The City of Fresno is currently conducting a recruitment for Assistant City Manager.  In this capacity, the City Manager is seeking an individual experienced in public administration with a strong understanding of varied municipal operations and public policy.

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The City of Fresno, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, dedicated a new public art piece this afternoon at the Mariposa Plaza located on Fulton Street.  The new piece is the first to be installed on Fulton since 1964 and the first to be installed on the newly opened Fulton Street.

Money for the new artwork was made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Program to commission new interactive public art, and develop a conceptual redesign of Mariposa Plaza that creates more vibrant and functional public space for festivals, social gatherings, and as amenity for surrounding residents, merchants and workers.

“Great cities have great art, and this is another world-class addition to Fresno’s public art collection, featured on Fulton Street and totally accessible to residents and visitors alike,” said Mayor Lee Brand. “I am proud that we are able to help bring Mariposa Plaza to life and I offer my thanks to the Fresno Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and our community partners in this effort.”

The City, working together with the landscape architecture firm of Wallace, Roberts, and Todd (WRT), and community partners; The Downtown Fresno Partnership, Creative Fresno, Urban Diversity Design, The Fresno Art Council, The Fresno Art Museum, Univision, Pacific Southwest Building, Central Valley Community Foundation, and Axis Consulting developed an art plan for students to design their vision for Mariposa Plaza, held public meetings, and tours to advance the design of the Plaza, and issued a national call for artists.  Five public art proposals were received, and Gordon Huether was the artist selected to create the world-class work of art in May of 2017.

Huether, from Napa Valley, has created public art installations for universities, hospitals, recreation centers, civic buildings, libraries, museums, airports, transportation centers, parking garages, and private corporations throughout the world.  In total, he has completed more than 250 art commissions over the course of his 30-year career, including the Salt Lake City Airport and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library.  In addition, his work has been exhibited at museums and galleries and is represented in private collections throughout the United States and Europe.

“Downtown Fresno belongs to everyone, and that’s why I’m proud to have been part of the public conversation we had that eventually brought this beautiful new work to the plaza,” said Fresno City Councilmember Oliver Baines, whose district includes Downtown Fresno. “It’s a terrific complement to the public art already on Fulton Street and builds on the incredible momentum for our vibrant new downtown.”

Mariposa Plaza sits at the center of the former Fulton Mall and is two blocks west of the state’s planned high-speed rail station. The new artwork will be part of a larger plan to redesign and “activate” the plaza, which is not part of the Fulton Street rebuild project. The former Fulton Mall was home to 32 pieces of art including sculptures, mosaic benches, and water features. The City spent over $5 million dollars to restore the artwork to its original condition.

The City of Fresno held a press conference this morning to announce the official launch of the Fresno Area Express (FAX) bus rapid transit system known as “Q,” a state of the art bus system that provides faster, more convenient, and more reliable service than a traditional bus line.  Among the features that “Q” provides are 10–minute frequencies at peak time, bus priority at traffic signals, off-board kiosks, and enhanced stations.

“It’s a project that meets the changing needs of our city,” said Fresno mayor Lee Brand. “Our new ‘Q’ bus service will make the daily transit experience more appealing, attractive and accessible for our customers.”

Q’s initial route spans 15.7 miles on Blackstone Avenue, from North Fresno Street to downtown, then out Ventura Avenue/Kings Canyon Road to Clovis Avenue.  The project includes 51 stations: 24 station pairs (or 48 one–way stations), two terminal stations, and one transit center with a shared platform station.  Q serves major shopping centers, hospitals, and other significant destinations, and in future years, additional Q routes could be added to further improve the FAX system.

The “Q” began operating on February 19, 2018, and riders can take advantage of free rides through Sunday.  Bus rates for “Q” are the same as for fixed bus routes and riders can easily transfer between “Q” and existing FAX routes.  Information about FAX can be found on our website: https://www.fresno.gov/transportation/fax/

Mayor Lee Brand was joined at the press conference by Interim Assistant City Manager Bruce Rudd, Transportation Director Jim Schaad and Councilmember Oliver Baines.

City of Fresno offices will be closed in observance of the Presidents Day holiday on Monday, February 19, 2018.  Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, February 20.  Here is the schedule for City of Fresno operations for the holiday:

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

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 Presidents Day holiday.

