The City of Fresno Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department (PARCS) will be opening its cooling centers this weekend due to the extreme heat expected during that time.

Cooling centers are activated when the temperature in Fresno is forecast to be 105°F or above by the National Weather Service in Hanford.  The cooling centers will be open this Saturday and Sunday from noon until 8:00 p.m.

Cooling centers will be open at the following locations:

• Ted C. Wills Community Center, 770 N. San Pablo
• Frank H. Ball Neighborhood Center, 760 Mayor
• Mosqueda Community Center, 4670 E. Butler
• Pinedale Community Center, 7170 N. San Pablo
• Romain Neighborhood Park, 745 N. First

In addition, the City’s FAX bus system will provide free transportation along normal routes to and from cooling center sites when the centers are open. To ride free, residents must indicate they are traveling to a cooling center.

Individuals should refer to the FAX schedule to determine the final evening departure time for buses providing service near cooling center locations. The FAX schedule is available on the City’s website.

Please note that the following City of Fresno swimming pools are free for recreational swim from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday:

• Frank H. Ball, 760 Mayor
• Mary Ella Brown, 1350 E. Annadale
• Mosqueda, 4870 E. Butler

Residents may also take advantage of the new Blue Space program, a partnership between the City of Fresno and the Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) that provides recreational swim and swim lessons at Fresno high school swimming pools.

Please be aware that several FUSD pools will not be open to the public this weekend due to

swimming events, including water polo and swimming competitions. Those pools are: Edison, Fresno, Bullard and Sunnyside. Please help get the word out about these four pools being closed to avoid any confusion to our residents.

All City pools, as well as the pools at Hoover, McLane and Roosevelt, will be open and free of charge due to the cooling centers being open.

For more information on our cooling centers please visit our website at:

https://www.fresno.gov/parks/activities-recreational-programs/cooling-centers/

Mayor Lee Brand and Fresno Unified interim superintendent Bob Nelson introduced a new partnership at a press conference to announce the addition of Blue Space to its existing Community Open Space Program.

The City of Fresno provides recreational swimming and swim lessons at its three community pools located at Mary Ella Brown Community Center, Frank H. Ball Neighborhood Center and Mosqueda Community Center.  The City also operates several learner pools and splash parks.

“This is an exciting opportunity to offer more safe and supervised swimming options for our residents by utilizing existing facilities” said Mayor Brand.  “By partnering with Fresno Unified, we save taxpayer money on the construction and maintenance of new pools while making use of pools that would often sit idle during the hottest months of the year.”

Fresno Unified will make its seven high school pools available to the public starting on June 12th for recreational swimming. Swim lessons will be offered at Fresno, Hoover, Edison and Bullard high schools.

Swimming will be free on weekends, $1 on weekdays for children and $2 for adults. The City of Fresno will provide lifeguards and swim instructors.

For more information regarding location, hours of operation and cost of lessons please visit our website at www.fresno.gov/parks/ or by calling (559) 621-2900.

FUSD_Comm_Aquatics_10x5.292

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced plans to open its first fulfillment center in Fresno. This will be Amazon’s fifth fulfillment center in California’s Central Valley, with three operating fulfillment centers located in Tracy and Patterson, and a fourth facility under construction in Sacramento.

Other Amazon California customer fulfillment facilities are located in San Bernardino, Redlands, Moreno Valley, Rialto, Eastvale and Newark. Additionally, there are more than 460,000 authors, sellers, and developers in California growing their businesses and reaching new customers via Amazon products and services.

“We are very excited to expand our network into Fresno and throughout the San Joaquin Valley as a region,” said Akash Chauhan, Amazon’s Vice President of North American Operations. “There are several factors we consider when deciding on where to place a new fulfillment center. Most importantly, we look to see where we can improve Prime benefits with faster shipping speeds for customers and where there is a dedicated workforce that can raise the bar of our operational excellence. We know we’ll find talent in abundance in Fresno to join the Amazon team.”

Amazon employees at the 855,000-square-foot fulfillment center will specialize in handling smaller-sized items such as books, electronic devices and children’s toys.

Mayor Lee Brand said, “On behalf of the people of the City of Fresno, it is my pleasure to welcome Amazon to our wonderful city. We look forward to their fulfillment team joining our rapidly growing business community and building on the positive momentum that is energizing our economy. Amazon will not only provide quality jobs, they’ll also bring a tradition of volunteering and partnering with local small businesses that are vital to our overall success. We are thankful for the job opportunities Amazon will offer to our residents and we will embrace Amazon and make them part of the fabric of our great city.”

