Documented by Matthew Carnero-Macias
Here’s what you need to know
- Reedley Police Chief Jose Garza reports that the Reedley Peace Building Initiative continues to save the city millions of dollars and assists with curbing recidivism rates, promoting youth development and community growth.
- The State Center Community College District’s aviation program is being relocated to Reedley Municipal Airport. A mobile office unit will be implemented on-site in the coming months.
- A road infrastructure project funded by a community development block grant is underway that will encompass Rupert and Church avenues.
Follow-up questions
- How can the Reedley Peace Building Initiative integrate other communities such as artists and media?
- Why does the fee to file a petition for road infrastructure in neighborhoods such as speed bumps and lighting cost so much and how can the application and review process be streamlined for all taxpayers?
- How will the new aviation programs at the Reedley Municipal Airport be promoted in the community and how can investment assist with workforce development?
Notes
The Reedley City Council convened for a regular meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
All councilmembers were present including Mayor Anita Betancourt, Vice Mayor Pro Tempore Matthew Tuttle, Suzanne Byers, Mary Fast and Scott Friesen.
The invocation was led by Veronica Burns, Reedley Police Department chaplain.
Two Reedley community members were recognized for their presence in the community: Melissa Corona for Coach of the Year and fire engineer Rich Rodriguez.
Notable passed consent agenda items were: Fresno Street Eats will continue to host food truck events in Reedley as part of an ongoing license agreement with the city, HDR Engineering will conduct a comprehensive water rate study for the city’s water utility, the transition of State Center Community College District’s aviation program to Reedley Municipal Airport is progressing after the council’s decision to purchase a mobile office unit for the program and the Rupert and Church Avenues Community Development Block Grant project will include a reconstruction of existing pavement, curb and ramps, sidewalks and other road infrastructure.
Matt Cochran, a member of the Reedley Municipal Airport Commission, announced an annual celebration taking place at the airport. The event will include free food, airplane rides, children programming and other activities.
Alice Rodriguez and her fellow neighbor said they are concerned with the lack of community safety measures in their neighborhood. They explained that several residents are dissatisfied with what they consider the city’s insufficient and unfulfilled duties. The residents say speed bumps and streetlights are desperately needed in their neighborhood to deter crime and disrupt unwanted disturbances.
Another disappointment they expressed was the $2,000 required as part of a legal fee involving petitions. The council referenced the municipal code and deferred additional questions or concerns to the city manager.
Actions/discussions/public comment
- Eight items were approved as part of the consent agenda.
- During the public hearing on the Rupert and Church Avenues Community Development Block Grant project, Marilu Morales informed the council a public hearing is required as part of the application process. “The city of Reedley has been a part of the Fresno County CDBG for multiple years and (has) benefited from multiple projects,” Morales said. There was no public comment or council discussion. The project was unanimously approved.
- The council discussed a proposed mural project at the Reedley Museum Building as part of administrative business. Initially the proposal came before the Planning Commission in February 2023. The mural depicts the first train arriving in Reedley at the Union Pacific Depot. The council unanimously approved the project.
- Reedley Police Chief Jose Garza gave an update on Reedley’s Peace Building Initiative. The initiative is based on restorative justice efforts. The partnership includes Reedley, the Reedley Police Department, the Mennonite Central Committee and Kings Canyon Unified School District. Other police staff presenters went on to laud the initiative and its financial, legal and cultural success. They commended the city and county for contributing to the development.
- Byers shared reports on conferences she attended and expressed deep interest in reentry barriers challenging the justice-involved population. She recognized the Reedley Peace Building Initiative and its impact. City Manager Nicole Zieba informed the council that the Reedley Peace Building Initiative has received statewide recognition. She announced that she is taking a trip to Coalinga as part of a multi-county, city management meeting.
- Staff reports included announcements about Reedley Night Out on Oct. 3, Coffee with a Cop on Oct. 4, a Reedley Fire Department Open House on Oct. 12 and a Domestic Violence Awareness Prayer Vigil on Oct. 19. The Adopt-a-Trail initiative is undergoing a revamp with renewed community outreach.
Conversation highlights
- “She shouldn’t have to go to all these measures to protect herself and lock herself in her own home,” said one community member during public comments. The claim that a lack of speed bumps and streetlights in the neighborhood that was discussed promoted crime and created fear among residents was the basis of the complaint.
- “I’ve seen that their fleet of planes is already there, so at some level they’re already meeting out there. This will just give them the designated area to be able to do their pilot briefing, flight plans and office space to work in…,” said Reedley Community Services Director Sarah Reid in response to the council’s concerns about consent item 9, the aviation program transition to Reedley Municipal Airport from the State Center Community College District.
- “This is a model program for many communities, I have to say, but I also have to say that many have tried to duplicate but none can replicate what we have done,” said Reedley Police Chief Jose Garza as part of his comments during the Reedley Peace Building Initiative update.
- “It’s really impressive for a group as small as we’ve been to, in essence, create a new system – our own local system – to handle this stuff in Reedley, and it’s really made a big impact on a lot of our youth,“ said Marc Ediger, Reedley police operations commander during the update on the Reedley Peace Building Initiative.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
