Thread by @AndyHS

Fresno City Council Meeting January 7,2021! Administering the oaths for 3 Councilmembers including newest Tyler Maxwell as well as new Mayor Jerry Dyer. Statements by outgoing Mayor Lee Brand and termed out Councilmember Paul Caprioglio. @Maxwell4Fresno @MayorLeeBrand #fresno

On agenda include Measure P for Parks and a Right to Counsel Workshop related to tenant rights to help stabilize housing and prevent homelessness before it begins. You can watch the Council meeting @CMACTV cmac.tv beginning at 9 am

Some selected items from CONSENT CALENDAR

1-B ***Annual Review and Acceptance of the FY 2020 Summary of Impact Fee Waivers

1-G Consideration of an amendment to sections 9-2102 and 9-2115(c) of the Fresno Municipal Code regarding the permitted location of card rooms. BILL No. B-59 (For adoption) - Amending sections of the Fresno Municipal Code pertaining to the permitted location of card rooms

1-I Approve the reappointment of Daniel Galvan to the Fresno Youth Commission.
Council President Arias

1- J Approve 3rd Amendment to Position Authorization Resolution No. 2019-160, adding one (1) Executive Assistant full-time position to the Council City Support Division, effective January 7, 2021. (Subject to Mayor's Veto

1-K Actions pertaining to adding one full-time position to Council City Support Division. 1. ***Approve 4th Amendment to Position Authorization Resolution No. 2020-160, adding one (1) full-time position in the Council City Support Division, effective January 7, 2021. (Subject to

Mayor's Veto) 2. ***RESOLUTION - Approve Non-AAR Reallocation of $60,000 from the City Attorney's Department/Code Section to the City Council Department, Council City Support Section

1-L Declaring APN 459-282-13T to be surplus and directing staff to comply with the Surplus Land Act of Pocket Park at First and Nevada (Has someone showed an interest ???)

1-M Directing City staff and the City Attorney to negotiate and prepare a project labor agreement for citywide public work of improvement projects (Subject to Mayor's Veto)

1-N ***Amendment to Agreement with Economic Planning & Systems, Inc. in the Amount of $10,230 for an Analysis of the City/County Property Tax Sharing Agreement

Swearing in will occur out in City Hall foyer with @kmkarbassi first. Q/A will occur later in Council Chambers (no video of this portion yet ) Rest of councilmembers are in their office/homes via Zoom. Karbassi thanks DA Lisa Smittcamp for giving oath. Honor to serve District 2

His father says he is proud of Karbassi but he is more proud of his caring honest father. Thanks his mother in Ohio and his fiancee Paulette. Thanks her for her patience but jokes "Patience goes both ways". 2020 was a tough year but we need to get this community to next level.

Fresno needs to be a place where businesses want to invest and build more market level housing. What happened in DC Capitol yesterday could happen here. We need to sound. We need to have a Fresno Council/Mayor that work together. We have a fresh start today. We need to do what is

right. He thanks his friend Darius Assemi. If Council can put politics aside and do what is right we can build a strong Fresno.

Newest Councilmember @Maxwell4Fresno (Sanitizing the podium in foyer for him) Oath will be given by Richard Trevino and Fernanda
Santiago

Thanks @PaulCaprioglio for his service to the community. However We at a precarious point. We have an opportunity to rebuild Fresno by serving everyone no matter their background. Those that have been able to keep their businesses afloat, keep their homes , good healthcare these

all swam. The rest sank. 38 days Maxwell’s father passed away. His father was a good person despite losing his job, his home during dark times. Extended friends and family housed Tyler Maxwell. Knows about having the lights turned off or miss an important phone call because bill

wasn’t paid. On March 3 District 4 voted for change. We promised voters and today we start to pay for those promises. I will be a voice for working class and youth both whose voices are often mumbled. I don’t care what residents are: Democrat, Reagan fan etc I will stand up to

my colleagues if that is what is best for my district. I got here from my white privilege. I know that. I didn’t get here on my own. I thank my family. My Union brothers and sisters. The Latino community. They were the first to believe in me. Pushed me across the finish line.

