Thread by @AndyHS

Fresno City Council August 20,2020! Agenda includes a few items on towing and storage of police evidence; Rejected Bids for Protected Bicycle Path and Scramble Pedestrian Crossing ; KABOOM! Park construction ;Actions related to conversion of motels to permanent housing; #Fresno

Workshop on challenges of homelessness on Santa Clara St; Special meeting on CARES Dollars also Scheduled. You can watch this morning’s meeting on @CMACTV cmac.tv/gov/

Some CONSENT ITEMS:
1-B Actions related to a parking garage at Fresno Yosemite International Airport: 1. Approve Phase Two of a Progressive Design-Build contract with C Overaa & Co., to construct a parking garage at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in an amount not to ex-

Ceed $36,100,000 (Council District 4); and 2. Approve a consulting agreement with BSK&Associates of Fresno, to provide geotechnical quality assurance testing and inspection services for the parking garage at Fresno Yosemite International Airport in the amount of $282,764

1-I **Ordinance regarding franchise agreements for tow trucks used for police evidence

1-J Award an Exclusive Franchise Towing and Storage Service Agreement for towing and storage of evidence vehicles by the Fresno Police Department in the amount of $405,039.99 for three years including an option for two one-year extensions, at $135,013.33 year to Fortney Towing

1-K Authorize the Chief of Police to accept $290,516 in total grant funding for the 2019 JAG Program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance for the City and County of Fresno

1-L Authorize the Chief of Police to apply for and accept $683,062 in total grant funding for the 2020 CESF (Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding )Program
from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs and Bureau of Justice Assistance for City of Fresno

1- M Actions pertaining to CARES Act Expense Reimbursements totaling $99,500: 1. ***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 3rd Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2020-159 to Appropriate $60,300 in CARES Act Funds in Information Services Department for Expense Reimbursement.

1- OActions pertaining to Electric Vehicle Charging: Ordinance change to allow only EV vehicles to use charging station parking

1-P Approve the appointment of Amber Crowell to the Anti-Displacement Task Force
Mayor's Office

1-Q Approve the appointment of Alma Torres, to the City of Fresno Employees Retirement Board.
Mayor's Office

1-R Approve the appointment of Gerald Lee to the Fresno/Clovis Community Media Authority @CMACTV

1-T Actions pertaining to 49-acres of City-controlled property at 2155 S. Peach Avenue 1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Class 1, Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines; 2. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding with

Southeast Fresno Community Economic Development Association (SEFCEDA) regarding ongoing maintenance and proposed development (Disclosure: I was on the Board of SEFCEDA)

1-W Approve the reappointment of Mr. Don Simmons to the Historic Preservation Commission and the appointment of James W. Sponsler to the Council District 3 Project Review Committee @DonSimmons

1-X Actions pertaining to amending the Census Outreach Agreements to extend time of performance to October 31, 2020 to align with the U.S. Census Bureau extension: 1. Approve an amendment with Educational Leadership Foundation 2. Approve an amendment with Jakara Movement

3. Approve an amendment with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission. 1-Y ***Reject all bids for the Downtown Fresno Courthouse Park Interconnectivity Project

1-Z Reject all bids for the Maple Avenue Cycle Track and Pedestrian Scramble Improvements @mmwpro63 @Treebeard1671 @JackieH00461046

1-CC Approve award of a two-year requirements contract, with options for three one-year extensions, to LNI Custom Manufacturing, Inc., a Hawthorne, California-based company, for the purchase of BRT shelters, in the amount of $310,968

1-DD Actions Pertaining to Tollhouse Park (Council District 4): 1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Sections 15301/Class 1, 15303/Class 3, 15304/Class 4, and 15311/Class 11 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines 2. Award a project con-

-sulting services contract to KABOOM!, of Washington D.C. in an amount not to exceed $131,500 3. ***RESOLUTION - Approving the reallocation of $377,800 within the PARCS Department's UGM Parks Citywide Facility Fees to address funding for Tollhouse Park

@MiguelArias_D3 jokes he hopes they get thru this long agenda quickly as @GarryBredefeld and himself have a date to listen to the next President of the United States speak tonight 😜

Sounds like they will go into Close Session fairly quickly into the meeting. (Waiting for @kmkarbassi to be able to sign on). @PaulCaprioglio complains he got a stack of paperwork given at 4 pm yesterday and that doesn’t give him enough time to read it.

