The City of Fresno is excited to announce the launch of the first three Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) projects.  All three projects launched in the first weeks of October.

The first project to break ground is the Yosemite Village Permaculture Community Garden and Urban Farm Incubator.  Fresno Metro Ministry partnered with the Fresno Housing Authority to develop a resident-led community garden and urban green space.  The seven-acre site, for general Southwest Fresno community use, will incorporate organic and permaculture techniques including non-mechanical, no-till, no-spray methods that promote carbon sequestration and water conservation.

The second project, by GRID Alternatives, will install solar panels on five Fresno Housing Authority multi-family buildings for low-income families. GRID Alternatives will train 67 TCC area individuals for jobs in solar.  The project aims to improve air quality and provide direct economic benefit for West Fresno families through electrical utility cost savings.

The Inside Out Community Garden at the Sunset Community Center will include volunteer recruitment, and community engagement on garden maintenance, harvesting, and cooking demonstrations. The Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission and partners will survey the community for produce preferences, plant trees, and vegetables with community volunteers, and conduct regular community events teaching proper nutrition and tasting a variety of recipes.

“These three projects are just the start of an exciting time for these neighborhoods as we see the first fruits of the $66.5 million TCC grant invested by the State in our community,” said Mayor Lee Brand.  “This money will lead to triple the investment in economic development and that will mean more jobs and better services for everyone. It will not only transform communities, but it will also transform lives.”

The three projects are the first of a total of 18 projects that include a West Fresno Satellite Campus for Fresno City College, community gardens, low carbon transportation improvements, affordable housing, urban greening, and local economic development.

On September 14, 2016, then-California Governor Jerry Brown signed AB-2722, the Transformative Climate Communities Program, from the rooftop of the Spiral Garage in Downtown Fresno.  The bill required the Strategic Growth Council to award competitive grants to qualifying agencies to implement greenhouse emissions plans while also providing economic, environmental, and health benefits to disadvantaged communities. As a result of the program, the City of Fresno was awarded $66.5 million in cap-and-trade funding to be used in a project area that covers portions of downtown, Chinatown and southwest Fresno.

Through an unprecedented series of community meetings, Mayor Brand put the power to decide how to spend the money from the TCC grant in the residents’ hands.  The final project package was overwhelmingly approved by the community on October 4, 2017.  When combined with matching funds the total amount exceeded $177.6 million.

Mayor Lee Brand and City Manager Wilma Quan today announced that Aldi Dodds has been hired as Deputy City Manager for the City of Fresno.  As Deputy City Manager, she will perform professional administrative and managerial assignments in support of the City Manager and work with executive management staff in coordinating and directing activities involved in the implementation and completion of city-wide projects and the planning and organization of diverse programs and activities.  Dodds will assume the role from current Deputy City Manager Laura Merrill.

“I am thrilled and delighted to have Aldi join our office in this capacity and know she will excel and exceed all of our expectations.  Laura Merrill has done an exceptional job in the Deputy City Manager role.  I will miss her terribly as I know others inside and outside the City will feel the same.  I am very fortunate that Laura has agreed to help with Aldi’s transition,” said City Manager Wilma Quan. 

Dodds joined the City of Fresno in 2016 with the Parking Services Division before transferring to the Administration Division of the Development and Resource Management Department (DARM).  There she served as a Management Analyst II for three Assistant Directors.  For the past year, Aldi has served as the Senior Management Analyst for the Housing and Community Development Division.  In that capacity, she served the City by assisting in the administration of four federal entitlement programs the City receives from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.  She also ensured the completion and implementation of the City’s Annual Action Plans and Consolidated Annual Performance Reports.

Dodds graduated Summa Cum Laude with her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno as a Smittcamp Scholar.

The City of Fresno Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department today announced that it is extending the hours of operation at its seven splash parks during the Labor Day Holiday weekend.

Splash park hours will be from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. effective tomorrow, August 30, 2019, through Monday, September 2, at the following locations:

Dickey Playground – 50 N. Calaveras St.

Figarden Loop Park – 4265 W. Figarden Dr.

Inspiration Park – 5770 W. Gettysburg Ave.

Martin Ray Reilly Park – 750 N. Chestnut Ave.

Mosqueda Community Center – 4670 E. Butler Ave.

Todd Beamer Park – 1890 E. Plymouth Way

Vinland Park – 4695 E. Gettysburg Ave.

