Council votes: Santa Clara waterline design, well repairs, guardrail work, ADU ordinance first reading and other approvals

The Fillmore City Council approved a set of routine and urgent items, including design contracts, construction awards, a funding reallocation for a failed well, and the first reading of a zoning text amendment to update accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules to comply with state law.

Key approvals and outcomes at the meeting (motions carried unless noted):

- Santa Clara Street waterline and pavement design (Project Spec. 25-08): Council approved a task order with Willdan/Will Down Engineering to design replacement of an undersized 1955 water line and full pavement reconstruction between Mountain View Street and State Route 126; design cost cited was $75,050 and FY 2025–26 budget includes $223,600 for design, construction management and inspection; construction funding to be requested in FY 2026–27.

- Cross-connection/backflow contract name change (SoCal Water Pro): Council approved a first amendment to the contract to reflect the vendor’s corporate name change; staff said this is an administrative recognition with no change to scope.

- A Street guardrail repair (Project Spec. 25-10): Council adopted plans and specifications and awarded the construction contract to C & W Construction Specialties, low bid $27,037.10 plus a 20% contingency, with the public works director authorized to approve change orders up to the contingency amount.

- Urgent Well No. 8 repairs and funding reallocation: Council approved awarding a contract to General Pump Company for urgent Well No. 8 pipe replacement (contract $140,134.93 plus a 10% contingency) and authorized reallocation of $150,000 budgeted for reservoir painting to cover part of the work; an additional $12,948.42 was allocated from the water reserve fund to cover the remainder. Staff described aggressive bacterial pitting on a 2021-installed steel column pipe and said Well No. 8 was taken offline; the city is operating on other wells while repairs proceed.

- ADU zoning update (ZOA 25-01 / Ordinance 25-984): The council opened and closed a public hearing and approved first reading of an ordinance to amend municipal code sections to align Fillmore’s ADU and junior ADU regulations with current state law. Planning staff said the ordinance updates definitions, height and size allowances, landscaping requirements, owner-occupancy rules for JADUs, and clarifies ADU provisions for multifamily sites. The council directed staff to return for a second reading.

- Council vacancy process (District 1): Council directed staff to proceed with an appointment process rather than a special election to fill the District 1 vacancy, to post applications and accept submissions for two weeks with interviews scheduled at the Nov. 12 meeting; staff will provide application materials to council members in advance of the packet release.

Votes were recorded or carried by voice for these items as shown in the meeting record; individual roll-call tallies were provided where recorded.