Thread by @AndyHS

Starting in just over an hour:First Fresno City Council meeting of the year! January 16th, 2020. My first test of the new security screening at City Hall. Among the items are swearing in of Miguel Arias as Council President; Ironworkers Appeal of sidewalk requirement at their

new training center; Safer Sidewalks to Schools Act; 125 acre Clinton and Armstrong development and annexation; SE Central Specific Plan (may be continued until next meeting; 27 items on Consent Agenda!!! 😱; Some items on Consent Calendar are : 1-A*Amending the Fresno Municipal

Code, relating to the use and possession of weapons. 1-D
Approve the reappointments of Edward S. Saliba to the Fresno Madera Area Agency on Aging Board and Paul J. Bauer to the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board; 1-O Council Boards and Commissions Communications, Reports

, Assignments and/or Appointments, Reappointments, Removals to/from City and non-City Boards and Commissions; 1-P Annual Review and Acceptance of the FY 2019 Summary of Impact Fee Waivers;
1-Q Annual Review and Acceptance of the FY 2019 Impact Fee Annual Report As Required By

California Government Code; 1-R **Approve a Contract with Landscape Maintenance of America dba California Highway Adoption Co. in the amount of $197,376, to provide monthly highway litter control along California State Routes 41, 99, 168 and 180. (This was contentious a few

months ago as it favored an out of town firm over local. Looks like Sacramento firm is still the best choice);
1-V Approve the appointments of Adrianne Aguirre, Carolyn Baytes-Welch, Michael E. Vasquez, Peggy Lee Ailanjian and Melissa Craddock to the Friends of Fancher Creek

Submission and Acceptance of the City of Fresno Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and the Comprehensive Annual Debt Report (CADR) for Fiscal Year 2019.; Submission and Acceptance of the City of Fresno Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and the Comprehensive

Annual Debt Report (CADR) for Fiscal Year 2019.
Sponsors:
://fresno.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=8000527&GUID=4427445C-9F42-4975- AD82-5F841363EA24

1-Y Approve a $1,420,500 HOME Investment Partnerships Program Agreement with FCTC Senior, LP for the construction of 180 affordable senior rental housing units at the Fancher Creek Master Plan Development site located at Marion Avenue and Fancher Creek Drive in southeast Fresno.

1-AA Consider initiation of the Central Southeast Specific Plan (Plan), pertaining to approximately 2,200 acres in the Established Neighborhoods South of Shaw Area of the Fresno General Plan, filed by the City of Fresno Planning and Development Department Director

SE Specific Plan item was scheduled for 4 pm but with the amount of items on agenda it got put into Consent Calendar. Maybe be continued until next meeting due to amount of the public that wants to speak on it.

Sitting next to Central High’s championship football team. Assuming I blend in with them 😜
Councilman Miguel Angel Arias with his kids here. President Caprioglio with his last meeting duties as President .

Invocation by Pastor Karen Stoffers-Pugh of the Wesley United Methodist Church. Caprioglio mentions Wesley UMC for helping to pass out turkey dinners at Thanksgiving.

Election of Officers: Arias will become President and Caprioglio as Vice President. Arias recognizes outgoing President Caprioglio with some gifts. “A wonderful year with our “elder” statesmen 😝

Chavez says Caprioglio loves to take food home so there is a lunch box. Chavez and Caprioglio accidentally switched socks when they were out camping so he got him new socks. Also bought him earplugs for this year’s upcoming Council meetings. Esparza: will give him a gift at

tomorrow’s Fresno State basketball game. Karbassi says his own socks are boring. Thanks him for all his help. Soria has served the longest of any of the Councilmembers. Hard to wrangle 7 people. Also thanks Laura and the rest of District 4 team.Arias: Caprioglio is a great father

too. Bredefeld congratulates him for helping and being dedicated to his district 4. Caprioglio: family at whatever level is most important. All have individual strengths and weaknesses. We ere able to create some good things this past year. Terms out in 50 weeks!