Thanks his incoming staff. To my constituents: I will not forget where I came from. Every vote will be with you in mind. It will take great Strength and courage to make Frenso a great place. “I love you , Dad”.

@LuisCha70215912 Says Maxwell lowered the average age on council by a lot! Millenials are taking over. Chavez knows Maxwell is hard worker. @Esmeralda_Soria "Go, Bears!" to Maxwell as they are both Cal -Berkley graduates. Welcome aboard! @MiguelArias_D3 Arias died his beard to

join with the millenials this week! Mayor Dyer: Knows Maxwell is an up and comer and will do great for his District and the entire City. Arias jokingly offers his beard dye to Dyer too. Next up for oath is @GarryBredefeld Oath Administered by Derek Bredefeld (sanitizing mic now)

Bredefeld thanks his son and wife Susan as well as rest of his family. He will fight for District 6 and rest of City.My life has been about public service on council as will as military. 5 murders, homelessness, poor policies that have hurt small businesses. I

believe in the Constitution. They are not just words to me but we have seen governor and local politicians close businesses and churches in clear violation of Constitution. Believes in traditional family, 2nd Amendment, All lives matter. Law and Order. Condemn violence yesterday

at Capitol and protests this summer. Against releasing prisoners due to Prop 47, passing out needles at Roeding park. Believe in low taxes. A job is best thing. Fight against government overreach that we saw due to Covid. I will support police not defund them. I will stop big

government at City Hall. I will continue the fight and never back down. I will add police officers. People's hard work will make them a success.

Chavez: congratulations to Bredefeld on his re-election. We may not always agree but we come together anyway. We all just passing through as Public service. Bredefeld: thanks Chavez’s hard work and as new President of council. @Esmeralda_Soria Thanks both Karbassi and Bredefeld

on their elections. Tough to get elected but once you are elected the tough part begins. Lots of work ahead of us. Mayor Dyer: long time friend. Looking forward working with you. Jokes that Bredefeld needs passion as he is often lacking that. Hopefully we can have a United

Council and city. Looking forward to working with President Chavez. Bredefeld glad to have Dyer here and likes that Dyer brings a presents. Arias: Bredefeld and I both want a better city.

Statement and Administration of the Oath of Office to Mayor-elect Jerry Dyer - Oath Administered by his children Jeremy Dyer and Janelle Hastings. Dyer: very grateful, humbled, honored to be here. Married 40 years to Diane. Met as High School freshmen. Sister also named Diane

which leads to some confusion but jokes "his wife is the nice one" Thanks Lee Brand for helping him make transition to Mayor. We do have issues in this country like what happened yesterday as well as Creek Fire, businesses forced to close, unemployment, those who have had to

watch love ones die much like Tyler Maxwell did with his father. By watching neighborhoods he learned that people want one city united. Put aside petty squabbles. A government owned by people, listen, work hard. We will deliver that. Housing the Homeless. We will relocate those

living along freeways to shelter in next 45-60 days. Beautify Fresno:Merge under one department that all effect Curb Appeal. Fresno is number two in Poverty. We are in middle of a state of 40 million without the traffic. Annexation of land into Fresno both housing and industrial.

Next 30 days will study how to expedite plan checks etc Red Carpet Concierge for those who come to City Hall. A renewed focus on Downtown Fresno and boost population to 10,000 to support night life at Convention Hall which hopefully will have soccer. Next Monday I will swear in

the new Police Chief and will work with him on the 73 police commission recommendations to create a department that citizens can trust. Need Council to provide the resources to get those done. Youth wants their voices heard. A Mayor Youth Commission so he can hear their requests

I Have learned a lot in the last 10 months since I was elected. Inclusive city and a beautiful city. This is exactly what i signed up for. We have more opportunities than challenges. Thank you. God bless you. @LuisCha70215912
welcome to Thunderdome. It is rumble tumble and often

nice. Dyer has gotten into venues and places where Dyer may not always be welcomed. Youth forum at Fresno Fairgrounds was a good start. Chavez says mayor has put together a "Do-it" team. Not rocket science:count to 4 or 5 if it is a budget item. Dyer: I have already lost two

office spaces joking with Arias. Maxwell: I know we will have differences but looking forward to partnership @Esmeralda_Soria Glad to hear young people is an issue Dyer and Maxwell will be focused on. Dyer helped her out when her district needed something police related.

