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Fresno Metropolitan Christmas Celebration 2006
Mayor Autry
extends a special invitation to the community to attend the inaugural Tree Lighting Ceremony at City Hall on Friday, December 8, 2006 at 6:00pm
For more
information please call:
559-621-2953
City Services Links
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Merry Christmas from Mayor Autry |
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As we approach one of the holiest days of the holiday season, this “old sinner saved by grace” has so much to be thankful for, not the least of which is the honor and blessing it has been to serve as your Mayor for the past six years. Together, we as a community have come so far and together we will continue that journey.
From the Autry family to yours,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. |
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Public Utilities: A Call For Citizen Participation |
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After much thought and analysis, on November 10, 2006, I offered a compromise proposal to the City Council as an option to the proposed increases recommended in the recently published Utility Commission Report. The Council and I agree with the Utility Commission on the following important points:
However, my compromise proposal goes further and calls for the removal of $2.43 of the monthly increase that was directed to non-utility services such as tree trimming and median island maintenance. These issues have already been addressed in the City budget and both projects are well under way and successful. Utility fees should be charged only for those services provided by the Public Utilities Department such as water, sewer and solid waste disposal.
Discussions have continued since the Council voted to begin the Proposition 218 process required by law and enacted by the voters in November of 1996, which allows community responses to the suggested increases through informational mailers. I believe that a fair and equitable agreement can be reached that will benefit the citizens of Fresno through education and familiarization of the issues. I encourage all utility rate-payers to participate in the upcoming Proposition 218 process and to be sure to send their responses in prior to the deadline that will be listed in the notice that each property owner will receive.
For more information on the Proposition 218 web site .
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Collaborating for Improved Air Quality |
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In an effort to garner State and Federal support to improve the air quality in the San Joaquin Valley, Mayor Autry together with business leader Peter Weber and Seyed Sadredin, Director of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District flew to Washington, D.C. to meet with Senator Dianne Feinstein to discuss both City and Federal clean air priorities and issues. Other elected officials in attendance were Senator Barbara Boxer, Representatives George Radanovich, Dennis Cardoza, Jim Costa and the staff of Devin Nunes. Staff from the California Air Resources Board, the Regional Air Resources Board and the Environmental Protection Agency also attended.
San Joaquin Valley lawmakers are hoping this meeting will help obtain $100 million in annual federal funding to the Valley to help combat air pollution. They are hopeful that these funds can be matched by the state so that the Valley’s unique obstacles to clean air can be addressed and overcome.
Another meeting took place on December 5, 2006 with Whitehouse Budget Director, Rob Portman. The meeting resulted in Mr. Portman agreeing to work with us to pull together funding for the President's FY 08 budget by increasing budgeted amounts for existing programs.
For more on the story: http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/13500.html |
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Another Fresno First - Hybrid Electric Trash Truck |
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Since 2000, the City of Fresno has been a leader in the exploration of alternative fueled vehicles and hybrid technologies. In the continuing effort to introduce and evaluate new environmentally sound transportation strategies, the first specialty Solid Waste and Recycling refuse truck is being tested on Fresno’s streets beginning this year.
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Just like the Toyota Prius personal auto, the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) trash truck can utilize both natural gas and electricity to power its engine. This first-of-its-kind technology in a large commercial vehicle offers significant benefits in reduced fuel costs, fuel consumption, lower emissions, less maintenance, and substantially quieter operations. Fresno’s plug-in hybrid truck has a 20 mile range in battery mode and 200+ mile range total per day without refueling/recharging.
This PHEV truck project was a collaborative effort between the City of Fresno, PG&E, and Odyne Corp., the maker of the vehicle. This project was made possible with the assistance of the Fresno County Council of Governments, who helped to obtain CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality) funds to offset the additional cost of this advanced technology.
