Thread by @AndyHS

September 19,2019 at the Fresno City Council meeting! On the agenda:Sign onto amicus brief to Supreme Court in support of DACA; Stricter regulations on Airbnb; REEL Pride Week; Jeremy “Elvis” Pierce Day. Invocation by Reverend Henry Oputa of The Way Christian Fellowship

Please “Heart” if you like these reports. Forgive any typos or mistakes! Proclamation of “National Preparedness Month” Council President Caprioglio
@PaulCaprioglio Major campaign to get the most vulnerable prepared for disaster. Every $1 invested pays a $7 dividend.

Proclamation of “Hispanic Heritage Month” by Councilmember Soria Some Fresno State faculty is here for the proclamation. Focus on the service the Hispanic community has provided to the world. Those famous like and those in the trenches such as Fresno State Faculty Association.

56% of Fresno State Hispanic students. Councilman Luis Chavez graduated from Fresno State twice!
Proclamation of “REEL Pride Film Festival Week” by Councilmember Soria that takes place in the Tower District. Festival has been taking place for 30 years! Began at Fresno State. Lots

of sponsors but also Fresno State’s social studies Dept and Arte America as well as the attendees. Allows LQBTQ+ to see themselves on the big screen and taking part in everyday life.

Proclamation of “Jeremy “Elvis” Pearce Day” by Councilmember Bredefeld. @MayorLeeBrand and @PaulCaprioglio. Both @GarryBredefeld and Pierce ran against each other for Council and is how they met. (Was told he was coming to speak on homelessness to get him here today). Brand says

that campaign was hard fought but know that Bredefeld and Pierce are friends now. He puts on a good show too! @PaulCaprioglio helped him get started on his Council campaign. Pierce says he tries to make people happy and music helps so that. He is proud to be from the Valley. “

“Thank you very much” says Pierce in conclusion. @District5Chavez asks if Pierce will sing “Love Me Tender” to @GarryBredefeld 😜Pierce owns the last Cadillac Elvis owned. Pierce first performed as Elvis when he was an 8-year old

Councilmember @D7Esparza Thanks East Kiwanis Club for inviting him. 18 came to Romain Playground for cleaning up and preparing for a community garden. Three town halls were done as well. @kmkarbassi speaks on his mother who is here today from Toledo, Ohio. @Esmeralda_Soria is on

the Governor’s Homeless Taskforce with meeting in Los Angles coming up. @MiguelArias_D3 Thanks Parks for getting BMX on the way. He also thanks Mike Karbassi’s mother for raising a scholar and a fine person. @PaulCaprioglio Honor Flight had 68 veterans at last one. Next in April.

Cedar and Shaw Jamba Juice had the first Smoothie with a Cop. Fresno State and ATT sponsored the Inspire Award. A tiny office like tiny homes were designed. Fresno State students graduated with some of the lowest debt.

Consent Calendar :Soria recuses herself on 1-H of appointment of Sammy Franco to District 6 Project Review Committee. Arias registers a NO. Esparza and Soria abstain on 1-C as it concerns Fresno City College and they are both Adjunct Professors there:Approve a Memorandum of

Understanding between the City of Fresno Department of Transportation and Fresno City College for a Measure C New Technology grant awarded for the Fresno City College West Fresno Satellite Campus Advanced Propulsion Systems Training Campus Project.

Approve the appointment of Dawn Lang to the Disability Advisory Commission
Mayor's Office
Approve the appointments of Kevin Wray to the District 6 Project Review Committee.
Councilmember Bredefeld
Approve the appointment of Gene Richards to the Bicycle and Pedestrian

Committee.
By Vice President Arias. Approve an agreement between Quad Knopf Inc., dba QK of Clovis, CA in the amount of $62,600 plus a contingency of $6,300 for the design and preparation of construction documents for the Fink-White Park Splash Pad Project. 3-A New Police Chief

Andy Hall asks for 2-year contract for policing at Fresno Fair for $696,000. Soria wants to be sure impact to other neighborhoods during this police staffing period? Will remain at current levels. Arias: is there overtime ? “Extra stipend. PD provides coverage outside of event

for free much like for a parade. @GarryBredefeld asks why County Sheriff Deputies are not involved. “They are consulted but works better if PD inside.” @kmkarbassi asks if more Police Officers are budgeted would help? “Wouldn’t turn it down for sure” says Hall. Arias says same

for Parks. Passes. 2020 Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP). Grant of $700,000. Of that $525,000 appropriated today. Used for DUI and education in schools. Arias says DUI seem to be mainly SW Fresno but none near Dogs sporting events. “Laws say they have to be where

there has been seen to be high amount of DUI. We do move them around.” says Hall. Arias: can we have a list form last two years where those DUI checkpoints were ? “Yes”. Passes. RESOLUTION - Ordering the vacation a portion of East Divisadero Avenue between North Blackstone Avenue

and North Abby Street .Will be used for the current McDonalds. Passes 7-0.