@MiguelArias_D3 Arias : thanks the rest of Council for their faith in him. 1978 he was born in Mexico. His mother immigrated to USA looking for a better life. He was one of those who would hide from ICE in the cornfield. Once they left he got back to work. Some of us up here are

Republicans, Democrats, socialists , conservatives and even worse moderates 😝. But we do a lot of work behind the scenes. Our agenda for 2020 is helping working people. Arias’s son wants him to share story when Arias stole candy. “We can’t since Police Chief is here 😝

@LuisCha70215912 Chavez asks that we adjourn in memory of longtime District 5 resident Larry Raven.
Many changes to agenda.

Proclamation of “Central High School Football Team Day” by Councilmember Soria. They won the state championship this past season. Coach Tyler Biggs and Central USD’s Superindenent is here too. Close to 70 players here today! Undefeated 15-0 this season. Soria:they are great stu-

-dent athletes. Jeremiah Hunter was given a football scholarship to Cal! Coach Biggs says this year was tough. They had lots of determination after last year’s regional loss. Karbassi: they can become anything they want to do in life.

Proclamation of “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month” presented to Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission Central Valley Against Human Trafficking (CVAHT) program Councilman Karbassi. Many of them are children who are robbed. This group is a beacon of hope

Proclamation of “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month” presented to Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission Central Valley Against Human Trafficking (CVAHT) program Councilman Karbassi. Many of them are children who are robbed. This group is a beacon of hope

for these victims. “Spokesman : We work all year long to help and fight for all victims right Build up this coalition for past ten years. Public can help January 21st event and pledge your support. Soria: thanks for your work in this special program. Hard to think these victims

are in our community.
Proclamation of “Point in Time Count in Fresno County” by Councilmember Soria. Homeless housing and services to homeless by Contium of Care in Fresno and Madera. They do count every year. Public can join effort January 28-30. City

out and help. Website has volunteer info. Council at Closed Session now. Many people in audience for changes to security at City Hall especially banning concealed weapons. Some of the consent item changes that occurred: 1-K on Conflict of Interest continued;1-O continued to

Next meeting. This is on Council Boards and Commissions for this year. 1-AA on Central SE Specific Plan is indeed continued until next meeting. 10:15 item on Ironworkers appeal on Sidewalk in front of their new training center has been continued too. 1-V appointment to Friends

of Fancher Creek Carolyn Baytes- Welch has been taken off. The remainder of appointments will stay.

1-A possession of weapons at City Hall. @lee

are in our community.
Proclamation of “Point in Time Count in Fresno County” by Councilmember Soria. Homeless housing and services to homeless by Contium of Care in Fresno and Madera. They do count every year. Public can join effort January 28-30. City

out and help. Website has volunteer info. Council at Closed Session now. Many people in audience for changes to security at City Hall especially banning concealed weapons. Some of the consent item changes that occurred: 1-K on Conflict of Interest continued;1-O continued to

Next meeting. This is on Council Boards and Commissions for this year. 1-AA on Central SE Specific Plan is indeed continued until next meeting. 10:15 item on Ironworkers appeal on Sidewalk in front of their new training center has been continued too. 1-V appointment to Friends

of Fancher Creek Carolyn Baytes- Welch has been taken off. The remainder of appointments will stay.

Council back from Closed Session ( about an hour long!) @Esmeralda_Soria she is part of Homeless Taskforce and mentions Governor Newsom was here yesterday with monetary support.