We will agree more than disagree. @D7Esparza Welcome to the Jungle. A sincere pleasure to work with new Mayor the past two months. Changes to neighborhoods good focus. @GarryBredefeld Mayor has a good team led by Tommy Osqueda. Homelessness is a stain on our city. Our citizens

are screaming for a solution. Mayor: Not displace homeless but place. Project Offramp will begin. Governor has never seen such a sophisticated plan and will get to a yes. @MiguelArias_D3 When I was on School Board we worked together. I will always be direct. Prosperity can't come

without including every corner of the city. One Fresno vision One voice Mayor has has to happen. Keep our tax dollars here. Project Offramp needs to also have Onramp to housing and jobs. Dyer: I know you a hard worker. Dyer introduces his new staff. Some returnees, some from

other departments and some from outside City Hall. We need communication with State and Federal. Council maay not always agree but we all have a heart for Fresno. Arias mentions Maxwell says now that Presidency, Senate and House Dyer is welcome to become a Democrat.

Outgoing Councilmember Paul Caprioglio

Best of luck to the new members of City Hall If he can help them at all please reach out. Lee Brand and himself spoke about the long route Brand took from humble beginnings to Mayor. 22 acts as Councilmember. Gratitude: All those who have been on this journey the past 11 years.

(Starting to tear up) . Thanks Mayor Brand's staff and all the Department heads. Optomism:Fresno future will be bright. Covid will be behind us. We can meet in person. Light at end of tunnel. Fresno cup is half full and will remain that way. Thanks the people of District 4.

Family: All Councilmembers are part of Caprioglio Family. He has had three mayors and 18 different fellow councilmembers. My wife has been by my side. His children.I have created lots of awards. Best chief of staff ever is Laura Rios. Thank you all from bottom of my heart. " I

their is applause" he jokes. @LuisCha70215912 A fellow Roosevelt Rough Rider. We will now not have any councilmembers born during World War 2. Caprioglio has ten Crown Jewels with airport, Fresno State and newly opened Community Center. Maxwell: El Dorado Park was once called

Sin City but it has been transformed under Caprioglio. Residents told Maxwell "Cap made that , made this. If you can do the same you will have my vote". @D7Esparza Happy for Caprioglio as he had to work hard and can now enjoy the fruits of his labor. Caprioglio: lets get some ice

cream my friend. Soria: You can now enjoy your Montana cabin without having to call in from a gas station or having to rush me for all the questions I like to ask. Her philosophy is to ask those questions for public benefit and discourse. A big hug and love. Mayor Dyer: He is a

dedicated servant. He once found Caprioglio at 7 pm pruning the roses. He can bring people together, and I will continue to reach out for answers to questions. Caprioglio: My law office is close by so don't hesitate to call me. Arias: Caprioglio is free to be Parks Director.

Arias: I first met Caprioglio 15 years ago and he invited me to his cabin but I haven't made it once. You have always led by example. He is the wealthiest one in building but always took three plates of food home before we got the first round. He also led charge in making fun of

Jerry Dyer and that made it easier for us to tag along. Caprioglio:Wealth is family, friends and I have found lots of that here at City Council. Thank you for the roast. Councilmembers have bought him "Crown Jewel" championship belt. Also a gavel, socks from Chavez,and

from Fresno-Yosemite Airport and Mayor making this Paul Caprioglio Day. Karbassi: I was told there are no friends in politics but Paul was the exception. @D7Esparza I went to Paul's house and found him sick and not wearing any pants. Caprioglio shows him his wine collection. He

gave him a bottle and tales of his frugality is not true.

