager, Samantha Alcantar, Office Coordinator
Email - bardsdalecemeteryoffice@gmail.com, Website: bardsdalecemetery.com

The 64th annual award event, billed as “Best of Santa Paula”, included businesses from Fillmore and Piru. Winners were announced on Thursday, May 14 at the Palazzio Event Center to honor the recipients, celebrating the individuals, businesses, and organizations whose commitment to excellence, service, and community vitality defines what makes Fillmore, Piru and Santa Paula great. The winners were chosen through community-wide public voting. A full list of the winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd place) is available at www.santapaulachamber.com/best-of-hv-winners. Below is a list of Fillmore/Piru winners.
BEST ACCOUNTING OR TAX SERVICES-FZ Tax Services, BEST ANIMAL SERVICES-Fillmore Animal Hospital, BEST AUTO SALES-Bunnin Chevrolet of Fillmore, BEST BANK-Bank of Sierra-Fillmore, BEST BREWERY/TASTING ROOM/TAP ROOM-Red Engine Brewing Company, BEST CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES/CENTER-One Step A La Vez & Boys and Girls Club of SCV, BEST COMMUNITY EVENT-Cruise Night & 4th of July Fireworks Show, BEST DENTAL SERVICES-Mark Pratt DDS, BEST DINNER-Daniel’s Gourmet Foods Co., BEST ECO-FRIENDLY/GREEN BUSINESS-Bennet’s Honey Farm, BEST FAST FOOD/FRENCH FRIES-McDonald’s Restaurants, BEST FINANCIAL PLANNING SERVICES-Edward d. Jones Co., BEST HVAC SERVICE-Heritage Valley Air Company, BEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT-Red Engine Brewing Company, BEST NAIL SALON-Central Nails, BEST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION-One Step A La Vez, BEST PARK/OUTDOOR SPACE-Lake Piru, BEST PIZZA-Red Engine Brewing Company, BEST REALTOR/REAL ESTATE AGENT-Diamond Realty & Home Grown Realty, BEST THRIFT STORE-Goodwill, BEST TIRE SHOP-Vic’s Tires.
Congratulations to all the winners!

CITY OF FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2026, at 6:30 PM CITY HALL
Final Vote:
4. Approval of the Agenda - Motioned by Christina Villasenor, Seconded by Mario Rodriguez; Pass 4-0, 1 Absent.
8.A. Approved of Consent Items 8A–8E, Council Member Villasenor abstained from voting on Item 8.E, SD #4 – Riverwalk, and Council Member Rodriguez abstained from voting on Item 8.E, SD #3. Motioned by Mario Rodrguiez, Seconded Christina Villasenor; Pass 4-0, 1 Absent.
9.A. Approval of Resolution No. 26-4115: Calling for the Holding of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for the Election of Council Members from: one from District 1 for a term of two years; one from District 3 for a full term of four years; and one from District 4 for a full term of four years, and Requesting Consolidation of the Election for These Council Members with the November 3, 2026, Statewide General Election - Motioned by Christina Villasenor, Seconded by Mario Rodriguez; Pass 4-0, 1 Absent.
9.B. Approved the first reading to introduce Ordinance No. 26-995 approving ZOA 26-01 and finding of exemption from CEQA.by Christina Villasenor, Seconded by John Garnica; Pass 4-0, 1 Absent.
9.C. Approved to adopt the attached plans, specifications, and estimate (“PS&E”) for the Santa Clara Street Water Line Improvements Project (Spec No. 25-08) and authorize advertisement for construction bids. - Motioned Mario Rodriguez, Second John Garnica; Pass 4-0, 1 Absent.
9.D. Approved to transfer $220,000 from Fund 503 to Fund 301, and Authorize the Public Works Director to authorize Veolia to proceed with the necessary repairs to the coarse screen and other critical repairs for an amount not-to-exceed $220,000 Motioned by John Garnica, Seconded by Mario Rodriguez; Pass 4-0, 1 Absent.
9.E. Approved the appropriation in the amount of $556,486.88 from unallocated funds in the Park Improvement Fund 464 for the purchase, delivery, and installation of sport field lighting for baseball fields at Two Rivers Park known as Project Specification No. 25-13 (“Project”); and Approve a contract, in a form approved by the City Attorney’s office, with Techline Sports Lighting, LLC, (“Techline”) for an amount not-to-exceed $556,486.88 for the Project. Motioned by Christina Villasenor, Seconded by Mario Rodriguez; Pass 4-0, 1 Absent.
