NOTE: spell check disappeared. It used to be on the tool bar, but tonight it's missing. Please forgive the spelling errors.
Yesterday-First, I want to say that I redeemed myself after my humiliating 6-1 loss to my wife in tennis last week. Yes, I won 6-3 yesterday. Bobby Riggs would be proud of me.
Today-I started off the day with a nice 2 mile jog/run with ol' Ellis this morning at 5:00. I forgot to tell Coach Carter, but I'll let her know after tomorrow's effort.
8:00 meeting with Deb Nankivell (Fresno Business Council), Doug Davidian, Kristine Walter and Fresno Pacific University President Merril Ewert. We met in Dr. Ewert's office. The meeting was another in a successful chain of get-togethers regarding the Lowell neighborhood and our revitalization focus on Lowell. I have to admit, I wasn't at my best. I could blame it on too much caffeine or just wanting to get the week going, but I could have used a little deep breathing or other calming exercise. It is interesting, after doing this kind of work in a variety of forms for many years. There still are no directions. It is really just a matter of trying my best and moving forward.
10:30 I got back to City Hall in time to meet with a new intern from Fresno State who is in the grant writing certificate program through the American Humanics program. Darcy was a huge help on her very first day, finding information for a grant that we are working toward that would fund pest (cockroach, rat) infestation elimination in some of our urban neighborhoods. These pests have a direct link to an increase in asthma in children...something I did not know. Another example of how resources are begining to materialize and how valuable they can be.
12:00 I was on Mike Briggs on-line news program. This was very interesting. He has a studio in the back of his real estate office in the Tower District. He does a daily show, that is repeated throughout the week. Others do shows from there as well. It is amazing how accessible the media is to almost everyone now. I'm not sure how to get to the show to watch it, but it should be a relatively easy search. The topic was downtown revitalization.
1:15 I had a nice, quiet lunch by myself at Ribs 'n Tip on Divisadero and Broadway (Echo actually). A great tri-tip sandwich and great pilaf. If you haven't tried them yet, it is worth the trip.
2:00 Amy, Fernando and I met with the Business Tax Division to learn more about their new software's capabilities. We have an interest in the usability of the software, what the City has had in the past is archaic. The new software should allow us to do quieries so that we can begin to put together better lists for our business affinity groups and to create an on-line directory for locally owned businesses like restaurants and retailers.
3:30 I did a walking tour of the Fulton Mall with the Parks Department. We were trying to decide short, medium, long range priorities. Much of the Mall is a real mess. The concrete, the aggregate, the planters, lights, fountains and garbage cans are all in pretty sad shape. Whether or not you are a pro-mall or pro-traffic person, there will need to be a major investment to fix this core of our downtown. Even examples like Santa Monica and Charleston have renovated their pedestrian malls. Preserving what we have isn't going to work very well. Patching will just make it look worse over time.
4:45 I met at the Trade Center building to confirm the location for the Urban Entrepreneurship's class presentations. We're hoping to use the newly renovated 10th floor and also hoping that all of you (are there still 11 of you?) that will join us on December 3rd from 3-6...stay tuned.
6:30 The Mayor had a Town Hall Meeting in Woodward park Library. She continues to move around the city engaging with neighbors about their localized issues as well as citywide issues. It was gratifying to see how much interest there was in downtown revitalization from the folks in the Woodward Park district.
8:15 I met with Brian Glover from Penstar after the Town Hall meeting. Penstar did the new building at Kern and M streets in dowtown. Penstar made a huge investment in downtown and have been real leaders in efforts from the Property Based Improvement District to the Specific Plan.
Home at 10:00, done with blog at 11:30. Lights out!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
11/7/09 An Easy Saturday
I got up this morning to find that I'd forgotten to get coffee yesterday. I walked the ol' pooch to the store when it opened at 7:00
8:00 I had breakfast with Saundra King, the owner of the Security Bank Building (a.k.a. Fresno Pacific Towers, Pacific Southwest Building) at the Chicken Pie Shop. We had a number of things to catch up on, but primarily the Specific Plan and the Property Based Improvement District. Saundra has been elected the interim chairperson for the Specific Plan Committee and was on the Stakeholders' Committee that voted on the selection of the planning team. Saundra has also been a proponent of the PBID for a number of years.
