Public Comments and City Responses – 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CITY RESPONSES
Comments received between March 18, 2022 and the close of the Public Comment period on April 19, 2022 are provided below along with the associated City response. All comments will be incorporated in the final submission of the plans to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). All text in italics are direct quotes of comments; text in regular font are synopses of comments due to length. All comments received via email and survey are posted below in full. Titles are self-reported by each respondent.
Ambassador Brian Kelly, resident of Council District 3: Still desperately need Mobile Bathroom / shower trailers downtown and throughout the city. Really unfortunate it’s taken this long when we have local manufactures capable of designing / building right here in our backyard.
Downtown is still a food desert doesn’t matter how many street eat events or food trucks we have parked people need nutritional fresh produce and the opportunity to buy them from local farmers. Partner with Arte America for weekly markets and highlight farm workers rights. Also financially support more local garden programs require new apt / housing to hold spaces for these as well.
[City Response:
• Throughout the City’s consultation with the community during the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan process, members of the community did not identify having mobile bathrooms or shower trailers as one of the activities that should be funded through CDBG, ESG, HOPWA, or HOME. The City is mandated by federal law to pursue the goals outlined in the 5-year Consolidated Plan through its Annual Action plans.
However, those services were identified as a priority for funding during the HOME-ARP community consultation phase and will be eligible for funding through that program.
The community did identify that “[r]ecreation, nutrition, and social services for seniors” should be funded, and in the 2021-2022 Annual Action Plan, the City funded a program to build community gardens for seniors in the Chinatown area of Fresno. The City did not receive applications to fund similar projects in the 2022-2023 Consolidated Notice of Funding Availability.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Kim Sorian, resident of District 4: Let's please build housing right next to safe & clean transportation routes including bike lanes & cheap bike rentals!! Here are some more ideas down below. And please ensure the bullet train gets finished, especially at time when gas prices are very high! https://archive.curbed.com/a/texas-california/electric-cars-climate-change- sacramento-california
[City Response:
Public Comments and City Responses – 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan
• The City shares your desire for safe and clean transportation routes. In the 2020 Analysis of Impediments, the City noted that moderate-income members of the community spend an average of 71 percent of their household income on housing and transportation costs. To address that issue, the City formed a goal of increasing improvements to streets, curbs, sidewalks, and street lighting, particularly in parts of south Fresno, as part of its 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan. That plan informs all of the Annual Action Plans through 2024.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Karen Duvall, retiree and resident: We feel [OASIS/PALS adult-day program] is a much needed community program. After Covid restrictions, there is a great need to get back to a more normal environment. Having had a mother who needed care we can appreciate this effort.
[City Response:
• The City of Fresno is currently recommending funding for Valley Caregiver Resource Center to relaunch its OASIS Adult Day Care program. On April 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM or thereafter, the City Council will determine whether to make changes to proposed projects in the draft 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Suraj Kairamkonda, owner of Right at Home In Home Care & Assistance: I recommend OASIS adult-day program to be chosen by the City of Fresno
[City Response:
• The City of Fresno is currently recommending funding for Valley Caregiver Resource Center to relaunch its OASIS Adult Day Care program. On April 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM or thereafter, the City Council will determine whether to make changes to proposed projects in the draft 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Lily Gutierrez, caregiver and resident of District 5: The Oasis and Adult programs that VCRC provide are extremely needed for our older and dementia seniors who need to socialize and a place where they enjoy. plus allowing a small break for the family caregiver. Please help us keep the doors open for a place for our loveone's to go spend a little time with other peers with the same brain disease and be with others to connect. Our loveone's desperately need this small time away from home.
[City Response:
• The City of Fresno is currently recommending funding for Valley Caregiver Resource Center to relaunch its OASIS Adult Day Care program. On April 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM or thereafter, the City Council will determine whether to make changes to proposed projects in the draft 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Public Comments and City Responses – 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan
Tiffany Zambrano, nursing student and resident of District 4: Please fund the reopening of Oasis Adult Day Program.
[City Response:
• The City of Fresno is currently recommending funding for Valley Caregiver Resource Center to relaunch its OASIS Adult Day Care program. On April 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM or thereafter, the City Council will determine whether to make changes to proposed projects in the draft 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Tina Valla, fiscal manager at Valley Caregiver Resource Center: I support the funding the Community Block Grant for Valley Caregiver Resource Center.