Statement by Outgoing Mayor - Lee Brand
I will treasure my time here at City Hall. I cherish my friendships. served with 18 councilmembers. 2020 was a year from hell. Thanks Presidnent Arias in working on this Covid. Thanks Caprioglio for leaving his mark on District 4 and he

is confident Maxwell will also leave a mark. When Brand was a child on McKenzie St and was a troubled child after his father passed away but met his wife. I never thought i would become Mayor of Fresno. I never forgot where i came from that McKenzie Street. We must do everything

as a team here at City Hall. Fiscal soundness here and only fully funded pension in California. Future of this city is youth. In next few weeks I will announce endowments for youth. Thank you for people of Fresno for their patients during this pandemic. Thank you. Soria: Congra-

tulations. The work we have done this past 10 months was hard but needed. We needed to work quickly to get kids fed, support small businesses during this pandemic. Chavez:ordinances Brand passed change the way Fresno did business. I am losing the last Rough Rider too. Brand wants

to serve is reason he didn't just stay at his successful business. I appreciated his advice. Brand was always calm. Community of SE Fresno and Roosevelt what Brand is going to announce in coming weeks. @Maxwell4Fresno Thank you for service and a city with $35 million reserve.

I am standing on the shoulders of giants like you and Caprioglio. @D7Esparza Challenging years ever. This crisis brought us together as leaders. Actions have saved lives. We could have done more too. Dyer:Brand doesn't seek applause but works very hard. We have met many times

over the past few months. Brand says as mayor eventually everyone will be mad at you. @GarryBredefeld A true public servant. You have a great family. We are in good fiscal shape.Arias: you remember certain moments. For me it was 9/11. Now with pandemic and we are the ones making

the decision. Brand never raised his voice or cursed. People would ask " why not touch that $35 million reserve?' Because Brand found other sources. You led us the way we needed to during this crisis.If we had more leaders like Bran d we wouldn't have had what happened at Capitol

Building yesterday. Brand: I came on 2009 Council and I wasn't sure i would last one term let along as mayor. Given a Golden Calculator, gavel by Council as go away gift. Question and Answers in Chambers for media. End of Ceremonial portion. Council will be back at 1:30.

Council is back from their lunch break. Election of Council President and Vice President. Arias nominates @LuisCha70215912 as President and @D7Esparza as Vice Chair (skipping Bredefeld normal turn). Karbassi asks to split the two votes. Only Karbassi and Bredefeld vote YES.

so fails 2-5 Public: @LisaYFlores1 seems this will be good set Officers. Vote to Approve Chavez and Esparza passes 4-2 with Chavez abstaining. Next:Election of Chair and Vice Chair to the Successor Agency to
the Redevelopment Agency to the City of Fresno . Soria nominates Arias

and Esparza. Passes 7-0 1- G on Card room removed by Councilmember Maxwell. 1-J removed by Arias and 1-K removed by Maxwell. Approve remainder of Agenda 7-0 Ceremonial portion: Esparza Indian Government deregulated farming to disadvantage of small famers. Local SE Indian

protesting in support of their fellow Indian farmers. Esparza would like to support. Public: Jaskeet (sp.) this issue is all we think about even though we are a continent away. Farmers have gridlocked New Delhi and have been greeted with tear gas. History of governmental op-