“In just five years, Amazon has become one of the fastest-growing and largest employers in the Central Valley, providing thousands of Californians with good-paying jobs,” said Panorea Avdis, Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). “Whether it’s the California Competes Tax Credit program, site selection or permitting assistance, GO-Biz partners with companies to help them expand and grow their operations. Thanks in part to a partnership with the state, Amazon continues to be a strong driver of job creation and positive economic impact, and we are thrilled to see them expand into Fresno and the lower Central Valley.”

Full-time employees at Amazon receive competitive hourly wages and a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare, 401(k) and company stock awards starting on day one. Amazon also offers regular full-time employees maternity and parental leave benefits and access to innovative programs like Career Choice, where it will pre-pay up to 95 percent of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon. Since the program’s launch, more than 9,000 employees are pursuing degrees in game design and visual communications, nursing, IT programming and radiology, to name a few.

To learn more about working at an Amazon fulfillment center, visit www.AmazonDelivers.Jobs.

The project is being developed by Dermody Properties and Seefried Industrial Properties.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

The City of Fresno will begin its three-day watering schedule on June 1, and will remain in effect for the months of June, July and August.

The City of Fresno is implementing its three-day watering schedule to reflect residents need to provide more water for their gardens and lawns during the dry summer months.  An above-average wet season has allowed the City to relax its watering restrictions this year.  The City continues to urge its residents to conserve water as much as possible.

Residents with addresses ending in an odd number (1,3,5,7,9) are permitted to water on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Residents with addresses ending in an even number (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 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Incoming City Manager Wilma Quan-Schecter today announced that Scott Mozier has been named the City of Fresno’s new Assistant City Manager, effective July 10, 2017.  Mr. Mozier will be replacing Ms. Quan-Schecter, who will become City Manager on that date.  A national search for his replacement will begin immediately.

“I wanted my first hire as incoming City Manager to be someone with proven experience, integrity, and a passion for local government, and Scott meets all those requirements with room to spare,” said Ms. Quan-Schecter.  “He demonstrates daily all the qualities that I am looking for in my management team and he’s the perfect choice to fill this important position.”

Mr. Mozier has served as the City’s Director of Public Works since January 2014 and has overseen the successful delivery of key projects such as the Fulton Street Reconstruction, neighborhood street improvements and major infrastructure projects throughout the City.  Prior to that, he served for more than seven years as the Assistant Public Works Director and City Engineer.  He led a team dedicated to improving the private development approval process for subdivision maps, commercial and industrial developments, infill projects and all improvements within the public right-of-way.  Mr. Mozier also previously served as the City Traffic Engineer and has worked with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to make Fresno more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.

Prior to joining the City of Fresno, Mr. Mozier spent several years with private engineering firms in Los Angeles and the Bay Area managing the design of numerous projects including freeway interchanges, street improvements and light rail system construction.  He is licensed in the State of California as both a civil and traffic engineer.

Mr. Mozier earned his Bachelor’s Degree in civil engineering from UC Davis where he met his wife Sandy. They are celebrating 25 years of marriage and have three daughters.

The City of Fresno announced that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with 5 Bars Communities and will begin marketing the city’s assets for small cell and wireless use.  This effort will enhance the ability of Fresno’s citizens to access high speed wireless connectivity throughout the city.  The comprehensive program encompasses intelligent infrastructure technologies, smart city initiatives and 5G wireless planning.

“This plan allows the City of Fresno to move forward in our ‘smart city’ efforts while identifying innovative funding streams that are a part of our ongoing strategy of prudent fiscal management,” said Fresno Mayor Lee Brand.

“We are excited to move forward with 5 Bars and this agreement in order to bring greater coverage to our City, create a platform for Smart City initiatives and drive new revenue to Fresno,” said Bryon Horn, Chief Information Officer for the City of Fresno.

As wireless carriers look to densify existing networks, it is estimated that the wireless industry will deploy hundreds of thousands of small cells, making it increasingly difficult for cities to manage the application and installation process.  In collaboration with the carriers, 5 Bars Communities will streamline applications with a predictable process while preserving aesthetics.  As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and State of California look to pass preemptive legislation SB 649 intended to reduce local control over rights of way, finding a proactive path to protect assets and secure streamlined permitting is imperative.

