More than four years ago, the Fresno City Council considered changing the name of the city-owned Meux Home, because of Dr. Thomas Meux’s ties to the Confederacy. On Thursday, the city issued a proclamation commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Meux Home’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2020, in the post-George Floyd era, the council tasked the Historic Preservation Commission to review a list of names to determine if there was a problematic history with names of city-owned facilities. Only the Meux Home was forwarded to the council.

Meux was a doctor for the Confederate Army during the Civil War before moving to Fresno. The council never acted to change the name.

The proclamation called Meux “a former Tennessean who became a Fresno resident,” without mention of his Civil War connection.

Councilmembers Miguel Arias and Nelson Esparza, along with City Council President Mike Karbassi, presented the proclamation. Esparza acknowledged the home had a “complex history.”

Meux Home president and curator Quintin Hoskins said the home is not about the Meux family.

“The importance isn’t the past of the family. The importance is their life here in Fresno. The point of the Meux Home Museum is to teach children what the Victorian way of life is. We don’t really discuss a lot about the family because it’s about what life was like in Fresno for the schoolchildren,” Hoskins told Politics 101.

Lack of Local Hiring on Major Projects Discussed

Local hiring goals are still not being met for major city projects, the capital projects department told the council. Although the report came out last month, a presentation to the council was delayed until Thursday.

Related Story: City of Fresno’s Union Construction Pact Fails to Deliver Promised Local ...

The city engaged in a Community Workforce Agreement — alternately known as a Project Labor Agreement — in 2021, requiring any public works project over $1 million to require a contract with union labor. Supporters say the PLA ensures quality work done on time and on budget. The agreement also requires local hiring practices.

Built-in goals called for 30% to 55% local hires for key job categories between 2022 and 2024. Contractors are 7% to 25% short.

City construction manager Kelly Yost said a written notice was sent to the unions last year, with the two sides meeting last September.

“That’s not really a repercussion,” Councilmember Nick Richardson said.

City Manager Georgeanne White sidestepped an answer if non-union labor would lead to less expensive projects, calling it a “loaded question.”

Yost suggested raising the threshold for projects to $3 million or $5 million — which would reduce the number of qualifying projects — could increase local hiring. Arias was not interested, supporting work done by union contractors.

Councilmember Annalisa Perea suggested creating an ad-hoc committee to renegotiate the PLA.

Rex Hime, a PLA opponent with the Western Electrical Contractors Association, said the union agreement does not benefit the local workforce nor taxpayers. He wants all contractors to have the opportunity to bid on big projects.

Pension Tension Continues at City Council

There was an air of tension when Robert Theller, the city’s retirement administrator, presented an annual financial report. The retirement board is suing the city over contributions to the pensions of police and firefighters, claiming the city is $4.3 million short.

Arias questioned the value of the report. Theller explained an annual report is required. Arias even questioned Theller’s recent 9% raise.

Theller said the city employee’s pension is funded at 112%, and the police and fire pension is at 118%.

Earlier this month, a Fresno County Superior Court granted the pensioners’ request for a change of venue. The new destination could be revealed during the next hearing on April 16.

Also at the City Council

The council approved 6-0 on the consent calendar without discussion the introduction of an ordinance preventing other government agencies from shipping homeless into Fresno, without the city’s permission. Penalties include a $1,000 fine and/or six months in jail.

Related Story: Fresno Councilmembers Want to End Sending of Homeless People to City

White announced that warming centers can now open with 48-hour notice, instead of the current 72.

The council, at the suggestion of Arias, appointed Navkaran Gurm to the Public Financing Authority of the Fresno Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District. Gurm previously announced he is running for the council’s District 7 seat in 2026 when Esparza terms out. Arias is also a one-time client of Gurm’s political consulting firm, Five Rivers Strategies. The 6-0 vote came on the consent calendar with no discussion. Gurm described the board as managing tax increment revenues to fund infrastructure projects.

The council also approved former Fresno County Board of Education member James Martinez for the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District Board. Raquel Busani was reappointed to the board. Karbassi made the recommendations. The 6-0 vote came on the consent calendar with no discussion. Martinez lost last November for a seat on the Fresno Unified School Board.

Bredefeld vs. Mendes, Round 1

It took the second meeting of the year at the Fresno County Board of Supervisors for a blow-up between newly elected firebrand Garry Bredefeld and Chair Buddy Mendes.

Bredefeld and fellow former Fresno City Councilmember-elected-Supervisor Luis Chavez pulled items off the consent agenda for discussion. While pulling items is common at the city council, it happens less frequently at the county board.

Mendes chastised Bredefeld after a discussion on hiring a contractor for high-voltage electrical repair.

“I’m just going to tell you. If you had done your research, talk to them, you wouldn’t even need to pull this off (the agenda),” Mendes said.

“Chairman, I’m going to run my questions the way I want. I don’t need you lecturing me,” Bredefeld responded, as the crosstalk ensued. “I don’t care what you say, Mr. Chairman. I will ask out in the public any question I want, whether you like it or not.”

After more argument, Bredefeld punctuated his argument telling Mendes, “If you don’t like it, tough!”

There were no other incidents during the meeting.

Mendes told GV Wire’s Edward Smith he has no problem pulling items for discussion.

“There’s a difference between wanting to ask questions and wanting to do the Spanish Inquisition,” Mendes said, but pulling so many “might be the city way of doing things. The county’s way is trying to ask things beforehand and then pull the item.”

He answered “we’ll see” when asked if he could work harmoniously with Bredefeld.

Bredefeld is not backing down.

“The fact is, these folks, for a long time, do not challenge staff or staff reports. I was told we’ve never had so many items pulled before at the county. That says a lot about the lack of accountability and transparency,” Bredefeld told Smith.

Clovis Hires Interim Assistant Manager

The city of Clovis promoted Paul Armendariz to interim assistant city manager.

Currently a deputy director in the planning department, Armendariz succeeds Andrew Hausler — who was promoted to city manager following the retirement last year of John Holt.

Armendariz, a Clovis native, has worked for the city for 20 years.