Brett Frazier stormed out of Fresno City Hall chambers, his face as red as his hair. Angry, he didn’t want to talk about the previous five hours chairing the San Joaquin River Conservancy Board meeting. The Madera County supervisor and his colleagues from various local and state agencies endured what...
Did City Hall Get Top Price for Spiral Garage? Some Say No.
The Fresno City Council parted with a troubled asset when it found a buyer for a parking structure and accompanying commercial space on the south end of Fulton Street in downtown Fresno. For years, the structure known as the "spiral garage" for its prominent design, had been falling into a state...
How to Honor David McDonald? Clovis Wants to Rename a Park.
Children and pets could soon be playing at David McDonald Park. McDonald, the businessman, and philanthropist, died last month at age 69. His family said he passed away from natural causes. The former CEO of security camera-maker Pelco operated one of the city’s largest companies. At its peak, Pelco employed...
Did Fresno Parks Tax Pass? Courts Asked to Decide.
The Fresno City Council wants clarity on whether or not Measure P was approved by voters. Despite a 52% favorable vote for the proposed parks tax last November, city attorney Douglas Sloan interpreted state law as requiring a two-thirds majority for passage. By a 4-3 vote in closed session on Thursday...
Can Brand Forge Unity for Parks/Public Safety Tax?
Lee Brand is still optimistic about proposing a combined parks and public safety tax to voters in 2020. He reiterated his plan during remarks at a Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation breakfast Wednesday (Jan. 30). Fresno’s mayor also talked about industrial development in south Fresno and uses for legalized marijuana revenues. “There’s...
Bredefeld's Money-Back Guarantee Gains New Support
Two business-friendly Fresno city councilmen are putting their money where their mouth is. Technically, it’s the city’s money. Garry Bredefeld (District 6) and Steve Brandau (District 2) want a money-back-guarantee program for the planning department (officially called Development and Resource Management, or DARM). The concept: City staff will meet specified...
Measure P Attorney Asks City to Start Collecting Fresno Parks Tax
Measure P, the 2018 sales tax initiative for parks, may not have failed after all. Last November, 52% of Fresno voters favored it. However, voters were told it needed two-thirds approval to pass. Thus, the measure failed. Or did it? An attorney, on behalf of Measure P advocate Fresno Building...
Environmental Win: Caglia Pulls Plug on Mega Industrial Park
A planned south Fresno business park project, touted by City Hall as an economic driver but pilloried by environmentalists, is no more. Caglia Environmental is pulling the plug on a 2-million square foot industrial park project, slated for Central and Orange avenues. The project received unanimous approval from the Fresno...
Former Westlands Lobbyist Now Seen as Likely for Interior Secretary
The number of contenders with Valley connections in the running to become President Trump's next Interior Secretary has risen to two. Earlier this month, the name of outgoing Valley Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) surfaced as a potential choice. Denham has expressed his interest in the job, which is being vacated by...
With Council Poised to OK Recreational Cannabis, What Will Mayor Do?
With the Fresno City Council slated to pass regulations for the cannabis business on Thursday (Dec. 13), Mayor Lee Brand remains against allowing recreational shops in the city. After an initial debate last week, the council will vote to adopt regulations allowing multiple aspects of the marijuana business in the...