[City Response:
• The City of Fresno is currently recommending funding for Valley Caregiver Resource Center to relaunch its OASIS Adult Day Care program. On April 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM or thereafter, the City Council will determine whether to make changes to proposed projects in the draft 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Natasha Ambriz on behalf of Central Valley Regional Center: Detailed ... rent reasonableness should be clearly explained with examples of area costs. Appreciated the plain language of the checklists.
[City Response:
• The City will work to include this information in future publications. • The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Terry Coleman: Please support OASIS adult day program with funds to allow it to open again.
My mother attended previously and it was a wonderful program to help her have activities with others who have dementia.
[City Response:
• The City of Fresno is currently recommending funding for Valley Caregiver Resource Center to relaunch its OASIS Adult Day Care program. On April 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM or thereafter, the City Council will determine whether to make changes to proposed projects in the draft 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Robin Shepard, resident: The Oasis/Pals program was a tremendous resource for our family.
My aging mother in law is 85 and enjoyed this program TREMENDOUSLY. It gave her a safe and stimulatingly environment and as a care giver it was a blessing to me also. Since the program has been closed we have not been able to find any other program like it. Our aging community has given much in their lives of hard work and sacrifice. This program is one way we Public Comments and City Responses – 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan
can show our gratitude and give back. PLEASE SERIOUSLY CONSIDER ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO BRING THIS PROGRAM BACK!!!
[City Response:
• The City of Fresno is currently recommending funding for Valley Caregiver Resource Center to relaunch its OASIS Adult Day Care program. On April 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM or thereafter, the City Council will determine whether to make changes to proposed projects in the draft 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Jennifer Webb, HICAP Program Manager: I support the Valley Caregiver Resource Center and the reopening of the OASIS adult day program.
[City Response:
• The City of Fresno is currently recommending funding for Valley Caregiver Resource Center to relaunch its OASIS Adult Day Care program. On April 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM or thereafter, the City Council will determine whether to make changes to proposed projects in the draft 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Edward Y Ramos, via email: I would like to see funding be reinstated to support this program. It supports many individuals that need that day care for adults extra care to survive the day to day life support lt takes to help cognitive support for many residents. You youngsters are the life support for us oldies, please support us older citizens. [City Response:
• The City of Fresno is currently recommending funding for Valley Caregiver Resource Center to relaunch its OASIS Adult Day Care program. On April 28, 2022 at 10:00 AM or thereafter, the City Council will determine whether to make changes to proposed projects in the draft 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan.
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Stephanie Maruqez, resident of District 3: I would like for there to be a bike path created in Edison. I also would like for sidewalks to be installed on every street in the area. I would also like to see more beautification with drought resistant plants in the area.
[City Response:
• The City has applied for funding through the Congestion Mitigration Air Quality (CMAQ) grant which will fund the intstallation of approximately 1,190 linear feet of sidewalks along the south side of California from Fruit to Thorne and along the north side of California between Kern and Pottle.
In 2017, the City adopted the Active Transportation Plan that includes prioritizing higher quality active transportation infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Public Comments and City Responses – 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan
• The public comment has been considered and accepted.]
Hope & Effort Appropriately Thriving (H.E.A.T) for South West Fresno Community, a group of residents living in Southwest Fresno:
The City held an in-person meeting on March 28, 2022 to discuss the 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan. Below is a synopsis of the comments provided by the approximately 10 members who were in attendance:
• Public outreach can be improved by taking the funds used to publish public notices in the Fresno Bee and reappropriating them to door-hanger distribution or mailing notices through the United States Postal Services. Members felt that the Fresno Bee’s circulation is expensive and largely digital
• Holding community meetings in Selland Arena, Chuckchansi Park, or the Save Mart Center would benefit public outreach
• Public service announcements should be made on television during the local news • The City should coordinate with schools to distribute fliers to children for them to take home to their parents
• The City is not using the federal funds allocated through the 2022-2023 Annual Action Plan to address blight in the Southwest Fresno area
[City Response:
• The City is looking to improve its outreach efforts wherever possible. The suggestions provided by members of H.E.A.T. will be considered for feasibility, and implementation methods considered feasible will be incorporated into future outreach efforts.
When the City consulted residents during the development of the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, they did not feel blight was a high enough priority for the federal funds administered through the Annual Action plans. As a result, the City primarily focuses on addressing homelessness, creating more affordable housing, funding community services, promoting fair housing practices, and programmatic compliance. • The public comment has been considered and accepted.]