Quote of the Week
“As we recognize the indiscretion that he had — involving himself with a police officer’s wife — that is not excusable. But we also don’t want to forget some of the good things that he did as well.”
— Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, referring to former Police Chief Paco Balderrama, who announced his resignation on Tuesday, June 25.
(Editor’s note: A previous version of this newsletter reported that the Fresno City Council approved an agreement at their June 27 meeting with the Lowell Community Development Corporation to construct 24 new tiny homes. That agreement was not approved, but rather continued by the council to their July 25 meeting. We regret the error.)
This Week in Fresnoland
The search for a new police chief begins
Fresno police Chief Paco Balderrama stepped down Tuesday morning, following an investigation into whether his affair with another police officer’s wife violated city policy, reported Omar Shaikh Rashad for Fresnoland.
Balderrama’s resignation was voluntary and announced at a Tuesday morning news conference, 13 days after he was placed on paid administrative leave by City Manager Georgeanne White.
“I just think it’s best for my family first and foremost,” Balderrama told Fresnoland in a Tuesday phone call. “It’s best for the police department. I don’t think anybody will realize how heavy a toll this has been for me personally and my family.”
Fire season arrived with a literal bang of lightning
After a reported 1,000 lightning strikes from Monday’s thunderstorms, a trio of fires sparked in eastern Fresno County have merged into the Fresno June Lightning Complex, impacting over 10,000 acres and almost 1,000 structures near Yokuts Valley. As of Sunday afternoon, the fire is at 53% containment.
Evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted for all communities, including Yokuts Valley, Watts Valley, and Wonder Valley, according to a CalFire news release.
Even the grasslands of the valley floor didn’t escape the fire danger from the lightning storms earlier this week, as a fire broke out on Friant and Willow Avenues near Copper River. The fire was contained the same day at seven acres.
City makes major shift on public meeting participation – and voted in garbage rate hikes
Fresno leaders pulled back on a COVID-era commitment that helped citizens stay engaged in their local government, reported Pablo Orihuela for Fresnoland.
The Fresno City Council on Thursday approved a resolution that ends online participation through Zoom, supplanting the 2021 COVID-era resolution that looked to keep the online option permanent in response to the pandemic-induced quarantines.
The council resolution passed through the consent calendar with a 4-3 vote. Council President Annalisa Perea and council members Tyler Maxwell and Nelson Esparza opposed the change.
“I was one of the original cosponsors of the public accessibility act, and I continue to support it,” Esparza said during the meeting.
Councilmembers Miguel Arias, Garry Bredefeld, Luis Chavez and Mike Karbassi — all four who initially supported the 2021 act — approved the resolution ending online meeting participation through Zoom.
The council also made official the first garbage rate hikes in 15 years. The new rates go into effect in July.
As summer heats up, many public pools open across Fresno County – with some exceptions
With temperatures soaring in the Central Valley, it may be tempting to plunge into local rivers and streams, but officials suggest residents instead find safer alternatives to cool off.
Many public pools have opened up in cities across Fresno County – check out the full list compiled by Ntsaiab Vang for Fresnoland. The public can even swim for free at pools in Fresno Unified – and low cost swim lessons are available at many Fresno pools this summer.
Most cities across Fresno County are providing public pools for their residents to cool off – except Clovis, Mendota, and San Joaquin.
State labor board intervenes in Clovis teachers’ unionizing dispute
A major barrier for teachers and affiliated staff to unionize in Clovis Unified has been lifted this week, as the state’s Public Employment Relations Board has ordered the faculty senate to disband, following a complaint from the Association of Clovis Educators, reports Lasherica Thornton for EdSource.
The district is the largest in California without a teachers union. The state’s decision clears the way for yet another attempt at unionizing.
Block Beat
WOODWARD PARK: The Woodward Park Fresno Public Library branch will be holding an LGBT Game Night Wednesday, July 3, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.. The event is open to all, and will be held in the WDWD meeting room. (Fresno Library)
SOUTHWEST: Wellness to the West, a new community health and resource fair, features a community walk, yoga, standing fitness, and massages on the first and last Saturdays of the month for 93706 residents at Kearney Triangle Park from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The next one is on July 6. (TheAlleyintheValley Instagram)
Department of New Construction
CLOVIS EAST: The Fresno City Council approved a new 90-home condominium subdivision on the northeast corner of Fowler and Princeton Avenues by Granville Homes at their meeting Thursday.
MALAGA: Precision Civil Engineering has filed a conditional use permit on behalf of Caglia Environmental to renovate the Cedar Avenue Recycling and Transfer station. The applicant plans to construct 17 new buildings and structures “to allow for a more efficient processing facility with an increased amount of permitted processing of waster per year.”
ROOSEVELT: A development permit is under review to build a new two-story apartment complex with 14 total units on the northeast corner of East Kings Canyon Road and Recreation Avenue.
HIGHWAY CITY: A conditional use permit has been filed to decommission an existing telecommunication facility and 70-foot tower on the northwest corner of Shaw and Polk Avenues.
CALWA: A conditional use permit has been filed to install new PG&E equipment on South 4th Street. The new equipment will allow the existing standby distribution system to be supplied by a standby generator in case the permanently installed standby generator fails, according to the filer.
Around Town
The Fresno Historical Society is presenting the exhibit “From China to Fresno: A 150-Year Cultural Journey Exhibit” at the Kearney Mansion Museum until November 10 every Friday through Saturday from 1 to 3 P.M.. The exhibit contains artifacts which have been in the Fresno County Historical Society Archive for over 5 decades. There is a $10 admission fee. (Fresno Historical Society)
Central Library of the Fresno County Public Library System will be hosting card games from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 30. The event is listed as being intended for 18+, and can be found in the teen section of the library. (Fresno Library)
The Kiwanis Club of Clovis will be hosting Clovis’ Freedom Fest at Lamonica Stadium this Thursday, Fourth of July. “The Community’s premiere Fourth of July celebration,” this event charges $5 admission in order to watch the fireworks. Dogs are not allowed, and children 5 and under are free. (Kiwanis Club of Clovis)
