•Ramona Mejia, a senior engineering technician in the department of Public Works, and Jim Purtee, director of Administrative Services, were recognized for their 20 years of service to the city. Mayor Paul Miller called the recipients great examples of civic service, adding, "Our city is in such good shape because of people like you."

•The council unanimously adopted an urgency ordinance to ban the intentional feeding of crows and ravens within city limits. The ordinance was first introduced at the council's Sept. 15 meeting in response to neighbor complaints in the Texas tract area of Simi.

The city attorney's office was able to make the findings that an urgency ordinance was needed for the immediate preservation of public peace, health or safety.

An urgency ordinance allows the law to take effect 30 days sooner than normal.

•A month after the Sept. 12 Metrolink train crash in Chatsworth, the council decided to go ahead with establishing a memorial for the 25 victims of the tragedy. "I think it's a great idea," Councilmember Glen Becerra said. "All the feedback I've gotten—except one e-mail—was very supportive."

Council members asked city staff to gather input from the community, particularly from the victims' family members, to find out the best way to honor those who were killed.

The council is looking at putting the memorial at the Simi Valley train station, but it is also open to other ideas.

•Gregory Seymour, program coordinator for the Samaritan Center, spoke to the council in favor of a new pilot program that would allow homeless and individuals atrisk of becoming homeless to pay off past parking citations through community service hours.

"The important thing is that this is not a method of getting out of paying a ticket but another method of paying a ticket," Seymour told the council. The council agreed and approved the program.

•The council approved an $80,000 grant for the façade renovation of the Tapo Street Car Wash.

The owner of the carwash requested $80,000 based on a total cost estimate of $438,343. Since 1998, the Tapo Street Façade Renovation Program—which provides matching grant funds to property owners to improve the appearance of existing commercial buildings— has spent $728,700 of its $1million funding, a staff report said.