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Fresno Hosts U.S. Attorney's Gang Initiative Summit |
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With a concerted effort to combat crime, more than 400 City, County and community leaders from around the state came to Fresno for the first-ever U.S. Attorney’s Gang Initiative Summit. This groundbreaking event, held at the New Exhibit Hall, was designed to bring leaders together to network and explore innovative ways to remove gangs from cities by offering youth positive alternatives to the hopeless gang lifestyle. U.S. Attorney McGregor |
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Scott hosted the conference with Mayor Alan Autry and Police Chief Jerry Dyer serving as event co-hosts.
Father Greg Boyle, Founder and Executive Director of Homeboy Industries and Lou Tice, Chaiman of the Pacific Institute served as the keynote speakers. Participants also heard from San Jose and Los Angeles representatives as they presented seminars on gang programs that have worked in their cities. At the conclusion of the summit, participants gathered for a final exchange of ideas. A future summit is planned in Fresno.
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Improving Fresno's Urban Core |
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The Fresno City Council unanimously approved an initiative created by Mayor Autry to help improve the economic growth in Fresno’s urban core. This initiative creates a Municipal Restoration Zone (MRZ) that provides incentives to motivate business development, expansion and job creation where residents are affected by a life of financial strangulation without access to jobs. This program allows new or qualified expanding businesses who operate within the MRZ to obtain refunds of business license fees, reductions of building permit fees and refunds of sales and property taxes. Much of the MRZ overlaps with the State and Federal Empowerment and Enterprise Zones which provide additional benefits and reduced costs to businesses in this vulnerable area.
For more information on the benefits of the Municipal Restoration Zone, contact the City of Fresno Economic Development Department at 559.621.8350.
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Giving Shelter To Those In Need |
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In response to news reports of homeless individuals unable to find shelter during extreme cold conditions, I asked City staff to prepare a plan similar to our response to the killer heat wave this past summer. Staff quickly developed a solution to provide warm shelter and protection from the “killer cold.” Four community centers were made available from 6:00pm until 8:00am the following morning with cots and blankets provided by the Community Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department and the Red Cross. I am also thankful to the Fresno Rescue Mission, Poverello House and local media for helping the City notify the homeless of this available option. The City will continue to open shelters on cold nights as necessary. |
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Awards and Honors |
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City of Fresno Wastewater Management is Recognized as Best in Nation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has presented the City of Fresno Wastewater Management Division of the Public Utilities Department with the 2006 U.S. EPA Pretreatment Program Excellence Award – Best in Nation for Wastewater Treatment Facilities.
Click here for more information .
Fresno’s Santa Fe Depot Receives the 2006 Governor’s Historic Preservation Award
Public Works restoration of the Santa Fe Depot has been awarded the Governor's Historic Preservation Award for 2006. This award is sponsored by the State Office of Historic Preservation.
Click here for more information .
Local Businesses Receive Mayor Business Recycling Award
The annual Mayor’s Business Recycling Award program was created to publicly recognize those commercial businesses that actively support recycling in the workplace as the City strives to reach a 50% waste reduction goal required by State mandate AB 939. To qualify for a Mayor’s Business Recycling Award, a business must be located within the city limits of Fresno and must demonstrate strong recycling and waste reduction efforts.
Click here for a list of Award Winning Businesses . |
Mayor on the move
11/03/06 Attended California Film Commission Board meeting in Los Angeles.
11/10/06 Participated in the memorial tree planting in honor of Tillie Tuschoff, a well respected community and political activist.
11/11/06 Welcomed attendees to the annual Veteran’s Day Parade.
11/13/06 Gave welcome at the California Training Officers 11th Annual Fall
Training Symposium hosted by Fresno Fire Department.
11/14/06 –
11/17/06 Traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with Federal officials
regarding air quality in the San Joaquin Valley.
11/28/06 Present at signing of Governor’s Executive Order extending
the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley.
11/29/06 Welcomed attendees to the U.S. Attorney’s Gang Prevention
Summit hosted by Fresno Police Department.
11/30/06 Spoke at the celebration renaming the Ivy Community Center
to Mary Ella Brown Community Center facilitated by Fresno Parks,
Recreation and Community Services Department. |