North Fillmore Neighborhood Council Debate - Q & A

North Fillmore Neighborhood Committee Election Debate


1) This is a two- part question, if you were talking with a person that was contemplating moving to Fillmore, what would you say the best thing about Fillmore is and the worst? Please answer the second part of this question as though you were talking with a business that was interested in coming to Fillmore.

The best thing about Fillmore is the small town character. We have great weather. We have a beautiful location in a river valley surrounded by mountains and orchards. We have a relatively low crime rate due to our size.

The worst thing about Fillmore is the fact that we have a highway going right through town and the traffic and poor air quality that is degrading our quality of life. We have extended development beyond our resources and now will be facing unbearable expenses for water quality.

For a business, the best thing about Fillmore is that there are some unmet needs for entrepreneurs to take advantage of. We have a need for a book store, restaurants, clothing stores – many opportunities for a small business.

For a larger business, the worst thing about Fillmore is that our workforce has the lowest level of education in the county.

2) What is the very first “thing” you plan on doing one in office?

I want to improve the communication between the city and the public. We need more town meetings, newsletters and accessibility. I want the public to feel comfortable expressing their concerns. I also want to commission a complete budget review/overview so we can get a better picture of where our money is going and what we can do to save money or direct what we have that will give us the most benefit.

3) Crime, Graffiti, and gangs, how will you eliminate or decrease these concerns?

My solution to this would be data driven. I would like to meet with the police department to determine who is committing the crimes(juveniles, gangs, adults), where the crimes are occurring(specific areas or city wide), what types of crimes are most frequent(graffiti, assault, theft), when are the most crimes occurring(which shift-day/evening/after 12pm/am, weekends or Thursdays). Then we can analyze the data and come up with a plan. For instance; say that it is determined that the highest percentage of crimes are thefts – committed by adult drug users – between the hours of 11pm and 3am on Friday night– on the east side of town. Double up the patrols to that area around those hours on Friday, investigate the source of drugs, if individuals are arrested, help find intervention or drug programs. This would be a targeted solution instead of a broad approach. One bite at a time. Just a few ideas. I’m sure the sheriff’s department has a similar plan. Maybe there are no patterns in Fillmore.

We need to promote the Crimestoppers and Neighborhood Watch programs. We have greatly reduced graffiti in our neighborhood just by maintaining the area and communicating to the community how important it is to work together to observe and report suspicious activities. We have stressed the point that we are all paying for the maintenance and cleanup of graffiti and it needs to be stopped.

4) What is your plan to mix residential and commercial growth in our city that is well thought out and intelligent in design?

My plan is to slow it down a little and to have more public involvement. Residential growth in Fillmore in the past has been at a livable pace up until the past few years. The scale of large developments of 1000, 700, homes does not fit the size of this town. They would be appropriate in Oxnard or Thousand Oaks, a City that has a lot more room and that has adequate open space and parks. We have neither. We are running out of room so we need to make sure that we have adequately reserved sites for schools, parks, open space, community facilities, and community gardens. We need to think about the future beyond 2020 – which is only 13 years away. So we build out and then what?

As far as commercial growth we need to make sure that the blighted and vacant commercial parcels in town are attractively rehabilitated.

5) What is your plan to listen to and properly represent ALL of your constituents?

I am a good listener and I listen more than I talk. I am accessible and willing to meet with all constituents. We have conducted a random survey to get input on what the public’s concerns are. This should be done on a regular basis. We are still in a democracy and the majority of voters should have a say in how their community shall be developed and run. I want to implement more outreach and communication by taking advantage of some of the opportunities that that are available. We need to improve the PEG programming (public access television), send out newsletters on a regular basis, have more open forum discussions, create a wifi enterprise.

6) What are your thoughts on the NFSP and the referendum(s)?

When I read the NFSP EIR I was quite disturbed at the significant impacts that this project would generate. The mitigations that were recommended did not appear adequate for schools, parks, air quality, traffic or noise. These concerns were expressed eloquently by many citizens. I was not happy that our development standards were degraded to tiny lots, narrow streets, three story buildings and mostly multi-family all concentrated in one area that was historically rural - not urban. The Referendum was the only option to block the plan.

The status of the Referendum is a little confused right now. Last night’s resolution passed by the city council really didn’t change the North Fillmore Specific Plan but the council and city staff are saying that it’s stopped now. So, there are arguments on both sides. My hope is that we can meet with the city and get some clarification. In the meantime, the rhetoric that they are putting out is overwrought and incorrect.

7) What specifically is YOUR vision for Fillmore in the year 2020?

My vision for Fillmore is what it says in Vision 2020(the original). If the principles and guidelines in Vision 2020 were adopted and adhered to I would be satisfied. I’ve noticed that there is a departure between Vision 2020 and the General Plan Update starting in about 2000. But I want to see Fillmore maintain the small town agricultural roots that were promised and the public was led to expect.

8) What specifically is your plan to decrease the cost to the ratepayers for the new sewer treatment plant?

I have a couple of ideas
· First – the energy costs reduction - alteranative
· Operate ourselves – OMI biggest percentage
· Chloride reduction – partner w/ Rayne, voluntary compliance more education.
· Explore adding tertiary treatment to existing plant

9) How will you increase tourism and film productions in the city of Fillmore?

The City has made a commitment in the past to support tourism and the railroad. Now, it appears that the railroad is being pushed out by residential and commercial property. They will no longer have a maintenance yard and will have to remove their spurs. I would maintain the railroad/tourism corridor per the existing downtown specific plan/business corridor plan.

The city also needs a decent monument at Central and 126 to draw traffic to the downtown merchants. The vacant and blighted commercial spaces need to be rehabilitated and beautified to be more appealing to tourists and film productions.

10) How prepared are you to deal with controversial issues in Fillmore?

I’m working pretty hard on getting myself informed on all the issues. I have read the North Fillmore Specific Plan and EIR, the Grimes Canyon Expansion Plan EIR’s, I’ve toured the sewer plant and water system

I’ve attended most of the city council meetings. I know how difficult it can be to have a position that may not be popular with developers or city staff. I think the best way to deal with it is to be as informed as possible and to communicate as much as possible.