Thread by @AndyHS

Fresno City Council May 21, 2020 via Zoom
Some of the items on the agenda:Animal shelter;Body cameras/taser requests;Parking Authority Workshop;Councilman Bredefled requesting end to all COVID-19 emergency orders; Sleeping cabins.

Some items on CONSENT CALENDAR
1- c Actions pertaining to the Animal Control Facility Project: 1. Declaring an urgent necessity for the preservation of life, health, property and authorizing the award of a construction contract without competitive bidding to Northstar General

2. Award a construction contract with Northstar General Inc., of Fresno, CA, for $14,500,000.

1-E  *
Actions pertaining to Resolution to vacate a portion of Mono Street and a portion of the R Street and S Street alley, east of R Street
1-K View.ashx <fresno.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&…> Approval and implementation of the Public Transit Agency Safety Plan as required by the Federal TA

1-L
Approve the consultant agreement with Element Markets, a Texas based Limited Liability Company, for the supply of Renewable Natural Gas and Management of Low Carbon Fuel Standard and Renewable Identification Number credits

1-M Approve a Second Amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement between the City of Fresno and Quad Knopf, Inc., to prepare an Environmental Impact Report evaluating the proposed regulation and permitting of commercial cannabis activities not to exceed the amount of $300,000

1-Q
Actions pertaining to the Police Department's Axon Body Worn Cameras 1. Award a sole source contract in the amount of $839,900 for the first year and $788,500 per year for the remaining four years, for the maintenance and upgrade of 556 Taser X26P conducted energy weapons

(CEW's, also known as "TASERS"), 556 Flex 2 body-worn video cameras, and unlimited video storage through TASER's Evidence.com storage service. 2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopt a Resolution authorizing the establishment of a contract for the purchase and service of body-worn

cameras, data storage, and conducted electrical weapons with Axon International, Inc. 1- R   Approval of the 2020 Management Agreement between the City of Fresno and ASM Global for the management of the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center (looks like

the local vendors have worked out a satisfactory deal as this was very controversial at a Council Meeting a few months ago. Caterers, Party rentals etc were very upset then)

1-S Approve the reappointment of Kristi Lawrence to the Fresno Mosquito Abatement District.

Council meeting has begun.Consent item 1-G on freeway litter abatement pulled by @MiguelArias_D3 Arias. Item on tasers pulled by @D7Esparza Convention Center item has been continued.

@GarryBredefeld asks to have his item be out back on agenda. He doesn’t get the three votes needed (no votes in support). Agenda approved 6-1 with Bredefeld voting No.

@Esmeralda_Soria thanks donors who helped her and @AnnalisaPerea in helping donate face masks at Fresno City College. She was also at Ram Pantry and is grateful for those who are helping to pass out food especially small farmers.

@kmkarbassi National Emergency Medical Service’s Week proclamation. Thanks paramedics and American Ambulance Crews. @PaulCaprioglio these crews have been very helpful and didn’t always get the recognition they need. @LuisCha70215912 thanks EOC for helping to pass out 200 meals

to Seniors in SE Fresno. Also working with Elizabeth Arambula in helping pass out sandwiches to nurses and other medical personelle. @GarryBredefeld wants to let those online for his 10:15 item to pull the “unconstitutional” orders regarding COVID-19 orders. “Violated California

Constitution” should be completely rescinded. He knows @MayorLeeBrand is having a press conference at noon today. “Also need to get rid of making people wear masks as well as opening churches and shops. Unemployment is at 39 million. Mayor wants to submit a phony budget this June

and hopes Mayor eliminates these draconian rules”. Next @D7Esparza they are looking for college graduates for interns at District 7. Contested Consent Calendar 1-G and 1-Q will be considered after other Consent Items are approved.

Public: Kristy Thompson says her company has worked hard on freeway litter abatement. We hire locally , prevailing wages and have gotten good feedback with their crew. This change order is to increase frequency of abatement. She knows the homeless camps are complicated.

