Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer highlighted what’s good in the city and previewed a potential future transportation tax during remarks to a packed room at the monthly Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation breakfast Wednesday morning.

Dyer has made it an annual tradition to deliver the first FAHF speech of the year. The event, held at Fort Washington Country Club, served as a de facto state of the city address.

“Our vision in the city of Fresno is to be an inclusive, prosperous, beautiful city where people take pride in their neighborhood and their community,” Dyer said.

Dyer briefly discussed the future of a Fresno County transportation tax in the context of the city’s ongoing street improvements. The city’s goal is to improve road conditions to a score of 70 out of 100 on the pavement condition index. Several Fresno streets currently rate in the 30s.

“That is unacceptable, and it’s like that throughout Fresno County, which is why the passage of a transportation measure like Measure C is so important,” Dyer said.

The Measure C renewal — a half-cent countywide sales tax for transportation first passed in 1986 — expires next year. A government-led effort to place a renewal on the November ballot failed when the Fresno Council of Governments decided not to move forward.

Dyer said Fresno faces $1.2 billion in deferred street maintenance and another $300 million for sidewalks. The city is bonding $100 million for its “pave now, pay later” program.

“That’s why we have to have a transportation measure in Fresno that covers our streets,” Dyer said.

Dyer said the 1986 version focused on expanding freeways. The 2006 renewal was about regional projects. A 2026 version should prioritize local streets, he said.

Dyer on Competing Transportation Tax Plans

Any transportation tax would need to qualify for the ballot through signature-gathering efforts. Dyer endorsed a proposal from social justice group Transportation for All for the half-cent tax extension, which would raise $7.3 billion over 30 years.

The plan would require road conditions to reach a minimum score of 65 on the PCI scale.

“I’m hopeful that we’ll get a Measure C passed here this coming November, and we’ll be able to continue to do that over the next 30 years or so,” Dyer said.

A citizen-led initiative would need roughly 22,000 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot and would require only a simple majority to pass. A government-sponsored measure would require approval by two-thirds of voters.

A second group of transportation experts, led by former Fresno Council of Governments Executive Director Tony Boren, is also considering a transportation tax.

Dyer Prefers Only One Version on the Ballot

Dyer said he met with the Boren group Tuesday.

“I am seeing if there are some mutual agreements along the way so that we can have one measure,” Dyer told Politics 101 after his speech. “But if not, I’m going to support the Transportation for All measure that I think has the most likelihood of being successful and most beneficial to the citizens of Fresno.”

Building Healthy Communities, one of the groups behind the Transportation for All coalition, has sued the city in the past, including over the passage of the Measure P parks sales tax.

Dyer said he has had “a really good relationship with a coalition of people who have been working toward this transportation measure.”

“What’s important when you’re a leader of a community is that you set aside personalities for the benefit of your community,” Dyer said. “As long as there are people out there who have a mutual desire to benefit our community, I’m going to work with them.”

Several Topics Covered

Dyer also touched on several topics he has highlighted in recent public appearances:

• Crime is down.
• Beautify Fresno continues to address blight across the city, including several upcoming mural projects.
• Investment in youth through the Youth Job Corp is paying off.
• A $250 million state investment is helping upgrade downtown infrastructure, paving the way for additional housing development. The city is also building two new parking structures.
• Dyer announced a new revolving loan fund to support housing developers. The city has committed $20 million for at least four projects.
• The city is negotiating with the United Soccer League on a potential stadium project that would bring professional soccer back to downtown Fresno.
• Additional projects underway include a new regional park in southeast Fresno, a new 911 center, a new police headquarters, a senior center, a fire training center, a fire station, and an expanded airport.

The Mayor on Who Runs the Government

Dyer praised what he called the “sweet spirit” of the audience, largely made up of Hispanic business owners and community leaders.

“You can’t say that about other places in the United States of America,” Dyer said. “Unfortunately, there are people out there who are just filled with anger and hatred. But we’re not going to let that infiltrate the city of Fresno. We are going to stay united as One Fresno.”

Dyer also spoke about governmental philosophy, saying the people “own the government. The government doesn’t own the people.”

He said not keeping promises “is why we have oftentimes distrust in local, state and federal government. And I never want to be a person that is seen as not keeping their promise.”

Other FAFH Breakfast Notes

Several elected officials and candidates attended the breakfast, including Fresno City Councilmembers Nick Richardson and Miguel Arias.

Mayors Maria Pacheco of Kerman, Alma Beltran of Parlier, Frank Gonzalez of Sanger, and Adam Flores of San Joaquin also attended.

Pacheco and Beltran plan to run for Fresno County supervisor — Pacheco in District 1 and Beltran in District 4.

Another District 1 candidate, Mendota Unified Trustee Lupe Flores, attended.

Former Clovis Unified Superintendent Eimear O’Brien attended. She is running for Fresno County superintendent.

Kyle Kirkland, R-Clovis and owner of Club One Casino, attended and is running for Congressional District 21, currently represented by Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno.