The City of Fresno and the California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority), today announced that construction is starting this week on the second phase of the Veterans Boulevard Project, known as the Veterans Boulevard Grade Separation.  The City has awarded a $20 million contract to Granite Construction utilizing funding provided by the Authority’s project.  Through collaboration, the City and the Authority are mitigating the closure of the existing Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) at-grade crossing at Carnegie Avenue by constructing a new overpass for Veterans Boulevard, connecting the neighborhoods east of the railroad corridor to Golden State Boulevard. 

This phase continues the progress of the recently completed first phase, which extended Bullard Avenue to the Veterans Boulevard and Riverside Drive and is a key part of constructing High-Speed Rail in the City of Fresno. 

The construction work will result in two lanes of Veterans Boulevard; a bridge structure over the existing UPRR and future High-Speed Rail tracks, and a roadway connection from Veterans Boulevard to future Golden State Boulevard.  The overhead bridge structure will have two spans at a total length of 294.8 feet and a width of 132.7 feet.  The structure is a cast-in-place pre-stressed concrete box girder, with all supports on six-column bents on large diameter cast-in-drilled-hole piles.  Mechanically stabilized earth walls behind the abutments will support the roadway embankment fills.

The attached site vicinity map highlights this phase in the overall Veterans Boulevard Project footprint.

Mayor Lee Brand released the following statement on the passing of longtime Central Valley reporter George Hostetter:

“George Hostetter was the consummate journalist – tough, dogged, curious and always fair.  His passing is a gigantic loss not just to journalism, but to Fresno as well.  Not much escaped George’s keen eye in his pursuit of the story, and I always knew that in the end, he would not just get to the bottom of whatever he was investigating, but also get it right. 

“George was quirky, be it his never-ending walks around all of Fresno or channeling the famous TV detective Columbo in his questioning.  As the saying goes, ‘they don’t make them like that anymore.’  Reporters are not supposed to be friends with those they cover, but I can honestly say a day won’t go by when I won’t miss George.  I know he is at peace – and almost certainly enjoying a Kit Kat bar.”

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand today announced the first major step in Fresno’s economic recovery, presenting the first phase of the new category of authorized businesses to re-open.  The announcement was made after consultation with the Mayor’s Recovery Committee, City Manager Wilma Quan, her emergency team, Fresno City Council and the County of Fresno. This plan allowing for local control was created by virtue of Emergency Order 2020-16 which modified the City of Fresno’s shelter in place orders.

Effective Monday, May 11, 2020, the following types of businesses may physically open their doors for business:

·        Auto, Truck, Boat, Motorcycle, RV and Mobile Home Sales

·        New Construction

·        Furniture Stores

·        Electronics and Camera Stores

·        Spa and Pool Stores

·        Lawn and Garden Equipment Stores

·        Building and Remodeling Supply Stores

·        Auctions

All other retail business may conduct online sales with contactless curbside pick-up or delivery. There is no application process for these businesses to reopen.

Occupancy for authorized businesses is based on one customer per 500 square feet.  Each authorized business will be required to comply with the City’s Modified Appendix A: Social Distancing Protocol to protect the health of their employees and to protect the health of the vendors and customers who visit and shop there.  Some businesses will have additional requirements that include special sanitation and cleaning protocols. 

“This is a big, bold first step in restoring Fresno’s economy and gives us much-needed local control, with the collaboration of our partners at the County and State level, while still protecting the health and safety of our community to the best of our abilities,” said Mayor Brand.  “This is the right decision for Fresno at this stage of the pandemic, and I’m thankful to have the assistance of many very smart, caring and dedicated people who want the best for everyone in terms of public health and economic security.”

The City of Fresno will continue to monitor public health indicators in the community and adjust the Authorized Business program as necessary.  If there is a spike in the number of infections that could be traced to the re-opening or if our local healthcare system is projected to reach capacity, the City may choose to slow down or even roll back the program.  If public health indicators stay flat or improve, the City could accelerate this program.

Mayor Brand added, “As soon as the State gives us the green light to open restaurant dining rooms, gyms, hair and nail salons and other close-contact businesses, then I will devote the resources of the City to get those very deserving and hard-working people back to work.”

For the latest information on all City-issued emergency orders and other coronavirus-related decisions, call 3-1-1 or visit the City of Fresno website at www.fresno.gov.

We encourage you to visit www.cdc.gov to learn more about COVID-19 nationally, https://covid19.ca.gov/ for information on coronavirus in California and to follow the Fresno County Department of Public Health website for regular updates.

