Continuing City of Fresno Budget hearings! # Fresno Watch on @CMACTV cmac.tv/gov/ Scheduled are Public Works, PARCS, Convention Center, Mayor/City Manager and Council Offices as well as General Purpose which includes retirement.
SEFCEDA (South East Fresno Economic Development Association) is building a regional park and soccer field. They are asking City Council for $90,000 to prepare an up to $8.5 million application for Prop 68 Grant. 
All Councilmembers are here this morning! Arias says they all got some sleep and have a pulse and are not Russian bot.
Public Works Department Is up First this morning . Seven different divisions including road, engineering, traffic etc. Budget is $236 Million. We serve all the other City departments as well
49 authorized positions with two vacancies. Fee for Service for developers is a major type of work they do. $9 million of General Fund. Out of non-General Fund is $156 million. 309 positions with 25 vacancies. Lots of grants requested.
Matthew Woodward @mmwpro63 would like Slow Streets in neighborhoods that don’t have parks. Oakland’s network cost only $200,000. He knows Tower District’s Parklets used Covid dollars. Next: Ivanka Saunders tale of two cities. North of Fresno gets quick disposal of downed trees
where as that doesn’t happen in South. Laura Gromis: Covid has showed there isn’t enough space to social distancing on bicycles. We need Slow Streets. Kimberly McCoy: South Fresno needs bike connector like Tulare and 6th. Encourages Council to do these!
@Esmeralda_Soria What effects Covid have on capital improvements? Scott Mozier: we made successful adjustments to Covid. Lots of electronic reviews. Did effect recruitment issues. 3 vacancies make it hard to move forward. Tower’s Street Scape had issues with rain and we are
Behind by two months. Hopefully it opens Spring. City Manager Quan: this Thursday we will consider a hiring freeze except for Public Safety. Mozier: vacancies are not General Fund positions. Soria: if not General Fund vacancies may be we need to make adjustments on freeze.
More equitable division of dividing money but South part of Fresno was ignored while emphasis was on Northward expansion. Infrastructure improvement brings economic stimuli. We are entering a recession but we need to consider not a blanket job freeze if non general fund. Built
Environment effects not just one generation but two/ three generations too. Mozier: Covid dollars has used $148,000 in reimbursable Covid expenses. Includes electronic reviews, laptops, licenses of software. Street maintenance to avoid using shared tools like mutual water jugs
Critical non general fund positions? Quan: we typically freeze across all departments including Enterprise. Karbassi: @kmkarbassi Thanks Mozier for working with him this first year on Council. Inequities just discusses he understands. We have Pinedale as well as fancier neighbor
hoods. TCC? Mozier: $70 million Grant required local match and lots are in Public Works Department. Gas Tax dollars for loop trail in parks in West Fresno. Urban Greening , Chinatown , new trees near Fruit and Jensen. Karbassi: long over due. Glad to see. There is real help on
The way. Mozier: Mariposa Plaza is another. Jim Schaad: clean energy training at new West Fresno community college. Mozier: Past thirty years changes include landscape buffer at front. New neighborhoods in 80’s started landscape districts. CFD occurred after Prop 218. Escalators
that allow more maintenance. Some old neighborhoods pay zero but newer pays several thousands for upkeep. This is mainly in new growth areas. City bids these out but no general fund dollars. We charge an administration fee to County for accounting etc. Also reserved for future
tree plantings or street paving. Karbassi: if we had a city wide CFD or Mello-Roos those items could be done in older neighborhoods. Mozier: need 2/3 of vote to approve that. Karbassi: Audubon has become a major thoroughfare and neighbors are concerned.
@LuisCha70215912 Liked format of future projects in his districts but would like timeline available to his constituents too. Tracking by fiscal year is helpful. Master plan CIP Capital improvement Plan. Mozier: updated it constantly. Henry Fierro puts it all together for City
A billion dollars in deferred maintenance. Pavements are constantly degrading. $600 million just for that. Damage to sidewalks from tree roots , standing water, safe routes to schools is $200 million. Traffic signals is also needed. CIP does categorize these as new or mainte-
Nance. No Neighborhood Left behind expires maybe 2028. Chavez thanks Bicycle Coalition Medina and makes a Motion to create Slow Streets. @D7Esparza September we will get First St Repaired between Olive and McKinley! Thanks Councilmember!!
