Thread by @AndyHS

Fresno City Council meeting November 14,2019!! Among the items is loosening the Landmark 2035 General Plan by expanding periphery boundaries; Confidentiality of Closed Sessions, Workshop on City Landscaping and Lighting v Community Facilities Districts; TCC Shared Clean Energy

Network; Among the Consent Calendar:
Approve the appointment of Edgar Blunt to the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board

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Application for Funding from the Urban Forestry Grant Program Entitled "Urban and Community Forestry Program" as Provided Through the Green-

-House Gases; Invocation by Pastor Will Stoll of the Northwest Church. Fresno City Council meeting November 14,2019!! Among the items is loosening the Landmark 2035 General Plan by expanding periphery boundaries; Confidentiality of Closed Sessions, Workshop on City Landscaping &

Consent Calendar
Approve the appointment of Edgar Blunt to the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board

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Application for Funding from the Urban Forestry Grant Program Entitled "Urban and Community Forestry Program" as Provided Through the

the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (Citywide)

1-K Actions related to amending the Cannabis Retail Business and Commercial Cannabis Business Ordinance

Approve the appointment of Edgar Blunt to the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board

Invocation by Pastor Will Stoll of the Northwest Church. UPDATE:General Plan Update has been continued until next Meeting on December 5th. Planning Commission item delayed until next Meeting too.

Proclamation of “World Prematurity Day” by @Esmeralda_Soria. Dr Drs. Vernice Curry and Pacheco among those speaking on this. Locally African-American prematurity rate is 25 per 1000. Needs to be sure there are the resources needed. Shantay Davies-Balch says she is honored to work

with these other women up here with me. A National Initiative has chose Fresno (just one of two in California) Engage in Community. Dr. Curry says this plagues Fresno. Families don’t get over the loss of an infant or mother. How do we address this and make lives and neighborhood

better. Land Use , healthcare and food access as well as air quality.

Proclamation of Sikh Awareness & Appreciation Day by @Esmeralda_Soria Their contribution to our country and the Sikh families who live locally. They have taken to educating the community after tragedies over the past five years.

Park named for Sikh hero. We are farmers, doctors , business owners etc. Thanks for the support. We want equality for all. Clinton from 99 to Brawley is very smooth now. Sikh helped with the push to get that done with government help. Sikhism is all about Love for all.

We are proud to be Fresnans and Californians. We celebrated our 550th Anniversary last week.

Proclamation of “KMY Prosthetic & Orthotic, Inc. Day @kmkarbassi Workforce Connection has helped provide employees. Help with interview process. Karbassi says they help take in prospective employees. Skills given to survive. Blake Konczal Thanks KMY.

Proclamation of “Denise Soria Day” by @PaulCaprioglio . Women in Engineer where they intern with corporations. Many get hired later by those companies too. She supports STEM careers for youth. Very few are minorities though. Many women leave within five years in career due to

harassment or lack of career advancement. Caprioglio says she is the tip of the spear.

Proclamation honoring Malcolm & LaVerne Masten as they celebrate their 100th birthdays by @PaulCaprioglio They were known as the “brain trust” in high school. 76 years of marriage! Chambers sing them Happy Birthday!

Proclamation of “National Alzheimers & Caregivers Day” @Esmeralda_Soria wants to recognize the workers too who have to deal with the disease. Members of SEIU In Home Careworkers here too. Careworker says “only get paid minimum wage as well as baby boomers are aging. Council:

Please talk to Board of Supervisors and help us get the wages we need”

Proclamation of “Marc Castro Day” Chavez “ Pride of Sunnyside High. He is an Olympian as well as Valedictorian at Sunnyside. Heading to Japan for Olympics. @PaulCaprioglio says you can tell he is a champ because his nose is still straight 😝

Board Reports and Comments: @kmkarbassi : Thanks residents that showed up at his first community meeting! Thanks for pastor who gave invocation @MiguelArias_D3 invites @GarryBredefeld to sit next to him in front row for Bernie Sanders rally 🤣

@D7Esparza Esparza: CGBD Funds were used for Home that had holes in roof. Private funds and the CDBG funds helped her move back into her home. At Roosevelt High : Thanks Public DA, Fresno Bee for coming to speak on careers. Thanks Bredefeld for Veterans Memorial at City Hall.

