Meeting Summary
Present: 3-Mendez, 2-Garnica, 4-Broggie, 5-Villaseñor
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At a glance
Santa Paula Branch Line Trail Master Plan Update
- Staff presented a "Rails with Trails" approach to reinvigorate the corridor while addressing agricultural compatibility concerns.
- The presentation outlined four alternative alignments and the development of a new Programmatic Environmental Impact Report.
- Council members inquired about potential trail extensions, right-of-way widths, and the feasibility of a pedestrian bridge near Halleck.
Wildlands Conservancy Land Acquisition
- The organization presented plans to permanently protect two Sespe Foothills properties totaling nearly 4,000 acres for wildlife linkage.
- Funding sources include state boards and private donors, with escrow closings expected by late 2026 and early 2027.
- Council members discussed the status of a Bureau of Land Management parcel within the properties that remains subject to potential leasing.
Wayfinding Sign Agreement
- Staff proposed an agreement for a sign along State Route 126 but corrected the project cost to $19,872.86.
- Council members raised concerns regarding the sign's visibility, size, and design consistency with existing city signage.
- The Council approved funding for the $8,000 Wayfinding Sign Program study but deferred the manufacturing and installation of the specific Highway 126 sign.
Digital Permitting and Planning Platform
- Staff recommended implementing a GovWell Technologies cloud-based system to replace the current paper-based permitting process.
- The proposal includes a $38,000 first-year cost with an estimated net ongoing annual cost of roughly $20,000 after offsets.
- The Council unanimously approved the appropriation of funds and authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement.
Fire Department Grant Applications
- The Fire Chief requested authorization to apply for three grants covering vegetation mitigation, staffing, and equipment replacement.
- A primary need identified is the replacement of 50 self-contained breathing apparatuses at an estimated cost of $780,000.
- The Council unanimously approved the motion to authorize applications for the California Fire Foundation, SAFER, and AFG grants.
2025 Annual Progress Report on Housing Element
- Staff reported that 199 of the 415 required Regional Housing Needs Assessment units have been permitted to date.
- Discussion highlighted that while zoning is complete, actual construction depends on private developer activity and funding.
- The Council approved receiving and filing the report for submission to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Closed Session
- The Council adjourned to a closed session to confer with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation in two cases.
- Questions were asked during the session, but no reportable action was taken.
Full summary
Meeting Call to Order and Roll Call
- The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. A pledge was led by Council Member Villasenor. Roll call confirmed the presence of Mayor Mendez, Mayor Pro Tem Garnica, Council Member Brogy, and Council Member Villasenor.
Agenda Approval
- A motion was made and seconded to approve the agenda. The motion passed.
Agenda Reordering
- A motion was made to move Item 6 (Public Comments) ahead of Item 5 (Presentations). The motion was seconded and passed.
Public Comments
- John Meadows: Spoke regarding the proposed wayfinding sign (Item 9A), expressing concerns about visibility due to an existing speed check sign and a tree. He recommended relocating the sign to the intersection of Central Avenue and State Route 126 to better serve the historical downtown and questioned if the current proposal represented the best effort for the community.
- Pedro Chavez (One Step LMS): Introduced his organization's services, including programs for teens and families and a food pantry. He invited the council to an upcoming "Cones for Cops" event on April 15th and requested permission to distribute information regarding these community services.
- Eric Swenson: Spoke regarding the wayfinding sign (Item 9A), expressing concerns that the proposed design and location were ineffective due to arrow visibility and specific wording.
Presentations
- Item 5A: Santa Paula Branch Line Trail Master Plan Update
- Amanda Fagan of the Ventura County Transportation Commission presented an update on the Santa Paula Branch Line Trail Master Plan. The presentation covered the history of the railroad corridor, the current lease with Sierra Northern Railway, and the goal to reinvigorate the project using a "Rails with Trails" approach. Key topics included agricultural compatibility concerns (vandalism, liability, trespass), strategies to address them (fencing, closure agreements, the "AgRespect" model), and the development of four alternative alignments. The presentation detailed the environmental review process, including a new Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and described ongoing community engagement efforts. Ms. Fagan also mentioned other regional projects, including a multimodal corridor study for State Route 126 and a climate vulnerability assessment. During the Q&A, council members inquired about potential trail extensions to Newhall, right-of-way widths, alternatives to avoid railroad crossings, the feasibility of a pedestrian bridge near Halleck, and the possibility of weekend-only trail access. Ms. Fagan clarified that extensions to Newhall are not currently active but could be revisited, right-of-way widths vary by parcel deed, and a bridge crossing State Route 126 is planned but may be preceded by interim at-grade improvements. She noted that the master plan will include recommendations for time constraints, management staffing, restrooms, and lighting.