9.F. Approved Resolution No. 26-4113 adopting the Municipal Cost Allocation Plan, Review and modify, as appropriate, the Preliminary Budget and to be approved Resolution No. 26-4114 adopting the FY 2026-27 Annual Budget. Motioned by Mario Rodriguez, Seconded by Villasenor; Pass 4-0, 1 Absent.
9.G. Approved the contract amendments with two food services vendors, Azul Foundation and Jordano’s Foodservice, to support the City’s Senior Nutrition Program in the next fiscal year for a not-to-exceed amount of $127,000 and $55,000, respectively, with a combined not-to exceed amount of $182,000 for fiscal year 2025/26, Second, If the fiscal year 2026/27 budget has not yet been approved, appropriate $145,000 for the Senior Nutrition Program for the year; and third, Authorize a one year extension with each contractor in the amount of $100,000 and $45,000, respectively in a form approved by the City Attorney’s office. Motioned by Christina Villasenor, Seconded John Garnica; Pass 4-0, 1 Absent.
***
AGENDA
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
5. PRESENTATIONS
5.A COMMUNITY ACTON VENTURA COUNTY
5.B THE OXNARD MEXICAN CONSULATE - MEXICAN AMBASSADOR RICARDO SANTANA
5.C PROCLAIMING ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH-MAY 2026
ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH - MAY 2026.PDF
5.D PROCLAIMING AMERICAN STROKE AWARENESS MONTH-MAY 2026
PROCLAIMING AMERICAN STROKE AWARENESS MONTH-MAY 2026
5.E PROCLAIMING IN SUPPORT OF BIODIVERSITY ON CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL COAST-MAY 2026
PROCLAIMING IN SUPPORT OF BIODIVERSITY ON CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL COAST-MAY 2026
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS
7. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS, RECOMMENDATIONS, COMMENTS, COMMITTEE, COMMISSION, AND BOARD REPORTS
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
RECOMMENDATION FOR ITEM 8A. THROUGH 8E. IS TO APPROVE BY VOICE VOTE.
8.A MAY 12, 2026 - REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES MAY 12, 2026 - REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
8.B ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 26-996: AMENDING FILLMORE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 7.12,”VENDORS, SIDEWALK VENDORS, AND SOLICITORS” TO ALLOW SIDEWALK VENDORS TO OPERATE WITHOUT OBTAINING A PERMIT
SR- ORD 26-996 SIDEWALK VENDORS (2115716.3).PDF
8.C CITY OF FILLMORE WARRANT REGISTER-MAY 26, 2026
CITY OF FILLMORE WARRANT REGISTER-MAY 26, 2026.PDF
8.D CONSIDERATION OF AN APPROPRIATION FROM WATER RESERVE FUND
504 AND APPROVAL OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH EXODUS WATER SERVICES LLC TO INCLUDE TESTING OF BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLIES AND WATER LOSS AUDIT REPORTING
SR - SECOND AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT WITH EXODUS WATER FOR WATER LOSS REPORT.PDF
8.E ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO RESCHEDULE THE PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE PROPOSED ANNUAL LEVY OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE CITY OF FILLMORE STORM DRAIN MAINTENANCE DISTRICTS
SR - RESCHEDULING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE LEVY OF THE STORM DRAINS FY2627 FINAL.PDF
9. NEW BUSINESS
9.A CONSIDERATION OF CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 26-4115, CALLING AND GIVING NOTICE OF THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026, GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION AND REQUESTING CONSOLIDATION WITH THE STATEWIDE GENERAL ELECTION BEING CONDUCTED BY THE COUNTY OF VENTURA THE SAME DAY
SR -CALLING THE 2026 ELECTION (2125191.5).PDF
9.B PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 26-01, ORDINANCE 26-995, UPDATING THE FILLMORE MUNICIPAL CODE TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAWS REGARDING ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND FINDING OF EXEMPTION FROM CEQA
SR -ORD. 26-995 ADU ORDINANCE
9.C ADOPTION OF PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND COST ESTIMATE FOR PROJECT SPECIFICATION NO. 25-08, SANTA CLARA STREET WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS, AND AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR CONSTRUCTION BIDS
SR - ADOPTION OF PLANS, SPECIFICATIONS, AND COST ESTIMATE FOR PROJECT SPECIFICATION NO. 25-08, SANTA CLARA STREET WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS, AND AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR CONSTRUCTION BIDS
