Thread by @AndyHS

Fresno county Board of Supervisors meeting August 24, 2021! Among the items include a letter to Federal government supporting the four main railroads in response to a Biden act hoping to decrease monopolies ; A proposed 3000 acre industrial campus near Malaga that is currently

farms;A move to Remove current Speed bumps (undulations is the correct term apparently)as well as banning future;County Homelessnes activities;Update on American Rescue Plan#Fresno

Watch the meeting live at 10 am fresnocounty.granicus.com/player/event/0…

Among the Consent Calendar items: 21. *Adjourn in Memory of Michael Del Puppo, a resident of Sanger and a long-time member of the Fresno County Fire Protection District

22. *Adjourn in Memory of Helen Torres Arciga

23. Approval of the recommended action will allow the County Clerk/Registrar of Voters’ Department (Department) to contract with Election Systems and Software, LLC (ES&S) for maintenance and support of signature capture and comparison equipment. There is no increase in cost.

39. Consider and adopt resolution canceling the existing Speed Undulations Installation Policy, and adopting proposed Speed Undulations (Speed Humps) Policy, which prohibits the installation of Speed Humps on Fresno County-maintained roads and provides a procedure for removal of

removal of existing Speed Humps. Approval of the recommended action will adopt a resolution canceling the existing Speed Undulations Installation Policy, and establishing a new policy that will prohibit the installation of new Speed Undulations, or Speed Humps, on any County-

maintained roads, as well as provide a procedure for removal of existing Speed Humps. Any existing Speed Humps will be allowed to remain in place until the Department resurfaces the roadway, or when a Speed Hump is deemed to be hazardous to motorists or pedestrians. However, the

recommended policy does include a procedure where, if an existing Speed Hump must be removed for road surfacing or maintenance, the neighborhood may pay the cost to have the Speed Hump re-installed, if it so desires, as described below. This item is countywide. This policy will

supersede and negate the policy adopted December 6, 1994. Speed Humps have proven to increase vehicular emissions, which contributes to poor air quality in the Central Valley. Although Speed Humps do slow traffic to some degree, studies have shown that the use of Speed Humps

diverts traffic to other neighborhood streets, increases emergency-vehicle response time, increases noise level due to vehicle brakes and engine noise, and present a potential hazard to cyclists and motorcyclists. Therefore, the Department recommends cancelling the Speed

Undulations Installation Policy, and instituting a policy prohibiting the installation of Speed Humps from this point forward. The recommended policy does include a procedure where, if an existing Speed Hump must be removed for road surfacing or maintenance, the neighborhood may

pay the cost to have the Speed Hump re-installed, if it so desires, as described below.

The County may have a need to temporarily remove speed humps for road resurfacing or other street maintenance purposes, or at any time the Speed Humps are identified as a

hazard to traffic or pedestrians.

Prior to a scheduled road resurfacing project or road repair, the County will circulate a petition for removal of Speed Humps. A petition for removal distributed by the County must be signed by 60% or more of the property

owners on that street. The affected neighborhood (property owners) will be notified in writing 21 business days prior to removal.
If a Speed Hump is being removed because it is identified as a hazard to traffic or pedestrians, the neighborhood will not have the

option to have the Speed Hump reinstalled, and the removal will be permanent.

If the Speed Hump is removed for road resurfacing or other street maintenance purposes, and the affected neighborhood desires to re-install the Speed Hump, the neighborhood must

pay to have the Speed Hump re-installed. The neighborhood will have a period of time specified in the recommended policy to re-install the Speed Hump, or it will be considered permanently removed.

