Below is an email being circulated from Craig Scharton. Until today he was the Director of the Downtown and Community Revitalization Department. His new position will be Assistant Director of the larger Development and Resource Management Department. That department included the Building and Safety Division, Code Enforcement, Housing Division and Planning Division. The department director is John Dugan. There used to be two assistant directors, Keith Bergthold and Jerry Bishop. Jerry Bishop retired last year and his position was left unfilled.

Dear Colleagues: As many of you may have heard, the City of Fresno is rethinking the way it has done business, in order to find solutions to the current budget crisis. As a way to create better efficiency and communication, the Downtown and Community Revitalization Department is merging with the Development and Resource Management Department. I will become the Assistant Director of this Department and will oversee economic development, downtown management, housing and community revitalization (formerly code enforcement). In addition, the historic preservation program will be under this side of the shop.

The City Manager has asked Karana Hattersley-Drayton, the City’s Historic Preservation Project Manager, to also serve as the Historic Preservation Commission Secretary, as she did for several months in 2010.

Historic Preservation is an ethic. Not only is it a personal ethic of mine, it is an ethic shared by successful revitalization efforts throughout the country. This reorganization will allow us to more completely integrate historic preservation into all of our revitalization activities. I look forward to working with Karana, the Historic Preservation Commission and the greater preservation community!

Craig Scharton

So, any thoughts on this reorganization?

There is an awards presentation today during Fresno City Council session of the Mayor’s Biannual Historic Preservation Awards. These awards honor the projects and people that are helping to preserve Fresno’s built history. I am honored to be included among the awardees this year. Below is a list of all the awards. Come down to the City Council Chambers today at 10:30 to show your support for historic preservation and the hard working individuals that are diligently working to preserve our history.

Outstanding Rehabilitation of a Residential Property:

1338 N Street (c.1886)
Property Owner: James Done
Contractor: James Done

George and Adelphia Rowell Home (1903; HP#268)
153 N. Effie
Property Owner: Housing Authorities of the City and County of Fresno

The John B. Marshall Homes (c1884/1908; HP#267)
164 N. Echo Avenue
Housing Division, Downtown and Community Revitalization Department
Property Owner and Contractor: Paul Gong, Marko Solutions
Architect: Johnson Architecture

Outstanding Rehabilitation of a Non-Residential Property:

Cutting Flats (1914)
2-8 North San Pablo
Property Owner: Robert Gray Williams/Susan K. Medina (Perez, Williams and Medina, Attorneys at Law)
Contractor: Tony Gonzalez, Unique Designz

San Joaquin Light and Power Company/PGE Building (1923; HP#120)
1401 Fulton Street
Property Owner: Cliff Tutelian
Architect: Johnson Architecture

Joseph Maracci Residence (1916; HP#188)
985 N. Van Ness Avenue
Property Owner: Robert Boro

Kress Building (1922)
1118 Fulton Mall
Property Owner: Dr. Robert Gurfield
Architect: Gonzalo J. Pedroso AIA, GP Architecture, Inc. (Moorpark, CA)
Contractor: William Cummings, Legacy Construction, Fresno

Community Preservation Award: Individual:

David Rodriguez, Pinedale Historian (D06)

Community Preservation Award: Group

Jack Krog and Eldon Morris for Frank Chance Field (District 05)

The Russell and Pat Fey Memorial Preservationist of the Year Award

Sharon Hiigel, Fresno Historical Society archivist

Horizon Award (New this year):

Kiel Famellos-Schmidt (archop and AIA symposiums)

As I understand it, the Horizon Award was just created this year. Its purpose is to honor a fresh face on the historic preservation scene. I can think of several other individuals that deserve this award as much if not more than myself. But I am honored to be nominated and to be part of the next generation to take up the flag of preservation.

UPDATE: 4:30 4/30/2010

Patrick Kolasinski has posted his review of the SHRC meeting.