Karbassi is able to join. After roll call it goes to Closed Session and then back for Special Meeting on CARES dollars and COVID-19. Among the CLOSED SESSION Items
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR - 5-B Government Code Section 54956.8 Property: Pride Park

5-E Isiah Murrietta-Golding, et al. v. City of Fresno,

5-F Terance Frazier, et al. v. City of Fresno, et al

Items Continued 10 am #5; Tollhouse Park; Sky Park parking ; 10:15 on Declaration of Independence for Unity purposes pulled by the speakers; Program EIR PowerPoint pulled (includes VMT changes);1-V pulled 1-E and 1-V continued.

I am being told a 2 pm stating time for this afternoon’s session as the Closed Session ran long.

Council is back in session.
The purpose of the special meeting is to meet and consider the following. 1-B RESOLUTION - Extending the COVID-19 Housing Retention Grant Program Period for Rental Assistance from June 2020 through December 2020
Councilmember Soria. Public : Yones

thanks Council for this as a homeless veteran recently passed away. @LisaYFlores1 more money needed and what is # that will be helped here ? Can we expedite money? Next: Jovanna Morales of @LCJandA says we are pleased with this. Hope City can leverage funds and looming deadline

@LovesMercy Thanks for doing this. @GarryBredefeld I will support this as long as the emergency continues but no longer once emergency is lifted. @Esmeralda_Soria unemployed needs this even after that is lifted. @MiguelArias_D3 deadline is end of December and wanted to continue

with that alignment. @esparza_nelson history shows that the pandemic and economic decline will go past the New Year. Approved 7-0 Next :C RESOLUTION - Adopting the 12th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2020-159 to appropriate $3,818,100 in CARES Act Funds for

testing and tracing programs sponsored by
Council President Arias, Councilmember Soria and Councilmember Chavez. @LovesMercy regular testing is needed Approved 7-0

D: Approve agreement with Fresno Building Healthy Communities awarding CARES funding for testing, tracing, and quarantine support services sponsored by
Council President Arias, Councilmember Soria and Councilmember Chavez Public : Ruben Espinoza use some for testing on Santa

Clara as we are only as strong as our most vulnerable. Dez Martinez: Building Healthy Communities is leaving out homeless. A Santa Clara resident just came down with Covid. The entire camp is unhealthy. @sanlens of 17 equity groups includes Fresno State, FIRM, Reading and Beyond

and quite a few others. 12 Languages over the 17 groups. Health Education Curriculum that is adapted using Fresno State help. Community Health Workers from the community and create testing mobile Isolation parameters taught. County spent $5 million for this coalition.

This is a joint partnership with City. @kmkarbassi For all the contracts will not be one lump sum but slowly and in installments. @MiguelArias_D3 a little tougher for the groups as they have to manage it closer. @GarryBredefeld They know nothing about contact tracing but has

Connections. @sanlens is suing City over measure P. She also tweeted “Burn it Down” over some of the riots. She doesn’t want to Build Healthy Communitoes but Burn Communities down says Bredefeld. He feels other entities would do a better job. @PaulCaprioglio not supportive

as I don’t give money to those who sue the City. He thinks Fresno State would be a better partner. Asks Doug Sloan “ to make this modification do we need to give notice?” A: No. just amend. Bredefeld makes motion. Caprioglio remove Building Healthy Communitoes and substitute

health organizations that BHC are subbing out to. Bredefeld give $2 million to Fresno State , UCSF and City College. Arias: have you asked these groups and other 16 entities if they are ok with this ? @Esmeralda_Soria these 17 groups have created a coalition. She is not happy

That Bredefeld implying she is only voting for my friends. Garry votes on friends of his like developers every Thursday. @kmkarbassi doesn’t like @sanlens tweet but I am not voting on that tweet. @LuisCha70215912 we have record COVID cases that are going up. All these were

vetted and even legal. These 17 groups will get feet on the ground. @GarryBredefeld says this wasn’t vetted. County won’t vote on this until next week. Only City’s subcommittee vetted this.@PaulCaprioglio these 17 groups don’t have experience. Fresno State has already doing this

and is located in middle of city. Voting on amendment 2-5 Fails Original motion as submitted on table. @kmkarbassi Fresno State could still come back later Approved 5-2. Arias did award UCSF millions already as well as Fresno State and can still submit.