1010 AM Granting a non-exclusive roll-off franchise for roll-off collection within the City of Fresno to HD Matthews Demolition & Excavation. Arias asks Counsel why Council has to do this just to add one to a list? Counsel: just the process. Passes 7-0

Planning Dept’s Assistant Director Dan Zack on Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. Arias thinks Airport Commission overreached near Chandler Airport which prevents anything over single story homes at the same time as there is a housing crisis. Passes 7-0.

Authority for 2018/19 Cycle VII Measure "C" Transit Oriented Development Infrastructure for In-fill Program (Districts 1, 3, 5, and 7) 1. Approve four Funding Agreements with the Fresno County Transportation Authority for 2018/19 Cycle VII Measure "C" Transit Oriented Development

Infrastructure for In-fill Projects for $1,223,079 for the Kings Canyon Transit Oriented Development Connectivity Plan, the Transit Oriented Tower, the Fancher Creek Trail, and the Merced Street Reconnection 2. Soria: What is timeline for Tower portion? “None. 1-2 years.” Arias:

can you describe each project? “ BRT Corridor along Kings Canyon, Fancher Creek trail near Fancher Creek Development; Tower bus line and Merced is design only. Passes 7-0

Brian Wright of Orchards II, LLC. This application pertains to approximately 3.73 acres located at the northeast corner of North Bullard and Dante and construct a 64-unit multi-family development in a RM-2/UGM/cz (Residential Multi-Family - Urban Neighborhood/Urban Growth

@kmkarbassi Thanks residents that emailed him with support for this project. Passes 7-0. Actions pertaining to the Program Year (PY) 2018 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER): 1. WORKSHOP - pertaining to the PY 2018 CAPER; 2. HEARING to obtain public com-

-ments regarding the PY 2018 CAPER; and 3. Adopt PY 2018 CAPER and authorize submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).View.ashx (extensive info here)

Erica Castaneda says senior paint programs, home repair for low income,SELF Help. 40 projects with 83 pending applications. Can help those who are homebound due to no wheelchair ramp; those who can’t get in tub; as well as exterior of home. Soria asks how soon pending application

“There are carryover funds once these are vetted.” Corrina Nunez: Habitat Central Lots built and Annandale Common Senior Housing. Melody Haigh on Homeless Services: overnight shelters, rapid housing, Services other than housing and AIDS/HIV Support. Have been aggressive on meet-

-ing their goals. Marjoree Mason Kitchen upgrade; Westcare Windows and Poverello HVAC replaced a 30 year old device. Reduced energy usage by 30% and cleaner air. Arias aka why only 17 AIDS individuals were seen but budgeted for 36. Hughes: still will be. Arias: why do non profit

like Poverello get money from us but cannot budget for HVAC? Jennifer Clark: they cannot use the operating money for capital projects. Next: Parcs Public Infrastructure include new play equipment and gym floor; New sidewalks. El Dorado’s Stone Soup was given solar panels.

Arias: what keeps us from putting solar panels on our PARCS buildings in order to save costs? Jennifer Clark thinks Jim Schaad would be best to ask. City Manager Wilma Quan says a Workshopis coming o that. Arias jokes if we can call the workshop the Green New Deal. Job training

at Stone Soup and HOPE. Fair Housing Council and complaints. Soria: Hears that Senior Meals and after school meals are often just hot dogs. We are breadbasket to world. Can’t we get better food. Jennifer Clark suggests this is another group that provides this service. Schaad says

TJ would be the one to speak to about that. Jenneifer Clark says 5-year goal has been net expect for Facilities and Infrastructure goals. Arias: hasn’t seen benefit to Fairhousing Council yet and wants it to be revisited next time. Public portion begins:homeless veterans need

help. Homeless Count should be done during Summer instead of Winter as there are more then. @GarryBredefeld makes motion to approve. Passes 7-0. ILL - (For Introduction) Adding Section 7-1249 to the Fresno Municipal Code relating to short-term rentals (Airbnb) sponsored by

Caprioglio and Bredefeld. @GarryBredefeld Most communities regulate Airbnb but not Fresno. Business Tax and regulations to prevent drunkenness and large parties. Police are in favor. This is not heavy handed. @PaulCaprioglio says sometimes theybcsn Be rented for a month. Illicit

drug manufacturing has been done. This will also notify Councilmembers when a neighborhood gets an Airbnb. Public: be considered lucky if an Airbnb is not in your neighborhood. Some owners don’t care about neighbors. Say they don’t need a permit. Doesn’t want a grandfather clause