10:00 Ray Arthur, our Film and Entertainment Commissioner, has been organizing the owners of our historic theaters. Today we met at the Azteca Theater in Chinatown. We had a tour through the Theater, it was my first look inside. Two of my Urban Entrepreneurship students, Rodney and Brandon came along because they are using the theater for their semester projects. It was a good opportunity to inform the theater owners about the possibility of City fee waivers, the Specific Plan and the entertainment district concept.
12:00 I picked up my order of Beerocks from the Cross/Well Church at Palm and Gettysburg. This is the church where my grandparents attended and helped in the annual beerocks sales. The Volga German or Germans from Russia community makes a style of beerocks different from the usual store or restaurant variety. For our family, there are no comparisons. The Edison Social Club is the only other place to get them, and their sale will be in December. The Edison Social Club also has sausage for sale too.
One of the truly great things about living in our area is our ethnic heritage. I'd love to see a place on Fulton someday that honors this piece of our Fresno history and culture. Beerocks, vereniks (strawberry and potato), egg noodles, coffee cake and German smoked and regular sausage (Olberg's Recipe). A place that had pictures of Fresno's Germantown on the walls and would organize and a great Oktoberfest every fall.
8:00 I had breakfast with Saundra King, the owner of the Security Bank Building (a.k.a. Fresno Pacific Towers, Pacific Southwest Building) at the Chicken Pie Shop. We had a number of things to catch up on, but primarily the Specific Plan and the Property Based Improvement District. Saundra has been elected the interim chairperson for the Specific Plan Committee and was on the Stakeholders' Committee that voted on the selection of the planning team. Saundra has also been a proponent of the PBID for a number of years.
10:00 Ray Arthur, our Film and Entertainment Commissioner, has been organizing the owners of our historic theaters. Today we met at the Azteca Theater in Chinatown. We had a tour through the Theater, it was my first look inside. Two of my Urban Entrepreneurship students, Rodney and Brandon came along because they are using the theater for their semester projects. It was a good opportunity to inform the theater owners about the possibility of City fee waivers, the Specific Plan and the entertainment district concept.
12:00 I picked up my order of Beerocks from the Cross/Well Church at Palm and Gettysburg. This is the church where my grandparents attended and helped in the annual beerocks sales. The Volga German or Germans from Russia community makes a style of beerocks different from the usual store or restaurant variety. For our family, there are no comparisons. The Edison Social Club is the only other place to get them, and their sale will be in December. The Edison Social Club also has sausage for sale too.
One of the truly great things about living in our area is our ethnic heritage. I'd love to see a place on Fulton someday that honors this piece of our Fresno history and culture. Beerocks, vereniks (strawberry and potato), egg noodles, coffee cake and German smoked and regular sausage (Olberg's Recipe). A place that had pictures of Fresno's Germantown on the walls and would organize and a great Oktoberfest every fall.
Friday, November 6, 2009
11/6/09 Causal Friday
I started the day with another morning run. this time under cloak of darkness. I know that we all seem to have a penchant for street lights, but Ilike to be up before sunrise and see the stars and moon in a place without them.
7:30 I enjoyed a nice walking tour of the Fulton Mall with Dr. Hoff, the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. He's a long time Fresnan and downtown enthusiast. We had a good conversation about how downtowns work, past planning mistakes and future opportunities working together. Their impact on the Lowell neighborhood could be fantastic. I had a coffee and breakfast sandwich from the Parsley Garden afterward....mmmm.
9:00 I had my weekly one on one meeting with our department's Administrative Manager George Smith. George keeps us on track with some of the process stuff. He is also a burgeoning grant writer, along with his many other credentials. He is currently writing a grant that would help to eradicate some of our Lowell neighborhood homes of pests.
10:00 Dawn Steel (FPU alum), Elaine Robles and I headed to Fresno Pacific University to meet with faculty members to discuss their possible participation in our efforts to revitalize the Lowell Neighborhood. They we enthusiastic and helpful in breainstorming the best ways to have a long term engagement with faculty and staff. Resources continue to build for the neighborhood revitalization effort. My personal belief is that we have all the resources that we need to solve our problems, we just need to focus and learn to wrok together. Well, it is actually happening.
We ate at a great little Mexican Food place on Kings Canyon. I can't remember its name and it isn't showing up on Google maps. It is over by Castillos. Handmade corn tortillas were fantastic.
