Thread by @AndyHS

Down at Fresno City Council August 22,2019! On the agenda is Swearing in of Mike Karbassi fresh off a Special Election win for District 2; Approve 24 acre project on Copper Ave between Chestnut and Willow; lease $17,000 worth of scanning equipment for increased security into City

Hall; Final approval of signage asking residents not to directly donate to homeless sponsored by Councilmember Bredefeld. CONSENT CALENDAR : **Approve contract with American Guard Services in the amount of $17,760 per year to lease one Baggage Scanner, two Walk-Through Magneto-

-meters; Adopting a Complete Streets Policy ; awarding a consultant services agreement to The Gualco Group, Inc., for professional water lobbying and consulting services: not to exceed $180,000; Approve a requirements contract to Sequoia Western, in an amount not to exceed

$350,000; Approve 10-year agreement with Cen Cal Business Finance Group, Inc. (Cen Cal) to administer the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program
1. Goals and Objectives: The goals and objectives of the RLF Program include
A. Improve the City of Fresno economy and reduce unemployment

by assisting in the start- up of small businesses.
B. Improve the City of Fresno economy and reduce unemployment by assisting small businesses to expand sales, profits, services and employment.
C. Afford woman and minority owned small businesses access to capital that would not

otherwise be available to them on reasonable terms or conditions.
D. Assist in the revitalization and occupancy of vacant commercial and industrial properties within the City of Fresno.
Invocation by Worship Pastor Rebecca Townsend from Northside Church.

Passed resolution declaring District 2 Election results. Short Recess to swear in @kmkarbassi as the newest Councilmember (in a private ceremony so I have no photos to share of that portion). @PaulCaprioglio officially welcomes Karbassi to the now full council. @stevebrandau was

here to welcome Councilman Karbassi to his former position. Consent item on Community College has @Esmeralda_Soria and @D7Esparza recusing due to their position as Adjunct Professors. Also pulled are items on water consultants, weed abatement, Revolving Loan Fund. Complete

Street item moved to later Council meeting. Balance of Consent Calendar approved. Proclaiming September as “Restaurant Appreciation Month” Mayor's Office and Council President Caprioglio @MayorLeeBrand More State tax income generated in State from restaurants says Mayor Brand.

Best of Valley awards in March. Open to public. Many restauranteurs are independent. Donate back to community as well as schools via state income tax.

Proclamation of “Women’s Equality Day” by
Councilmember Soria. National Women’s Caucus a land League of Women Voters honored.99 years since women got the right to vote. Soria Notes she is only female councilwoman and Board of Supervisors have none so work to be done Marsha Conant

says event coming up with Christine Pelosi. Nasreen Johnson will get a Courage to Run award. League of Women Voters will honor @DrGoldsmith777 and mention women holding traditional male roles like DA , Voter Registrar and Sheriff.

Proclamation of “Central Valley Craft Beer Week” sponsored
Councilmember Soria and @MiguelArias_D3 Soria notes the amazing local breweries in Downtown Fresno. Arias jokes that all his Council colleagues like beer. Full Circle, House of Pen Dragon, Tioga-Sequoia Among those

here this morning. Council Comments: Soria West of 99 talk at Highway City Resource Center next Thursday. @kmkarbassi says he looks forward to working with his new colleagues. Thanks @PaulCaprioglio and his staff for welcoming him in the transition. @MiguelArias_D3 Thanks

Karbassi’s father for raising a fine gentleman. @PaulCaprioglio was part of Fresno State’s Maddy partnership , UC Merced, Cal Bakersfield &Cal Stanislaus. Larry Salinas speaks on the Apartment fire across from Fresno State. 15 people displaced that includes 11 Fresno State stu-

dents as well as one staff member. Red Cross has a Good Samaritan Fund to help these students just as new semester was beginning. Jim Patterson’s office will help in securing State documents that may have been lost like driver’s licenses. Caprioglio mentions Coffee with Cop that

occurred recently. Caprioglio would like to adjourn in honor of the late Fresno State Police Chief. 4-C Advancing the "Help Us, Help Fresno” Initiative sponsored by @GarryBredefeld. Failed originally but along with @MiguelArias_D3 and PD Chief Dyer have worked on it. Notes that

“some of the panhandlers are scammers, cause disruption for local businesses. Mental Health and addiction problems as well Prop 47 etc. releasing these people put on streets. Donating to charitable organizations will help more. Signage is a positive message. Phone # to Fresno

Mission included for those needing help. Private businesses have used the signs to great success so far. River Park businesses have seen a reduction in panhandlers. Have been effective. It is part of solution but lot all of solution. If passes today we I’ll put them on median

intersections. Cost $125-$150 a piece. Thanks @MayorLeeBrand and Chief Dyer for their support”. @D7Esparza he is still not in support. Had misgivings on actual effectiveness and there are other solutions. Soria makes Motion to Oppose. Bredefeld makes Amendment to substitute.