9.D CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR VEOLIA TO PROCEED WITH REPAIRS TO THE FILLMORE WATER RECYCLING PLANT
SR - REPAIR OF COARSE SCREEN AND MISCELLANOUS EQUIPMENT AT FWRP. FINAL.PDF
9.E AWARD OF CONTRACTS FOR PHASE TWO OF THE SPORTS FIELD LIGHTING PROJECT, PROJECT SPECIFICATION NO. 25-13
SR - TWO RIVER PARK BASEBALL FIELDS LIGHTING PROJECT (SN25-13).PDF
9.F ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 26-4113 APPROVING THE MUNICIPAL COST ALLOCATION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF FILLMORE AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 26-4114 APPROVING THE FY 2026-27 ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE CITY OF FILLMORE
SR - FY 2026-27 COST ALLOCATION PLAN AND PRELIMINARY BUDGET FINAL.PDF
9.G FIRST AMENDMENT WITH TWO SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM FOOD SERVICES VENDORS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026/2027
SR - 2026 SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM CONTRACTS FIRST AMENDMENT.PDF
10. CITY MANAGER
CITY MANAGER VERBAL REPORT
11. CLOSED SESSION
12. ADJOURNMENT
MAYOR ALBERT MENDEZ ADJOURNS TO THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING AT 6:30 P.M. ON TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2026, CITY HALL, 250 CENTRAL AVENUE, FILLMORE, CA 93015.

Jamie Arundell Latshaw will be the featured speaker on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th at 11a.m. Jamie is a Fillmore resident and the daughter of the late Jim Arundell and Diane Arundell of Fillmore. She is an Army veteran, entrepreneur and community member with deep local roots and a 1993 graduate of Fillmore High School.
She graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as an officer in the US Army for 8 years, where her assignments included leadership, transportation and military training support roles. During a 1999 deployment in Macedonia in support of Operation Joint Guardian, she met her husband Leroy, who would become her partner in both life and business. Together they co-founded Lexicon, Inc., a company that provides specialized cultural, training and military support services to government and defense related clients. Lexicon has been recognized as one of Inc. Magazines fastest growing companies and was also honored by Goldman Sachs through its Builders and Innovators initiative. Today, she lives in Fillmore with her family and is the proud mother of three children and grandmother of three. On Memorial Day she is honored to share reflections on military service while helping pay tribute to fallen members and to all who served.

Kristian Fonseca, 27

[In the December 16, 2020, and March 14, 2024, editions of the Fillmore Gazette, Kristian Fonseca, 27, was identified as a Fillmore resident by the Ventura District Attorney’s Office.]
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VENTURA, Calif. – Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Kristian Fonseca (DOB 10/07/98) has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 114 years to life for two first-degree murders and other crimes. A jury found Fonseca guilty on March 20, 2026, of killing Jose Estrada and Daniel Zuniga. Fonseca was also convicted of two counts of attempted murder and one count of being in possession of a firearm less than 10 years after a conviction. All special allegations and aggravating factors were found true, including the special circumstance of multiple murders and the personal and intentional discharge of a firearm.
“Fonseca believed he could avoid capture and accountability for his crimes, but through the dedicated work of Detective Anthony Reginato and our law enforcement partners, justice ultimately caught up with him.” said Supervising Senior Deputy District Attorney Blake Heller. “This sentence ensures he will spend the rest of his life paying for the devastation he caused to these victims, their families, and the community.”
Fonseca’s crimes encompass two separate shootings and four victims. In October 2019, Fonseca was affiliated with a tagging crew based in Santa Paula. On October 12, 2019, Fonseca and two others drove along Ventura Avenue and stopped near a liquor store at East Simpson Street. After observing two men standing near a food truck, one was asked, “Where are you from?” before Fonseca fired multiple rounds from a shotgun.