EIFC districts will give us positioning to get many grants. Mozier: full time grant administrator in Public Works. Lots of grants especially for south Fresno. Public Works is primarily grant funded. Esparza: I just don’t want to miss any grant opportunities like we discussed
yesterday’s meeting. Time is right! Schaad: please let City know. Esparza: some low hanging fruit we can take advantage of. @GarryBredefeld Thanks Mozier for Nees project near First and Millbrook. Public Works does l great job for taxpayers. You are always accessible. Got
Veterans Memorial in front of City Hall done. Mozier:team effort Karbassi: we are in a recession and every grant dollar is valuable. If we had more Grant writers would that help? Mozier: over 100 grants in process. Engineering vacancies is biggest strain on grant applications
5 vacancies. Schaad: recently grants have stronger emphasis on capacity to execute the grant. Grants generally funded by grant itself and Measure C. Covid impacted recruitment and interview. Quan: Can probably make adjustments for Covid hiring but we can discuss that Thursday
Schaad: lots of engineering data has to be gathered Before Grant is applied. Measure C provides this prior funding needed. Karbassi: Vacancies concerns. Soria: 60 day freeze is short but does put us behind in finding these hard to find professionals. If it doesn’t effect
general fund we shouldn’t freeze these hires. Treating all departments equally may not be a good idea when it comes to hiring freeze. Caprioglio: over reaction to hiring freeze. Selectively freezing is a good idea. Encouraged by this discussion. Mozier and his team are Superstars
County as usual screwed up Olive and Fowler and City has to fix. Mozier: it is entirely inside of County but in City sphere of influence. County has done a great job of applying for grant. Still two years away from construction. Caprioglio: we are the cavalry with Mozier and his
team saving the day. Never would have got done otherwise. Diagonal pedestrian lane at Fresno State and its 25,000 students. Mozier: Current County team and Supervisors Have been tremendous whereas old team wasn’t.
Arias @MiguelArias_D3 older neighborhoods in West Fresno has landfills , most polluting industries, parks built on landfills, hundreds of trucks from Amazon is never put in other parts of town. No new parks were built due to Amazon trucks indicting pollution. Don’t want people
to say TCC dollars means we are done fixing West Fresno. Why is Tower Streetscape delayed? Mozier : Covid vacancies are occurring and effecting us. Lost two months on Tower project. 95% of plans are done. If vacancies filled tomorrow we would make up one month of delay.
Arias: Chinatown road improvement? Biggest issue is with High Speed Rail with utility trenches etc. Finalizing with HSR contractor. December 2022 should be Final completion. Arias: Can we speed up school projects during Covid ? Yes says Mozier. Expediting every project we can.
Arias: thanks for you and Jim Schadd. @GarryBredefeld agree with Soria on funding non general fund positions. West Fresno was left behind but District 6 is not paved with Gold. We cannot ignore South Fresno that has lots of problems foist upon it.
Karbassi: Veterans Blvd helps West Fresno. It will help make San Joaquin River more accessible to all of Fresno. Arias: I will buy Karbassi a coffee for those remarks
Next up: Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (“PARCS) TJ Miller: note that mid March PARCS shifted to keeping restrooms cleaned several times a day due to Covid. 110 properties which includes 82 parks.
Special Events has become concierge for these at City. SPARK after school program at 29 FUSD sites. Seven vacancies on operating side. . $608,000 reimbursement from CARES dollars . Capital projects delayed due to Covid.