Among CLOSED SESSION
19
Conference with Real Property Negotiators - Government Code, Section 54957(a); UMC Campus located at the corner of South Cedar Avenue and East Kings Canyon Road, Fresno, CA; County Negotiator: Jean M. Rousseau or designee. Negotiating

Parties: City of Fresno, Under negotiations: Instructions to County's negotiator may concern sale, lease and escrow terms and conditions including price

All Supervisors present. Matt Dildine CEO of Fresno Rescue Mission will give invocation. Magsig: they help homeless men, women and child"Agenda approved; No items pulled from Consent by Supervisors. Item 40 pulled by Public

@LCJandA Pulls #40Approve and authorize Chairman to execute Transportation Funding Claim for FY 2020-21 in
amount of $7,699,255 to provide transit services in unincorporated areas and for other
transportation purposes; and adopt Resolution requesting Fresno Council of Governments

to
allocate specified funds from Local Transportation Fund and State Transit Assistance Fund to
County of Fresno for transit services in unincorporated areas and for other transportation purposes."We are glad to see increase the amount as public needs to get to appointments etc

Brandau:Handi-Ride, Handi-Rail are some of the important items especially for rural incorporated parts of county.

3. Presentation of Retirement Plaque to Lois Sloan - Department of the Library - 16 Years of Service
Head Librarian Roman says i like to speak my mind but Lois told me take a few seconds before doing so. She also said teens just need a place to be. Librarian rep:Lois works in

Caruthers but now in her 80’s. She likes to listen to the customers. She made over 300 masks at beginning of pandemic. She once said “I feel I make them while I sleep!” She thanks God and the Board. Supervisors provide lots of money for library. Worked at Clinton Branch original-

-ly.

4. ***Consider and approve a location consisting of approximately 2,940 acres generally bounded by
North Avenue to the north, Peach Avenue and State Route 99 to the west, Fowler Avenue to the
east, and American Avenue to the south, for further County staff study for a proposed

future Fresno
County Business and Industrial Campus (Fresno County BIC); and Direct staff to develop an Initial
Infrastructure Assessment assessing infrastructure availability and needs to serve the proposed
future Fresno County BIC, and return to the Board of Supervisors with

he assessment information
and for further direction; and Determine that approval of Recommended Actions Nos. 1 and 2 are
exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act, Public Resources Code
2100, et seq., and direct staff to file a Notice of Exemption

Brandau: I have been appalled at how many jobs are lost because we didn't have enough industrial land. When I was at City Council we didn't have the will or energy do to but when I arrived at County I thought maybe we could get it done. This is first step towards a Feasibility

Study. This is a tough thing to pull off. I orderedo ff Amazon within the past 2 weeks. Staff Bernard:This is supported by County Economic. Bound by North, American, Peach /99,Fowler. It touches Malaga Water District. Some zoned for industrial uses and rest ag. If this approved

by Supervisors today it doesn't lock us in to what type of industries but allows us to begin studying. LeAnn Eger of EDC."We have discussed it for 12 years about where we can put one in. We have turned down numerous companies due to nowhere to put them.They want to be near 99.

Why can't we just build anywhere? she is asked.

Some examples from around the state:

Manufacturing and e-commerce are major ones. No vacancies so we lost to other places like Visalia and Madera. There is a need for this industrial park.

Egar: it is not real until we have those numbers and now we have those. We think we could fill entire 3000 acres in 15-16 years. Fresno is number one area for these type of businesses. @LincolnSeward Magsig: when was last industrial park? Fancher Creek is being built in phases

Also North Point which is almost full. Malaga also has some. We are filling those that were created by past government officials. Public:I build in Visalia. This puts us one step to being diverse and competitive. We need R&D, Logistics, manufacturing. USA is now buying online.

Reno is half the size of Fresno has built 4 million sq feet.Next:Traci:I remember we worked on DT Fresno and that didn't quite work out. We list corporations today but we need to hear from the community. Will this bring jobs for them? How much of the cost will come

from taxpayers? Next:Todd Cook of Cookland. TRaci spoke on the residents. Our shortage hurts small businesses because of the high rent costs. Contractors. Repairmen. They are priced out. It is critical we do this and dangerous if we don't. NextJeff Roberts of Assemi Group. We do

have a heavy industrial project near this project and we are in favor. Next: @LCJandA WE want good jobs that address environmental issues too. Cal Screen lists this area as 6th worse in State.State is investing millions to improve air quality. Before moving forward we need to

figure out where to locate these projects, not put them next to disadvantaged people and want to work with surrounding communities in the valley so we are not having a race to bottom.Next:jobs have been lost to other communities.Addressing the type of jobs. Tend to

have low skilled jobs but typically have in house training to train their workers to moveup. It can be an entire career and not a dead end job. @LovesMercy Need to make contact with those in public. Brandau: This feasibility study does not mean we can't change the boundaries etc

@BuddySupervisor In this era of SIGMA this project is a positive as light industrial does not use much water. Homes use of water is the most water intensive permanent source. Brandau: A former Fresno Mayor says the County won't be able to pull this off. I hope she won't be right.