“We are excited to be working alongside the City of Fresno’s leadership as they look to advance their wireless footprint in the growing environment for 5G and smart city infrastructure,” said Monnie McGaffigan, President of 5 Bars Communities.  “All of this planning will benefit the City of Fresno for years to come and advance its economic sustainability as a wired community.” 

5 Bars will act as an advocate for the City, offering its intelligent platform which provides an ongoing solution that identifies opportunities for wireless collocation, while minimizing impacts from wireless facility siting decisions.  The decision for Fresno to partner with 5 Bars Communities was based on maintaining local control, preventing visual blight and increasing connectivity for businesses, residents and citizens.  The solution will be the basis to deploy smart city and enhance business investment, and be used to improve city services.

About 5 Bars Communities

5 Bars Communities, a DBA of XG Communities, is Headquartered in Irvine, California.  As a premier provider of Small Cell Wireless Marketing Plans for Counties, Cities and Municipalities developing comprehensive wireless strategies through a unique holistic view of assets, coverage, and capacity.  

The City of Fresno Code Enforcement Division and the Fresno EOC Local Conservation Corps Recycling Program, using grant funding available from CalRecycle, will hold a Waste Tire Amnesty Day event on Saturday, May 27, 2017 to allow City of Fresno citizens to dispose of their unwanted waste tires.

Some event restrictions include: Participants must be City of Fresno residents, no tractor or diesel tires, no business-generated tires, and each resident is limited to (9) tires per vehicle. Tires with rim/wheels will be accepted.

Each resident will need to provide ID such as the Waste Tire event mailer, driver’s license, or utility billing showing City of Fresno residency.

Date:           Saturday, May 27, 2017           

Time:           8 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

**or until the trailer is filled**

Place:         Fresno EOC Local Conservation Corps

                     1805 E California Ave Fresno, CA 93706

 Thank you for keeping Fresno clean and safe.

For more information, please contact:

Ana Manzula at (559) 621-8453 / (559)240-9246

Or

Martay Sanchez (559)621-8455 / (559)999-1485.

First budget proposal is balanced, focuses on economic development, public safety, prudent fiscal management and improving quality of life

Mayor Lee Brand, along with City Manager Bruce Rudd, today announced the proposed City of Fresno budget for Fiscal Year 2018 during a press conference at City Hall.  The $1.138 billion budget puts an emphasis on continuing the City’s long-term financial stability, while focusing on economic development and increasing public safety staffing and representing the best possible use of the City’s limited resources to address the most pressing issues.

“My commitment to fiscal responsibility was demonstrated during my eight years on the Council and has been consistently applied to this year’s budget,” said Mayor Brand. “My vision for Fresno is to transform our economy by creating citywide prosperity that will improve the quality of life for everyone. ”

The proposed FY 2018 budget is Mayor Brand’s first spending plan since taking office in January of this year.  It represents a balanced approach to rebuilding the financial health of the City and adding back core municipal services.  Among the highlights, the FY 2018 budget:

• Funds 21 additional sworn police personnel to increase sworn staffing to 825, the highest staffing level since 2010.
• Expands Shotspotter^TM coverage from 6 to 9 square miles.
• Provides funding for new police substation in Southeast Fresno, as well as 50 new patrol vehicles and 14 motorcycles.
• Makes the Office of Independent Review a full-time, local position

• Continues the implementation of the Mayor’s Rental Housing Improvement Act by establishing the Proactive Rental Housing Inspection Program that will focus on dramatically improving the quality of rental housing available in Fresno.
• Expands the Weekend Health & Fitness Program to include instructional and recreational swimming programs at Fresno Unified and Central Unified schools.
• Provides $5 million in funding for neighborhood parks renovation projects.
• Provides over $26 million in funding for street maintenance projects.
• Provides funding for an Alley Maintenance Team which will be responsible for the semi-annual of cleaning of every alley within the City limits.
• Creates enhancements to the City’s online billing for utilities system.
• Reflects over $1 million in savings from the refinancing of the majority of the City’s debt; a total of $42 million in savings will be realized citywide over the life of the debt.
• Continues contributions to the City’s General Fund reserve, on track to reach a 10% reserve by FY 2020.