Mayor Lee Brand and City Manager Wilma Quan today announced that Lupe Perez has been hired as Director of Economic Development for the City of Fresno.

“This is a key position for City Hall and I think we are incredibly fortunate to have someone as competent and well-respected as Lupe to lead our economic development efforts.  Her expertise in development is perfectly suited with the Administration’s mission to attract new businesses to Fresno and helping existing ones grow.” said City Manager Quan.

Perez had previously served as the City of Fresno’s Downtown Revitalization Manager since June 2014.  She was involved in advancing the Mayor’s downtown revitalization efforts, facilitated development, business attraction, and retention, addressed unique downtown design and land use issues, planned events and festivals on the Fulton Street and kept the public engaged in the revitalization process.

“I’ve worked with Lupe since the day I first started serving as a Councilmember and have always found her to be talented and conscientious with excellent people skills and an equally impressive reputation in the local business community. I’m especially pleased that Lupe shares my vision for job creation and is ready to hit the ground running to help us build on our momentum and continue to improve the quality of life for everyone in Fresno.” added Mayor Brand.

Prior to coming to City Hall, Lupe spent 16 years working for the former City of Fresno Redevelopment Agency in various capacities including Project Coordinator and Project Manager.  There she was involved in the Agency’s downtown revitalization efforts through business attraction and retention, facilitating development, land acquisition, relocation, and property disposition.  She also successfully cultivated exceptional relationships within the community to promote and expand economic development opportunities.

“The EDC is pleased to join the City of Fresno in welcoming its new Director of Economic Development Lupe Perez to the team. I have been working closely with Lupe for the past 10 years and I know she will bring her many years of experience and enthusiasm to the position,” said Lee Ann Eager, President, and CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation.  “I am looking forward to many more years of working together to ensure that Fresno is the perfect place to start and grow a business.”

City of Fresno offices will be closed in observance of Labor Day on Monday, September 2, 2019.  The delivery of some City services may be affected.  Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, September 3.  Here is the schedule for City of Fresno operations for the holiday:

Airports:  Administrative offices closed;  Terminal, concessions, and airlines normal operations otherwise.

Building & Permitting:  Office closed.  Permit applications can be submitted, and progress can be monitored, online through our FAASTER portal at any time during the Labor Day holiday.

Business License: Office closed.  The Business Tax Web Renewal will be available for TOT (only) and new business tax online application submittals will be available throughout the Labor Day holiday.

City Clerk’s Office:  Closed.

City Hall Offices:  Closed.

Code Enforcement:  Closed.

Dog License Division:  Closed.

Finance Offices:  Offices closed. Business Tax TOT (only) Web Renewal and new business tax online application submittals will be available throughout the Labor Day holiday.

Fire/Police Departments:  Administrative offices and public counters will be closed.  Normal operations otherwise.

Fresno Area Express:  Administrative offices closed.  Weekend bus routes/schedule in effect.  Call 621-7433 for details.  FAX route maps and schedules are available on the City’s website.

Parking Division:  No enforcement at parking meters and City parking facilities on Labor Day.  Office closed for citation payments. 

Parks and Recreation (PARCS):  Administrative offices closed.  Parks facilities and recreation centers operating with normal schedule.

Personnel:  Closed. Online applications accepted at www.fresno.gov/jobs.

Public Utilities:  Offices closed.

Public Works:  Offices closed.

Purchasing: Office closed; Bid opportunities and updated information are available on the City’s website, under the “For Businesses” tab, then click on bid opportunities.

Rental Housing:  Closed

Residential Solid Waste:  Administrative offices closed.  Normal residential and commercial collection schedule; for questions regarding residential solid waste collection, please call the Solid Waste Management Division at (559) 621-1452.

Utility Payments:  Payment counters closed (Fresno City Hall and Manchester Center.)  Online and phone transactions are available for utility payments.

For urgent matters during the Labor Day holiday, please call 3-1-1 or use our FresGO mobile app.

City of Fresno offices will be closed in observance of Independence Day on Thursday, July 4, 2019.  The delivery of some City services may be affected.  Normal operations will resume on Friday, July 5.  Here is the schedule for City of Fresno operations for the holiday:

Airports:  Administrative offices closed;  Terminal, concessions and airlines normal operations otherwise.

Building & Permitting:  Office closed.  Permit applications can be submitted, and progress can be monitored, online through our FAASTER portal at any time during the Independence Day holiday.

