Mayor Lee Brand announced the launch of the City of Fresno’s Rental Housing Registry at a press conference this morning at City Hall. The registry is the first step of the Rental Housing Improvement Act, which gives property owners and managers the ability to register their rental properties online.

The purpose of the registry is to create an easy-to-use site that property owners can use to register the over 90,000 rental units in the City of Fresno. The goal is to work with property owners to achieve compliance with health and safety code violations and improve the quality of Fresno’s rental housing stock.

“This is a significant step forward in the effort to improve Fresno’s housing stock through the Rental Housing Improvement Act,” said Mayor Brand. “By proactively identifying substandard housing violations and ensuring rental housing meets minimum health and safety standards, we will collectively safeguard, and improve the housing stock of decent, safe and sanitary residential rental units within our community.”

All residential rental properties are required to be registered and the registration updated whenever there is a change of ownership or contact information. Registration is due no later than 30 days from receiving initial notice. There are no fees to register a rental property; however, failure to register will result in penalties which will be mailed in the near future.

The Rental Registry can be found online at www.fresno.gov/rentalhousing.

City of Fresno offices will be closed in observance of the New Year’s Day holiday on Monday, January 1, 2018.  Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, January 2.  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) throughout the New Year’s 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 New Year’s Day holiday.

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

Fresno Area Express:  Administrative offices closed.  FAX service will operate on a weekend bus routes schedule.  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 New Year’s Day.  Office closed for citation payments.

Parks and Recreation (PARCS):  Administrative offices closed.  No senior hot meals.  Regional and neighborhood parks open every day.  Neighborhood and community centers are closed.

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 residential solid waste collection, please call the Solid Waste Management Division at (559) 621-1452.

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

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

City of Fresno offices will be closed in observance of the Christmas holiday on Monday, December 25, 2017.  Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, December 26.  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) throughout the Christmas 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 Christmas holiday.

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

Fresno Area Express:  Administrative offices closed.  FAX service is closed on Christmas Day.  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 Christmas Day.  Office closed for citation payments.

Parks and Recreation (PARCS):  Administrative offices closed Monday, December 25.  No senior hot meals.  Regional and neighborhood parks open every day.  Neighborhood and community centers are closed.  The Weekend Recreation and Fitness Program will be closed on Sunday, December 24 at all 16 school sites.

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

For urgent matters during the Christmas holiday, please call (559) 621-CITY (2489) or use our FresGO mobile app

Friant-Kern Canal Pipeline Conveys Water to Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility

A milestone in the City of Fresno’s water infrastructure improvement program has been achieved with completion and activation of the Friant-Kern Canal Pipeline, the water pipeline that now captures surface water from the San Joaquin River and transports it to the city’s Northeast Surface Water Treatment Facility before delivery to Fresno homes and businesses.

“This marks an important step in Fresno’s efforts to ensure a safe and sustainable water supply for the City’s future,” said Thomas Esqueda, Director of the City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities.  “This is one of the major projects to be completed under the City’s Recharge Fresno program to improve the City’s water infrastructure, reduce dependence on groundwater, and maximize access to water from the Sierra Nevada Mountains.”

Prior to completion of the 4.5-mile long, 60-inch diameter Friant-Kern Canal Pipeline, the City’s Central Valley Project surface water traveled nearly 55 miles in open canals from Friant Dam to the Northeast Surface Treatment Facility.  The new pipeline now reroutes the water directly to the treatment facility, eliminating nearly 47 miles from the conveyance distance.  While this marks a significant improvement in operations, customers will receive the same high quality water already produced by the treatment facility.

The $15.6 million Friant-Kern Canal Pipeline will now serve as the primary and protected source of water to the treatment facility, enabling improved source water quality, increased reliability and greater flexibility in operating the facility.  The pipeline will require no pumping to reach the treatment facility, resulting in reduced operating costs.  The pipeline is also sized to allow for the future expansion of the treatment facility to its ultimate capacity of 60 million gallons per day.  The facility currently produces between 12 million to 30 million gallons of water per day depending on customer demands.

Construction firm Mountain Cascade, Inc., of Livermore, Calif., was awarded the Friant-Kern Canal Pipeline construction project in April 2016.  The project was funded through a combination of low-interest loans from the State of California Drinking Water Revolving Fund and water rates.  Despite last winter’s weather and associated delays, the project was completed safely and under budget.