-pression. Motion of support approved 7-0 Proclamation in remembrance of LaVera Williams. Chavez: Icon locally and one of first African-American women involved in early childhood by opening infant care facility in SW Fresno for those in school or work. Arias:Started Headstart be-

fore there was such a thing. Many community leaders were among the 1000 infants that were in her care.Councilmember Reports: Soria asks if we can adjourn in memory of Zoyer who was a LGBTQ+ advocate. Soria thanks @JerryDyerFresno in working with us about sale of Tower Theater and

lots of concern by community in this unique community. @kmkarbassi Council bought a pair of signed boxing gloves for outgoing President Arias as well as a gavel. Arias loves the art of sparring says Chavez. Arias: Thank you for the gloves. Also thanks MLB for helping with COVID

free testing. Thanks the outgoing mayor and new mayor for their help in transition. We have had mass shooting, creek fire, pandemic and what happened yesterday at Capitol. Some have peacefully protested for black lives while others have not cared about others health by not wear-

-ing masks, We saw confederate flag at Capitol reminding Arias the same type of mob showing up at his home scaring his children. Youth have pushed us to get more parks. Tough decisions have to be made. We continue to reject hate. We need to rebuild Fresno for all. He feels he

lost 5 years of his lifespan in 2020.@Maxwell4Fresno My team has hit the ground running. We must move forward knowing history is on our side.What happened yesterday was disgusting. @GarryBredefeld Condemned the violence yesterday and violence by anyone including those who de-

stroyed this past Summer. Those condemning yesterday's violence I never heard those Democratic Congressman asking to defund the police yesterday when rioters broke in. @D7Esparza New chapter in Fresno today but can't ignore seditious acts yesterday incited by Trump and his lies.

Offensive to see not only confederate flag but the American flag next to those painful symbols. @LuisCha70215912 Thanks CBOs who have been helping those in need.Unfortunately many small businesses wont survive. I am optimistic about his year and this Council. A vast majority of

our votes this year will be fiscal in nature and that means 5 votes. I look forward to working with you all and the Mayor. 2021 will be epic! Looking forward to working with Councilmember Maxwell. Dyer: what we saw yesterday was something we would think to see in another country

but not here. Against any type of violence. City Manager Tommy Osqueda is hoping to work well with this Council. Now Consent Calendar: Bredefeld pulls 1-L (surplus Land) and 1-M Project Labor agreement . Items 1-B and 1-C pulled as well. Public: Clint Olivier representing group

BizFed (?) with concerns on 1-M regarding PLA's. Lists number of concerns they have and ask for a NO vote. @LisaYFlores1 Hypocrisy of a councilmember not wanting name calling when she was called a cuckoo bird troll by Bredefeld in the past.

1-BAnnual Review and Acceptance of the FY 2020 Summary of Impact Fee Waivers .Arias: We waive a lot of police and fire fees. Are we going to continue doing this ? Public Works Head Scott Mozier: Police waived was $200,000 but none for fire. City Manager makes those waiver. $5.8 M

in developer impact fees since 2014. Arias: We ask infill development to do lots of repairs in surrounding areas. If we can waive impact fees for Amazon perhaps do the same for these areas. Soria: people tend to sit on their land downtown as it doesn't pencil out. Approved

1-C Approve Contract Change Order 18 in the amount of $0.00 to
Klassen Corporation to increase contract time by
seventy-eight (78) working days for the Police Department
Southeast Substation, Project ID FA00007 Mozier: delay due to covid and we understand. Police have moved in.

It will be substantially completed in September. Arias: make motion to approve.Approved 7-0 Next: 1-L Declaring APN 459-282-13T to be surplus and directing staff to comply with the Surplus Land Act of Pocket Park at First and Nevada. Esparza: a small pocket park. Community does

not think of it as a park but have issues with trash and disturbance. A few people have reached out with interest in purchasing. Approved 7-0 Arias says once Measure P we will have a real park and not strip of grass.