@PaulCaprioglio 100th Veterans Day which is the largest in the Country.Fresno State Basketball has last second buzzer winner as well as Paul George #24 Jersey was retired. November 16 El Dorado Park Event. His mother turned 93 years old & his daughter graduated from Fresno State.

Consent : 1-A and 1-K pulled. Will Be Discussed at 1:30. 3-A TCC Award contract low carbon transit system with ride share /car share / van share /electric bike share as well as EV chargers infrastructure. etc. Arias says these are fully funded by State as part of $70 million.

@LuisCha70215912 @District5Chavez he has ideas to share on mobility. Approved

3-C Actions pertaining to the Capital Improvement Projects within the City of Fresno street right of way. Approved with little discussion.

3-D Actions pertaining to the City Hall and Municipal Services Center (MSC) energy savings and sustainability capital improvement projects: Scott Mozier Money Back Guarantee is included in contract. Costs $5.5 million but will save $10.4 Million. No out of pocket for City. LED,

HVAC upgrades , Solar Photovoltaic, roof replacement. New lights for Council Chambers. Contract Rate will not exceed 2.95%. Possibly even lower. Brad Chapman of company: 17% Utility savings. Car Port Shade structures in City Hall parking lots as well as municipal facilities.

Will lose some trees but will plant the same amounts in other parts of city. Arias: want to see all facilities getting Solar such as parks. Mozier: we are tackling it in phases. Additional items will be back at Council in Spring. Schaad: comprehensive plans for EV chargers

throughout City. Mozier : all trenching etc for future solar will be done same time as this project. Wiring for future EV chargers will be added presently. Chapman: will hire as many local workers as possible and with prevailing wages. Arias: PG&E Future is tenable. What is in

contract regarding PG&E? Mozier: Rate won’t be over 2.95% Schaad: No PG&E involvement with this contract. PUC does have zero rate that City has used. Arias: can City Manger enter into a PG&E contract without Council’s approval?

@MiguelArias_D3 Arias : this is Fresno’s Green New Deal while looking at @GarryBredefeld 😝 Bredefeld: was ready to support this until he heard this was Fresno’s Green New Deal. Arias : don’t make me withdraw my Bernie Sanders invite from you 😂

@Esmeralda_Soria wants to be sure contract comes to Council if contract rate changes. Likes that local hiring is prioritized. Apprentice program would be a good entry point. @GarryBredefeld This is a good deal for City regarding money savings and he will approve.

@D7Esparza would like to know Line by Line cost of the $5 million. Chapman: Will provide that and also over runs is their responsibility. Approved 7-0 RDA: approval of bonds beneficial to project area. Approved 7-0. The City in its capacity as Housing Successor to the Redevelop-

-ment (RDA). approval of bonds beneficial to project area. Approved 7-0. 3-E appropriating $3,419,600 to fund the new Fire Station No. 18 @Esmeralda_Soria West Area needs one. Would like energy savings there. Hopefully there and other future buildings. Staff: It does not have

solar designed in but it does have LED, water efficiency. Possible EV Charger. Mozier: we wrestled with construction costs v energy savings. Urgency of building fire station is there . Schaad: will look at Purchase Agreements. Vehicle charging station at fire station?What vehicle

will be charged there? No electric firetrucks yet. We do need electric chargers for lightweight FAX vehicles. @MiguelArias_D3 : financing of fire station. Doesn’t developer impact fees pay for it? Mozier: General Fund Loan paid back in five years. Impact fees were too low for too

too many years and not enough in funds. Council has rectified that problems. Arias: existing residents fund future homeowners. Mozier: not so.They come from sewer Funds etc. Arias: why not use Reserve Funds? Finance Director Mike Lima: very few ways to use Reserve Funds and more

strict rules. Arias: how do we know this won’t go over budget? We won’t find out later that a Taj Mahal building is being built. Mozier: 10% contingency fund . This is not exactly what Fire Department wants but $3 million shaved off it already. Arias:if Sphere of Influence in-

-creases with General Plan update then impact fees will become real. @kmkarbassi : Fire Work is very hard. High rate of cancer. Arias’ Taj Mahal comment wasn’t liked by him.