The Friant-Kern Canal Pipeline is one of several projects that are part of the Recharge Fresno program.  Other projects include the 80 million gallon per day Southeast Surface Water Treatment Facility; the 13-mile, 72-inch diameter Kings River Pipeline; and 13 miles of regional transmission mains, all scheduled for completion in the coming year.  Together, the projects will capture water from the San Joaquin and Kings rivers, and treat and deliver that water to residents throughout the City, significantly reducing the amount of water currently being pumped from the ground, and ultimately enabling replenishment of that groundwater aquifer.

The City of Fresno’s Department of Transportation announced that the Fresno Area Express (FAX) is returning to the Downtown Courthouse Park Transit Center, better known as A, B, and L Shelters, effective today, December 18, 2017.

The three shelter sites at the Downtown Transit Center underwent a complete reconstruction and makeover.  Work on the project began in June of 2016 and includes an expanded customer area at L Shelter, new shelter structures and canopies, attractive lighting features, coordinated style benches, and other modern amenities that bring a more open feeling to the area.  During construction, FAX utilized temporary quarters outside the Courthouse Park along Fresno and L Streets.

FAX, the City’s public transit system, serves the community with sixteen fixed routes, half of which use the Downtown Courthouse Park Transit Center along with several rural transit systems.

The Courthouse Park project was funded by $1.9 million in Federal grants, matched by state and local dollars.

Fresno City Council today approved on a 7-0 vote a new service agreement with the North Central Fire Protection District (NCFPD) that will continue fire protection services to the City of Kerman as well as residents living in the District boundaries, effective January 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019. The resolution guarantees service while the City and the District renegotiate a new, long-term agreement.

This action represents the Fifth Amendment to this agreement, which will result in the fire protection services continuing to be provided by the City of Fresno on behalf of the District. The amendment will also ensure that the payments received by the District will be sufficient to cover the cost of providing the service during this period while the parties continue to work on a possible long-term agreement.

“I am pleased that we were able to reach a satisfactory agreement that will continue to provide excellent fire services to the citizens of the North Central Fire Protection District,” said Mayor Lee Brand. “Our goal has always been to find common ground and come to a reasonable solution that maintains that high quality level of service.  I appreciate the help of Supervisors Pacheco and Mendes in facilitating the meeting between my Chief of Staff and I and two members of the North Central Fire Protection District Board that led to this resolution.”

Mayor Lee Brand released the following statement after hearing that California Lieutenant Governor and 2018 gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom was in Fresno for a California State Lands Commission meeting and remarked about the lack of support at the meeting for the Palm and Nees Avenues access proposal to the San Joaquin River Parkway, which is also known as Alternative 5B.: 

“I am disappointed that the Lt. Governor came to Fresno to learn about this important community issue but didn’t give me, the City or the affected parties sufficient notice about the time or nature of the meeting.  I’m also disappointed that he and the State Lands Commission chose to insert themselves in our local decision-making process without soliciting and hearing all sides of the story.  Neither Mr. Newsom nor anyone else on the Commission consulted with us about possible solutions we’re working on that could provide access at both locations.

“As the former Mayor of San Francisco, I would hope Mr. Newsom would appreciate that important local issues such as access to the San Joaquin River Parkway are complex and multi-faceted. One of the major hallmarks of my administration has been strengthening relationships with all of our local, state and federal partners, and seeking a way forward that brings everyone to the table to find a just and equitable solution. I hope to develop the same collaborative relationship with Mr. Newsom, both in his current role as the state’s lieutenant governor and in any future endeavors he may pursue.

“In the meantime, I would ask Mr. Newsom and his fellow State Lands Commission members to reconsider the decision they made yesterday.”

City Manager Wilma Quan-Schecter and Assistant City Manager Jane Sumpter announced that Henry Fierro has been named Interim Budget Manager in the Finance Department.

Mr. Fierro has been a Budget Analyst with the City of Fresno since 2002.  In his 15 years with the City, he has gained in-depth experience in governmental budgeting, financial analysis, and labor cash flow projections.  He was the project lead on the replacement of the City’s budget system in 2015.  In September of this year, Fierro was approved by the Fresno City Council to serve as a member of the City’s Deferred Compensation Board.  Prior to joining the City of Fresno, he worked as a Senior Financial Analyst at Goodrich Aerospace Aerostructures Group, Inc. in Chula Vista, California and at Bank of America in San Diego, California.

Mr. Fierro was raised in Sanger and earned both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, with an emphasis in Finance, as well as a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Fresno.  As Interim Budget Manager, Fierro will be responsible for overseeing the development and administration of the City’s annual budget, including the five-year Capital Improvement Plan.