The nomination is an interesting one, because (unlike most historic resources), the mall is a) less than 50 years old, b) subject to an unusual ownership situation, and c) incredibly controversial. The mall was built in 1964 as part of an attempt to revitalize Fresno’s then-declining downtown. It was apparently the first project of its kind in California, and served as a guide for later projects such as Santa Monica’s 3rd Street Promenade, Sacramento’s K Street, and Modesto’s 10th Street Place.
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This is a good spot for a quick note here about the role of the SHRC in the nomination process. The SHRC does not actually list things on the National Register. That job falls to the Keeper of the National Register (usually called just “the Keeper”), who works for the National Parks Service. Instead, the SHRC reviews nominations to determine whether the nominated resources meet the criteria for listing on the National Register. If the SHRC determines that the resource does meet the criteria, it makes a finding of eligibility and passes the whole thing on to the Keeper. Usually, the SHRC also sends along a recommendation that the property be listed, but not always: the SHRC’s primary job in the process is to serve as a “gatekeeper” so that the Keeper isn’t flooded with tons of unworthy nominations.
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The objections raised were clear, succinct, and almost entirely procedural.
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Time for another side note: owner opposition is an important consideration because a property cannot be listed on the National Register over the opposition of a majority of the owners. If a property is found to be eligible but the majority of the owners object to the listing, the Keeper will state that the property has been “formally determined to be eligible,” but will not include the property on the National Register. The property will, however, be automatically included in the California Register, as any property “formally determined to be eligible” for the National Register gets automatically listed on the California Register, regardless of whether it is actually listed nationally. Listing on the California Register triggers nearly all of the same environmental protections under state law (the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA), but there are some differences.
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Commissioner Rick Moss caught everyone’s attention with a single, clear observation. He noted that there had not been a single bit of opposition to the determination that [Fulton] Mall is actually eligible for listing on the National Register. Commissioner Moss noted the importance of procedure, but he focused the Commission on the fact that the SHRC’s core goal here was to determine whether or not the property was eligible, and that this was a separate determination from the procedural one that everyone was focusing on.
…
Commission Chair Polanco called for a motion, which was made by Commissioner Moss, seconded by Commissioner Bryan K. Brandes, and voted on unanimously by the whole commission. There were no dissenting votes and no abstentions, and the final decision was clear: the SHRC voted to find [Fulton] Mall eligible for listing on the National Register. Because the Commission could not determine that the Mall should in fact be listed (as there was no way to tell whether enough owners had object to block the listing), the Commission did not issue a recommendation on that front.

The next step will be for the nomination to be forwarded to the Keeper, who will make a determination of eligibility. It appears most likely that the Keeper will formally determine that the Mall is eligible for the National Register, and so it will almost certainly be listed on at least the California Register (and possibly in both places).

And at 2pm the Fresno Bee posted their article on the subject. Their editorial board had already came out in opposition to historic listing on the Mall. This article is consistent with that opinion.

Breaking News: 11:40 pm 4/30/2010

From historic preservation attorney, Patrick Kolasinski, today we learned that the California State Historic Resources Commission voted unanimously to determine the Fulton Mall eligible for the National Register of Historic Places listing. The announcement of this news came via Patrick’s twitter feed: @patkickinlaw

See the updates below. Patrick will be blogging about it, so check back here for updates and more details. The Law Offices of Patrick Kolasinski provide focused and individual legal assistance in the areas of Business Formation and General Business Law, Historic Preservation, and Personal and Business Bankruptcy.

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If you have been following the developments, you would know that the City of Fresno Historic Preservation voted 4 to 1 that the Fulton Mall was eligible for historic designation. However, it voted unanimously, not to recommend the Mall to the National Register. Also, the Mayor’s office and Fresno City Council opposed the historic designation. Here is a PDF ot the mayor Ashley Swearengin’s letter to SHPC.

I believe the next step will be a national level meeting, I’m sure the experts will elaborate below.

What are your thoughts?

Make sure you check out the Cinco de Mayo celebration on the Fulton Mall this weekend. It is going to tens of thousands of people, good food and good music. Here is more info.