Spring is typically busy time but Covid prevented that
Spring is typically busy time but Covid prevented that
$33 million budget. Public: Yennifer Gallegos-Mejia says she is ashamed by how little City spends on Parks. $184 million for PD is too much! South Fresno is especially underserved. Tired of having to go to Woodward Park. @LisaYFlores1 goes to Roeding Park’s dog park is not given
proper care. Would like $40,000 to move dog park to other side of park. Take line item form Bredefeld office. Ivanka Saunders: Measure P was passed by over 50% of voters but here we are still without good parks. So many grants we can use to overcome our inequality. Small parks
writer into budget? Jose Barras of SEFCEDA says higher number in Covid cases in South Fresno. We are very low in parks nationwide. Parks reduce parks and increase Health. 49 acres on Peach available. Need Prop 98 environmental impact report needs to be done. Community has adopt a
Park including SEFCEDA. Would like budget to include $90,000 for prop 98 application. Kimberly McCoy: Measure P was citizen led ballot with 60,000 signatures and 52% of votes. When will we be heard? SEFCEDA Gabe Lozano has planted 120 trees sequestering carbon. $90,000 for prop68
application. Pedro Hernandez: Prioritize future parks that support the ecosystem. People want to be outside during this pandemic shelter in place. I don’t want to kick this down the road any longer. @kieltls parks alleviate crime pressures in neighborhoods South Tower wants a
Park using Prop 68. It could also be used as an overflow outdoor dining spot. Solidarity with SEFCEDA and other organizations working to get more parks. David Taub @TaubGVWire when will parking lots at parks reopen? Jessica Miguel: South Fresno ignored with trails needed.
Need more done for programming for those with disabilities. Jose Luis Delgadillo at Jackson Elementary School in SouthEast Fresno. Kids do better with parks and we need soccer complex that SEFCEDA proposes. Sandra Celedron-Castro: parks provide cohesiveness of neighborhoods.
8-10 parks are completely in disarray and that is directly from cuts of parks maintenance staff. SEFCEDA needs $90,000 for Prop 98. Please Council withdraw your opposition to Measure P which is appeals. Carolina Garza de Luna says we have an incoming mayor that believes color
is in the eye of the beholder. Reads a poem by Tupac and ask Council will Stay United Against white supremacy. Edison Gonzales: product of this community. Quality of parks is what determines where kids will play. We could mimic a park in Modesto.
Sher Moua: my kids love parks especially toddler parks but we need to drive across town to find one. Edgar Reyna:had to jump fence to play soccer as a kid. Lack of access to Parks near Roosevelt. Measure P would have raised lots for parks. Withdraw your opposition to Measure P.
Pedro Navarro Cruz has used parks for last 18 years. Soccer is most in demand in Fresno but not enough. Can be played on smaller sizes of field. Holmes is only Park to use gym for soccer. Convert low used tennis courts. Cary Park converted too. More fair use of who gets to
use parks. Central Valley Urban Institute @IamEricPayne we need to make greater investments in our parks and especially in underserved neighborhoods with Parklets, green alleyway. Hire homeless to give them a way to earn a wage.
Mona Cummings of Tree Fresno. Expand tree canopy. Improves quality of life and air quality. Stress from Covid makes parks more important. Increase irrigation for our trees. Sarah Parkes @sarahparkes09 of S J River we helped get signatures for Measure P And how it would have
helped our community. FPU soccer coachJaime Ramirez says SE Fresno youth Soccer players were able to attend FPU. Wants Council to support SEFCEDA soccer complex. Matthew Woodward @mmwpro63 thanks for motion to support Slow Streets. Parks are also important and allow places for
Sports that slow streets can’t provide. I live in north fresno and have three parks to choose from plus SJ River. South Fresno also needs the same. Brandi @LovesMercy supports measure P as a place for kids to play. Elfrain: growing up in South Fresno I liked playing North Fresno
teams as they had better parks. Kato P: Boys of Color have advocated for better parks and programming. Free was Important. Vasquez: grew up in South Fresno and asks to bring back summer programs. Pools, sports and even cooking skills. Helped keep us away from gangs. Nea Parks:
had a park proposal that got taken away by a PD substation. Like taking away candy from a baby. PD has many lawsuits that have cost taxpayers. @LuisCha70215912 thanks PARCS Department and know we have a deficit. Motion to fund $90,000 for SEFCEDA soccer complex out of UGM.