Arizona calls them “short term party rentals “. They are just motels in a neighborhood. Additional traffic. Will majority of neighbors be considered? Next Public: disrupts the neighborhood on weekends. Need more than just taxes to stop this. City Manager Quan asks if this is

a tax or a permit ? Planning Department would like to continue this. Bredefeld and Counsel Doug Sloan are not sure why this is an issue. Clark: think this is a licensing. A zoning permit is different. Mechanism for PD and Fire to know who is the owner. Also occupancy tax is need-

ed. Sloan says this is a permit and it can’t be revoked. Bredefeld upset that this wasn’t brought up before by staff. @D7Esparza City of this size needs to have regulations but the idea that all Airbnbs are party houses. This regulation will squash all Airbnbs. Thinks it needs to

to be more streamlined , simple, online and less expensive. Would like it to be tabled for now. Some cities only charge $25. @District5Chavez says gig economy cause these challenges to cities. How many exist in Fresno? 240-270 exist. How do we pay for enforcement? Fee is cost to

process the permits says Bredefeld. Chavez uses Airbnbs. Says description of listing is telling when they prohibit parties and number of those that can be on site. @kmkarbassi party houses is the issue. He doesn’t want to add another layer of bureaucracy or be anti business. Busi

-ness license is cumbersome. There are Airbnbs in his neighborhood too but he doesn’t know about them as they obey the rules. @GarryBredefeld Business license needed as they are a business. Need control. Karbassi: should they lose all properties if violations. Caprioglio says

Brown acts forbades the council getting together and discussing this. Bredefeld says they have taken most of this from other cities ordinances. Karbassi: makes Amendment to remove 500 feet notice to neighbors. Police Chief Andy Hall says party house are problems. If no one

answers open door they can’t shut down the party or kick door down. Arias says regular houses are shut down commonly. Why not Airbnbs? Hall: says they are limited as to what we can do. Karbassi:amendment to remove business license and losing permission to lose all Airbnbs of one

of the owners Airbnb is shut down. City Manager: preference from permit to license. Easier to process by Finance Dept. Arias says if you own 3 or less rentals you don’t need a business license. Slum lords have easier time than these Airbnbs. Caprioglio says we can refine this at

this with this lively discussion. Will take this back up after lunch. 1:30 Closed Session when they come back. Contested Consent Calendar and DACA amicus brief discussion at 2 pm

They are back from Closed Session. (Arias missing at this point) Now 1:55 pm. @Esmeralda_Soria Is this strictly introduction and not take a vote? Counsel Sloan agrees. Soria would like chambers of Commerce at next Discussion. She would also like a carve out for someone renting

a single room. Would like Amendments redlined so they can see any changes before voting next week. (Arias now present). @D7Esparza asks about and clarify Karbassi’s Amendments. Esparza wants provisional permission to operate an Airbnb once business license application in. Would

like all tax collected to go to Code Enforcement. First violation is written and not shut down. Sloan: “nuisance fine is warning. Crime is revocation.” Esparza would like a 6-12 months cool off period once Airbnb is shut down by City so it is not once and for all. Fee study to

see what is the least expensive fee. Depends on staff time required. Council will have to vote on that fee. Privacy of hosts and guests info. How much is public? Airbnb does take privacy steps. Does the city? Bredefeld says info about owner so PD/FD can contact. Esparza says some

Cities allow 90-120 day rentals. Arias: how many do we have ? Esparza says 250-300 Airbnbs. Other brands too. Arias : how many are problems? PD could say says Bredefeld. Arias: do they get fined or revoke their permit? Why do we skip fine only? Sloan : Council couid do fines only

Hopefully fines would cover Code a Enforcement costs. If we are spending public money to cover private entities I think we should. Caprioglio agrees with that. @kmkarbassi we started with a bill and the sponsors agree to make changes based on council statements. Passes 7-0

Contested Consent : 1-D Purchase Two ticket vending machines as spares for Bus Rapid Transit corridor for $116,000. Bredefeld asks how did ticket machines break? Greg Barfield says a car ran into it. Bredefeld has no issue than. Machines have been canabailzed to repair so we need

new ones as spare. @District5Chavez asked about some riders having trouble with ticketing machine. Barfield says new company’s president has been more responsive and will be put in Fresno soon. Luis Chavez asks about free riders. Barfield says that is a problem. New plastic cards

will have less jamming. Passes 7-0 next 1-R Consultant agreement for tax increment Financing. Esparza says this will be good for Blackstone. Passes 6-0 with Karbassi off the dais. 1-E CenCal Business Finance Group to administer Revolving Loan Fund. Soria said we only have one bid

Why is that? Staff Trevino :we reached out and these firms either thought it wouldn’t make enough money or not along their line of business. Soria wants to be sure we have reached out.