The days of vague plans for downtown Fresno are over. It’s time to get specific.

This is the hope of the Swearengin administration, Downtown Revitalization Department, The Planning and Development Department and a diversity of private citizens.

The contract for the Fulton Corridor Specific Plan and the Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan were approved by Fresno City Council on January 28, 2010. Now the sleeves get rolled up and the hard work begins. The contract allots $900,000 in Community Block Grant funds (I believe there are some other minor funding sources) this year in a total contract of $2.3 million with Moule & Polyzoides | Architects and Urbanists along with other specialized consultants.

If you read Craig Scharton’s meeting calendar blog then you’ll have seen that preparation meetings for the spacific plan have already been occurring. They have even launched a new website [http://fresnodowntownplans.com] “This website will contain a variety of information pertaining to the development projects, include details about public involvement process and how you can help shape Downtown Fresno.”

The site announces the first of the public meetings:

TUESDAY
March 9th
4:00PM – 6:45PM
Downtown Neighborhoods Community Advisory Committee Meeting #1
Location: The Grand, 1401 Fulton St, Fresno
In this first Community Advisory Committee Meeting, the consultant will outline the planning process that lies ahead, describe some of its initial findings, and give the Committee and the public a chance to share thoughts regarding priorities, issues, and concerns for the Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan area.

TUESDAY
March 9th
7:00PM – 8:45PM
Fulton Corridor Specific Plan Community Advisory Committee #1
Location: The Grand, 1401 Fulton St, Fresno
In this first Community Advisory Committee Meeting, the consultant will outline the planning process that lies ahead, describe some of its initial findings, and give the Committee and the public a chance to share thoughts regarding priorities, issues, and concerns for the Fulton Corridor Specific Plan area.

This blogger will be out in Portland at the National Charrette Institute training. However, we have arranged for a corespondent that will be covering Fulton Corridor Specific Plan Community Advisory Committee. If you are on the Downtown Neighborhoods Community Advisory Committee or plan on attending most the meetings, then consider being our corespondent as well. If interested please contact us.

What are your hopes and aspiration for the Specific/Community plans? Post them in the comments below.

I’ll start. I ride my bike to my office in the Cultural Arts District from my home in Tower. I would see some of the weird intersections redesigned for better flow and safety from the pedestrian and cyclist perspective. One in particular is the Divisadero, H Street, Weber intersection.

Many the announcements and outreach about the plans are pretty focused on investment. Investment will revitalize downtown, investment will disperse alleviate concentrated poverty. I would like to see equal or more attention on the people. I guess it is a different perspective or approach. I think downtown should be a healthy inviting place for people and people will bring money/investment. Feel free to disagree, I would like to have that discussion.

On the front page of Saturday’s (1/29/10) Fresno Bee there ran another success story of downtown revitalization. However, after I read through the story, there were a few key details that were left out regarding the San Joaquin Light & Power Corporation Building aka International Trade Center.

Both in the article and at the State of the Downtown Breakfast earlier that week, Cliff Tutelian was praised for the investment he’s done over the years in downtown Fresno. Specifically, according the the Fresno Bee, he “invested more than $10 million in the landmark International Trade Center in downtown Fresno, preserving what original 1920s-era architectural features he could and replicating those he couldn’t.”

However, not mentioned in the article is the architect whose specialization in historic preservation made the project a reality, Chis Johnson AIA. It is common for Fresno news to forget to mention the architect, so that is to be expected. But the thing that caught me more off guard is that other key facts of the story were glossed over by the Fresno Bee and mayor Ashley Swearengin in their praise of Cliff Tutilian and the beautiful International Trade Center.

The fact is that Tutilian refused to pay the Johnson Architecture fees for completing the design and construction documents for the renovation. It had even gotten the the point that Johnson Architecture had to fill suit against Tutilian & Company for non payment of fees.

In classic litigation fashion, Tutilain filed a counter suit against Johnson for failing to complete services. If you have been in the building, you’d be hard pressed to argue that it is incomplete or that there were any aspect of the design that the architect didn’t execute with expertise.

