Brian's Vision
Air Quality
Reduce emissions and particulate matter by 6&, or 569 tons, over 3 years.
Continue to develop more "Team Clean Air" strategies for reducing the City of Fresno's emissions.
Develop a program for encouraging private sector businesses to reduce their emissions.
Economic Development
More diverse jobs, high-paying jobs, less unemployment, and the planning that goes with it – is critical to meet the needs of Fresno’s present and future residents. Economic development also includes a community vision. I support the three basic principles and implementation strategies contained in the Landscape of Choice, developed by the Growth Alternatives Alliance:
1) Utilize urban land as efficiently as possible;
2) Develop livable communities that emphasize pedestrian and transit-oriented design;
3) Recognize the importance of agriculture and the need to protect our most productive agricultural land.
Downtown development is critical for Fresno. The Regional Medical Center and a multipurpose outdoor stadium should anchor public and private projects. Creative but responsible use of redevelopment strategies is essential. Appropriate Incentives are needed for people to live and not just work downtown. Water amenities need to be an integral component of downtown revitalization. Fresno’s extensive canal system can be utilized in a way similar to San Antonio’s Riverwalk development.
Infill housing and business projects – filling in empty space within Fresno – are necessary. Where appropriate, incentives should be provided so builders will build and buyers will buy. State of California projections indicate that the City of Fresno will need to accommodate a population of between 810,000 and 960,000 by 2020. The General Plan recognizes that the City of Fresno must plan for significant population growth.
Education/Recreation
Establish education partnerships between the City of Fresno, City of Clovis, public schools, and private sector partners with the goal of making Fresno Unified, Central Unified, and Clovis Unified among the best performing school districts in California. The partnership would be patterned on the Fresno Compact, a consortium of public schools, companies, and not-for-profit organizations committed to advancing public education.
Link K-12 technology initiatives, such as the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART), with the Central Valley Business Incubator and Entrepreneurial Resource Center, the Fresno City College Training Institute, and other training entities.
Promote “Ask Your Councilmember” monthly call-ins from students in Northwest District 2 schools.
Integrate, where possible, City recreation programs into schools, particularly after school, evenings, and weekends.
Preserve, or restore that which is historic about Fresno.
Expand the San Joaquin River Parkway through the partnership with the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservancy Trust. As a board member, I help guide the Conservancy's mission to protect, preserve, and restore the San Joaquin River for future generations. For more information on the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservancy, please go to http://www.riverparkway.org/.
Fresno City/County Joint Planning
Answers to high unemployment and the need for jobs (to include air and water quality, traffic/transportation, and law enforcement) must be addressed by a new 21st Century Fresno City/County governance structure. This new structure must be more responsible to citizen needs and more efficient in the delivery of essential services. The current 19th Century system of separate city and county local governments needs to be reviewed and, possibly, changed. I would, therefore, encourage the appointment of a Blue Ribbon Commission to consider possible changes in local political structures that would enable the 15 cities and unincorporated areas of Fresno County to provide more responsive and efficient services.
Neighborhood Pride
Promote pride in the community by highlighting the most beautiful aspects of Northwest District 2 with the annual Orchid Awards.
Fully develop Eaton Plaza Park in Downtown.
Construct a baseball park and neighborhood park in the Figarden Loop area.
Transportation
Consolidate BNSF Railroad along the Union Pacific tracks/ Highway 99 corridor. If this is proven to not be feasible, grade separation (underpasses or overpasses at major rail and roadway intersections) should be constructed. For more information, see the website http://www.movethetracks.org.
Use the funds from the newly renewed Measure C to improve City/County roads, public transportation, bike lanes, and trails.
In conclusion, we need to ask ourselves what kind of a Fresno we want to leave to our children and grandchildren. We can dream the big dream and then make it happen. Fresno will – with our fortunate proximity to Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks – be a destination point for tourists, conventions, and companies with good jobs. Our recent selection as an All-American City should be just the beginning.