Second Part of 10:30 item Conflict of Interest Code. Arias : Assistant PD Chief is not included ? Would like that added to policy. Approved. 4-B In support of construction of a senior
center $1 million for designing and planning sponsored by @D7Esparza budget process approved

some money. Community has been looking at possible sites. City needs to get started on the process. Schaad: their office was not contacted on this. Where is $1 million coming from? That is carryover dollars and has not been approved. Esparza: Administration has been asked to look

at sites. What are our options? Schaad: are we looking at construction or leasing ? Esparza: Community has been doing foot work on this. Schaad: funding is entire issue. We need to know funding stream. Doesn’t want to get community’s hopes up. Public : Carmen Avarro We Seniors

helped elect you and we want a Senior Center like most towns do. Park Plan was made and approved but nothing has happened. More Seniors can attend these meetings if a set time is given. Soria: Seniors need a dedicated Center. Another round of Prop 68 dollars is coming up. Schaad:

will look at this as a Prop 68 item but I don’t remember any Councilmembers mentioning a Senior Center when we talking about Prop 68.. Arias: we were told only two items per district. Caprioglio cuts off Schaad and calls for vote.

3-B WORKSHOP - Options for Improving Services in City of Fresno Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District No. 1. Public Works Director Scott Mozier : 145 subdivisions mostly from 1980’s to 90’s. Proposition 218 limited increases without voter approval. Private firm services

every 60 days but will need to drop to 120 days without rate increase. Sidewalks and lighting can’t be used in LLMD. 99% of LLMD have an escalator. CFD have cost escalators and look a lot better. Rate Increase only by Majority of homeowners returned ballots. Option 1: Former

Councilman Brandau @stevebrandau used $30,000 as a demonstration of what an increase could mean.
Option 2: Clovis type First time this year where one of their zones voted NO
Option 3 hard to pass
Option 4 status quo with less upkeep form 60 up to 120 days

@LuisCha70215912 Mello-Roos? Mozier: 2/3 of neighbors would need to approve. Could include public safety and landscaping. Clovis does have some Mello-Roos district due to how far away Fire Department is located. Arias: much of his district has Landscaping that has died. He would

like to see a city wide ballot initiative vote so all areas can be maintained adequately. Karbassi: he thinks Arias’s comment is offensive. His area out north has landscape issues. Tired of South and North issue. Bredefeld: agrees with Karbassi. Mozier: District 2 and 6 have the

most of these districts as they were built in 80’s and 90’s. Bredefeld: North roads are not paved with Gold. We supported TCC dollars for West Side but I shouldn’t have to defend North from Arias comments every Thursday. Soria: there is a disparity between North and South with

these districts. Citywide ballot is necessary rather than going Neighborhood by Neighborhood. Schaad: if property owners voted for this their fee would go up ? A: YES. Arias: Staff needs some direction. Chavez: need to know what districts we are speaking about. Mozier: is status

quo what we are keeping for now ? Arias: yes but we need to address this again. End of Workshop

11 AM AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 2-319 OF THE FRESNO MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO CONFIDENTIALITY OF CLOSED SESSION ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS: Chavez: makes amendment that City Attorney would not have to make decision to investi-

-gate or have an independent person. Bredefeld supports this still. City Manager still in favor. Public : Raquel: still too easy to abuse with this ordinance even with Whistleblower protection. A leak showed how much City was paying for Police Excessive Force. Sam Frank of City’s

Employee Association thinks this should be amended. Some items need to be in Closed Session such as negotiation. Dee Barnes @barnes827 letter showed that a Closed Session legal document regarding possible city bankruptcy was going to ead to privatizing trash pickup. Did public

have a right to know? Leak allowed public to see that was indeed true. Would like mechanism that a councilperson can take this to Attorney. Robert: even with changes to this it should be voted down. Dyer was investigated for sex with minors and a child molestor Was he exonerated

exonerated by PD Internal Affairs ? Could Dyer if he becomes Mayor threaten a misdemeanor using this ordinance ? Arias : Has Info on cost been provided ? Karbassi: says this is about Attorney -Client privileged. Bredefeld says that is a god question. Schaad: no new info on this.