So you can see that I was simple baffled hearing all this praise while knowing a little more of the truth. In Fresno, I dream of the day when there is a level of respect for our architects and accountability of our developers.

I’d like to call on Cliff Tutilian to accept the praise that you received for the International Trade Center as a sign that your architect did a fantastic job, drop you lawsuit and pay your fees in full.

*due to ongoing litigation, I did not try to reach either party for comment.

Tuesday 01/12/2010 I was interviewed by CBS 47 for a news segment regarding the City of Fresno’s use of twitter. Below is the embedded video. I’d like to know what you’re thoughts are on @CityofFresno tweets. Is this platform a good way to increase government transparency? How does Fresno stack up to other jurisdictions that tweet?

Also in @CBS47 video is @jamescollier.

Below is the talk I gave at the Boomerang Reception held on 12/20/2009 at the CSUF Smitcamp Alumni House. I was the first speaker of the evening. The other speakers were Mayor Ashley Swearengin, CSUF President Dr. John Welty, FUSD Superintendent Michael Hansen, and FPU President Merrill Ewert. It was an honor to be included with such a prestigious list and take part in trying to attract talented professionals to boomerang back to Fresno. There was over 100 potential boomerangs in attendance.

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Welcome back to Fresno. My name is Kiel Famellos-Schmidt. I am here this evening representing Creative Fresno as the vice chair to the board of directors. And you were greeted at the door by our membership director, Andy Hansen-Smith.

Creative professionals are in the business of new ideas. This includes artists, architects, designers, scientists, among others. Another term used is “knowledge workers,” who make their living developing or using knowledge. Creative Fresno’s mission is to engage creative professionals to create a stronger community.

To that end we have numerous projects that encourage the lifestyle our constituency desires. Our mural project that has paid artists to create over a dozen murals downtown. We brought the global phenomena, Pecha Kucha Night, to Fresno to showcase the work of local designers. We organize monthly Blenders to connect creatives. We host an online listserv, MindHub.org, for creative discussions. In October, we held our second annual music festival of 40 local bands. We also partner with other organizations to create events like this Boomerang Reception that we are at today.

All of this is united by a membership of creatives that all have interesting stories. I’ll share a piece of my story about how I boomeranged back to Fresno after being educated at UC Berkeley and working in San Francisco, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Sri Lanka.

Three years ago, this week, I moved back to Fresno after two months of volunteer service in Sri Lanka. It was not long after the devastating tsunami that hit the island nation as well as an ongoing civil war. I spent my time amongst the tea lined hills of a town called Nawalapitya, to design an orphanage and community center to help fill the needs of a devastated people.

It was during my work in this beautiful but embattled landscape that I came to a realization. All of these challenges that I was trying to fight around the world, poverty, homelessness, unsustainable growth, access to resources, and access to quality and healthy housing. They all existed in my hometown. Not only did they exist in quantity, but I was intimately familiar with them from my childhood and young adult life.

I did not move back for the satisfaction of being a big fish in a small pond. It was not my family asking me to move back, they wished me to explore the best opportunity wherever it happened to be. I chose to move back to Fresno because I believe I’m uniquely suited to make an impact here, more than anywhere else in the world.

In these three short years, the impacts of my efforts can already be seen:
I joined Creative Fresno and organized the Pecha Kucha Night. The event’s 1 year anniversary this January 11th is entitled Benchmarks and Milestones. We built awareness of local design talent and introduced many creatives, who now regularly collaborate.

I founded and curate archop, a quarterly architectural exhibit and lecture series, accompanied by a built environment news and opinion website, archop.org. The exhibit in its third year, the website one year old. We’ve reached over 12,000 fresnans, who now know more about architecture and quality design.