1-M Directing City staff and the City Attorney to negotiate and prepare a project labor agreement for citywide public work of improvement projects Bredefeld doesn't want every project to automatically become a PLA. Arias: there will always be discussion. We hope to hire local and

bring in work crew from Bay Area for a few months and send their money back to Bay Area. We want uniformity Citywide. We subsidized Amazon and Ulta but were built by a crew from Arizona. Chavez: we went thru this with airport. Public:Richard Marcuson: Western Electrical Contrac-

tors. We are concerned if this approved our trained apprentists won't be allowed. We have similar concerns that @ClintOlivier had. We would like an ad hoc committee to help create this. Jose Barraca: Many of the our projects locally are built by out of town firms when we have

poverty here. It would be nice to apply this to private projects too. This will improve wealth of our local community. Next: Joe Lubis on PLA's a new elementary school came in $3 million high. New FAT expansion was given to outside firm. We need ways to make PLAs more inclusive

by removing word Joint as well as not having to pay union wages if they are not union firm. Choice of which health care to pay into.Harris Electric rep:Local firm and love to build up our community but distressed that PLA's can hurt local firms. Need to let all apprecetists to

to work on PLA's . If no PLA's workers will still receive prevailing wages. @LisaYFlores1 Fresno needs to decide if it is a union town or not. $15 an hour is not enough. The talent is here. High wages build tax base. Unions brings up a community by providing healthcare rather

relying on government. Next:Rianna: former Ironworker. The wages, training , healthcare a Union provides has changed our lives. People get off the street and get trained.Next: Nathan Aliy of Chamber of Commerce. We won't disparage unions as there is enough jobs to go

around but don't want a blanket policy. Next: Christina Flores who is an apprentice was blessed to get a painting job and doesn't have to drive long hours as jobs are typically local.If PLA is passed I won't be able to do this unless "joint" portion is taken out. Next: Chuck

Riojas of Building Trade. Welcomes Councilman Maxwell. This is first step. We don't know what this agreement will be exactly. Other PLA's like Selma Police Station was built under project. The Herra elementary school mentioned earlier had non union firms working on it. Airport

expansion is on time. "policy" is still up for negotiations. These projects have come in at or under engineers estimate.Next: Pablo Grianna: After high school i got into the trades and changed my life. I was able to buy a house, car, healthcare. It makes me sad to hear

people put us down when I know all the hard work we do. PLA's will allow us to work locally more. Next:Michael Lopez:Was part of Capital Oversight Committee and saw projects coming in over budget. I want to see them go to local firms. Apprentice programs are here local. Let us

try a local policy once it is negotiated. Next:Juan Gonzales: Worked non-union and union. PLA's entertains more local firms.
Chris Smith: we want projects to be on time and safe.

Set up a PLA Taskforce. Allow construction to be at the table too. Nicole Garing : Happy all construction workers working and not pick winners and losers. All stake holders need to be added and input used. Richard Valenzuela: works in plumbing but won’t be able to if this policy

passes today. @kmkarbassi Fair to say that organized labor knows they have our support on this council. Wants to know that there will be a public process for businesses can have a real opportunity to give input. This was rushed to get to agenda.This is on agenda as a potshot with

new administration. Chavez: When we went through this before it was very thorough. Councilmembers can always speak to other stakeholders. Arias:Timing it is not political. As President I didn't have the time to do this and with Biden administration there will be infrastructure

projects. We had to do some things without transparency due to emergency elements like animal shelter. You have my word this will be transprent. Soria: new administration will be at table. PLA's are good for business and workers. We need to invest locally into our people.

Esparza: We have always struggled with raising up middle class in Fresno. Myth of middle class. We are mostly made of working class. Policy like this will put working class to work. Karbassi:I will support this policy. I want to get all on board. City Manager: you want local hire

Last big project had lots of local hire (63%). There will be money flowing into the system as Arias said earlier. Soria: 63% is good but it would be better to have more actually live in Fresno and not just in Fresno County. Residents first.@Maxwell4Fresno I heard this was rushed

but if anything it is overdue. Bredeld: this is not to create new jobs but to start citywide policy PLA. 63% was done within 25 miles of City Hall without PLA. It is not a end all and be all. PLA is not best way to build and economy but by creating a good business climate.

