Published
2 years agoon
Mayor Jerry Dyer proposed a new team in Fresno’s planning department to expedite approvals of building projects for applicants willing to pay an additional fee. On Tuesday, the Fresno City Council shot down the idea.
The council voted 4-1 against the creation of an Express Development Team, but agreed to fund the hiring of additional planning department employees to address a backlog of project applications.
Councilmember Luis Chavez cast the lone vote in favor of the EDT proposal.
“We are working through those details along with several others in anticipation of having a final budget adopted on Thursday,” Dyer told GV Wire on Tuesday evening.
When planning director Jennifer Clark presented the concept last week, councilmembers were skeptical. They questioned the fairness of what some described as a “pay-to-play” model.
Clark said that qualifying projects would receive permits in one to three days instead of the 14 days most current applications face. She said it was an investment in development in the city.
Councilmember Tyler Maxwell said dedicating a special team to review projects for an additional fee would “raise eyebrows.” He preferred keeping the employees that would be hired and add them to the already existing planning staff.
“I really take issue with what I perceive as these neo-liberal policies that allow wealthy citizens of the city to have better city services than the rest of the folks that can’t afford it. This is a slippery slope,” Maxwell said.
City Manager Thomas Esqueda said the Dyer administration was responding to a market demand, by allowing some to “jump the line.” He compared it to expedited security checks at an airport.
Councilmember Garry Bredefeld did not attend the meeting, due to a regularly scheduled cancer checkup at Stanford Medical Center. Bredefeld is a cancer survivor. Councilmember Mike Karbassi did not cast a vote on the EDT budget motion, but was present for voting on other motions.
[Note 6/23/2021: this story has been updated with a statement from Mayor Jerry Dyer.]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
Local High Schoolers Get Hands on Look at High Tech Medical Education
Fresno Plans to House 300 More Homeless People Across City
Dyer’s Youth Jobs Program Delivers Opportunities and New Beginnings
Bredefeld, Pro-Life Leader Speak Out Against Planned Parenthood Grant
Dyer Hits the Iron at McLane High to Pump up Youth Mentoring
Dyer Makes Pitch for Unity in Sun Soaked State of City Address