26 other citizens and I co-authored the City and County of Fresno 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. The plans first year goal of moving 100 chronic homeless individuals into housing has been met under the Swearingin administration

And most recently in November, with my partner Shaunt Yemenjian, starting up an architecture and urban design firm called Spacio Design with offices in downtown Fresno and Los Angeles. We have projects of various scales from Los Angeles to Hawaii. And we are taking advantage of new technologies and our city’s low overhead to be competitive with a global reach.

If you have the skills and passion to make Fresno a better place, I want to personally invite you back.

I now have the pleasure of introducing this city’s passionate and diligent mayor. Recently she was one of five mayors invited to Washington DC to attend President Obama’s job summit. Ensuring that our city has access to all the resources it needs

During her campaign for mayor, Ashley had given a response to a question that rang true for me. The question from a well respected architect, Paul Halajian, was “How can we get the talent here that we need?” Her answer was that the best and the brightest will be attracted because this is a rare place where young, intelligent people can lead and shape the future of this entire region. That is why I am here.

Please join me in welcoming Fresno Mayor, Ashley Swearengin.

In Fresno, CA there is only one building on the Fulton Mall that is also on the National Register of Historic Places. That is the Bank of Italy Building. A new owner of the building was announced today in a press conference hosted by the City of Fresno.

The new owner is the Penstar Group, a Fresno based developer. The soft spoken but confident Penstar Group CEO, Tom Richards said that they had investigated buying the building before but the timing was not right. He also stated that them buying the building now is a vote of confidence from the private sector in the actions and policies that the City of Fresno is putting in place regarding downtown revitalization. Another investor in the purchase of the building is Brian Wagner. They formed a partnership called in a Pentori Inc.

The City of Fresno staff did play the role of matchmaker between Wagner and the Penstar group. Wagner was initially interested in purchasing the building but needed additional investors. The city also cleared various code enforcement and legal actions on the building before it was purchased. Craig Scharton comment on this was that with a developer with a proven local track record, we don’t need the “big stick” and that this way they have a clean slate.

Buildings that the Penstar Group have completed includes the IRS building and the United Security Bank Building at M & Inyo in 2003. Projects in progress include the One-Stop Center and Library on California next to Edison High School and Terry’s House

The Bank of Italy building was built in 1918 and designed by architect Charles Franklin

What is not clear is what the new uses of the building will be or the time line for reopening. Tom expressed that the sale went very fast and they have not had the opportunity to program future uses or find potential tenants. Their first course of action will be to secure the building from people breaking in and seal weather proof the exterior to prevent any further degradation.

See additional coverage in:
The Business Journal
Fresno Beehive

View Larger Map

Saturday was a very active day in the Lowell Neighborhood.

Hundreds of volunteers met up at Lowell Elementary School to kick of HandsOn Central California’s Make A Difference Day. This is an annual event that focuses local volunteers on one neighborhood with the hope of making a big difference. Mayor Ashley Swearengin was on hand to release the volunteers into the neighborhood.

archop park AKA San Pablo Family Park was one on several locations that volunteers worked at. From 9am to noon 30+ volunteers planted desert willow trees, and daffodil bulbs. We cleaned up garbage, broken glass and even some dirty needles. Other projects at the park include tree trimming, repainting the graffiti covered chessboard and setting up a bike race track.

Volunteers came from Heald College, Fresno City College, HandsOn, and Twitter. Donations came from Intermountain Nursery, H&E Nursery, and A-1 Feed Store.
Below are photos taken by myself and James Collier

Update 10/15/09

A vote Cam Maloy cast in September is being reviewed for conflict of interest after she resigned from the commission. The 4-0 Planning Commission vote approved locked-in fees and requirements of a tentative tract map on a Granville project located just North of Tokyo Garden on Van Ness. Read more from the Fresno Bee.

Original Post

Thursday October 8th, Planning Commissioner Cam Maloy sent a letter of resignation to the City of Fresno after only four months as commissioner. The Fresno Bee writer George Hostetter reports

According to city documents, Maloy received two large personal loans from entities owned by members of the Assemi family. Farid, Darius and Farshid Assemi are brothers who have residential and commercial development interests throughout the city.