At one time PLAs were banned and now we are going to only PLAs. San Francisco does that and maybe we shouldn't follow their model.Chavez: I don't know when we started to look down in this country on unions. PLAs when you get down to it is about people.I am not concerned about

jobs but about careers. In my ten years at City Hall i have seen lots of change orders so don't talk to me about overruns. This is a great way to make people self reliant so they don't have to rely on food distributions. Makes people taxpayers and help fill potholes. We will

need to get feedback from all councilmembers and the Mayor. Unions fought for safe work place and other desirable things. Approved 6-1 with Bredefeld voting NO.

1:45 PM ****HEARING to Consider Conditional Use Permit Application No. P20-02556 and related Environmental Assessment No. P20-01633/P20-02556 pertaining to property located at 1137 North Chestnut Avenue at the southwest corner of North Chestnut and East Olive Avenues,

Michael:Project space has been vacant for 20 years. Want to reverse denial to sell beer/wine. I am buying it from next door store and downgrade it so hard liquor won't be sold. Tax revenue from gas sales.This is a 7-11 corporate owned store. Also retiring another type 20 license

If we don't get this alcohol license 7-11 won't build. Esparza: I am in favor as we are downgrading from type 21 at next door market.Neighbor Market ordinance will cause to buy a license elsewhere despite he is already buying. Esparza: exemption needed then and make motion to

that. Bredefeld: four findings met?Planning Dept: school district doesn't agree with this. Only finding found was buying the second license. This why Planning staff denied this. Council could still approve. Bredefeld: professional staff can't find it but council may not anyway?

He can't support this. Arias: can developer buy license within that area? When i was on school board we denied a liquor store across from McLane High but Council approved it. Esparza: this a net reduction so i will approve. Jennifer Clark: can we continue this to next meeting so

new Police Chief can make findings. Esparza agrees we can continue this to next meeting. Approved to do that

4-A **RESOLUTION - In Support of Measure P Passing by a Simple Majority Vote sponsored by Maxwell, Arias and Soria

fresnoforparks.com

Maxwell: majority of voters approved this and it doesn’t appear California Supreme Court will take up this. I am asking Council to reverse our decision and approve this. Bredefeld/ we have lots of backlogged repairs to be done. This is 30 year tax. None of it fixes a road or

more police. We have lots of crime. We need more parks. This failed as it needed 2/3 since prop 13. We will never get this tax removed. All but two precincts of his were against this. This will let big corporations take advantage of this. It is a flawed tax measure and handcuff

us. Maxwell: FPOA has the Chance to sit at the table but declined and actually campaigned against it. This did pass according to the Court. Bredefeld : it did fail. Elections have to mean something. There are places to get tax resources. True. We need to spend money more wisely

Soria:nice parks are not needed in north Fresno but not in her district. Maybe that is why her residents did vote for measure p and Bredefeld’s didn’t. Time to change the story for our community. Projected to get $38 million. I have always supported the police department but park

do not. Need to make investment in parts of town where they don't have a regional park. We always had to fight: 2 more policemen or a park. Now we don't have to fight. Karbassi: either or leads to issues. My district voted against measure P. When i ran i ran against this and

won't flip flop now. It sends a bad message that court turns over an election. Pinedale has no parks. Many districts need help. Esparza: majority voted for this and courts agreed 50% is threshold. my district had second highest in support of this. Arias:Measure P doesnt fund

police but neither does Measure B for Libraries, Measure Z for Zoos or Transportation Measure C. His district voted 80% for this. General Fund doesn't have funding for parks. Hyde Park is built on landfills. Putting grass on a landfill is not a park. parts of Fresno voted against

this because money was spent there opposing it. Police Officers mostly don't live in Fresno and worked against Measure P. We hired record amount of firefighters, millions to police with 5% pay raise. This council is for police. But we need parks too for all. Maxwell:District 4 l

love their police officers. But also voted for Measure P. We have had more people die from accidents while walking or riding their bikes than homicides so we need better infrastructure. Bredefeld: I can show parks in my area that are not maintained. Look at Woodward. Brown.