This will b tough says Brandau. Approved 5-0

5. ****Letter of Concern regarding STB Proposed Railroad Access Regulations

GoRail has asked governments to keep an eye on this legislation. Approved with little discussion.

6.
*******Receive verbal report and provide direction regarding County homelessness activities

Brandau: have we started to get the partnership with City of Fresno and madera County? A: yes there has been a lot of changes in our area such as @MayorJerryDyer We have bought and converted old motels into permanent houses in Fresno. It may be time to do the same in rural areas

City of Fresno has met with us and have spoke of not just emergency housing but alternatives like transitional or permanent housing too. Permanent housing needs a kitchenette and thus more expensive. @LincolnSeward You went to Texas to look at how they are successfully fixing

Pacheco:did we lose beds to @MayorJerryDyer Project Off ramp? NOTE: I lost some of Magsig's comments due to spilling coffee on my keyboard Sorry!

Staff: we are at capacity some what due to Covid. We have 5-6 beds available and those are filled immediately.Less turnover as people tend to stay when they have their own space rather than sharing with 100 others. 300 spaces and all full for most spot. Brandau: need for more bed

Magsig:As more dollars that come in we don't sit on those but disperse those funds. NOTE this is for discussion today

7. *******Receive update on the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 - initial funding categories; Direct staff to submit initial Recovery Plan Performance Report to the U.S. Treasury by August 31, 2021; Authorize the CAO, or his designee, to sign required documents pertaining to the

We don’t know all the rules yet. Lots of dollars for broadband and drought so we don’t want to duplicate funds.

Final rules in October with January 2022 come back here. Pacheco: all Of our CARES Act money has been spent? A: yes. Q: we need to still do testing and vaccinations still. This is just a spot bill a empty shell. I want to add some rural areas to CSAs.

@LincolnSeward hopefully we will rules soon to give us clarity. Staff: lots of counties are waiting to hear rules before moving forward. Mendes:lots of misinformation going around. Feds should have given less to cities and more to county. Staff: if we can come back earlier than

January we will. October may look a lot like this still though. Public:Kimberly
We need investment in green spaces. Update Calwa and Linare Parks. County residents have not been invested in. Next:@LCJandA a resident will make comments today. We also sent comments from those who

cannot make it today. Projects like parks , water and housing among others. As always we offer partnership. Next: Lopez:please look at my street that is full of holes. Emergency services can’t even use the road it is so unsafe. School kids have to jump puddles or take their shoes

completely off during rainy days. I took time off from work to be here. Next: Traci: I also took time off. Can you consider meetings at times people can make it? Next: from Seeveea (?) from a large part of valley. It is necessary that the county meet with community and to chart a

path for the county. Approved 5/0. #8 *Adopt Specifications and Award Contract No. 21-01-C, Travers Creek at Manning Avenue Tree Removal, Federal Project No. BRLS-5942(198), receive verbal report on bid opening, and award to bidder with lowest responsive bid
Staff:we need to

remove 107 trees for PG&E lines in order to replace bridge. Approved

#9 Consider appeal of Planning Commission’s denial of Classified Conditional Use Permit Application No. 3657, proposing to allow a religious facility with related improvements on an approximately 1.52-acre portion of a 5.02-acre parcel in the RR (Rural Residential, two-acre

parcel size) Zone District. Planning Commission didn’t specify their findings. But some concerns were a metal building. Staff still recommends approving this. @LincolnSeward I also can see no reason not to approve this. Public: Michael who was architect of this project. We

Expected this to be approved at Planning Commission but that didn’t happen. This is comprised Of 50 Sikh families mainly from Fresno area. Pacheco: in my area we have lots of religious churches of many types. Unsure why this didn’t pass Planning Commission. Approved 5-0