City Clerk’s Office:  Closed.

City Hall Offices:  Closed.

Development and Resource Management:  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 Presidents 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 Presidents Day.  Office closed for citation payments.

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

Residential Solid Waste:  Administrative offices closed.  Normal residential and commercial collection schedule; for questions regarding the 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 Presidents Day holiday, please call (559) 621-CITY (2489) or use our FresGO mobile app.

The California Strategic Growth Council (SGC) today approved a $70 million package of projects in Southwest Fresno, Downtown Fresno and Chinatown through the Transformative Climate Communities Program (TCC).

The projects were proposed by area residents and business owners through an unprecedented series of community meetings that put the power to decide how to spend the $70 million in the residents’ hands.  All of the proposed projects were distilled into five packages that were presented before a steering committee of the residents and business owners with the final vote taking place in early October.

The steering committee overwhelmingly selected a package that included a West Fresno Satellite Campus for Fresno City College, community gardens, low carbon transportation improvements, affordable housing, urban greening, and local economic development.

“This $70 million 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, it will transform lives.” said Fresno Mayor Lee Brand. “This funding will be the catalyst for further investment that will help Fresno bring new life to our most vulnerable communities.”

The $70 million was approved by the SGC in November 2016 for projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the development and implementation of neighborhood-level transformative climate community plans that include multiple, coordinated GHG emissions reduction projects that provide local economic, environmental, and health benefits to disadvantaged communities.

“The strength of Fresno’s Transformative Climate Communities proposal is a testament to the vision of local community members when they are empowered to define the path forward for their city. We are thrilled to support this community-led plan to improve health and spur economic development in Fresno.” said Randall Winston, Executive Director of the Strategic Growth Council.

The Transformative Climate Communities Collaborative was created to bring together local leaders to identify investments that will catalyze economic and environmental transformation in Southwest, Chinatown and downtown Fresno. The City of Fresno and the Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) partnered together to provide support for the community meetings and to provide the basis to apply for future TCC grants.

The City of Fresno has completed its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year which ended June 30, 2017.

Highlights from the City’s CAFR:

• City assets continue to set records, reaching a total of $3.6 billion for the first time in the City’s history.
• The City also received a record $804.3 million of revenue in the fiscal year 2017, surpassing the previous record of $752.8 million set in the fiscal year 2016.
• The City continues to enjoy a Net Pension Asset, which was valued at $147.7 million. Fresno is the only city in California and one of only seven in the nation with a pension surplus.
• Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service significantly upgraded the City of Fresno’s investment ratings, with Standard and Poor’s giving the City an unprecedented five-level increase to A+ in April 2017.

The report was prepared by the City’s Finance Department in conformance with current accounting and financial principles established by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).  The audit was completed by the outside accounting firm of Brown Armstrong, LLP.

“The City’s continued strengthening of its financial position is proof positive that Fresno has firmly established itself as a financially stable agency,” said City Controller Michael Lima. “However, since we still lag behind other cities when it comes to assets available to support our population, it is imperative that we maintain our fiscal prudence and that the plan to build all our assets, especially cash and capital assets, is continued.”

In addition to the results provided in the CAFR, the Finance Department reports that the Unrestricted Fund Balance for the General Fund Emergency Reserve increased from $15.7 million to $20.5 million at the end of FY2017, but is still short of the 10% goal of $30 million in reserves.

“This is just another indication that our strong fiscal strategy, combined with the dramatic improvement in our ratings outlook and our steady increase in job and wage growth, is the right formula for long-term stability,” said Mayor Lee Brand. “We have more work to do, but it’s encouraging to see our efforts continue to meet with success and move us closer to our goal of improving the quality of life for everyone in Fresno.”

The full Comprehensive Annual Financial Report was presented to the City Council today and is available for public review on the City’s website.

The City of Fresno Office of Independent Review’s report for the fourth quarter of 2017 is now available on the City’s website.

The report, compiled by Independent Reviewer John A. Gliatta, covers the period from October 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017.

The report, as well as other information on the Office of Independent Review, is available on the Office’s section of the City’s website at https://www.fresno.gov/oir.