 Mayor Lee Brand today announced that the City of Fresno has clarified its policy on medical and dental services during the COVID-19 pandemic after discussions with the Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH) and local health care officials.

Healthcare providers — doctors, dentists, mental health professionals, nurses, optometrists, hospice, etc. – should follow the guidance of the California Department of Public Health, the Fresno County Department of Public Health and their respective licensing authorities regarding their services.

For the latest information on all City-issued emergency orders and other coronavirus-related decisions, call 3-1-1 or visit the City of Fresno website at www.fresno.gov.

We encourage you to visit www.cdc.gov to learn more about COVID-19 nationally, https://covid19.ca.gov/ for information on coronavirus in California and to follow the Fresno County Department of Public Health website for regular updates.

In accordance with Governor Newsom’s recent announcement, Mayor Lee Brand today updated the City of Fresno’s policy on golf courses which now expands the public’s ability to enjoy outdoor exercise.

It also opens public golf at Airways and Riverside Golf Courses. Disc golf at Woodward Park will re-open as soon as signage with the appropriate health and social distancing protocols are posted.

The new policy allows golf courses to reopen as soon as they identify and meet specific social distancing protocols including:

·        Maintaining social distancing in the clubhouse, pro shop, and tees and greens.

·        No direct physical contact between golf course employees and guests.

·        All golfers must walk the course, unless carts are necessary to meet ADA requirements.

·        All pull carts must be washed and sanitized before each use.

·        Maximum of 4 players per tee time.

·        Tee times should be spaced to regulate the number of players on the course at any time.

·        Food and beverage areas should be open for grab-and-go service or delivery.

For the latest information on all City-issued emergency orders and other coronavirus-related decisions, call 3-1-1 or visit the City of Fresno website at www.fresno.gov.

We encourage you to visit www.cdc.gov to learn more about COVID-19 nationally, https://covid19.ca.gov/ for information on coronavirus in California and to follow the Fresno County Department of Public Health website for regular updates.

Fresno Mayor Lee Brand today announced that Emergency Order 2020-13 directing all individuals living in the City of Fresno to shelter at their place of residence, except to provide or receive essential services or engage in essential activities, has been modified extensively to create a process to allow businesses that are currently closed to re-open in a safe and responsible manner.  The new emergency order, 2020-16 extends the modified shelter-in-place order through midnight Sunday, May 31, 2020.  The new emergency order, 2020-16, was signed by City Manager Wilma Quan this morning and becomes effective at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2020.

In addition to the extension, Emergency Order 2020-16 requires residents to wear protective facial coverings when entering businesses and public places, and directs the closing of all City parks, including Woodward and Roeding Regional Parks, for the weekends of May 9-10 and May 23-25, 2020.  It also adds a third category of “Authorized Businesses” in addition to “Essential Businesses” and “Non-Essential Businesses.”   

Authorized Businesses are defined as those businesses and activities which are not considered essential but which are still important to the economic and social well-being of the community.  The first phases of the re-opening of Authorized Businesses will be those considered to be low and lower risk businesses with future phases focused on re-opening higher risk businesses.  Each particular phase of re-opening will be evaluated after two weeks of operation to measure the impacts on public health indicators and phases may be rolled back if public health indicators show worsening impacts on the community.

“I’m taking a strategic approach that protects the health and safety of our community while at the same time recognizes the overwhelming need to restart our economy by gradually allowing low and lower-risk businesses to re-open following public health guidelines,” said Mayor Brand.  “I appreciate the sacrifices that our residents and business owners have made during these challenging and uncertain times, and while we are still navigating uncharted waters, it’s time to lay out a sensible new course that starts the long process of rebuilding our economy and restoring our normal routines.”

The original emergency order was set to expire on March 31, 2020 and was previously extended to expire on April 12, 2020 and then again on May 6, 2020. Emergency Order 2020-16 is attached and can be found on the City’s COVID-19 page at www.fresno.gov/coronavirus/.

For the latest information on all City-issued emergency orders and other coronavirus-related decisions, call 3-1-1 or visit the City of Fresno website at www.fresno.gov.

We encourage you to visit www.cdc.gov to learn more about COVID-19 nationally, https://covid19.ca.gov/ for information on coronavirus in California and to follow the Fresno County Department of Public Health website for regular updates.

Emergency Order 2020-16 Shelter in Place Modified and Extended with Modified Appendix A

Trillium Flow Technologies, a global designer, manufacturer and aftermarket services provider of engineered valves and pumps used in energy and broader industrial applications, has announced the merger of their facility in Salt Lake City, Utah to Fresno.  The company currently employs 137 people in the City of Fresno and this merger is expected to generate over 50 additional jobs in the next five years.