I always support South Fresno too because I want all to do well. I would like to see data that most of our 800 officers don't live in Fresno or don't support parks. Karbassi: the votes are there. This is a divided city. I don't say North-south game. We need both parts to do well

(Karbassi getting testy). Dyer: @JerryDyerFresno unhealthy to have a divided city. I didn't think measure P was comprehensive as it didn't include police funding. Now that courts have ruled for Measure P I will abide by it. How are we going to use these funds to beautify our City

We are lacking police funding. These funds however are for parks and we need to use those funds wisely. I don't like this debate in the city as the courts have decided. Chavez: we could have got better support. Most of my district supported this. Those on the Council never said

2/3 but it was the legal interpretation. I want the timeline released so all can see it. We have to go ahead as court has ruled. District 2 and 6 didn't vote for this they will still get benefits from this. Public: SEFCEDA Jose Barraca thanks the sponsors of this. We have 49

acres that we are waiting for investment to make into a park. Where has park fees gone that were collected by developers? to North Fresno. We can't have this disparity. Elisa Billious:part of Forgotten Fresno. My area has lots of pocket parks which are nice but unusable for most

part. Some are xeriscape and some of those are not done correctly. Schoolyards have to be used as parks for soccer etc. Motion: Approved 5-2 with Karbassi and Bredefeld voting No

4-B ***Workshop - Discuss Right to Counsel proposal and alternatives to provide residential tenant legal representation.

This is described as a holistic approach says City Attorney Sloan. Will help 600 tenants. Using City lawyer: Would cost city $125,000 to hire one lawyers and then a secretary. If you wanted to serve more tenants than this is scalable. This is for tenants wrongfully evicted.

Alexandra Alvarado of Faith in Valley. Language barrier, cost of lawyer leads to evictions. Pandemic has made it worse and there is a shortage of affordable housing. If City doesn't take holistic approach this is set up to fail. Jenine

McCosey (sp) : we did our best to work with experts,landlords, tenants. Fact cost: lots of funding out there and a real return on investment/ Every dollar can lead to $3 even $6 return. Evictions happen in all Council districts. We can work together and get a compromise between

City Attorney Office and ourselves. Children are the ones who are effected the most.Public: Evictions can only be removed by landlord. Some made it hard. i stayed up on my rent but my lease was up.My kids and I had to be put out during a pandemic.

Ivanka Saunders Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability [e-mail]
Right to counsel will help stabilize housing. Attorney Sloan plan can be hopefully expanded. Often victimizes the victim. Legal aid are inundated. Only 1% can afford a lawyer whereas

many landlords can. This proposal can provide relief to courts. Need to get rid of bad actor landlords.Dr Amber Correll at Fresno State: impact on certain blocks can be devastating and destabilizing. Tenants often don't even know why they were exactly at court. They talked about

issues at there units but still lost as landlord lawyer knew the ins and out. With tenant counsel there was more negotiating as landlord couldn't just kick tenants out for profits. Esparza: cost benefit is evident. We have acted as the defacto health agency here locally.

What cost council is comfortable with will determine how many are helped, Arias: rent relief seems to be on the way so we have sometime to develop this. We can do more comprehensively this way. We need to make sure landlords are taking care of their places. Maxwell:360 folks v

600? Sloan: one city attorney could cover 360 tenants. McCosy: Other regions have done this. Stout Inc saw formula Evictions previously 3600 formal evictions. CCLS provides legal aid but under resourced.How many of 3600 meet income level. How much time to handle a case

helps flesh out the formula. Bredefeld: $175,000 to cover 360 wrongfully evicted tenants? You wont know if they are wrongfully evicted. Where in City Charter states we can do this?Sloan: Council has legislative authority according to charter. Bredefeld: we must be flush with

dollars to do this. I am not likely to support this.Sloan: this will come from General Fund. City Manager clarifies that if not stated in charter than it is allowed? Sloan: yes.This ends workshop. They are now going to Closed Session.Next meeting January 28th.

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