Mayor Lee Brand released the following statement on the retirement today of longtime Fresno Bee editor Jim Boren:

“Jim Boren is a rare breed: a career journalist who started work at his hometown newspaper as a cub reporter — and never left.  Instead of hopping newspapers in an attempt to reach a major metropolitan daily, Jim stayed local and became an expert in all things Fresno, knowing his city like few do.   

“This deep knowledge benefitted readers, not only because the vast web of sources that Jim developed allowed him to write more thorough and authoritative stories, but also because as a hometown boy, his reporting was always done with a sense of place, a love of city, and desire to see it be made better. If Jim took a politician to task, it wasn’t for a portfolio clip, it was to make Fresno better.

“As such, Jim’s departure is a huge loss for Fresno. The good news is that Jim isn’t going too far. The Bee’s loss is Fresno State’s gain, as he will use his retirement to mold the next generation of journalists. It is often said of veterans like Jim that ‘they don’t make them like that anymore.’ But I think Jim will use his deep well of journalistic knowledge to do just that — help create a new generation of journalists that know how to be tough but fair, and be dedicated not only to craft but also to the communities they work in.

“On a personal note, I appreciate Jim’s willingness to take my calls and discuss local issues, regardless of their importance, with intelligence and grace.”

Mayor Lee Brand released the following statement on the passing of longtime Clovis Councilman Harry Armstrong:

“Our community has lost a legend. Harry Armstrong was a local government icon and a mentor for many politicians and policymakers.   I first met Harry when I was elected to Fresno City Council in 2008, and I was immediately impressed with his sincerity and his integrity. He was the embodiment of collaboration and always a professional. 

Harry’s legacy will live on throughout our region. During his half-century of service, Clovis grew, the Central Valley grew. Politicians came and went. Fashions changed. But one thing remained constant – Harry Armstrong. He was truly one of a kind and he will be missed.”

Mayor Lee Brand held a press conference earlier today at City Hall to announce details of his Business Friendly Fresno 2.0! initiative.  Mayor Brand was joined by City of Fresno Councilmembers Steve Brandau, Luis Chavez and Clint Olivier, Fresno Chamber of Commerce President Nathan Ahle, and several local business leaders.

The plan will include forming a committee of knowledgeable members of the business community who will complete a comprehensive review and evaluation of the City’s business permit and planning process.

“In my 9 years at City Hall, I have consistently demonstrated my ability to tackle complex problems through extensive research and collaboration that produced viable solutions, starting with the Better Business Act in 2009, Debt Mgt. Policies, Reserve Policies and altogether over 22 legislative acts,” said Brand “I’m confident that the team I have assembled today will follow the parameters I have set to take on the daunting issue of making Fresno business friendly.”

The committee will take a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the organizational structure, technology, training, staffing levels, protocols and other factors that ultimately determine the time it takes to get a project from start to finish.

Business Friendly Fresno 2.0! will also complete the implementation of Accela software that began rolling out under the original Business Friendly Fresno initiative.  Accela will allow people to electronically submit permit applications and architectural drawings as well as, track the plan check process online.  The software will help identify shortcomings in the processes and allow staff to develop appropriate solutions, set up more detailed and realistic performance metrics and goals for every type of permit.

The new initiative will also look at other options such as a Customer Service Representative position to help answer any questions and help business owners through the application process; a mid-year review and evaluation of staffing and funding, and evaluate best practices from other cities.

Business Friendly Fresno 2.0! Committee members:

Tim Orman (Chairman) – Mayor’s office
Anne Kloose – PG&E
Jeff Roberts – Granville Homes
Jeff Harris – Wilson Development
Dennis Gaab – Century Builders
Steve Spencer – Spencer Enterprises Inc.
Rick Ginder – Ginder Development Corporation
Lelan Parnigian – Fowler Packing
Mike Pickett – Don Pickett & Associates, Inc.
Larry Fortune – Fortune Associates
Sal Gonzales – Lance-Kashian & Company
Dirk Poeschel – Dirk Poeschel Land Development Services, Inc.
Ed Dunkel – Precision Civil Engineering, Inc.
Ruth Evans – The Evans HR Group
Nick Yovino – Former DARM Director
Nathan Ahle – CEO, Fresno Chamber of Commerce
Clint Olivier – Councilman, District 7
Luis Chavez – Councilman, District 5
Steve Brandau – Councilman, District 2