Next:@LovesMercy Brandi :Tower Tom was honored for cleaning tower districts for years. Supports 1-G Cleaning of litter. Homeless driven out of city and go to state property like Freeway. Go where it is safe. Many are doing what they can to survive. Also wants to keep City safe

from COVID-19 orders. We need to open up wisely. Many have gotten sick at church’s that are opened too soon. Next: Shaina Rose it has been 9 weeks since I have worked. We need to get herd immunity and need to get back to work. Turning business owners into criminals

Next Marissa 1-Q $4 million contract during a COVID crisis. Must plan for budget changes during this. When 50% of city’s budget goes to Police shows our priority is punitive. We need equitable investment in essential workers. Next:@LisaYFlores1 thanks Soria for handing out masks

Recently stopped by police for backlight being out. Officer did not have gloves or mask. Chief Andy Hall hugging people too. Bredefeld will cause a larger spread of pandemic due to his 6 point plan. Has he donated his salary yet?

Dez Martinez: when can showers or laundry service down near poverello House. Closed since Covid. Arias says “showers and laundry is now open”.

Arias thanks administration for the no kill animal shelter that is being worked on and is 1-C on Consent items. Consent Calendar Approved 7-0

1-G Arias would like this to be approved but come back with direction that Golden State Blvd be cleaned more often. Chavez: this contractor had better service than other bidders. Scott Mozier : $4000 per highway per clean up. City’s landscape division does visual to be sure it

was actually cleaned. Certified payrolls are also provided to be a assured prevailing wages are paid. Soria:what is prevailing wage? Mozier : above minimum wages. All 3 employees are local. @PaulCaprioglio much needed item and homeless is a problem. Trash, smells, fires by home-

less for his constituents whose property abut freeways. LA judge has ordered all homeless near freeways to be moved beginning tomorrow. Judge says it is too dangerous to live there. Caprioglio wants the same here with this new legal predendence.

Next on 1-Q regarding tasers and body camera correct to Axon International. PD Chief Hall says all officers have body cameras. Updated equipment now to higher def video quality. Can see more detail especially in hands. Already incorporated into budget. @kmkarbassi can cameras be

be used to lessen our lawsuits ? Chief Hall: it has led to smaller number of complaints by public. Approved : 7-0

General Administration item
3-A RESOLUTION - Adopting the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan Including Citizen Participation Plan, 2020-2021 Annual Action Plan, and Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice; authorizing submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD) for application of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Programs and authorizing the City Manager to sign all implementing

documents required by HUD. (Having problems with technology so moving to 3-B first )

•3-B
BILL - (For Introduction) Adding California Building Code Title 24 Appendix 0104 To Section 11-102 of the Fresno Municipal Code relating to Amendments to the California Building Code regarding Emergency Sleeping Cabins Arias asks that only two people can be inside.

Public: Zack Darrah: from Poverello House. Never liked the tough sheds used. Time to make a change. $700,000 of private money raised for this. Outreach to Chinatown leaders. Includes dedicated outreach team 7 days a week. This will help reduce number of people on Santa Clara St

Next: Melinda Warner wants to speak on Bredefeld for standing up for business owners. We are adults and can make our own decisions like wearing masks. City is opening itself for lawsuits. AG Barr warned Governor Newsom for not opening churches. She encourages people to sue city

Next: Gidai asks why Consent items there was no public comment. Arias: we had already taken that. Next: Dez Martinez thanks Council for replacing Tuff Sheds. AC/heat/power is what everyone wants rather than Tuff Sheds. She didn’t want more shelters in District 3 but replacing

sheds is necessary. @LovesMercy 100 degree next week so AC is needed. Thanks Poverello House and Council for these emergency cabins . Still need to have a place for people to go during heat waves. Please consider creating even more homeless shelters. Soria: are these units

Available in other locations besides Poverello House ? Planning Director Jennifer Clark says this ordinance is city wide. Soria: hopes other non profits can create more of those around town. Need investment to lessen Covid and homeless. @GarryBredefeld who pays for these? Clark:

this is only a change to code brought before you today. These are called shelter structure like a cabin and have cots plus power. This is first step in Poverello project Site plan etc would need to be submitted still. Riverside , Santa Cruz , Sonoma Co. have used similar

Arias: takes ten weeks to build. Only temporary while awaiting permanent housing. Approved 7-0

Back to 3-A item that was started a bit. Staff Karen Jenks says this is required. Public comments were submitted and these are consolidated here.

These reports are required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to receive entitlement funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and Housing Opportunities

for Persons with HIV/AIDS (HOPWA) programs.

