Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Clovis PD Pulls Crime-Free Housing Program from Council Agenda
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
May 31, 2019

Share

The Clovis Police Department has pulled a proposed “Crime-Free Housing Program” from Monday’s city council agenda.

The initial proposal included a requirement that landlords provide a list of occupants to the police chief upon request. It also required building managers to be trained by the police department and mandated “appropriate background checks” and a “crime-free lease addendum” for all renters.

The addendum required residents, and any of their guests to “live a crime-free lifestyle.” A violation of any provision could cause a termination of the lease.

Cpl. Chris Berna said the department wrote the proposal after speaking to landlords, managers, and tenants.

“Since it hit the agenda, we were contacted by a couple of groups we weren’t able to reach out to or that we missed,” Berna said of why the item was pulled.

The police department will now reach out to those groups and address any concerns. Berna said one of those groups it will contact is the California Apartment Association. It is one of the nation’s largest apartment trade groups.

Greg Terzakis, the senior vice president of the Greater Fresno CAA chapter, says he likes the intent of the ordinance, but the city needs to work on the practicality of its language. Terzakis called it “too vague.”

Call Volume Higher

“I have confidence in Clovis leadership that they will evaluate this policy to make sure that it is meeting its intended outcomes without having unintended consequences.” — Fresno Housing Authority executive director Preston Prince

In its initial staff report, the police department said its calls for service at multi-family units were greater than single-family homes — mainly due to a “higher density of people occupying a smaller area of property.”

Berna said a similar program exists in Kerman and other cities in the state.

The Fresno Housing Authority is in the planning stages of a project in Clovis. The group’s executive director/CEO Preston Prince says their tenants are screened.

“Providing a safe place for all residents is important to us. We work closely with the local police departments where our housing is located,” Prince said. “I have confidence in Clovis leadership that they will evaluate this policy to make sure that it is meeting its intended outcomes without having unintended consequences, particularly disparate impact on various demographics, particularly people of color who have already experienced historical biases of California’s criminal justice system.”

Revision of ‘Confidential List’

Berna said the department will rework the provision regarding landlords keeping the names of tenants.

 “Right now, we are a city that is expanding rapidly. As a police department, we are finding it difficult to keep up with that growth. We want to do whatever we can to reduce the calls we have to respond to.” — Capt. Curt Fleming

“The intent of it is for active calls, things that are occurring now, that officers are on scene and they need information on who is in that apartment,” Berna said.

He specifically referred to situations such as ongoing threats or assaults.

“Right now, we are a city that is expanding rapidly. As a police department, we are finding it difficult to keep up with that growth. We want to do whatever we can to reduce the calls we have to respond to,” Capt. Curt Fleming said.

As the ordinance reads, failure to comply could be a misdemeanor. But Berna said the likelihood of enforcing that is “slim to none.”

Proposed Ordinance

[tnc-pdf-viewer-iframe file=”http://www.gvwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Clovis-Crime-Free-Housing-ordinance.pdf” width=”800″ height=”700″ download=”true” print=”true” fullscreen=”true” share=”true” zoom=”true” open=”true” pagenav=”true” logo=”true” find=”true” current_view=”true” rotate=”true” handtool=”true” doc_prop=”true” toggle_menu=”true” language=”en-US” page=”” default_zoom=”auto” pagemode=””]

DON'T MISS

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

DON'T MISS

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

DON'T MISS

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

DON'T MISS

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

DON'T MISS

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

UP NEXT

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

UP NEXT

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

UP NEXT

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Shot to Death at NW Apartment Complex Is Identified

UP NEXT

SJV Water Founder Lois Henry Receives Prestigious Reporting Award

UP NEXT

Visalia Rollerblader Suffered Major Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle

UP NEXT

Local Candidates Make Final Pitches at Fresno Hispanic Foundation Event

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Indicted for Possessing Stolen Guns

UP NEXT

MAGA Hats OK at Polls, but Electioneering Is Strictly Prohibited

UP NEXT

Bulldogs’ DB Cam Lockridge Is Ballin’ Out, Has Sights Set On NFL

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

2 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

14 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

14 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

15 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

15 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

15 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

15 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

15 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

16 hours ago

Lyft Pays $2.1 Million to Settle Case Alleging the Ride-Hailing Service Deceived Drivers

16 hours ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

Board seats on four Tulare County irrigation districts will be on the ballot this election. Lisa McEwen SJV Water At least one of the dis...

1 min ago

1 min ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

15 mins ago

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

60 mins ago

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

2 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

14 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

14 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

15 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

A resident outside an apartment complex that was destroyed by Russian bombardment in Siversk, in Ukraine, Oct. 30, 2024. (Tyler Hicks/The New York Times)
15 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

Search

Send this to a friend