1-A possession of weapons at City Hall. @MayorLeeBrand In 2011 Council passed 4-2 to allow Closed Conceal Weapons. Study done in 2019 about security at City Hall. Many security items have been added including screening of everyone coming in including employees. Only sworn law

Enforcement will be allowed to carry weapons. CCW holders won’t be cited but allowed to return weapon to their vehicle. Brand says this is not a gun free zone as Police Officers will still allowed to carry. However there is an active shooter happening weekly. We are following

what other cities are doing. Police Chief Andy Hall says he knows this is controversial. Always a balance between safety and easy. Almost all government entities have to do the same. Not allowed at Yosemite Park, Bulldogs games. LE get much more extensive training. CCW can get

that training but is voluntary. City is being proactive. He is sworn to uphold constitution. CCW holders are upstanding citizens but there are restrictions such bars or schools. 7800 CCWs in Fresno. 4 CCW in all of SF. Mr. Frazier says “ 40 years of LE background. Lots of

training for LE. We have the skill set from our job. We want retired officers to also be allowed to bring their weapons into City Hall.” Going to Public comments now.

To Council but he will vote in favor of this compromise today. @garry

If they are CCW then they have gone thru training. Next: at church a CCW defended the other congregants. What if LE at City Hall is on another floor when something happens? Next: She is an immigrant. Agrees that CCW should be allowed. CCWs are not normal citizens. We can prevent

problems. It is not the CCWs that are the problem. It is others that are not law abiding. Vanessa: supports CCW. Takes LE ten minutes to respond to issue. 90 seconds for CCW. Armenia genocide is an issue. Goes over her one minute time limit. Eventually mic cut off by Arias.

Next: Retired LE and Gun Range owner says CCW allow officers to be on patrol instead of standing guard here at City Hall. Next: Ron DuprasWonders about three minute time limit? The church shooting was very sad. Types of people: Wolves are violent and predators who prey on sheep

Sheepdogs are the other type that stands between wolf and sheep. Sometimes sheep blames sheepdogs for the wolf. I am a sheep dog and am trained no matter what our differences are.( Ron is the regular police officer stationed at City Council meetings but is off duty today so he

can speak on this issue). Next: Pink Pistols rep says CCW save lives. @kmkarbassi Says CCW are trained but gang members are not bad. However the mayor means to make safety here at City Hall. He is making compromise as to what can pass today. This will come back in another form

To Council but he will vote in favor of this compromise today. @GarryBredefeld He is in favor of security at city Hall but clearing CCWs will make us less secure. Fresno County has 17000 CCW. Holders thanks to Sheriff Mims. CCW are better trained. Maniacs love gun free zones

(Bredefeld plays video of school board where a person pulled a gun and cleared room except for male council members. Female Councilmember snuck up behind and hit him with purse. Able to disarm him then. Other Councilmembers tried to talk him down. Gunshots. Arias has video cut

off. Bredefeld is very angry his video was turned off). “Don’t shut off my video!” People yelling in audience that Arias is doing censorship. Arias asks security to escort her out. Bredefeld plays another video of church shooting where armed congregants shot gunman. Bredefeld

says we know LE can not be everywhere. 60% of police Chiefs are in favor of CCWs. Asks Chief Andy Hall what is criteria for CCWs. “Background check, asks neighbors about them, training etc.” Bredefeld asks how many problems caused at CCW holders at City Hall? A: none that he

knows of any. One incident was when a CCW exposed gun at City Council and security notified.

Chief Hall says LE and retired LE have rights to take guns where CCW are not allowed. Bredefeld says Hall is speculating on an answer. Hall says he speculating on all of this. City Manager Quan says can we stop this cross examination. Esparza asks is we can limit debate to 90

seconds ? City Counsel says it is up to Council. Chief Hall says he helped secure 6 presidents and CCWs are not allowed there. Too many cooks in the kitchen otherwise and we have to secure the guns even if they are CCW. Hall gets very angry at Bredefeld. Council has police of-

ficers here at City Hall. In the church video there were no police officers present. Bredefeld implores Councilmembers to not punish CCW s. Some will now leave gun at home when coming to city hall. He will no t support any carve outs and will not vote for this. Bredefeld is

Only one in favor. Passes 6-1 Contested Consent Calendar now 1-z passes. 1-R passes on landscape of freeways passes. 7-0. Now 10:35 item