- Item 5B: Wildlands Conservancy Presentation
- Frazier Haney, Executive Director of the Wildlands Conservancy, presented on the organization's mission to acquire land in fee title to protect it permanently and provide free public access. The focus was on two properties in the Sespe Foothills above Fillmore: Fillmore Farms (1,282 acres) and Four Oaks Ranch (2,678 acres). These properties were described as a critical landscape linkage for wildlife movement between the Los Padres National Forest and the Santa Monica Mountains. The organization is under contract to purchase both properties, with escrow expected to close on Fillmore Farms by the end of 2026 and Four Oaks by early 2027. Funding sources include the California Wildlife Conservation Board, private foundations, and donors. During the Q&A, council members expressed support and asked about funding sources and the history of a Bureau of Land Management parcel within the properties. Mr. Haney confirmed the funding mix and explained that the BLM parcel represents public land that was never claimed for homesteading and is currently subject to potential oil and gas leasing.
City Council Reports
- Council Member Swenson: Announced an upcoming meet-and-greet at Delaware State Park featuring local nonprofits and a "data walk" to gather resident feedback.
- Council Member Villasenor: Reported on the Fillmore-Piru Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency meeting, noting concerns from pumpers regarding fee increases and spending. He also provided an update on the progress of Well Number 10.
- Council Member Brogy: Reported on a meeting with the Heritage Valley Policy Advisory Committee regarding transit between Santa Paula and Fillmore, noting the shuttle service is the busiest VCTC route. He discussed a meeting with Sierra Northern Railway regarding potential holiday train events in Fillmore while the railroad bridge is under repair. He announced that his "Porch Talk" event would be rescheduled to April 15th.
- Council Member Garnica: Reported on the Southern California Edison government advisory meeting. Key themes included the need for early engagement on growth and grid planning. She highlighted Edison's energy education centers and customer assistance programs (CARE, FARA, medical baseline) and suggested the city promote this information on its website.
- Mayor Mendez: Reported that his committees had not met recently and had no updates.
Consent Calendar
- A motion was made and seconded to approve the consent calendar. The motion passed.
Item 9A: Wayfinding Sign Agreement
- Staff presented a request to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Signature Signs for the manufacturing and installation of a wayfinding sign along State Route 126. Staff clarified a discrepancy in the original staff report: the project cost was corrected from $9,000 to $8,000, meaning the additional $1,000 from reserves was no longer needed. The total project cost was stated as $19,872.86. The proposed sign is 12 feet tall, illuminated, and located on city-owned undeveloped property to facilitate permitting and maximize height allowances. Discussion focused on the proposed sign's location, size, visibility, and design. Concerns were raised that the sign was too small to be seen by drivers traveling at speed, that guardrails might obscure it, and that the font choice did not match the existing Fillmore sign. Suggestions included placing the sign on private property at the corner of Central Avenue and 126th Street or installing two signs for reinforcement. Staff clarified that the proposed location was selected because it is city-owned undeveloped land, allowing for greater height and width flexibility compared to private property. Staff noted that the current rendering was not to scale and that the sign could be made taller and wider, though this might impact the budget. The total budgeted amount of $20,000 was confirmed to be sufficient for the current quote of approximately $19,874, which includes $8,000 for the Wayfinding Sign Program (a citywide study) and $11,873 for the manufacturing and installation of the specific Highway 126 sign. Staff explained that the Wayfinding Sign Program does not include the physical manufacturing of signs, only the master plan and design study. Council members expressed a desire to proceed with the Wayfinding Sign Program study but recommended revising the design of the specific Highway 126 sign to address visibility and size concerns before moving forward with its installation. A motion was made to execute an agreement with Signature Signs for the $8,000 Wayfinding Sign Program study only, and to not move forward with the manufacturing and installation of the Highway 126 sign at this time. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Digital Permitting and Planning Platform (GovWell Technologies)