Arias: how is this ordinance different than what City Attorney has now? Bredefeld: doesn’t see that as mutually exclusive. City Attorney would still investigate Brown Act Violations. Arias: wants to be sure Police Chief is not above the law. Ordinance duplicates what DA Smittcamp

is already doing. This also puts a chilling effect on our employees as they can be terminated. This is poorly justified. Is this meant to silence employees during Mayoral Race with a former police Chief on the ballot? Headlines will always be “ an investigation is happening “

And not “ they were cleared”. This is poorly written too. Bredefeld: can’t believe what I am hearing. “Dyer Protection Act”?? This is only to keep info leaked out to other attorneys against City interests . Police excessive force issues are available to public already. This isn’t

about Dyer. Smittcamp does a fine job. This isn’t mutually exclusive. We just don’t want city Councilmembers leaking info. We respect media to be watchdogs. But litigation and employee negotiations need to protected too. Esparza: too much in this ordinance and our current rules

are sufficient. I will vote NO. Karbassi: there have been leaks despite these current rules. Employees can go to Counsel or Law Enforcement if they need to discuss some items. But somethings need to be protected. Attitude towards DA Smittcamp is not needed. Soria: emails from

despite these current rules. Employees can go to Counsel or Law Enforcement if they need to discuss some items. But somethings need to be protected. Attitude towards DA Smittcamp is not needed. Soria: emails from Attorney Client privilege is what this about? Are we being genuine

with this ordinance ? Only one leak in last five years. Not sure this bill covers that. She thinks Smittcamp is doing a good job with Brown Act violations. Appropriate rules are in place. One issue shouldn’t lead to changing everything. She cannot support. She does appreciate

appreciate sponsors changing First Amendment issues. Caprioglio: Closed Session items have to be treated like Attorney Client privilege. He has seen violations in his 7 years here. We have to be responsible for our own actions but since we cannot we need this ordinance. Approved

with Karbassi , Bredefeld, Caprioglio and Chavez voting in Affirmative. Back from Lunch Recess (2:10 pm)
4-A, the City has begun work on an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) for the development of the South Industrial Priority Area (“SIPA”) Specific Plan (“SP”); Arias: would

public to comment First due to parking meters. Caprioglio overrides figuring OpenIng remarks will be short. Arias: Environmental Impact Report. For too long we have prioritized Industrial over residents. We were sued for fast tracking Caglia project and cost City $55,000. We

We have rectified that. Analyzes annexing Malaga and Calwa, Consultant , bringing in 6000 acres. $250,000 added for helping to write contract. Chavez thanks for EDC , Attorney General’s Office, Mayor, Ashley Werner and other groups. City Manager thanks everyone for working hard

on this. Public: Pastor says we have made a big step in the right direction. Artie Padilla: Appreciates everyone who worked on this compromise. DRIVE Initiative supplied letters in support. Economic and Social Justice can work together to make Fresno great. Lolia Perez: need

and parks in SE Fresno. We don’t just need more industrial. Moreno: following meetings at Mosqueda Center talking about mixed use project. Why isn’t this done near Cherry Ave but we’re told we are preserving Ag land. Later we find out it is only for Industrial reasons. We don’t

clean drinking water let a lone schools. We don’t have basic amenities. We need a variety of items that will provide long lasting jobs. Kids get asthma from industrial uses. Older people like field workers are effected by chemicals. Cherry Ave doesn’t even have traffic signal.

Ivanka Sanders: in favor of this plan. Same treatment as those in North Fresno get. Sandra Vasquez from Leadership Counsel. Youth are concerned with pollution. Worry about heavy truck traffic. Please listen to residents that live there. It is hard to move out of a neighborhood

especially with shortage of affordable housing. Jim Grant:From Dioceses. Quotes Pope. Need to draw on different disciplines to serve people’s quality of life. Urban Planning needs to take the views of the people who will live there. They need input. Kimberly McCoy of

@FresnoBHC Building Healthy Community She is glad City spoke to those within Planning Area But those surrounding areas as well. Will Oliver : Economic of DRIVE is happy that so many of Community has come together. Hoping for meaningful outcomes. Lifting up jobs and community.

Central Valley Partnership’s Daniel O’Connell Thanks for all the hard work.
Equitable Economic the role of Labor Agreements and apprenticeship. Farm Land Conservation part will be interesting to see in EIR. Ashley Werner Leadership Counsel.@AshleyEWerner Thanks for all those who

those who helped from City, DRIVE and community residents. We support this final compromise. This is essential for those who live in unincorporated area.There are District communities within rural farm.A Buddhist Church on Orange , Sikh Temple. This is landmark shift for Fresno!

