Good afternoon.
This week in Fresnoland, Cassandra wrote everything you need to know about the situation at the Trails End Mobile Home Park and how a new owner is taking over; and, a new housing development for the unhoused just opened.
Danielle, together with SJV Water’s Lois Henry and Jesse Vad, reported that the state’s Deparment of Water Resources found four valley groundwater plans missing the mark — especially regarding protecting drinking water — for now.
Do you love the public service journalism Fresnoland provides? Can you help Fresnoland meet our goal of raising $18,000 by December 31st to match funding from NewsMatch? Donate here today. (Fresnoland is an independent nonprofit, and we rely on donors like you to survive!)
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Hello, everyone. It’s Danielle, executive director of Fresnoland here.
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THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC MEETINGS
At the Clovis City Council meeting on Nov. 15, Documenter Heather Halsey Martinez reported that the City Council approved creating a citizens advisory committee to evaluate police officer staffing after last week’s report by the Clovis Police Chief Curt Fleming on a staffing shortage. It was determined that each council member will appoint five committee members each who will focus on evaluating the staffing study results and what it will take to be “the safest city in the Valley.” They also approved four items on the consent calendar, including the rejection of a general liability claim alleging Clovis Police Department used excessive force during a traffic stop resulting in bodily harm and surgeries. Read here for more info.
At the Fresno City/County Boards of Authority meeting on Nov. 16, Documenter Heather Halsey Martinez reported that the new Fresno Housing CEO Tyrone Williams joined the joint boards of commissioners meeting for the first time since officially joining the agency on Nov. 1 as they reviewed a second draft of the agency’s 2022 budget, which still shows an almost $500,000 shortfall. The joint boards also approved 11 items on the consent calendar, including additional grant funding and tax credits for The Arthur at Blackstone, amended investment policy and 2022 proposed utility allowance rates for tax credit properties. Read here for more info.
At the Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 16, Documenter Josef Sibala reported that Vincent Salinas from Visalia and Robert Quiros from Tulare opposed the redistricting maps favored by the Board, arguing that it would dilute Hispanic citizens’ voting rate age population (HVAC) in District #3. Tulare Chief of Staff Tammie Weyker Adkins maintained that the Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that states that it is necessary to protect unvaccinated workers is contradictory. The Board voted (3-2) to support the motion by Supervisor Townsend to submit the Public Comment Letter to Cal/OSHA’s proposed ETS. Supervisor Valero abstained while Supervisor Shuklian voted no. Read here for more info.
At the Fresno Planning Commission meeting on Nov. 17, Documenter Heather Halsey Martinez reported that the Commission went against recommendations of staff who had concerns about eliminating an alleyway and allowed a Lance Kashian & Co. mixed-use development to move forward at Van Ness Ave. and Stanislaus St. in Downtown Fresno. The commissioners also approved rezones and tract maps for a gated subdivision of 47 single-family homes and another subdivision of 144 single-family homes at Copper River. They also approved the election of new Chairperson Peter Vang and current Vice Chair Brad Hardie to maintain in his role. Read here for more info.
At the Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 16, Documenter Rachel Youdeman reported that despite strong public objections to the board’s decision-making process, the body advanced a draft redistricting map (“County map D”) (With a 4-1 vote) requiring a 4/5 vote at the Dec. 14 meeting to become the county’s supervisorial map for the next 10 years. County Administrative Officer Jean Rousseau attended his last board meeting today. Despite the pandemic and the Creek Fire, Fresno County was the top 2020 agricultural producer in the USA with gross production reaching $7.98 billion. Read here for more info.