E: Approve agreement with North Fresno Primary Care, Inc. (Bautista Medical Group) awarding CARES funding for testing and tracing services. @Esmeralda_Soria says these people are “not my friends but I will vote for it”. @kmkarbassi “what have they tweeted” he jokes. Aris says

Farmworkers work in field even during this fire. Approved 7-0. Next F:
Approve agreement with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission awarding CARES funding for testing, tracing, and quarantine support services @LuisCha70215912 recuses himself.Approved 6-0 Assistant Jim Schaad

Says instructions were just sent out as how to submit proposals for CARE dollars. G: WORKSHOP - Regarding agreement with Pardini’s Catering for the implementation of the Senior Aid for Food and Resources (SAFR) Program
Councilmember Karbassi, Vice President Caprioglio and

Chavez. @kmkarbassi elderly population has taken brunt of death from Covid. Limiting their exposure is important and eating adequately too. Would like private public partnership with Pardini’s Catering. Make an appointment to pick up or delivered by non profits. It will boost

local economy too. Chavez: 1500 seniors were served pre pandemic. Lots are too scared to go out and get food. This will provide a week’s worth of food. Would like to do a month long pilot program. @PaulCaprioglio similar to his “Operation Gobble” at Thanksgiving. Arias: takes

time and work to create this. Let’s bring this back August 27 with a contract proposal. Comments: @Esmeralda_Soria still giving face masks out. Fresno Park at design. Would like public input for Dakota and Milburn location. Karbassi:appreciate City Employees for keeping City

going during Covid. Thanks residents for being patient.One year since Karbassi was sworn in. Caprioglio: Lots of Calls regarding homeless breaking in, stealing wire , sleeping on steps. Thanks Police for quick response.@LuisCha70215912 pandemic has brought out

Community spirit. @esparza_nelson testing has been done. Thanks Dr Jason Moa for helping with webinar. Fire Department has been tremendous with record fires. Spoke at County Board of Supervisors meeting on Blackstone Smugglers inn conversion. County doesn’t have a robust reach

to residents. Esparza will have community reach in the next few weeks on this. Arias: jokes with Bredefeld that he is taping Biden’s speech tonight so they can get together and eat popcorn. Bredefeld asks butter on popcorn.

Onto Consent Calendar. 1-K, 1-L and 1-U pulled 1-K Authorize the Chief of Police to accept $290,516 in total grant funding for the 2019 JAG Program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance for the City and County of Fresno
Police Chief Hall: used to off-

set budget general fund items for years. Gas masks, bomb Suits etc. we can’t get use it for weapons. Some will go to Skywatch. 1-L Authorize the Chief of Police to apply for and accept $683,062 in total grant funding for the 2020 CESF (Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding )

Program
from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs and Bureau of Justice Assistance for the City of Fresno. Hall says this is for PPE etc past December 31 deadline for CARES dollars. Approve both items 7-0

1-U approving the application for per capita grant funds Arias: parks being approved doesn’ list his district’s park ? California Ave near Frank H Ball Park says staff Kristina Chamberlin. @Esmeralda_Soria lots of Prop. 68 applicants. If not successful we will need to be piece-

meal. @PaulCaprioglio thanks Chamberlin for park in his district (Robinson Park?). Schaad: if we don’t get prop 68 dollars it will be difficult. Approved 7-0 Arias: 3:42 pm and we are starring 10 am item !

10:05 Actions pertaining to the Fresno Joint Powers Financing Authority Lease Revenue Refunding Bonds (Various Capital Projects), Series 2004: authorizing the release of facilities (Promenade Parking Lot) Soria: Asks to continue to another date

10:05 TEFRA HEARING - concerning the proposed issuance of Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds by California Statewide Communities Development Authority for the purpose of financing or refinancing the acquisition, rehabilitation, improvement and equipping of Pleasant Village Apart.

