The City of Fresno today announced that its community engagement plan and process to select a package that will invest $66.5 million of cap-and-trade funding from the State of California through the Transformative Climate Communities program has won multiple awards from the American Planning Association (APA).  The Transform Fresno Inclusive Community Engagement Process and Plan was honored with the Central Section 2020 Award of Excellence and Achievement in Planning and the California Chapter 2020 Award of Merit in the Public Outreach category.

The APA is the professional organization for city and regional planners in the United States and annually recognizes the most outstanding efforts in planning throughout the nations to encourage quality in planning and increase the public’s awareness of the planning profession through recognizing outstanding achievement in the planning field.  The Public Outreach award honors an individual, project, or program that uses information and education about the value of planning to create greater awareness among citizens or specific segments of the public and celebrates how planning improves a community’s quality of life.

“This process was the most collaborative and transparent that the City of Fresno has ever attempted and these awards speak to the diligence of the residents who spent countless hours identifying and analyzing projects that will ultimately transform our most vulnerable communities,” said Fresno Mayor Lee Brand. “They deserve this high level of recognition for their efforts to raise the bar for community engagement and provide an exceptional blueprint for government projects that want to maximize the power of public discussion.”

Of particular interest to the APA was the City’s approach of conducting several “pop-up” workshops in various locations and at various times, rather than conducting one larger public meeting or workshop, and the approach of creating a procurement process that enabled local organizations to participate in the implementation of the plan, in order to increase the capacity of the local “civic infrastructure.”

The award will be presented by virtual meeting as part of the 2020 California Chapter APA conferenced on Wednesday September 16, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. PDT.

The City of Fresno is offering free access inspections through the Accessible Fresno Small Business Initiative (Accessible Fresno).

As businesses reopen, or prepare to reopen, following closures due to COVID-19, the City of Fresno recognizes the need to assist small businesses with their accessibility compliance efforts.  The City is providing eligible small businesses with free Certified Access Specialists (CASp) inspection services.  A CASp can inspect a business for construction-related accessibility issues and provide information to help make a reasonable compliance schedule.

Many accessibility issues are simple to fix if a business knows what it needs to do.  Having a CASp inspection and working on the compliance schedule shows a business’ commitment to access and provide legal benefits.  Courts look favorably upon proactive businesses that have a plan of action to fix their building, even if the plan is not yet finished.  With this in mind, the Accessible Fresno small business initiative can help by covering all CASP inspection fees.  A CASp inspection is the first step towards becoming ADA compliant, which not only helps to avoid unwanted litigation, but also increases the number of potential customers.

“Working side-by-side with businesses to help them understand and comply with health, safety, and consumer regulations is just one more way that Fresno is becoming even more business friendly,” said Mayor Lee Brand. “These resources will help to make sure our residents enjoy access to provide for their needs.”

The City of Fresno recognizes that these have been unprecedented times.  As the local economy starts to open back up, this is a great opportunity to help small businesses maximize commerce by creating a welcoming environment for the entire community.

“The Administration is committed to work with our local business owners to make Fresno more accessible so that our city becomes a convenient and welcoming place for everyone,” said City Manager Wilma Quan. “We’re providing businesses with the information and support needed to enhance accessibility and improve access.”

There is no cost to the business to apply or participate in Accessible Fresno.  Interested businesses can view the eligibility requirements and apply online at www.fresno.gov/AccessibleFresno.

On June 30, at the Annual State of the City address, Mayor Lee Brand announced that the City of Fresno is conducting a nationwide search for the next Police Chief.

The City is looking for a leader with a thorough understanding of community policing and a track record of working well with diverse populations.  We are looking for someone with a reputation for building community trust and working collaboratively with the community.  Fresno’s next Chief of Police must be able to lead the department into a new era of policing and implement the recommendations coming from the Police Reform Commission through the City Council and Executive Committee.  We are searching for the right leader to keep the people of Fresno safe while preventing crime and reducing crime rates.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply by August 6, 2020.  View a copy of the job announcement.

