City Council — June 23, 2026

Santa Clara River Conservancy Presentation

• Representatives detailed restoration plans for the Cienega Springs Ecological Reserve and public access trails.
• Speakers requested letters of support for a $950,000 wildfire resilience grant targeting invasive species removal.
• Council members asked questions regarding staff availability and restroom construction impacts on access.

Fillmore Unified School District Strategic Goals

• Administrators presented overview data on demographics, academic programs, and facility updates.
• Discussion included enrollment statistics, career pathways, and progress on the new high school athletic complex.
• Members acknowledged the presentation and the relationship between faculty and students without taking action.

City Development and Housing Updates

• Staff presented updates on population projections, housing elements, and current construction projects.
• Discussion covered state housing mandates, green belt restrictions, and potential traffic impacts.
• Members questioned the conflict between state mandates and local planning timelines.

Digital Tools and Community Engagement

• Management reviewed available software including utility alerts, GIS mapping, and concern reporting platforms.
• Upcoming implementations for planning and fire operations software were noted by the City Manager.
• Inquiries addressed default enrollment options for alerts and procedures for following up on public concerns.

E-bike Safety and Regulations

• Police leadership presented on e-bike classifications, safety regulations, and enforcement challenges.
• Public comment highlighted safety concerns near schools and sidewalks regarding helmet usage.
• Discussion covered enforcement limitations and potential for increased educational events.

Council and Board Reports

• Reports covered groundwater sustainability concerns and a proposed bond measure for Piru Dam repairs.
• Recommendations included future agenda items for emergency preparedness and collaboration with the Ronald Reagan Library.
• Members acknowledged past successful collaborations such as park projects and equipment sharing agreements.

• Meeting Date: June 23, 2026 Entities: City of Fillmore and Fillmore Unified School District Chair: Mayor Albert Mendez

Item 4: Approval of the Agenda

• A motion was made to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.

Item 5: Presentations (5A: Santa Clara River Conservancy)

• Representatives from the Santa Clara River Conservancy presented information regarding the Cienega Springs Ecological Reserve. The presentation covered the 234-acre site restoration, public access trails, and educational opportunities for the school district. The presenters discussed wildfire resiliency efforts, specifically the removal of invasive Arundo Donax, and requested letters of support from the City and School District for a wildfire resilience grant totaling $950,000. Questions were raised regarding staff availability for school programs, public access restrictions due to restroom construction, and the impact of the grant on local fire mitigation. No formal action was taken.

Item 6: Public Comments

• Sterling Wolte addressed the council regarding mail delivery issues on Baldwin Lane, stating that mail had been held by the Post Office due to an unsubstantiated claim of a loose dog, and the Post Office was considering moving the neighborhood to a community mailbox. Brian Schumacher, representing the Autism Society of Ventura County, expressed support for the joint meeting structure between the City and School District, citing it as an example of shared community leadership. No formal action was taken.

Item 7: New Business

• 7A: Strategic Fillmore Unified School District Goals
• Superintendent Todd Shefferly and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Isaac Wong presented an overview of the district's demographics, academic programs, and facility updates. The presentation included enrollment data, academic awards, career pathways, staff retention statistics, and progress on the new Fillmore High School athletic complex. Council and Board members provided comments acknowledging the presentation and the relationship between faculty and students. No formal action was taken.
• 7B: City of Fillmore Development Updates
• Community Development Director Kevin McSweeney presented updates on population projections, housing elements, and current construction projects, including The Bridges subdivision, Creekside, and Fillmore Terrace. The discussion covered state housing mandates, green belt restrictions, and potential impacts on traffic and industrial zones. Questions were asked regarding state mandates conflicting with local planning, traffic studies, and industrial development timelines. No formal action was taken.
• 7C: Presentation: Available Software and Community Engagement Tools
• City Manager Erika Herrera-Terriquez presented on digital tools available to residents, including the city website, Aquahawk utility alerts, GIS mapping, Notify Me subscriptions, and a "Report a Concern" platform. Upcoming implementations of GovWell for planning and First Due for fire operations were noted. Questions were raised regarding default enrollment options for utility alerts and follow-up procedures for public concerns. No formal action was taken.
• 7D: E-bike Efforts
• Chief Malagon presented on e-bike classifications, safety regulations, and enforcement challenges. Topics included helmet usage, vehicle code compliance, and educational initiatives such as bike rodeos. Public comment was provided by Derek Frush regarding safety concerns near schools and sidewalks. Discussion ensued regarding enforcement limitations, parental responsibility, and potential for increased educational events or safety certifications. No formal action was taken.

Item 8: City Council and Board of Trustees Reports, Recommendations and Comments

• Council Member Guarnica reported on the Fillmore-Piru Groundwater Sustainability Basin, noting concerns about a leachate leak from the Chiquita Canyon landfill and a proposed $320 million bond measure for Piru Dam repairs. Council Member Villaseñor recommended a future agenda item to discuss emergency preparedness for potential extreme weather events. Board Member Bailick discussed ongoing collaboration initiatives, including the "2 plus 2" meeting group and a new MOU with the Ronald Reagan Library for civic engagement. Council Member Guarnica noted past successful collaborations between the City and District, such as Dolores Day Park and equipment sharing agreements. No formal action was taken.

Item 8B: Future Agenda Topics and Meeting Dates

• The discussion focused on the frequency of joint meetings between the City and School District, with suggestions to hold them twice annually. The bodies expressed intent to continue collaboration through informal working groups and shared events. No formal action was taken regarding specific dates.

Adjournment

• The meeting was adjourned with the next regularly scheduled meeting set for July 16th.