The Planning Commission is perhaps the most powerful nonelected body at City Hall, and often is the final word on the regulation and approval of development projects. Maloy had been on the commission for only four months.

Swearengin said she spoke with Maloy by phone Thursday afternoon.

“She offered to resign and I told her I thought that was the right thing to do,” Swearengin said Friday.

In her letter of resignation effective Thursday, Maloy told Swearengin she was resigning “in order to assure there is no real or perceived conflict of interest which will detract from the great work that the city and the planning commission are doing.”

Maloy’s brief stint highlights what city officials acknowledge is a flaw in the vetting process for commission nominees.

Maloy was appointed by Swearengin, and the City Council unanimously approved the appointment in June.

There was no council discussion, and the background information on Maloy dealt mainly with her extensive development experience in the private sector and with nonprofit groups.

Planning Commissioners play a very important role in our development as a city. It is crucial that the mayor, is deliberate in selecting commissioners that will represent the public’s interests equally. It is also crucial that our councilmenbers be more rigorous in vetting these appointments.

The article continues:

Swearengin said Maloy went through a pre-nomination interview, but a thorough check of her financial interests was not conducted.

After their appointments, commission members are required by the state to periodically file a statement of economic interests with City Hall.

When The Bee began asking questions about Maloy’s statement, Swearengin said, “It was the first that any of us knew of her financial connections to people who had development companies as well.”…

In a Thursday interview with The Bee, before she resigned, Maloy said she used proceeds from the Assemi loans to help buy a stake in Kamm South, a farming operation on the Valley’s west side.

She also said the Assemi brothers are among the many stakeholders in Kamm South.

Maloy said the Assemi brothers are friends of hers.

Swearengin said Maloy told the City Attorney’s Office of the loans, and was told she merely had to recuse herself from issues involving the Assemis.

But, Swearengin said, she is not satisfied with a technical compliance with conflict-of-interest laws: “We cannot have the public thinking that anyone has any ties to the projects that are coming before the commission.”

Several City Council members said they want more information on the financial history of future commission nominees. Swearengin said that will be a priority.

Swearengin said she is interviewing candidates to replace Maloy.

My hat is off to the Bee for investigating this and reporting it so well. Cam Maloy has a strong history of serving the community. She serves on the board of the Central Valley Business Incubator. And until recently served on the Historic Preservation Commission. She should be comended for her service. Despite this service we need to be very cautious of potential conflicts of interest.

I recall a Historic Preservation Commission meeting on June 22nd, 2009, Maloy spoke in favor of a Granville Homes proposal given by Darius Assemi. At the time Maloy was no longer serving on the HPC and beginning service on the Planning Commission. Looking back, this does seem inappropriate for a past Historic Preservation Commissioner or current Planning Commissioner to speak in favor of an applicant which she has financial ties to. It demonstrates the potential conflict of interest that may occur if she continued to serve on the Planning Commission.

To apply for the planning commission or other Fresno boards see the City Clerk webpage

From the City of Fresno website:

The City of Fresno Planning Commission is responsible for ensuring that the 2025 Fresno General Plan, Community and Specific Plans and the Zoning Ordinance are properly implemented. In addition, the Planning Commission takes action on various entitlements, as delegated by the legislative body (i.e. City Council). The Commission meets every first and third Wednesday’s of the month (unless otherwise noted below) at 6:00 pm in the City Council Chambers located at 2600 Fresno Street, second floor.

During these public hearings, the Commission takes action on the following entitlements:

* Subdivision tract maps.
* Appeals of Variances, Conditional Use Permit and Site Plan Review Applications
* Makes a recommendation to the City Council on all Rezone and Plan Amendment Applications
* Various policy and code updates, etc.

CITY OF FRESNO PLANNING COMMISSION

AUTHORIZATION: Fresno City Charter Section 906
TYPE: Charter
MEETS: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: City Hall, Council Chambers
TERM: Four years
COMPENSATION: $100 per meeting, not to exceed 24 meetings
STAFF REP: Planning and Development Dept., Keith Bergthold 621-8003
Alt. Staff Contact: Joann Zuniga 621-8032
APPOINTMENTS: 7 members appointed by the Mayor with Council approval. Must be a City of Fresno resident.