Jim Schaad: identify $90,000 for SEFCEDA Prop 98. And would like City to help. Chavez: Reading at Several parks. SE PD substation will move to Fancher creek. CBOs May want to move into old substation near Hanoian’s and Boys and Girls Club.Swimming fund too Soria: TJ Miller became
Full time PARCS Director in February. What is your vision? Miller: Covid has not changed her position much. Staff is needed for making it safe and accessible. Open to community at all times with Seniors in morning and family evenings with Youth in between. Sports Complex such as
a full aquatic draw. Need to chip away at deficit and staff community centers. $112 million in deferred maintenance. Paused several projects during Covid. Revenue loss From usual Spring events like gate fees. Can’t replace it with Covid dollars. Did move staff to Covid items like
cleaning bathrooms more often and cleaning PD squad cars and busses. Could be paid for by CARES.Soria: Quigley has greatest need for repairs according to Parks Master Plans. Centers to expand feeding our communities? Miller: touchless water fountains etc. EOC provides the meals
and we deliver them. Soria: many of her constituents kids rely on school meals. Gap in my central part of her district and hopefully Parks can help out. Miller: won’t have an issue finding jobs for youth. Many temporary jobs still. Monitors on site. All community engagement.
We will have 100 openings. Every community center will need extra employees than in the past before Covid. Parks are open to play areas currently but not sports activities other than drills. Soria: City didn’t get prop 68. Can Quigley get it’s master plan designed better and
make it a better application for Prop 68. Look for other opportunities besides prop 68 as well. Milburn and Dakota needs community engagement. Miller: prop 68 will open in October. Maybe a drive thru due to Covid social distancing. Schadd : was that in last prop 68 ? A: no
Fresno High triangle area Weldon and Van Ness needs fixing up. $100,000 last year for youth internship. Not happening this year so far . Would like it placed under PARCS department. Bredefeld:trust for public land ranking was incorrect. Would like Miller to look into it back in
February. Want to know who gave them data incorrectly. Dog parks opened yesterday. One of the rules is not allowed for dogs to mix. Also why are we requiring people to wear masks ? Miller: masks required when parks gets more crowded much like at zoo. Fur can be a vector to humans
Similar to cloth etc. some cities are more strict at their dog park. Monitors at each dog park and limit how many people allowed in. They wipe down gates and other touch points. Arias jokes if monitors are a special unit of PD? Bredefeld: could these monitors to be better used
fixing sprinklers and not treating adults as children by having Dog Park Police? Woodward is limiting park to only two persons at a time ? Schaad: Covid dollars cannot be used to repair sprinklers. Miller: Woodward limits two dogs per person inside dog park. June 22 parking lots
at Parks will be reopen. Cannot open playgrounds yet until County Health and State approve. Esparza: We were unsuccessful on Prop 68. What will be different this round ? Miller: we were competitive and only 10% approved statewide. We did pick sites that will score well.
Our current proposals are adequate with some changes due to social distancing. Schaad: we will still have stiff competition this round. Miller: senior meals stopped due to Covid and a vulnerable population. Meals delivered in person. Basketball court mural at Martin Ray will have
staff get back to
Esparza on that. Karbassi: shooting at park area. Thanks Miller and Quan for getting that park re-opened as soon as possible. Arias:Victoria Park needs reseeding of soccer fields. Miller: $70,000 to do so. We may do it a field at a time if we can find funding.
Esparza on that. Karbassi: shooting at park area. Thanks Miller and Quan for getting that park re-opened as soon as possible. Arias:Victoria Park needs reseeding of soccer fields. Miller: $70,000 to do so. We may do it a field at a time if we can find funding.
Motions: move Roeding Park Dog Park and reseeding Victoria Park. This park is at third world condition and we should close down at that point. Money from reimbursement to PARCS for doing Covid. Bredefeld: motion to have staff clean bathrooms and parks and not monitor dog parks
We don’t need Dog Park Police.