In a historic change to the annual tradition of live luncheon presentations, Mayor Lee Brand presented his 2020 State of the City address in a televised event this evening on KSEE-TV. The broadcast, arranged by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce because of COVID-19 concerns, was the final State of the City address for Mayor Brand, whose term officially ends on December 31, 2020.

In another break from tradition, Mayor Brand awarded two Keys to the City to Fresno County Department of Public Health Director David Pomaville and Interim Health Officer Dr. Rais Vohra, in recognition of their tireless work and steadfast leadership during an unprecedented health crisis.  Pao Yang, CEO of the Fresno Center, was honored with the Mayor’s Community Partner Award for his service and leadership through empowerment, education and collaboration.  

In his keynote speech, Mayor Brand noted that the state of the city is “hopeful,” and used the theme of a “Tale of Two Seasons” to describe a pre-pandemic season of prosperity, growth and civic improvement followed by “a kind of emotional winter” after the announcement of a state of emergency as the community was dealing with the physical and financial effects of COVID-19 and civic unrest.  

He highlighted the launch of several projects from Transformative Climate Communities to Veterans Boulevard, the city-wide effort to clean our streets and highways, the impact of the nearly $11 million in state funding to address homelessness, and the extraordinary efforts of community leaders to express their anger over racial injustice in a peaceful and powerful way.

“To our City of Fresno employees: you have filled roles you never expected in order to maintain the essential services our residents and businesses depend on.  Thank you for your service and your sacrifice,” said Mayor Brand.  “Finally, to the citizens of Fresno: we could not have made it through the past 100 days without your support.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Mayor Brand’s list of City of Fresno accomplishments over the last 12 months include:

• Broke ground on three Transformative Climate Communities projects, including the Southwest Village Urban Farm and Community Garden, solar panels at an affordable housing facility for seniors in Southwest Fresno, and building the Inside Out Community Garden at the Sunset Community.
• Launched Keep Fresno Beautiful and the Highway Litter Abatement Pilot Program that has collected over 2 tons of trash off streets and highways and beautified trails and neighborhoods citywide.
• Completed Phase One of the Veterans Boulevard project, a new $5.5 million section of Bullard Avenue, with Phase Two underway.
• Reached an agreement with GAP Inc. to purchase 4.8 acres of land on Airways Boulevard for $1 with the plan of building a state-of-the-art animal shelter on the site.
• Launched “Opportunity Fresno,” a website that provides a platform for local business owners and developers to showcase new investment opportunities.
• Opened up four low barrier Triage Centers with a total of 127 beds for homeless individuals, with 65% of residents exiting to safe housing and 34% transitioned to permanent housing.

At the 2020 State of the City Address, Mayor Brand also announced that the City will begin a national search for Fresno’s next police chief starting July 1 with Mayor-Elect Jerry Dyer included in this crucial process.

Video of the Mayor’s “State of the City” address will soon be available on the City’s website. A transcript of his remarks is attached.

Mayor Lee Brand today issued the following statement after City Council passed a modified continuing resolution (CR) budget that rolls over amended appropriations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 into the first quarter of FY2021 and factors in Council motions to provide a bridge that allows the City of Fresno to continue to provide essential services to the community and the employees that provide those services until the fiscal picture becomes clearer.  Council approved the modified CR unanimously by a 7-0 vote, as well as an amended resolution for an expenditure plan for $92.8 million in coronavirus funding from the Federal government::

“Thank you to our Councilmembers for their support in passing a modified continuing resolution that allows the City to continue fulfilling its responsibilities to our residents while giving us the necessary time to better understand the fiscal impacts of this pandemic and propose sensible steps to address any shortfalls.  

“This is an unprecedented measure for an unprecedented moment in our City’s history.  I look forward to working with Council in the coming months to discuss our financial status with the courage and commitment to weather this storm and come through this crisis as a better, safer and more united community.”