Name: Term Expires:

Rama Dawar 6/30/2010
Jamie Holt 6/30/2010
Paul Caprioglio 6/30/2013
Serop Torossian 6/30/2011
Hal Kissler 6/30/2012
Rojelio (Roy) Vasquez 6/30/2011
Vacant

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SEATTLE MAYOR GREG NICKELS TO ANNOUNCE THE 1,000th SIGNATORY TO THE MAYORS’ CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT AT MAYOR’S MEETING

60+ Will Gather in Seattle October 1-3 For Discussions With White House and Cabinet Officials On Recession and Green Economic Recovery

Seattle, WA. – U.S. Conference of Mayors President Seattle (WA) Mayor Greg Nickels will announce that by Friday, 1,000 mayors, representing 85 million Americans, will have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement — a pledge to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. cities in line with Kyoto Protocol standards.

The announcement of the 1000th mayoral signatory and his/her city will take place during the Conference’s Leadership Meeting, from October 1st to October 3rd at the Westin Seattle Hotel, where 60+ U.S. mayors will discuss the continuing recession and “green” economic recovery with White House and Obama Cabinet Officials.

Mayors will hear from U.S. Energy Steven Secretary Chu, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, HUD Deputy Secretary Ron Sims, National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske, U.S. Census Bureau Director Dr. Robert Groves, Deputy Secretary of Education Tony Miller, White House Urban Affairs Office Director Aldofo Carrion, White House Chair on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley and others on stimulus implementation, climate protection, green jobs, and other federal policies that impact urban and metropolitan areas – many of which have unemployment rates above 10 percent.

The Conference will also release a Climate Protection City Profile report that outlines specific actions mayors are taking to make their cities more energy efficient and meet the goals of the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement (CPA). Mayor Nickels, who will lead a delegation of mayors supporting Secretary of State Clinton and President Obama at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, initially introduced the Mayors’ CPA in February of 2005 in response to federal inaction on the Kyoto Protocol, and has since led mayors in the “green” movement in this country with summits on alternative vehicles (2006), green buildings (2006) and climate change (2007).

SEATTLE LEADERSHIP MEETING – ATTENDING MAYORS

Mayor Greg Nickels, Seattle, WA
Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, Burnsville, MN
Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Los Angeles, CA
Mayor Patrick Hays, North Little Rock, AR
Mayor Scott Smith, Mesa, AZ
Mayor Robert E. Walkup, Tucson, AZ
Mayor Bruce Barrows, Cerritos, CA
Mayor Ashley Swearengin, Fresno, CA
Mayor Bob Foster, Long Beach, CA
Mayor Jennifer Hosterman, Pleasanton, CA
Mayor Dan Skoglund, Rancho Cordova, CA
Mayor Michael Gin, Redondo Beach, CA
Mayor Kevin Johnson Sacramento, CA
Mayor Miguel A. Pulido, Santa Ana, CA
Mayor Marty Blum, Santa Barbara, CA
Mayor Anthony Santos, San Leandro, CA
Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, West Sacramento, CA
Mayor John Hickenlooper, Denver, CO
Mayor Bill Finch, Bridgeport, CT
Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez, Doral, FL
Mayor Joy Cooper, Hallandale Beach, FL
Mayor Lori C. Moseley, Miramar, FL
Mayor Frank C. Ortis, Pembroke Pines, FL
Mayor John Marks, Tallahassee, FL
Mayor Lois Frankel, West Palm Beach, FL
Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Honolulu, HI
Mayor Charmaine Tavares, Maui, HI
Mayor T.M. Franklin Cownie, Des Moines, IA
Mayor David Pope, Oak Park, IL
Mayor Jim Brainard, Carmel, IN
Mayor Elaine Walker, Bowling Green, KY
Mayor Jerry Abramson, Louisville, KY
Mayor Melvin “Kip” Holden, Baton Rouge, LA
Mayor C. Ray Nagin, New Orleans, LA
Mayor Cedric Glover, Shreveport, LA
Mayor Joseph Curtatone, Somerville, MA
Mayor Brenda L. Lawrence, Southfield, MI
Mayor William Wild, Westland, MI
Mayor Ardell Brede, Rochester, MN
Mayor Darwin Hindman, Columbia, MO
Mayor Francis G. Slay, St. Louis, MO
Mayor William Bell, Durham, NC
Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Elizabeth, NJ
Mayor Brian Wahler, Piscataway, NJ
Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, Trenton, NJ
Mayor Robert Duffy, Rochester, NY
Mayor Brian Stratton, Schenectady, NY
Mayor Mark Mallory, Cincinnati, OH
Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Columbus, OH
Mayor Mick Cornett, Oklahoma City, OK
Mayor Michael A. Nutter, Philadelphia, PA
Mayor David N. Cicilline, Providence, RI
Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Charleston, SC
Mayor Joseph T. Mcelveen, Sumter, SC
Mayor Robert Cluck, Arlington, TX
Mayor Thomas Leppert, Dallas, TX
Mayor Ralph Becker, Salt Lake City, UT
Mayor Grant Degginger, Bellevue, WA
Mayor Mary Verner, Spokane, WA
Mayor Bill Baarsma, Tacoma, WA
Mayor John Dickert, Racine, WI