Soria:Council would like to see broader outreach so small local businesses are included. They are often intimidated by application or requests for being in business for ten years. How do they ever get qualified? Jim Schaad said we can’t directly look for those firms. Soria sug-

gests a shorter length of time. @kmkarbassi Cen Cal has done well so far? Trevino: yes. Karbassi says we have postponed this already. If we do it again will it turn off any applicants?

Karbassi: as a business owner stability is important. Arias: says typical contract is 3 years but not 10 years. Covers more than two sets of council. Would like Soria’s 5 year contract idea to pass. Karbassi: Cen Cal has worked before and we can terminate in 30 days. Also voting

on 1-B Approve the 2019 Administrative Revolving Loan Fund Program. Passes 5-2 with Karbassi and Bredefeld voting NO. 3-G Approve City of Fresno Tax Rebate Agreement with Darling Ingredients, Inc. This implements What the Council has previously voted on. Bredefeld: property tax

in here for 30 years. Some other Councilmembers have had issue with similar for Ulta. He is surprised by Arias not being against this? Arias: difference between a year and 30 years. Passes 6-0. 4-C Code Enforcement Arias says some are serial violators by taking advantage of loop

holes. Ends up City has to be Property Manger for 3-4 property owners. Arias would like fines to escalate with serial violators. @GarryBredefeld after ten violations starts the definition? Arias: yes ten starts the escalating fines. Applies to those with multiple units. Passes.

RESOLUTION - Joining the Multi-City/County Amicus Brief in Support of Plaintiffs/Respondents in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Cases Currently Before the United States Supreme Court Arias: we will join over 40 cities with this resolution. We have 5000 DACA in

Fresno. They generate a lot of revenue for city. This won’t cost City anything as Los Angeles will pay for it. Public: a DACA recipient says he has been here since age 3. He would love to show his parents that he is able to do what others in this country can achieve. Brings

High School Diploma and wants to add a college degree to it. Next: DACA recipients use the State Center at Fresno City College. @DrGoldsmith777 is also in favor. Centro Familia has helped DACA recipients too but they are also in fear in trying to apply for work. Next Director at

newspaper Sol Azteca as well as construction and DJ ing. Would like to continue to get Council’s support Dreamers like Dolores Chavez, MLK,jr. He always tries to be a good person and support the Dreamers as they are our future. People are afraid to come forward and speak their

mind due to fear in immigrant community. Pleas vote in favors of our dreamers and students. Erica Ramos: I have never told my story. I work with students every day. But I am a DACA recipient. I grew up in Hanford. I have a Masters Degree. It is an honor to work with dreamers.

@D7Esparza thanks Ramos for her bravery in sharing her story. @GarryBredefeld Obama enacted DACA in 2012. This protects those from being shipped out. This shouldn’t have been done by a single president. Trump was willing to have Congress do it but in exchange for new wall built

Wall needs to be built first. This isn’t about race but legality. I support legal immigration. He knows DACA were brought over against their will. Need to find away to stop illegal immigration and giving benefits away. This is the greatest country so of course people want to come

This doesn’t cover if you came illegally. Not fair to those who did. He knows DACA recipients are doing big things here. Can’t vote in favor. @District5Chavez Dream Center built when he was on school board. He remembers what the dreamers told him. He also knows that this is a

Federal issue but with problems out of DC that is not going to happen. He remembers during drought farmers and farm workers marched. They helped us then. We can help them now. This is an easy vote and will vote YES. Soria: this is a moral issue. She teaches dreamers everyday.

It is our duty to say they are an important part of our community and will impact us. This is about humans. @kmkarbassi Public comment from Juan. You should never be afraid to come into this building as it is your government too. This is a national issue though. This body lacks

the ability to do anything about this. I don’t want to decide this Council. We need to not wade into national issues. We can join amicus brief individually and use our titles. I will vote to abstain. “ @D7Esparza We are a nation of laws but also a nation of immigrants. Supreme

Court will decide this but we can weigh in. Council does weigh in on State and Federal issues all the time. Our voices do mean something. He will vote YES. Arias: every council meeting with pledge of allegiance to our Nation as well as a prayer but not all of are religious.

@kmkarbassi He doesn’t want to Sell a false idea. We can add to amicus individually. Arias: if DACA goes away this will have a very large local financial impact. @PaulCaprioglio he was part of 2013 that there should be DACA. Our national leaders should solve this but haven’t yet

He beloved He here to focus on city issues but wants to be consistent with his 2013 vote. He will vote in favor. Passes 5-1-1 with Bredefeld voting NO and Karbassi abstaining. Council goes to Closed Session and then adjournment.

SEPTEMBER 26 - 9:00 A.M. MEETING
OCTOBER 3 - NO MEETING
OCTOBER 10 - 9:00 A.M. MEETING OCTOBER 17 - NO MEETING
OCTOBER 24, 2019 - 9:00 A.M. MEETING OCTOBER 31, 2019 - NO MEETING

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