Fails 3-3 with Caprioglio absent. (He is back on floor. ) Now 3-4 fails on Soria Motion opposing this proposal with Esparza, Arias and Soria voting YES. “A more positive message would be that contribute to solution signage”’says Soria. @District5Chavez says these two are two

very simple resolutions. All Councilmembers will put them up to their discretion and from their own funding. “ Arias asks Bredefeld for data that this method actually works? Bredefeld says “River Park says it works. They were unable to be here this morning “ Sofia’s new signage

fails. Bredefeld says the data is River Park proprietary property and they didn’t want to share. Howard Watkins “Thanks Bredefeld for trying to do something on this problem. He does say that those panhandling are not making much doing this and in 90+ weather. Breaking up camps

helped disperse them to all parts of town. Watkins feels this info on signage would be better spent putting info in bills already being sent out by City.” Caprioglio thinks this is a good solution in sending it out. Next Public thinks giving to panhandlers is the wrong way to

help homeless. Next Public : please take mercy on homeless. Next: PD Chief Dyer supports Bredefeld’s Proposal. Enabling the addiction lifestyle by giving money directly. Can be a distraction to motorists. This is an awareness campaign. He Feels there has been a difference with

the signs Private Businesses have put up.” Next: Brandi says “homeless feel frustrated. Can’t find jobs or are elderly and/or disabled. This proposal is simplistic and not data driven.” Cesar Sotomayor says there is nothing for young on streets to do at 1 am when they are hungry

There are flaws in going to shelters at night. People will do what they have to do to eat. More programs are needed. Civic Engaging with young people is needed to be stressed. “ Item Passes 4-3

Plan Amendment, Application Rezone Application, Planned Development Application,Tentative Tract map and related Environmental Assessment for approximately 24.03 acres of property located on the south side of East Copper Avenue, between North Chestnut and North Willow. Lenar Homes

is building projects. @MiguelArias_D3 asks if this is bringing more housing but getting rid of office portion? Is this anti “live work” hope for City? Staff: allows more mixed use. Lenar is given more flexibility with adjacent packing house. Staff: Traffic studies does confirm

that some intersections will need traffic signals. Granville is currently expanding Copper Road into four lane. Approved 6-0 with Esparza absent. Next: Homeless Family Services with St Agnes, Marjorie Mason and Poverello House. Will help divert families from being homeless.

Approved 6-0. Approve designation of Council President Caprioglio as voting delegate, and two (2) Councilmembers as voting alternates for the League of California Cities annual business meeting on Friday, October 18, 2019 Approved 6-0.

Contested Consent items will be discussed at 1:30 pm. Recessed until then.

City Council back from Lunch Recess. (1:33 pm). Arias, Soria and Bredefeld absent)1-j awarding a consultant services agreement to The Gualco Group, Inc., for professional water lobbying and consulting services: not to exceed $180,000 Passes 4-0. 1-N : weed abatement Soria now

Present. Soria would like to approve but with desire to make it more competitive. City Counsel Sloan says Council can give 60-day notice to current vendor that they will open it up. @kmkarbassi asks was this RFP put in newspaper? Staff: On the website. All that registered too

(1000’s). Only two proposals received. Published in Business Journal but not Bee. Karbassi says Sequoia did there part And Citybsid their part. All Councilmembers are present. Assistant City Manager Jim Schaad says other RFPs get good response. Passes 6-1 with Arias voting NO.

End of Consent Item. Bredefeld wants to add comment on 1-J even though it has already been voted on. Caprioglio says he can. Bredefeld declines. End of meeting. Next Meetings: SEPTEMBER 19 - 9:00 A.M. and SEPTEMBER 26 - 9:00 A.M.

September 19, 2019
11:00 A.M - WORKSHOP - “FAX

Connects :Microtransit Pilot Program.