11-25-09 It was Drew Wilson Day

My day started at the counter at the Chicken Pie Shop. My son was supposed to meet me but he overslept. He's doing his part to perpetuate the college student image. So I joined the guys at the counter. We talked Grizzlies, downtown stuff in general. But the best part was a 78 year old guy who hikes in the mountains every Monday and Friday with a group of retirees. 4 miles hikes on Mondays, 8 miles hikes on Fridays. Inspiring.



9:00 Agenda Conference for the Dec. 3rd meeting. We have several items on the agenda. We have the Economic Development Corporation contract, which is funded through our department. They are receiving an 18% cut, just like our department. Council President Sterling has placed a closed session update on the agenda for the Hotel Fresno. We also have an item on the consent to change the signage on the freeways to say: Downtown Fresno next exit. The Downtown Association is paying for the new signage.



We also have an item on consent that will halt the Municipal Restoration Zone program. This will be presented to the City Council this Monday as part of the overall budget adjustment/cuts.



9:30 The directors' meeting was mostly about budget issues and personnel issues. The City is pulling together a job fair on Dec. 2 for the employees who are losing their jobs.



10:00 We had our weekly coordination meeting with Depts. involved in the downtown revitalization effort. the focus is still on the downtown incentives program, which would waive or defer city fees. We are getting set to go to Council on the 17th of December. If you are a downtown supporter, please come down and applaud if it goes through. John Dugan is also presenting the interim development standards. We hope to have those go through in January.



11:30 I had lunch with Brian Rouch at the Shepherds' Inn. He is the founding CEO of the Central Valley Business Network. This is a group of local businesses who have incorporated green or environmental stewardship practices into their business or farming operations.



My 1:00, my 3:00 and my 4:00 meetings all cancelled! Happy Thanksgiving.



I had time to catch up with Drew Wilson, our superstar intern from last summer. Drew is now in the Urban Studies program at Cal. It was great to hear how he is doing, and of course, how our internship has helped him in his program. Drew is already of wealth of knowledge. I hope that he is the Planning Director in Fresno 12 years from now.



I had some one on one time with Elaine, Amy, and Wilma.  I had time to catch up on emails and phone calls and walked out of the doors of City Hall at 5:05.  Dinner at my folks and the guys headed out to watch Ninja Assasin at the movies.

Happy Thanksgiving., Craig