Earthquake: The Road To Recovery : Boosting Morale and Economic Climate Is Goal

As Fillmore and Simi Valley struggle to rebuild after the Jan. 17 earthquake, business and civic leaders are working to boost the morale of residents and improve the economic climate in the two Ventura County cities hit hardest by the quake.

In Fillmore, the Chamber of Commerce threw its first business mixer Thursday and both cities are planning picnic celebrations later this month.

“We’ve all been through a very hard time and now it’s time to let the sunshine in and let people know that we’re up and running,” said Nancy Bender, executive director of the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce. “The picnic will give people a chance to have a rip-roarin’, story-tellin’ time.”

Bender, whose home was severely damaged in the quake, said the chamber is helping many of its 780-member businesses fill out emergency loan applications or search for new quarters.

Hank Carrillo executive director of the Fillmore Chamber, said several new businesses have joined the organization since the earthquake.

“People joined because they saw we’ve been working closely with them, whether they’re members or not,” Carrillo said. “We’re getting back to normal and that’s what we want to do.”

To speed up the process, the city of Fillmore is hiring an architect, a structural engineer and an economist to assess damaged buildings and advise owners whether they should repair, or demolish the structures and rebuild.

The services, which are expected to cost as much as $115,000, will be paid for by the city’s redevelopment fund, City Manager Roy Payne said. Total damage to Fillmore is estimated at $250 million.

Payne said calls from outside developers interested in building in Fillmore have surged since the quake. Developers are discovering the city’s small-town atmosphere, low crime rate and responsive staff, Payne said.

“There’s an additional awareness of Fillmore,” Payne said. “When people get here, it really markets itself.”

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The city is planning the first of a series of mini-celebrations for March 19, to coincide with the grand opening of trailers and a temporary pavilion erected to house businesses displaced by the quake.

“People are going to go through highs and lows,” Payne said. “We want when things are low to have some kind of high to celebrate in this community.”

Meanwhile, in Simi Valley, building inspectors have nearly completed surveys of more than 9,000 quake-damaged structures. Damage is estimated at nearly $350 million. The Simi Valley City Council has waived permit fees for residents and businesses planning to rebuild.

The city, the chamber and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District are planning a picnic at Rancho Tapo Park March 27.

Debi Schultzea park district board member, said she will ask the board to waive up to $350 in park and liability fees for the celebration.

Schultze said the picnic would give residents a chance to relax with neighbors, many of whom met for the first time after the earthquake.

“People really reached out to help each other after the earthquake, so there are a lot of newfound friends out there,” Schultze said. “This gives them a chance to get together and help each other shake the quake.”

Although some businesses in Simi Valley and Fillmore were forced to move because of quake damage and others are limping through sales slumps, business owners said they plan to stick it out.

Dale Crockett, whose photography studio in Fillmore’s Central Avenue was red-tagged, moved his operation into the city-run pavilion.

“This is my town. These are the people I service,” Crockett said. “It’s kind of unfair for me to pick up and leave.”

In Simi Valley, Darrell Coletto said he is keeping his truck dealership open as he applies for funds to help repair the damage.

“We’re recovering slowly,” Coletto said. “We’re focusing on getting people from the west end of the county to shop here, because some of them don’t even seem to know we’ve had an earthquake.”

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Not all businesses are suffering post-quake blues. Building contractors and home repair shops are reporting brisk business, and some downtown Fillmore merchants said foot traffic has increased since the quake.

“We’re getting more out-of-town people, definitely,” said Vanessa McLain, who works at a flower shop. “People come because they want to see (the quake damage). They say they wish they would’ve known about it before it all fell down.”