And they are back from Lunch break. Henry Fierro with
General City Purpose (Includes Retirement) It is main depository for City’s taxes and fees. Not department specific such as sales tax business license and franchise fees. 17 positions.
General City Purpose (Includes Retirement) It is main depository for City’s taxes and fees. Not department specific such as sales tax business license and franchise fees. 17 positions.
Retirement as well. General Fund is $13 million with variance of $2 million Non personnel has unspent items such as Darling Relocation , Lingo project, census out reach. Special Revenue such as Fresno Met Museum, Granite Park ( break even at end of year) ;@CMACTV Cable PEG ,
Rebate for ULTA but Amazon nor GAP entered yet (?). Secondary fund is for employees who are leaving City. $3.2 million on City Hall debt service: Bee Building and Granite Park debt services. Soria: homeless info with conjunction of County? Arias: board has not met since Covid
began. Soria: Want PD to not have to deal with homeless as much. 311 program in conjunction with FresGo. How is it going? Sumpter: Covid has had an impact on it. Soria: internship program? Need update on it. Parade Allocation of $50,000. How much is left? Karbassi: economic
Infrastructure? Fierro: Lingo for Blackstone Ave and Economic Incentive Line is Ulta, Amazon, GAP. CARES dollars are in Finance Dept. Airport holds their own. Arias: Grizzly Stadium debt service is where ? Sumpter: in Convention Center portion later today. Arias: Amazon rebate ?
Convention Center and Stadium Dept. Fund half of audit, specific events , convention &Visitors Bureau. Debt Service on Convention Center for at least Next ten years.
Stadium: no games and no parking revenue. General Fund will have to pay it in full with no revenue coming in. Debt service is fully funded from General Fund but not offset with revenue. Grizzlies have not paid anything this year. Can they elect not to pay rent due to Covid ?
Tim Orman: Grizzlies initially were going to pay rent but didn’t get PPP and they decided not to pay. No minor league baseball this year. Soria: we passed Emergency Ordinance and give the renters six month to make up back rent. ( her video froze )Legal Counsel: rent is required
Staff:it would be allowed to defer six months much like Kocky’s and Greyhound who rent from City We send Grizzlies a letter. Tim Orman: they are unable to pay rent. Cut back their payroll three weeks ago. Still required to pay six months after Covid Emergency Ordnance is lifted.
City will explore if Covid dollars could be used to replace City’s lost rentor revenue. Next up is Mayor and City Manager’s Office Dept. Budget (Waiting for Mayor Lee Brand to zoom in. He has a conflict and won’t be able to stay long)
$4,500,000 budget. Oversight to all City Departments, carrying out Mayor’s polices. $50,000 in unspent Mayor outside legal costs. $12,500 in Covid spending. $418 k in Covid personnel cost. Soria:
Any vacancies ? Quan: deputy chief(?) is not being filled due to hiring freeze. @MayorLeeBrand When I go to Mayors convention in DC I go myself. I see other mayors with an entourage! Karbassi: any vacant spots other than deputy chief No. Soria: Fire SAFER Grant yesterday. Sounds
Like Government is not requiring matching funds so we lost that grant. Brand: it was my fault we didn’t tell Council. But we didn’t have funds for five years in advance even with subsidies for 3 years. Bredefeld:where will Mayor and City Manager come up with $1 million out of
your budget? Brand: out of laying off staff only way. Karbassi: I don’t want your department to set up to fail by laying off your staff. Brand :no excuse on our part not to tell council.
City Council Offices Department. Favorable to budget by $1 million by end of year. $4.6 million budget on general fund side. Soria: Which Capital dollars have been spent? Fierro: assigned projects. Soria: two receptionist is paid by Council but would like City Manager office to
pay half as well as Mayor since they all three use it. Arias: that is end of budget hearings until September If continuing resolutions is used . Motions will all be posted so a public can see it before voted on.
Next Regular City Council meeting is this Thursday at 9 am. Voting on Motions June 22.
@threadreaderapp unroll