•These programs are expected to provide approximately $12 million in entitlement funding for fiscal year 2021.
Public: Ivanka Saunders says this is important. Need to build new affordable housing in ALL parts of city. Not just

located in lower income area. Targeted block plans. Many people move from their communities as there is not adequate sidewalks or grocery stores. Next: @LCJandA Grecelia Benes says more innovated ways to do outreach public in these projects. Solution to impediments need to go

outside the box. Prepare and then mitigate housing impacts we are seeing today. Next: @LovesMercy also agrees with the previous two speakers. People have vouchers but have to wait years to get a home. Outreach is needed. Dez Martinez: domestic violence is hurt by lack of

affordable housing. Have to live on streets or a shelter to escape domestic violence otherwise. Less PD calls if domestic violence is leased. @Esmeralda_Soria COViD gives us an opportunity to make different changes/strategies to affordable housing. Great need exists. People are

struggling. Or is this status quo? I don’t want to support status quo. Jennifer Clark: this is not status quo. Huge outreach across the city this past winter. Half of package is to affordable housing and homeless. A notice of funding will be sent out tomorrow if this passes

today. Wraparound services besides just finding housing was requested by public during outreach. Soria: has visited affordable housing that is not kept up to par as far as safety. Glad that City is looking at other parts of city. Belongs everyone everywhere

Need to look at other sources of revenue like COVID dollars to work complement each other. Karbassi: need to address other strategies. Covid can live in mass transit and higher density housing. Approved 7-0

UPDATE: Council is Going to Emergency meeting at 11 AM

10:10 AM
Hearing to consider General Plan Text Amendment Application No. P20-01529 and related Environmental Finding which proposes, in the Local Hazard Mitigation section of the Noise and Safety Element of the General Plan, to delete an outdated adoption date of the Fresno

County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and City of Fresno Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Annex consistent with the requirements of Federal and State law, and General Plan. Approved 7-0

Soria: what is layman’s explanation? Sophia: it really just corrects a typo but won’t qualify for funding without it. Cities’ 2022 Climate Resiliency is due. @LCJandA asked about these changes in letter.

10:00 AM ******WORKSHOP - Parking Financial and Operational Analysis and Parking Authority Feasibility Study

Council going into Special Emergency Meeting. #1 outdoor dining Public: @LisaYFlores1 what are rules? City Manager Quan: staff Dan Zack and Lupe Perez have been working on this already. @sor

Fund it tends to be more budget transparent and allows public to understand why any fee increase. Revenue generating by Credit Card technology, increasing meter rates.Unlikely to meet 1.10 debt coverage ratio. Staff recommends remaining in General Fund and look at Enterprise

Fund in the future. Soria: need to look at other options so it doesn’t bog down our general fund. Retaining control of parking is helpful as we revitalize our downtown.

Soria: is our parking vendor in house? Director Thomas: no. SB+ now Looking to see if we could get more value from that contract. City Manager Quan says Spiral Garage is no longer up for sale. Staff: looking into electronic payment to get into Woodward Park.

Council going into Special Emergency Meeting. #1 outdoor dining Public: @LisaYFlores1 what are rules? City Manager Quan: staff Dan Zack and Lupe Perez have been working on this already. @Esmeralda_Soria i have not seen language on this Public needs to see it. Just received it

Will come back with this item
Until after Closed Session. Next item C : $ 1 million to County for homeless shelter beds. Already approved last meeting but actually only appropriating it today. Approved 7-0

Next item B: Karbassi would like friendly amendment that any contracts over $50,000 to come to Council for approval. @GarryBredefeld who is on Committee? A: Soria, Arias and Chavez. Administrators picked by asking other organizations. Council will have oversight before approval

of any administrators. The $1.5 million from CARES CDBG dollars. Cash cannot go directly to those undocumented but rent can be paid indirectly. @GarryBredefeld doesn’t like this. Can’t support this. Arias: vast majority families are mixed status. @kmkarbassi Asks City Counsel

Doug Sloan if we are violating any laws A: No. City Manager Quan: all relief funding goes thru City Administration? A: Yes. Approved 6-1 with Bredefeld voting No. Council Going to Closed Session now.

Council President Arias didn’t announce if they will
Come back from Closed Session.
Trying to get verification on that one way or another.

NEXT MEETINGS
JUNE 11,  - 9:00 A.M. MEETING JUNE 18, - 9:00 A.M. MEETING JUNE 25,  9:00 A.M. MEETING

Possibly one more public item but I have no idea when that is scheduled if it happens.

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