• Continues funding for the Economic Expansion Act and the Industrial/Large Office Development Impact Fee Elimination or Reduction (iDEFER) Program
• Includes funding needed to complete implementation of the new land management system that supports Business Friendly Fresno 2.0.
• Aligns one-time savings and revenues into a funding stream tied to the year when the General Fund debt shows significant reductions. In 2024 the General Fund annual debt will drop $3.5 million and by 2030 it will drop $14.8 million.

City Manager Rudd added, “What we have accomplished as an organization is nothing less than astounding, and it’s a testimony to the grit and determination that comes with living in this community.  It is who we are and is why Fresno will always be a special place.”

Mayor Brand will present the proposed budget to Fresno City Council at its meeting on Thursday, May 25, 2017. The City of Fresno’s budget must be adopted by June 30, per the city charter.

The full FY2018 Budget Proposal can be viewed online at www.fresno.gov/budget.

Grants awarded by the National Recreation and Park Association and The Walt Disney Company

The Highway City Community Science Center has been selected as a winner of the national Meet Me at the Park campaign and will receive a $20,000 grant from the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and The Walt Disney Company, including Disney Citizenship, Disney|ABC Television Group and ESPN.  Community members voted for the winning project throughout Earth Month in April.

Meet Me at the Park helps to revitalize and restore local parks and park programs across the country.  These park projects will connect kids to nature, inspire healthy living and provide access to sports.  The campaign was promoted on social media, ABC Television Network, ABC-owned and affiliate stations, Freeform, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior, the ABC app and other digital platforms.

Highway City Community Science Center: Meet me at the Park for Science in the Neighborhood was one of 17 park improvement projects selected to receive grant funding.  The $20,000 grant will allow the PARCS Department to operate the Highway City Science Center and take the Mobile Science Vehicle equipped with hundreds of diverse informal science projects including robotics, chemical reactions, and exploring solar and wind power science projects into underserved neighborhoods lacking green space.  Additionally, children and youth will be able to participate in hiking, camping, and nature trail service projects this summer, promoting physical activity and nature based educational opportunities.

Mayor Lee Brand noted, “This award recognizes the investments we are making in our parks to foster knowledge and appreciation of science and the environment, and to help create a safer, brighter and healthier future for every child in Fresno.”

“Our continued investment in these types of programs will provide positive changes for our youth that will ultimately have a profound impact on the quality of life in Fresno,”  said City Manager and Interim PARCS Director, Bruce Rudd.

“Nearly 70,000 people participated in this year’s Meet Me at the Park campaign, a record number, demonstrating a tremendous amount of support and enthusiasm for local parks nationwide,” said Lori Robertson, NRPA director of conservation.  “Many children and families in need will benefit from this campaign, which was made possible by the generosity of The Walt Disney Company.  We want to thank them for helping us give back to the communities our members so proudly support.”

For more information about this project and parks and recreation, visit https://www.fresno.gov/parks/  For further information about the winning Meet Me at the Park projects visit nrpa.org/Disney.

To learn more about Meet Me at the Park, visit www.nrpa.org/beinspired.

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity.  Through its network of nearly 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org.  For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

Mayor Lee Brand and Chairman Brian Pacheco today officially announced the first of many special joint meetings between the City of Fresno and the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, scheduled for Fresno City Hall on May 30 at 1:30 p.m.

The joint meeting, the first such gathering in recent history, will be chaired by Mayor Brand and includes all City Councilmembers and County Supervisors, as well as City Manager Bruce Rudd and County Administrator Jean Rousseau. This historic event is free and open to the public.

“We have a significant number of issues that affect both the City and the County, and I’m pleased that we are able to work with the County to develop a shared vision and shared solutions,” said Mayor Brand. “This is just the start of a new era of collaboration and communication between the City and the County, and the real winners are the citizens we serve.”

“We have already had two Ad Hoc Subcommittee meetings with the Mayor and members of the Council and have achieved significant progress on several fronts,” said Chairman Pacheco. “There is much more we can do and this joint meeting of the Board and the Council is a giant step in that direction.”

The first joint meeting will concentrate on discussions about public safety, marijuana legislation, and animal control. There will be a public comment section at the end of the meeting reserved for residents desiring to address the officials on any matter on the agenda.

Requests for disability-related modification or accommodation for translation services must be made to the City Clerk at (559) 621-7650 no later than Friday, May 26, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.