“I am thrilled that Trillium has decided to merge its operations and bring these new jobs to Fresno, especially now during this time of great need for sustainable employment in our city,” said Fresno Mayor Lee Brand.   “We look forward to a continued strong relationship with this valued company as they grow their operations and bring more jobs to our community.”

City of Fresno Economic Development Director Lupe Perez noted, “Along with our community partners, Fresno Economic Development Corporation and Fresno Workforce Development Board, the City of Fresno has been working closely with Trillium on this merger for quite some time now.  We look forward to continuing this successful partnership as Trillium moves forward with this endeavor.”

“Having considered a wide range of options, Trillium Flow Technologies is excited to announce that we are making Fresno, CA the headquarters, and center of excellence, of our North American Pump business. We already have excellent capabilities in Fresno. With this decision, we plan to make a significant investment that will further expand our technical capabilities and allow us to move additional product lines into our already extensive manufacturing complex in Fresno. We believe that we have the workforce and community support to allow us to grow our business in the immediate future and for years to come. Our partnership with the City of Fresno, the Fresno Economic Development Corporation, and the Fresno Workforce Development Board has made this decision feasible,” indicated Max Ulloa, General Manager US Pumps.

Headquartered in Texas and Scotland with over 20 locations across the globe, Trillium manufactures a variety of pumps, valves and actuators serving customers in the power, oil, gas, water, wastewater and general industry sectors.  Its Fresno plant is located at 2494 S Railroad Ave. and manufactures vertical turbine pumps for the water and wastewater, oil and gas, mining, energy and industrial markets, internationally.

Mayor Lee Brand today provided a report on hisFresno Recovery Committee (FRC), which held its first meeting yesterday afternoon and included future plans for the advisory group.

Two additional members were added to the FRC prior to yesterday’s initial meeting.  Dr. John Moua, Board-Certified in Pediatric Pulmonology and Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) was added.  Also, added were Dr. Ardavan Kheradpir, DMD, MD and Dr. Shannon Barnhart, DDS of the Fresno Madera Medical Society.

The Director of the Fresno County Department of Public Health (FCDPH), Dave Pomaville, gave the committee a detailed report on the spread of COVID-19 in Fresno County and the FCDPH’s on-going efforts to increase testing and build its contact tracing capabilities, as well as its understanding of how Fresno County and the region can meet the Governor’s six criteria for increasing modifications to state and local shelter-in-place restrictions. 

The FRC also asked Mayor Brand to create subcommittees to investigate particular areas of concern and provide detailed input for the whole committee to evaluate.  The Mayor and his team are developing the subcommittees and will be communicating with the FRC as a whole later today with their recommendations and to plan future meetings.

In addition to reviewing the Governor’s re-opening criteria, the Fresno Recovery Committee also discussed what the City and County can do to expedite attainment of those goals and looked at several specific industry areas where restrictions could be loosened.

“I greatly appreciate the input of everyone at yesterday’s meeting.  It was a very productive and very encouraging.  We have our work cut out for us, but I am confident that the recommendations and advice of this committee will help us make better policy going forward,” said Mayor Lee Brand.  “Our goal is the well-being of everyone in the City and County of Fresno.  We believe that we will develop reasonable measures and protocols that will not only get people back to work, but will also protect the health and safety of employees and their customers.”

The Mayor will be issuing further updates and briefings as the Fresno Recovery Committee continues to meet and make progress.

Mayor Lee Brand today announced that pet grooming can be allowed as an essential business under the State of California’s Shelter in Place Order. This decision was made after discussion with the Mayor’s Fresno Recovery Committee yesterday.

The City reviewed Governor Newsom’s emergency order and after determining that it does not state a prohibition against it, acknowledged that pet grooming is a form of animal care and will inform pet groomers in Fresno that they have the ability to operate as an essential business, effective immediately.

“I’ve been considering this decision and it’s time to start the gradual process of economic recovery,” said Mayor Brand.  “I’m thankful for the exceptional advice provided by the committee and input from the public during this challenging time.  This announcement will be joined by others in the future, as we move forward in a deliberate and reasonable way to return to normal routines without jeopardizing the health of our residents.”

As part of  the announcement, the City of Fresno reminds pet groomers that all current health protocols, including employees wearing personal protective equipment and using existing social distancing and disinfecting protocols, are to be followed by any establishment choosing to reopen at this time.

The City’s shelter-in-place order remains in place until further notice.