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Seniors, Others at Risk Encouraged to Stay Home Under New Plan To Open Fresno Economy
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By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
May 19, 2020

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There could be two plans to fully reopen Fresno presented at this week’s city council meeting.

As he promised a week ago, Councilman Garry Bredefeld is proposing a resolution to immediately repeal all 16 emergency orders made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Politics 101


Also in Politics 101:

  • Will any councilmember second Bredefeld’s motion?
  • New Fresno animal shelter moving forward.
  • Backyard chickens in Clovis?

On Monday, Councilman Luis Chavez released a similar plan to accelerate a return to business as usual in Fresno.

His five-point proposal says “the city is ready for dine-in restaurants,” pending state and county approval. In addition, Chavez wants to modify the city’s shelter-in-place order to “highly encourage” seniors and vulnerable populations to stay home, with others following CDC precautions; remove the $1,000 fine and jail penalty for all but the most egregious violators; provide the county $10 million in financial assistance for testing and contact tracing; and limit mandatory mask-wearing to “closed quarters, stores and common public space areas.” Other outside activities would not require a mask.

Chavez Proposal Would Require Special Meeting

“This is a step in the right direction towards safely reopening small businesses that have been closed for close to eight weeks,” Chavez said.

“I said three weeks ago we would eventually have this conversation about what reopening would look like like. That day has arrived. We should cautiously open businesses, as soon as the county and state sign off,” he said.

Chavez’s plan is not yet on the council’s published agenda, meaning a special meeting would have to be called to consider it — a common occurrence in the COVID-19 era.

“The city is ready and able to work with the county and help them achieve the measurements outlined by the governor. We’ve committed $10 million to help with testing and contact tracing,” Chavez said. “Our hope is the county can secure the variance from the state and move forward.”

Bredefeld said on social media he welcomes Chavez’ effort.

“Progress at last! Moving in right direction. Council FINALLY listening to pain of constituents. Tremendous business/societal damage already done. Will keep up pressure till all unconstitutional orders r repealed,” Bredefeld wrote on Twitter.

Bredefeld’s Re-Open Plan: Will Anyone Second That Motion?

Will Bredefeld even receive a second on his motion from any council colleague, allowing is own resolution to be discussed?

Bredefeld took umbrage to a prediction by GV Wire’s Bill McEwen that such support was unlikely to materialize. McEwen made his comments on KSEE’s “Sunday Morning Matters” program.

“There will be no second. Garry Bredefeld right now is totally irrelevant to any conversation about COVID-19,” McEwen said. “He has done nothing to contribute to positive improvements for business owners.”

On Twitter, Bredefeld shot back, “Where’s McEwen’s editorial or @FresnoBee’s calling for the Council to take a vote? They’re all complicit with the Council hiding from taking a vote and support all these authoritarian orders. Everyone should be on record just as the Board of Sups and other Councils have done.”

Last Thursday, no council member seconded Bredefeld’s motions to take separate votes on a financial aid package for small businesses and renters. Bredefeld’s colleagues were also silent when he asked for a guarantee that rental aid would go only to American citizens.

But Councilman Mike Karbassi said he would consider adding a second to Bredefeld’s motion this week.

“But it will need to be drastically modified, because a simple repeal of all the emergency orders would do damage,” Karbassi said. “I am very concerned about the impacts to local small businesses especially the ones which are low-risk. But I am carefully evaluating all options before deciding how to move forward. This is still a public health crisis and COVID-19 is now the nation’s third greatest killer of Americans.”

Council Considers No-Bid Contract for Animal Shelter

The Fresno City Council will consider awarding a no-bid contract to Northstar General Inc. to build a new $14.5 million animal control facility.

The city needs its own facility. A makeshift one-year contract with the Central California SPCA runs out on June 30.

The city and Northstar General have already begun the design process for the proposed 34,500 square foot facility under a separate contract. The shelter is being built on property near the airport, acquired from The Gap. It is expected to open in July of next year.

There is no word on how animal control services will be provided between the expiration of the current CCSPCA contract and when the city’s own facility is ready.

Other Council Items of Interest

A consolidated list of items on Thursday’s council meeting Politics 101 is keeping its eyes on:

— An extension of the consultant agreement between the city and Quad Knopf, Inc. for its work on Fresno’s marijuana business plan through Dec. 31. A staff report says this will happen with “no additional budget increase.” QK prepared a 1,300 page environmental impact report, which is currently under public review.

A $4 million/five-year contract for the police dept. to purchase 556 Tasers and 556 body-worn cameras — with unlimited video storage — from Axon Enterprise.

Approve a five-year extension with ASM Global (the corporate successor to SMG) to operate the Fresno Convention Center, with the city paying ASM $145,000 for the first year, with annual 2.5% raises. The city will also chip in $150,000 each year for marketing and promotions.

— Approve a change to city code to allow emergency sleeping cabins of 100 square feet, with up to four people per cabin. The item was on the May 14 agenda, before being tabled. Many housing advocates commented on the plan last week, voicing concerns about health and safety.

Cluck, Cluck in Clovis?

As Clovis Councilman Bob Whalen said at last week’s meeting, its an open secret that some city residents are raising laying hens at their homes — even though its against city code.

Whalen said he is amenable to changing city law to allow backyard chickens.

“This particular crisis has opened up people’s eyes to the idea that eggs are hard to come by,” Whalen said.

He asked for council to consider the change at a future meeting.

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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

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