We can indeed have it all. Hoping Council stays with this after today’s decision. Estella Ortega: I feel bad that so many parents could not be here. A lot of kids are being picked up from school at this time of day and can’t be here. This is important. I picked up my kid from

and came back as this will effect my community. We are heavily impacted by industrial. Long way to get treatment for my son’s asthma. More parks to mitigate pollution. Schools are impacted by amount of kids. Please have these in afternoon for those picking up kids or working.

Rosa Depue: I come from a community that doesn’t feel like it is heard. End of public comment. Soria: in support. ( speaking Spanish). I agree with mothers that it is acceptable to school times. I knew this day would come where we can have both jobs and equitable investments

DRIVE helped that lower income communities are included. All neighborhoods want good housing , schools and jobs. Thanks Community Members. Karbassi: thanks for all for coming to speak. It can be intimidating speaking her. Also work and schools. We all want good things and compro-

-mise is needed. Forgotten Fresno got engaged. Business Sector, Labor, communities for coming together. In support. Pass: 7-0

Contested Consent Calendar 1-A Soria: Master Fee Schedule adjustments will free up some General Fund. City Manger says that will come up in December. This is just first look. Approved 7-0.

1-K Caprioglio He was on original Cannabis subcommittee. We hoped it would helped businesses succeed wherever it was located in Fresno. CEQA aspect hasn’t been adopted yet however. State changes rules too. We may be putting cart in front of horse. My opinion it is setting up busi

-nesses to fail. “Social Equity Element” is up to applicant. Weight of Social Equity would be up to applicant. Current ordinance has restricted that. I think we need to add this part back in. We also need to remove “Shall” portion of ordinance. Public: Zach Tranfant of Medallion

Health. We host politicians and regulators to tour their facilities. Our security infrastructure has helped neighboring businesses too. We help our communities thru donations. Caprioglio asks if his county has strict social equitable aspects? A: not as strict. David Arbassi:

:against this ordinance. CUPs were tied to donations to Politician in Kern County. Sacramento too. Here in Fresno has happened too. Weedmaps will get some of the Permits this way. Open lottery is better. CEQA is important too. Arias: doesn’t feel that last speaker had not

read current version.
JePahl White @JePahl_White : Social Equity gives Authority to these businesses. This is tenth worse place for African -Americans. Chavez: this has been a four year process. City started at zero tolerance and moved to where it is today. Glad City manager

@JePahl_White makes decision as to who gets permits but with Council able to override. Constituent has daughter with epilepsy that CBD helps keep under control. Arias: some revisions today within Advertisement, video cameras , Labor Agreements , Council can still have final say. Social Equity

@JePahl_White language has been redone. Veterans employment and former foster have a chance for good wages. He has ran into lots of chemists and corporate lawyers in this business. Neighborhoods will be notified when application is made. Soria: hopefully Majority of Council will Vote for this.

@JePahl_White How can Fresno compete for State dollars. Karbassi: over regulation can hurt businesses. Constituents worry about high drivers. We need to make sure businesses succeed. Incentivize v Force? Do businesses have to hirer ex felon? I can’t support. Soria: this is not the requirement

@JePahl_White It says Local and we would like those to be. Disadvantaged but NOT required. We want underemployed to have a chance at these good paying jobs. Karbassi: hiring vets and foster kids is good. Does this say we have to hire felons? Caprioglio: it says SHALL

@JePahl_White Bredefeld: City Manager will Approve but can be appealed by Council. True it is a step removed from Council directly. Also Social Equity aspect is an issue. Victim of War on Drugs is not a victim. I think this will pass 4-3. I think Mayor will Veto this Action as he has said he

@JePahl_White not in support of Recreational usage. I expect him to follow thru. Chavez: I believe in Law and Order. But also redemption. These are people trying to make a living after they paid their debt to society. Arias: previous council voted on adult recreational after a year 6-1. We are

@JePahl_White tasked to regulate it. Passed in State and locally. Bredefeld says we are wise to not want recreational in Fresno. Caprioglio: State Social Equity portion is not in this ordinance. Approved 4-3

@JePahl_White Only two more meetings left in 2019! DECEMBER 5 and  DECEMBER 12
At December 5th meeting:Re: Variance Application for over height Billboard request located at Freeway 41 and Howard, on City property. AND Animal Shelter AND General Plan Update

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