source: United States Conference of Mayors press release

Today on the Fresno City Council agenda is a proposal by Mayor Ashley Swearengin to amending the Fresno Municipal Code relating to the Historic Preservation Commission.

That is not as drastic as it may sound and maybe a good modification. In fact, her bid for election as mayor was supported by several prominent local architects. With that and their continued advisement, Mayor Swearengin is well suited for improving Fresno’s built environment and making changes to City policy to support that.

The proposal by the Mayor is to amend the Historic Preservation Ordinance that governs the Commission to clarify residency requirements.

“The proposed amendment to Fresno Municipal Code Section 12-1605 would require five (5) of the seven (7) members of the Historic Preservation Commission to be a resident of the City of Fresno, but would allow two (2) of the seven (7) commission members, as long as they had the historical background described in Section 12-1605, to reside outside of Fresno but within the State of California.”

The story broke Monday through The Business Journal. This proposal was not a surprise given what I’d heard in the City Hall Lobby after the June meeting of the Commission. I had been there to report about 1, 2 items in front of the commission during that meeting. The commission has all 7 seats currently filled. However, 2 commisioners terms (4 years) are expired. It was a frustration of the preservation community during the Autry administration that there was never a full commission. There has been a change from that with the Swearengin administration, as 3 new members have been appointed since she took office.

Architect and commission co-chair, Chris Johnson AIA stated that:

“My understanding is that filling this commission with the energy and expertise needed to sustain it over a long haul is the issue. Protecting Fresno’s history goes beyond the city ‘boundaries’ and ‘limits’ and currently the Mayor is precluded by the city attorney at having individuals that do not live in the City limits serve on the HPC.” A co-author of the current Ordinance, Johnson continues, “There is no language clarifying this issue in the ordinance so the language proposed will provide clarity and give the Mayor more flexibility to fill the commission with the best possible candidates in and around Fresno.”

If you’re in to this kinda stuff, here is a PDF of the current Historic Preservation Ordinance. And here is a PDF of the Mayor’s proposed amendment to the Ordinance.

The County of Fresno also has a historic preservation counterpart. But I must admit I know little about it. Historical Landmarks & Records Commission

Share your thoughts here:

What are the benefits or pitfalls of allowing county residents on this City Commission?

Could this create more City / County cross pollination?

Could this set precedent for other City of Fresno commissions such as the Planning Commission?

What is needed to spur more civic engagement so that there is actually competition for these commission appointments?

Post updated 7/16/09 with facts from Kevin Enns-Rempel’s comment.