City of Fresno offices will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 23, and Friday, November 24, 2017.  Normal operations will resume on Monday, November 27. 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) throughout the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

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 Thanksgiving holiday, November 23 and 24.

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

Fresno Area Express:  Administrative offices closed.  FAX service is closed on Thanksgiving Day, but will resume service on Friday, November 24 with weekend bus routes/schedule in effect.  Administrative offices remain closed; 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 Thursday and Friday.  Office closed for citation payments both days.

Parks and Recreation (PARCS):  Administrative offices closed Thursday and Friday.  No senior hot meals Thursday and Friday.  Regional and neighborhood parks open every day.  Neighborhood and community centers are closed Thursday but open Friday from 3-7 p.m.; gymnasiums open from 3-8 p.m.

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

Public Utilities:  Offices closed.

Public Works:  Offices closed.

Purchasing:  Office closed; Bids Online available for bids and vendor registration.

Residential Solid Waste:  There will be no collection service on Thursday.  On Friday, November 24, the regular schedule for Thursday trash, recyclables and green waste collection will be followed.  On Saturday, November 25, the regular schedule for Friday trash, recyclables and green waste collection will be followed.  Regular service will resume on Monday, November 27.  Business office will be closed.  For questions regarding residential solid waste collection, please call the Solid Waste Management Division at (559) 621-1452.

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

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

The City of Fresno today announced the launch of daily non-stop air service between Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) beginning June 7, 2018.  The new route will provide seamless air access from California’s Central Valley to the Midwest and convenient connections to the East Coast and European destinations.  Ranked as the third largest city in the United States, Chicago serves as headquarters to several Fortune 500 companies and a variety of tourism attractions.

United Airlines’ commitment to providing non-stop service between Fresno Yosemite International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport creates the opportunity for bridging future business prospects between the Central Valley and the Midwest while fulfilling a highly desired route for today’s business and leisure travelers.

“United Airlines recognizes what is happening with our growing and diversifying the economy by committing their resources to this very important market,” said Fresno Mayor Lee Brand.  “This significant investment by the airline validates Fresno is a strong market to the Midwest and beyond and furthers the growing positive momentum that we have built over the past several years.”

“Chicago O’Hare International Airport consistently ranks as one of Fresno Yosemite International Airport’s Top 10 Markets where travelers are flying and has been a priority destination of Fresno Yosemite International Airport’s continuous air service development efforts,” said Director of Aviation Kevin Meikle.  “We are beyond excited to share and celebrate today’s announcement with the community and the region as well as extend our appreciation to United Airlines’ for its commitment to Fresno and the Central Valley.”

Non-stop air service to a prominent destination such as Chicago increases Fresno’s visibility as an attractive and progressive city with diverse service to major air transportation hubs.  United Airlines’ expanded investment in the Fresno market is anticipated to result in significant economic benefits for the Central Valley.

“United Airlines is looking forward to connecting more customers to California’s Central Valley,” said Grant Whitney, United’s vice president of Domestic Network Planning.  “Our new service offers customers another convenient choice to get to Fresno and Yosemite National Park from the Midwest.”

United Airlines will operate the Chicago route using the Embraer E175 jet with a schedule ideal to accommodate a one-day business trip or a multiple day stay.  The outbound flight departs FAT at 11:01 pm, arrives ORD at 5:12 am, coinciding with morning departures to the East Coast and Midwest.  The inbound flight departs ORD at 7:35 pm, arrives FAT at 10:16 pm.

United Airlines’ presence at Fresno Yosemite International Airport continues to grow.  In addition to the June 2018 launch of Chicago service, the airline currently provides daily non-stop flights between Fresno and Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco.  In August, the airline introduced a 737 aircraft to operate its early morning departure to San Francisco and continues to transition to larger two class series aircraft such as the E175.

Summary of new service between FAT and ORD:

City Pair	Departs	Arrives	Frequency	Aircraft
Fresno – Chicago O’Hare	11:01 p.m.	5:12 a.m.	Daily	E175
Chicago O’Hare – Fresno	7:35 p.m.	10:16 p.m.	Daily	E175

Flight times are based on local times.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport currently offers Valley passengers daily non-stop flights to Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Guadalajara, Mexico on domestic and international carriers.  Fresno Yosemite is a municipally owned entity operating as a self-supporting enterprise. No City of Fresno general funds are used to operate Fresno Yosemite International Airport or Fresno Chandler Executive Airport

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