The City of Fresno announced today that on Monday, June 22, 2020, parking at Parks, After School, Recreation, and Community Services (PARCS) facilities, including all City parks, will re-open.  Parking lots at City parks will close at 7:00 p.m. daily.  Staffed hours for SP+ entry gates at Woodward and Roeding Parks are 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The following PARCS amenities are open:

• Dog Parks (until 7:00 p.m.)
• Fresno Chaffee Zoo
• Restrooms (until 7:00 p.m.)
• Tennis Courts
• Disc Golf (Woodward Park)
• Trails

The following PARCS amenities remain closed:

• Basketball Courts
• BMX Track
• Community Centers
• Picnic Shelters
• Play Structures
• Pools
• Splash pads
• Storyland/Playland
• Shinzen Garden

Staffed payment booths will resume operation at Downtown Fresno parking garages.  Staffed hours for the following Downtown Fresno parking garages are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• Congo Alley Garage, 1919 Tulare St
• Convention Center Garage, 707 O St
• Spiral Garage, 801 Van Ness Ave
• Underground Garage, 1077 Van Ness Ave

Visitors exhibiting symptoms of the coronavirus, have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days, or have serious underlying health conditions are asked not to enter the facilities.

Mayor Lee Brand, Fresno Council President Miguel Arias, and Councilmembers Luis Chavez and Esmeralda Soria today announced the members of the newly established Fresno Commission for Police Reform.

In response to local and national demands for changes in policing to address decades of inequalities, City leaders have been working to identify actions that will prevent tragic events like the death of George Floyd.  In that spirit, the 37-member commission will include residents, community advocates, and experts on public safety and community policing.  The commission will begin meeting immediately and, over the coming weeks, identify reform recommendations to the City Council for consideration.

“This task force is made up of leaders from a diverse collection of stakeholder communities and will put their voices at the center of our in-depth and vital conversations about the future of policing in the City of Fresno,” said Mayor Brand.  ‘’The focus of our discussions will be centered on developing solutions for real and sustained change that make Fresno a better, safer place for all.”

“While this commission’s work will be extremely difficult, our community deserves nothing less than our best collaboration. The Commission is representation of our diversity and the communities most impacted by public safety. We are honored that they have accepted the call to serve as we take action to improve public safety for our whole city,” said Council President Arias.

The members of the newly formed Fresno Commission for Police Reform are:

• Oliver Baines, Chair
• D’Aungillique Jackson – Fresno State NAACP, President
• Sandra Celedon, Fresno Building Healthy Communities, Executive Director
• Greg Garner, Retired Chief of Police, City of Selma
• Mariah Thompson, National Lawyers Guild
• Todd Frazier, Fresno Police Officers Association, President
• Aaron Foster, Faith in the Valley
• Ron Manning, City of Fresno Police Department, Sergeant
• Bob Mitchell, Community Leader
• Ashley Rojas, Fresno Barrios Unidos, Executive Director
• Michael S. Reid JD, MBA, Deputy Chief, City of Fresno Police Department
• Luisa Medina, Community Member
• Scott Baly, Fresno County Public Defender’s Office 
• Angie Isaak, Retired City of Fresno Police Officer
• Dr. Joseph Jones, Fresno Pacific University, President 
• Deep Singh, Jakara Movement
• Efrain Botello, Boys and Men of Color 
• Mark Salazar, City of Fresno Police Department, Captain
• Brian King, Fresno EOC Street Saints
• Annalisa Perea, State Center Community College, Vice President
• Dr. James Pitts, Fresno State Department of Criminology, Professor
• Gloria Hernandez, Community Advocate
• Mai Thao, Civic Engagement Director, Hmong Innovating Politics
• Grisanti Valencia, Youth Organize California
• Pastor DJ Criner, Saint Rest Baptist Church
• Pastor BT Lewis, Rising Star Church 
• Keisha Thomas, Fresno Unified School District, President
  Veva Islas, Fresno Unified School District Trustee
• Marcel Woodruff, Faith in the Valley
• Phil Cooley, Deputy Chief, City of Fresno Police Department
• Adrian Jones, Fresno Housing Authority, Chair
• Brandon Dixon-James, Financial Advisor
• Rev. Simon Biasell, Woven Community, Westminster Presbyterian Church
• Rod Wade Jr., United Fresno
• John Leal, State Center Community College District, President
• Gail Gaston, Community Advocate
• Robert H. Oliver, Retired Judge