Business License:  Office closed.  The Business Tax Web Renewal will be available for TOT (only) and new business tax online application submittals will be available throughout the Independence Day holiday.

City Clerk’s Office:  Closed.

City Hall Offices:  Closed.

Dog License Division:  Closed.

Finance Offices:  Offices closed.Business Tax TOT (only) Web Renewal and new business tax online application submittals will be available throughout the Independence Day holiday.

Fire/Police Departments:  Administrative offices and public counters will be closed.  Normal operations otherwise.

Fresno Area Express:  Administrative offices closed.  Weekend bus routes/schedule in effect.  Call 621-7433 for details.  FAX route maps and schedules are available on the City’s website.

Parking Division:  No enforcement at parking meters and City parking facilities on Independence Day.  Office closed for citation payments. 

Parks and Recreation (PARCS):  Administrative offices closed.  Parks facilities and recreation centers operating with normal schedule.

Personnel:  Closed. Online applications accepted at www.fresno.gov/jobs.

Planning and Development:  Office closed.  Permit applications can be submitted, and progress can be monitored, online through our FAASTER portal at any time during the Independence Day holiday.

Public Utilities:  Offices closed.

Public Works:  Offices closed.

Purchasing:  Office closed; Bid opportunities and updated information are available on the City’s website, under the “For Businesses” tab, then click on bid opportunities.

Residential Solid Waste:  Administrative offices closed.  Normal residential and commercial collection schedule; for questions regarding residential solid waste collection, please call the Solid Waste Management Division at (559) 621-1452.

Utility Payments:  Payment counters closed (Fresno City Hall and Manchester Center.)  Online and phone transactions available for utility payments.

For urgent matters during the Independence Day holiday, please call 621-CITY (2489) or use our FresGO mobile app.

Mayor Lee Brand today made the following statement about his intention to veto the FY2020 budget approved by the Fresno City Council:

“The City Council is voting tomorrow on a Fiscal Year 2020 budget that is proposing to spend $1.16 million more that the City has in available revenue to spend.  This comes seven months after voters overwhelmingly amended the City Charter to require a balanced budget.  I sent the Council a letter this afternoon stating that I will use the budget line-item veto power granted to the Mayor in the City Charter to balance this budget.

“My entire career has been focused on establishing and maintaining fiscal responsibility when spending taxpayer money.  The budget I approve will be balanced so that expenditures do not exceed revenues and I may have to use the Mayor’s line-item veto authority to get there.

“A balanced budget is of paramount importance, but so is maintaining the integrity of the reserve, which is vital in the event of an economic downturn – a real possibility in the near future.  I do not support any attempt by the Council to reduce or eliminate the Emergency Reserve, which also became part of the City Charter because of a ballot I co-sponsored in November 2012.  In addition to the Charter, there are other resolutions, ordinances and policies which require the City to maintain a 10% Reserve in order to continue providing top quality services to our residents in times of economic distress, such as what occurred just a few short years ago.

“I believe the Council and I agree on about 99.7% of what is contained in the City Budget and I think it is a healthy sign for our democracy that we can have robust and spirited public and private conversations on the few things in the 0.3% where we don’t agree.  I have made it abundantly clear to the Council and the people of Fresno that my approach has always been to deal with budget issues in a fair, reasonable, and consistent manner, and I will continue to work diligently and collaboratively to improve the quality of life for everyone who calls Fresno home.”

The City of Fresno, Solid Waste Management Division, will provide regular residential waste collection service on Thursday, July 4, 2019.  Our once-a-week collection of residential trash, recyclables, and green waste will remain on its original service schedule, uninterrupted by the Holiday.  Our business office will be closed.

For questions regarding your residential holiday service schedule, please call the Solid Waste Management Division at (559) 621-1452.

The City of Fresno begins its three-day watering schedule on Saturday, June 1, and will remain in effect through October.

The three-day watering schedule is in place to reflect residents’ need to provide more water for their lawns and gardens during the dry summer months.

Residents with addresses ending in odd numbers (1,3,5,7,9) are permitted to water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.  Residents with addresses ending in even numbers (0,2,4,6,8) are permitted to water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.  No watering is allowed on Mondays or on any day between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

On April 11, 2019, the Fresno City Council approved a new, simplified watering schedule.  The City will implement a three-day watering schedule during the months of April through October and a one-day watering schedule for the months of November through March.  The City of Fresno continues to urge its residents to conserve water as much as possible.