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Please slow down and drive safely in construction cone zones!
Going Green
For information on emerging energy-efficient and Green building products & strategies in the City of Fresno call (559) 621-8500
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Transportation Funds |
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On February 28, 2007, the California Transportation Commission approved approximately $4.5 billion in new transportation projects that will be used to improve mobility and reduce congestion in various parts of the state. While the need to invest in these types of projects is absolutely the correct thing to do, the manner in which these projects were selected leaves much to be desired. Of the $4.5 billion allocated to Northern California by the CTC, only 2.3% of these funds actually made it to the |
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Northern San Joaquin Valley when the population of the Valley accounts for 6.91% compared to the San Francisco Bay Area that received 25.8% of the funding although 19.6% of the population resides there.
While the news that the San Joaquin Valley was again left behind is disappointing, the action by the CTC last week refueled my resolve to work even harder to ensure that the Valley receives its fair share of other funding opportunities that are still available under Proposition 1B. I have already discussed this matter with our leadership team and lobbyist and we are making changes to our game plan so that events of last week are not repeated. We may not have done as well as we had originally hoped but the fact is that our voice is getting louder and we can no longer be ignored. |
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Financial Assistance for Small Acreage Farmers |
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California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura met with small farmers, including Southeast Asian and African American production farmers, to inspect damage inflicted by the recent freeze and discuss available local and State financial assistance and the need for Federal |
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assistance. The meeting was hosted by the Nisei Farmers League in their continued commitment to serve the needs of its members and all of California agriculture. |
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Honoring Fresno's Japanese Americans |
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On February 10th, Mayor Autry and several City Council Members participated in a ground breaking ceremony for the Pinedale Assembly Center Memorial and Remembrance Plaza project. The project was a joint venture of The Central California Nikkei Foundation and the Central California District Council of Japanese American Citizens League, in |
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concert with District 2 Councilmember, Brian Calhoun, Pinedale citizens, City staff and developers. It will serve as a reminder of the rich and tragic history of the site, which was used as the Pinedale Assembly Center to house Japanese Americans after Presidential Executive Order 9066 was signed on February 19, 1942. The site also served as Camp Pinedale, a training facility for the Fourth Air Force, after the Pinedale Assembly Center was closed and handed over to the Air Force in August 1942. The site is listed as California State Landmark No. 934 and the Fresno City Council has designated a portion of the site to Fresno ’s local register of historical resources as a remembrance plaza to honor the various events and groups that have contributed to the site’s history. |
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Increasing Activities for City Youth |
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The City of Fresno Parks, Recreation & Community Services division has partnered with Fresno State Athletics and Wesley United Methodist Church to provide mentors and after school activities to local youth for the newly renovated El Dorado Neighborhood Center. This facility will feature the 10th PRCS Read Fresno free book library and the fourth AT&T Fresno Connect Homework lab. |
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Committed to City Beautification |
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In 2005, the City’s Median Island Program was harshly criticized by Fresno citizens because of the unsightly overgrowth, weeds and dead plant material found within our median islands. Granted, they were in desperate need of maintenance and lots of tender loving care.
In the spring of 2006, a city-wide effort to assist with the Median Island Program brought several City departments together in partnership with the Local Conservation Corps, the Fresno County Sheriffs Inmate Program and the Adult Offender Work Program to provide the additional labor needed to keep the median islands manicured. This partnership has accelerated the maintenance schedule from a 3 to 4 month cycle to a 2 to 3 month cycle with no additional funding necessary. This is a great example of the New Normal at work.
The City is also partnering with Tree Fresno to pilot a
median island rehabilitation program. This program will replace sprinklers, improve hardscapes and plant new plants. Together, we are working towards a design standard. |
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The City’s vision is to ensure that the community gets the best in medians and median island maintenance. There is certainly more work to do, but we have taken large strides down the path to improvement. |
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City Awards and Honors |
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On January 24, 2007, the City of Fresno Budget department received the distinguished GFOA Award from the Government Finance Officer Association of theUnited States and Canada. This is the fourth year the City has received this prominent award. Congratulations Budget Team!
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On January 23, 2007, the City of Fresno Purchasing division of the General Services Department received the Achievement in Excellence in Procurement Award. The award is achieved by those organizations that demonstrate excellence in procurement by obtaining a high score on a rating of standardized criteria. The program is designed to measure innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity, and leadership attributes of the procurement function. Way to go Purchasing Team! | |
Mayor on the Move
02/01/07 Joint City/County meeting.
02/02/07 Held Team Fresno Department Head Retreat.
02/07/07 Met with Water Coalition and Water Alliance groups to unify
and strengthen support for surface water storage.
02/09/07 Presented a dedicated public safety funding proposal to the League
of California Cities Board of Directors.
02/13/07 Traveled to Sacramento for meetings with Governor's Chief of Staff,
Susan Kennedy, Assembly Minority Leader, Mike Villines and
Senator Jeff Denham to discuss dedicated public safety funding.
02/14/07 Met with California Secretary of Food and Agriculture, A.G.
Kawamura, and other dignitaries to inspect freeze damage to native
Southeast Asian and African American small acreage farms.
02/15/07 Appeared as a guest with Police Chief Jerry Dyer on local NBC
affiliate KSEE 24 to discuss the Mayor's Gang Prevention Initiative.
02/16/07 Participated in the grand opening of El Dorado Neighborhood
Center featuring Read Fresno Free Book Library and AT&T
Fresno Connect Homework lab.
02/19/07 Presented proclamation with Councilmember Mike Dages at the
Pinedale Assembly Center Memorial and Remembrance Plaza
project ground breaking ceremony. |
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