- Staff presented a proposal to implement a digital permitting and planning platform provided by GovWell Technologies to replace the current paper-based system. The presentation highlighted challenges with the current system, including backlogs, lack of transparency for applicants, and administrative inefficiencies. The proposed GovWell platform is a cloud-based system designed for small to midsize municipalities, featuring automated workflows, real-time tracking, an AI community assistant for code compliance questions, and support for 82 languages. The system aims to streamline the process from application to certificate of occupancy and reduce staff workload on manual tracking. The financial proposal included a one-time implementation cost of $13,000 and an annual subscription of $25,000, totaling $38,000 for the first year. Staff noted that existing software costs (Bluebeam and Springbrook) totaling approximately $4,640 would be offset, resulting in a net ongoing cost of roughly $20,000 annually. The deployment timeline was estimated at four months. Council members commented on the necessity of modernization and the value of the investment relative to staff costs. A motion was made to appropriate $38,000 from the General Fund Reserve to the Information Technology Budget, approve the Scope of Work and Order Form with GovWell Technologies, and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Fire Department Grant Applications
- The Fire Chief requested authorization to apply for three grants: the California Fire Foundation Spring 2026 Prevention and Preparedness Grant, the FEMA Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant, and the FEMA Assistance to Firefighter (AFG) Grant.
- California Fire Foundation Grant: The request is for up to $15,000 for vegetation mitigation and fuels reduction to harden the city against wildland fires, specifically around city-owned water tanks. This grant requires no matching funds.
- SAFER Grant: This grant is intended to assist with staffing the fire department. The Chief noted a history of success with this grant in 2018. The matching fund requirements have varied historically and are currently unknown pending the opening of the application cycle.
- AFG Grant: This grant is for tangible equipment. The primary need identified is the replacement of self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs), which are 13 years old and past the recommended replacement cycle. The estimated cost for a complete swap of 50 units is approximately $780,000. The city's matching share is typically 5%, estimated at roughly $38,000 to $40,000. The Chief noted that other equipment needs, such as body armor, were also considered but SCBAs were the priority.
- Council members asked for clarification on the scope of the $780,000 figure and the matching fund requirements. A motion was made to authorize the application for all three grants. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
2025 Annual Progress Report on Housing Element
- Staff presented the 2025 Annual Progress Report on the status of the city's General Plan Housing Element, required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The report tracks the city's progress toward meeting its Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) of 415 units for the current cycle. As of the report, 199 units have been permitted, with a breakdown showing more market-rate units than very low, low, or moderate-income units. Staff noted that while the city has zoned for the required housing, actual construction depends on private developers. Several projects were discussed, including Riverview Garden, Fillmore Terrace, and Creekside. Staff indicated that Creekside is moving forward with permits, while others are seeking funding. Council members inquired about incentives for "missing middle" moderate-income housing; staff confirmed the city does not currently offer monetary incentives but is encouraging developers to include moderate-income units in their projects. The report serves to aggregate data for the state to inform future policy. A motion was made to receive and file the 2025 Annual Progress Report and direct staff to submit it to HCD. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
City Manager Verbal Report
- The City Manager provided two updates: 1. The Fire Safe Council will host a free chipper event on April 18th at Well Number 1 for residents to drop off trees and brush trimmings. A similar curbside drop-off will be available in July. 2. City Hall will be closed on Tuesday in observance of Farm Workers Day, with operations resuming on Wednesday.
Item 11: Adjournment to Closed Session
- The Council moved to adjourn to a closed session to confer with legal counsel regarding anticipated litigation. The closed session was conducted pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 due to significant exposure of litigation in two cases. During the closed session, questions were asked, but no reportable action was taken.
Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned. The next regular scheduled meeting is set for Tuesday, April 14, at 6:30 p.m.