Supervisors Comments: due to Sacramento mandate some hospitals have been requiring their staff to get vaccinated. Some medical staff have told him they may leave medicine altogether. I want us to reach out to Sacramento that we don’t want our hospitals weakened as we already have

a shortage of medical staff. Next Magisg spoke on the death of John Lawson. He created a program to train people to be truck drivers. They were able to train up people. He helped non profits quietly too. Brandau: Wednesday September 22 will be State of the County at Chaffee Zoo

Unscheduled Public:Will Jackson I am concerned by direction of this county on covid. A past meeting from Public Health was misleading. Death rates have plunged since January. Dr Vahra didn't give context. Mask mandates have not reduced spread and prolonged use of masks on kids is

bad, Also have your Health Dept give abetter presentation to this Board. Next:Traci The People are asking who are you standing with with this draconian government. @LovesMercy Please stand for kids and teachers. Also homeless beds didn't have any beds. Outreach workers left

many have left due to lack of beds.Outreach workers are doing the best they can with their resources.However this just displaced the homeless. Next: Thanks the Supervisors for taking their time with medical information. Dr Vohra needs to sign affidavit that what he is saying is

accurate. NEXT MEETINGS:

September 7, 2021 - 10:00 AM
Budget Hearings September 13 - 17, 2021 - 10:00 AM
September 21, 2021 - 10:00 AM

Some of the item on Railroad info I didn't have time to post as Supervisors approved it quickly.On July 9, 2021, President Biden signed the "Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy" (Order), an expansive order containing 72 different initiatives to be

administrated by more than a dozen different Federal agencies. The Order will have impacts across large sections of the American economy.One of the initiatives directs the STB to develop regulations aimed at providing “vigilant oversight over market participants”,

“reducing monopolization” and providing “accessible remedies for shippers.”[1] Freight railroads are an integral component of the US transportation network with 28% of all commodities, including energy, and consumer goods moved via rail.[2] The implications of the proposed rules

currently under review by STB will impact the efficiency, safety, and cleanliness of the entire transportation network.In Fresno County, BNSF, UPRR, and SJVR move thousands of tons of freight across the state and nation, with UPRR further providing vital corridor

services for Amtrak. In addition, Fresno County is a potential site for inland port access, critical infrastructure for future economic growth across the region. The STB’s proposed regulations will have an impact upon Fresno County’s rail facilities and the industries that rely

upon them for their commerce. In 1980 Congress enacted the Staggers Act, legislation aimed at deregulating the then struggling rail industry that had been stymied by Federal bureaucracy and red tape that interfered with even the most basic of everyday rail operations.Through the

1970’s this overregulation was leading to declining freight by rail due to skyrocketing freight costs, crumbling infrastructure, and numerous preventable accidents. The Staggers Act allowed consolidation and mergers of rail companies, as well as enabling industry self-regulation.

In the 40 years since the passage of the Staggers Act, US freight rail has become the world leader in freight transportation; it is more efficient, safer, and cleaner than before and leads the world in technology and innovation.[2 The Order and STB proposed rules are creating a

great amount of concern in the shipping industry as well as among transportation leaders and government officials across the nation. The Order through its broad direction could undermine progress made under the Staggers Act and could set back freight railroad operations at a time

when more capacity is needed the effects will ripple through the entire transportation network. Recently, hundreds of policy and elected leaders, including the National Association of Counties (NACo), sent a letter to US Transportation Secretary Buttigieg and the STB expressing

their concerns for this rule making.Supervisors Brandau and Mendes recently met with policy experts from GoRail, an advocacy group who works with rail companies and policy leaders to influence rail policy. They are asking that Fresno County join these other agencies in

expressing concerns to our elected Congressional representatives, seeking their engagement during the rulemaking to ensure any new regulations do not harm Fresno County’s economy. The recommended letter has been reviewed by County staff and our Federal advocate, Carpi and Clay.

Some of the public that spoke today

See you September 7th for the next Supervisors meeting! September 2 for next City Council meeting.

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