The two victims of that shooting were not gang members. One victim was struck multiple times and suffered life-threatening injuries, requiring emergency surgery and resulting in long-term medical complications. Surveillance video captured portions of the incident, and officers recovered four spent shotgun shells at the scene.
A year later on October 24, 2020, Fonseca attended a front yard gathering in Santa Paula when three rival tagging crew members approached from down the street after a day of escalating verbal confrontations. The encounter turned physical when one of the individuals fought Fonseca in the street. Following the fight, Fonseca retrieved a firearm and opened fire on the three men. Two of the victims shot by Fonseca died of their injuries. The third victim was injured but survived.
Evidence showed Fonseca continued firing at close range after the victims had fallen.
Officers recovered ten 9mm shell casings at the scene, most were near the two victims who died. Fonseca was arrested three days later. The firearm used in the shooting was never recovered.
Case: 2020012933
Defendant Information:
Kristian Fonseca (DOB 10/07/98) Oxnard
Charges:
• (2 counts) PC 187(a) – Murder
• (2 counts) PC 664/187(a) – Attempted murder
• PC 29805 – Own/possess/control firearm less than 10 years after misdemeanors
Special allegations:
• PC 189(a) – 1st degree murder
• PC 190.2(a)(3) – Commission of more than one murder
• PC 12022.53(d) – Personal and intentional discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury
• PC 664(a) – Premeditated attempted murder
• CRC 4.421(a)(1) – The crime involved great violence
• CRC 4.421(a)(2) – The defendant was armed with and used a weapon
• CRC 4.421(b)(1) – Defendant has engaged in violent conduct
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Contact: Joey Buttitta
Title: Communications Manager/PIO
Phone: (805) 767-3400
Email: Joey.Buttitta@venturacounty.gov
Approved: RD
Date: May 14, 2026
Release No.: 26-062

On 05/17/2026, 49-year-old Fillmore resident, (S) Enrique Garcia, was arrested for agricultural thefts.
On 05/17/2026, a patrol deputy from the Fillmore Sheriff’s Station observed Garcia exit an agricultural orchard located in the 700 block of Oak Road. Garcia was carrying evidence indicating that an agricultural theft had likely occurred. An investigation ensued which determined Garcia had committed an agricultural theft which resulted in him being arrested for Penal Code § 484(a) – [Theft of Agriculture Items] and Penal Code § 647(h) – [Loitering on Property to Commit a Crime].
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to being present and available for the communities we serve. In addition to vigilantly patrolling our agricultural areas, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to provide the community with the following crime prevention tips:
• Note any suspicious vehicle or person that you notice on or around your property and send the information to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Call Sheriff’s Dispatch immediately if the subjects are still present or nearby. Emergency: 911 or Non-Emergency: (805) 654-9511.
• Install a surveillance camera system to monitor structures, sheds, container boxes, and entrances and exits. Preferably a system that can be live streamed and monitored remotely for the greatest coordination between law enforcement.
• Consider installing a fence, or other barrier, around your property to limit and control avenues of ingress and egress. These physical barriers not only serve as a deterrent, but also significantly reduce a suspect(s) ability to enter and exit the property, on foot or in a vehicle, without being noticed by employees or captured on an accompanying surveillance camera system.
The Fillmore Patrol Station encourages the agricultural community to utilize “Farm Watch,” a partnership between the farming community and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Farm Watch is a county-wide electronic neighborhood watch program that is distributed to several hundred farms, ranches, nurseries, and supply houses. This program provides information to ranchers on agriculture crime trends and on how to react and treat the crime scene so that potential evidence is preserved for immediate processing by deputies of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. For more information about Farm Watch please feel free to contact Detective Mitch Peterson at (805) 384-3728.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Fillmore Police Department are committed to increasing and strengthening community partnerships and utilizing technologies and evidence-based practices to enhance collaborative efforts at reducing crime and improving public safety of all residents by continued community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on “X” @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.
Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote
News Release Date: 05/18/2026
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon
Booking Photo Release: NO 1
***
Nature of Incident: Agriculture Crime Arrest
Report Number: 26-62882
Location: Agricultural Orchard north of 700 block of Oak Road, Unincorporated Fillmore
Date & Time: 05/17/2026 @ 09:36 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Resources
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
(S) Enriguez Garcia, Unincorporated Fillmore, 49