10: 20 ***Actions pertaining to the Permanent Local Housing Allocation 5-Year Plan: 1. HEARING to obtain public comments regarding Permanent Local Housing Allocation 5-Year Plan. appropriating $3,407,700 for affordable housing development, housing rehabilitation, and homebuyer

assistance through state entitlement grant programs. Planning Staff: has audio problem. 10:35 Actions related to conversion of motels to permanent residences by modifying zoning and use regulations for Lodging-to-Dwelling uses with the City of Fresno @PaulCaprioglio just got the

paperwork late afternoon. Can this be moved to another meeting? Soria: can we at least hear this today as we are in major pandemic? Minor changes and we can go over it. Arias: this will need to come back another time. Caprioglio: I can’t support until I can read it. Sloan: not

required to vote on introduction. Back to 10:20 as audio works now. Staff: five year plan is required and public needs to have public comments to get money. @LovesMercy housing for homeless is needed. Next : Shane Xiong rehab , first time homeowners, solar panels but roofs too

old. We need to leverage these dollars. @esparza_nelson can improve for new construction for families. Would like to have seen it go to multi-families construction or for help with down payment. Karbassi : need to help homeowners get equity. Great time to buy with excellent

interest rates. Wants a more balanced approach. Esparza: doesn’t go very far with single homes. Staff: 20% needs to go to single homeownership. Approved with direction to come back with allocation 7-0

Back to 10:35 item on hotel conversions. Arias: pandemic has hurt tourism and hotels are available for housing. This item allows reinvestment in these structures. Staff : Kesley George

This will streamline the process of hotel owners want to convert. Arias: this has taken a year , thanks staff and he hopes this will provide for more housing. @LovesMercy says people are excited for it. Easier to be part of community when housed.

@esparza_nelson motion to approve Approved 7-0
3-A appropriating $68,389,900 for new capital projects in the Public Works Department Scott Mozier these are items already approved but are hear due to budget continuing resolution prevented appropriations. Arias wants to be sure

Bredefeld had a secret bridge to Clovis inserted 😝Approved. 3-B WORKSHOP - Santa Clara Street Area Update

H Spees: largest homeless camp in town. Camp’s remain in place to prevent transient travel spreading Covid. Camp has gotten bigger. Reduce vehicle access lowers drug buyers, trash dumping. Sloan says this is legal. Local non profit will monitor entrance.

Public : Dez Martinez having everything in one area doesn’t work. Everything H Spees said I have been saying for five months. Shootings/ stabbing have occurred as sanitization was denied. Hoarding people in District 3 just because resources are there. Resources can be moved.

@LovesMercy people there are willing to clean when city is providing pick up.

We have had dicussions for months but nothing has been done. Trash cans were provided and used. But never picked up. If our staff is short staffed due to Covid then contract it out. Nothing seems to change.

Time for entire city to take responsibility and not just his district. He has been extremely patient. @GarryBredefeld commends Arias’ efforts. Health , fire hazards in these camps. Releasing criminals and no bail have led to these increase in camps. Encampments don’t work.

Has to be dealt both locally and state. We don’t need to reduce or replace PD homeless officers but increase them. We do need more housing. It is a complex situation. I support efforts to clean up Santa Clara. Chavez: investors came to Fresno to build Bass Pro but when they saw

homeless camp they said “hell no!” Why hasn’t trash been picked up? Spees : entrenched encampment. It was much cleaner pre-Covid and it has become much worse. They are cleaned in cycles. Illegal dumping occurs. Gets cleaned and almost immediately full of trash. Not enough

Arias: clean it up in two weeks Soria: all our problems. Covid has been used as an excuse. Much quicker. 1000 more people are expected to be in the streets than last year. If housing is created they are full. Need more. Karbassi: Covid dollars for most vulnerable. Why can’t we

use Covid dollars for this? Arias: goal line keeps changing. It has been alllowed to go to bottom of priority. Sloan: if related to Covid and moving people to hotels it can be done immediately.

Caprioglio: lets vote Spees plan and get the funding. Homeless Populations are growing like behind old Marie Callendars. Approved 7-0.

4-A Approve a voting delegate, and two Councilmembers as voting alternates for the League of California Cities annual business meeting on Friday, October 9, 2020 Approved 7-0.

NEXT MEETINGS
AUGUST 27, - 9:00 A.M. MEETING
SEPTEMBER 3, - NO MEETING SEPTEMBER 10, - NO MEETING SEPTEMBER 17, - 9:00 A.M. MEETING SEPTEMBER 24, - 9:00 A.M.MEETING

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