10:35 AM. 125 acres of property located on the east side of North Armstrong Avenue between East Clinton and East Olive Avenues Rezone, Annexation , Permit and Tract Map

Public comments on annexation. Has concerns with traffic. Passes 7-0 Going to lunch break now and they will be back at 1:45 for more Closed Session and then 2 pm Voters Choice Act

Back from lunch.
2 PM Presentation from the Fresno County Clerk, Brandi L. Orth Regarding the Voters Choice Act. Orth says that Fresno County is only California County to provide free bus rides to voting booth for the three days leading up to election

PSAs will start hitting airways in 8 languages. Most important is Mail (no postage needed now ), drop (43 secured throughout county) , or in person at Vote Centers. Ten days before election any ballots received will start to be counted. Voter can check if their’s actually was

counted. Orth: vote early to avoid lines. We are now allowing persons to vote in person on weekend leading up to election. Human eyes and electronically will look at signatures of every ballot. If rejected then more experienced staff will look at other examples of signatures.

If rejected voter will be notified by mail about “cured ballots” and voter has 28 days after election to rectify it. Arias asks how many are rejected.A: less than 1%. About 43% of those fix it and return it. Peoples signature may change due to stroke , had a different signature

when younger. Each voter center will have 3 accessible voting machines. Polling workers needed still. Fresnocountyjobs.com Soria: looking forward to an increase in participation and increase democracy. Glad to have free transportation too. Numbers released the day of election.

When will final total? Orth: won’t be done election night but similar methods to Voter Choice Act leads to people voting early. Bredefeld: what about harvesting ballots? Orth: I don’t like that term. Vote is in charge. They can check on status of ballot and see if it was received

or not. Signatures are still checked. Bredefeld: any pitfalls? Orth: one incident when voter said it wasn’t her signature. It ended up she was arguing with mother who signed it. Orth says crossover voters are allowed to change registration. Chavez: no drop off boxes in 92702

but up to five on other zip codes. Orth: looked at census info and low car ownership. Where people shop, work or go to school. Chavez: Mosqueda Center isn’t a drop box. Why not ?Orth: if there was a voter center we didn’t seem like a drop box was necessary.

Next items: Henry Fiero on Master Fee Schedule. Clean up of language etc. passes 4-0 with Bredefeld, Karbassi and Caprioglio absent.

Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno. Passes 4-0 with little discussion. RESOLUTION - Approving the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule 20-21 of RDA Successor. Passes 4-0.

5-A RESOLUTION - Adopting the Safer Sidewalks to School Program Chavez makes motion to approve. Passes 4-0.

They are taking a break until 3 pm item (ten minutes).

What is the ethics of a public official? Arias : says we cannot do back and forth as this isn’t on agenda. Karbassi reads oath he took to be a Councilmember. Public: he is subcontracted with government and his children are paramount. Do any of you know who I am? Arias:Time is up.

Karbassi: being allowed to make some changes to sidewalk ordinance that was passed earlier when he was absent. He added one item. Amended motion passes 6-0.

Rising Youth Award sponsored by @D7Esparza and @kmkarbassi and proposed by Youth Commission. Several of them come up. Asks for $500 for plaques etc. @MiguelArias_D3 @kmkarbassi and @D7Esparza will contribute money. Karbassi says Youth Commissioner will some day be up on dais or

a very good lobbyist 😝Council adjourns for the day. Presidential Reception at 5:30 with Chef Paul catering.

JANUARY 23, 2020 - NO MEETING - DR. KING DAY
JANUARY 30, 2020 - 9:00 A.M. MEETING
FEBRUARY 6, 2020 - NO MEETING
FEBRUARY 13, 2020 - 9:00 A.M. MEETING
FEBRUARY 20, 2020 - NO MEETING - PRESIDENT'S DAY FEBRUARY 27, 2020 - 9:00 A.M. MEETING

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