2:00 I met John Rayomnd (Fresno Redevelopment Agency) at Full Circle Brewery (no beer for us) to meet with the owners Don and Bill. The meeting was for me to introduce them to the redevelopment agency and to talk about the Chinaton Redevelopment project area.
3:30 We hosted a meeting at City Hall with City management and staff and downtown developers to discuss potential fee waivers and deferrals to encourage downtown development. We had a great turnout. The concept is to spur development activity during the formation of the specific plan so that projects will be included in the planning process. Our focus in the Fulton mall area, but all areas within the foot print of the plan are included and would receive benefits under our proposal. coupled with improved zoning and code issues, a property based improvement district, an entertainment district and revitalizing downtown neighborhoods, reduced City fees could be another layer to encourage revitalization.
5:15 I met back at Full circle to meet some friends and to listen to some music from Evo Bluestein and a great group of local musicians.
It is 9:50 and I am about down for the count.
7:30 I enjoyed a nice walking tour of the Fulton Mall with Dr. Hoff, the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services. He's a long time Fresnan and downtown enthusiast. We had a good conversation about how downtowns work, past planning mistakes and future opportunities working together. Their impact on the Lowell neighborhood could be fantastic. I had a coffee and breakfast sandwich from the Parsley Garden afterward....mmmm.
9:00 I had my weekly one on one meeting with our department's Administrative Manager George Smith. George keeps us on track with some of the process stuff. He is also a burgeoning grant writer, along with his many other credentials. He is currently writing a grant that would help to eradicate some of our Lowell neighborhood homes of pests.
10:00 Dawn Steel (FPU alum), Elaine Robles and I headed to Fresno Pacific University to meet with faculty members to discuss their possible participation in our efforts to revitalize the Lowell Neighborhood. They we enthusiastic and helpful in breainstorming the best ways to have a long term engagement with faculty and staff. Resources continue to build for the neighborhood revitalization effort. My personal belief is that we have all the resources that we need to solve our problems, we just need to focus and learn to wrok together. Well, it is actually happening.
We ate at a great little Mexican Food place on Kings Canyon. I can't remember its name and it isn't showing up on Google maps. It is over by Castillos. Handmade corn tortillas were fantastic.
2:00 I met John Rayomnd (Fresno Redevelopment Agency) at Full Circle Brewery (no beer for us) to meet with the owners Don and Bill. The meeting was for me to introduce them to the redevelopment agency and to talk about the Chinaton Redevelopment project area.
3:30 We hosted a meeting at City Hall with City management and staff and downtown developers to discuss potential fee waivers and deferrals to encourage downtown development. We had a great turnout. The concept is to spur development activity during the formation of the specific plan so that projects will be included in the planning process. Our focus in the Fulton mall area, but all areas within the foot print of the plan are included and would receive benefits under our proposal. coupled with improved zoning and code issues, a property based improvement district, an entertainment district and revitalizing downtown neighborhoods, reduced City fees could be another layer to encourage revitalization.
5:15 I met back at Full circle to meet some friends and to listen to some music from Evo Bluestein and a great group of local musicians.
It is 9:50 and I am about down for the count.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
11/5/09 Holy Mackerel...what a great day
I am so glad that I am writing this stuff down. It is way too much to try to remember. I hope that a few of you are checking in occasionally, to see what is happening with the overall effort. I am up for suggestions too, so let me know, please.
I got up at 5:30 and barely had time for a jog. I try to go before sunrise so that I can let the dog off of the leash before people are up. If there are people out, she has to be on a leash, I know some folks are scared of dogs.
7:00 weekly meeting with Rollie from HUD, Preston and Eileen from Housing Authority and Keith from Fresno Planning Dept. Today's topics were far ranging, from the public housing at First and Clinton, to the future of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program update in the Lowell Neighborhood.
10:00 Wilma, Elaine, Elliott and I met to coordinate on the Specific Plan. We are going to be soliciting for members of the neighborhood piece soon, so if you are a stakeholder (property owner, resident, business owner) in Southwest, Jefferson/Lowell, our Southeast Fresno let me know and we'll get an application to you. Or pass the word along to others, please.
11:00 We had a meeting about temporarily implementing new standards for downtown development, for the interim period until the specific plan is adopted. We could potentially have two years of bad urban design if we wait. Planning, Public Works, Public Utilities and others were all present. John Dugan, our new Planning Director was at the meeting and will be a valuable leader on moving this forward. I will probably repeat this somewhat often...John Dugan is one of the best things to happen in the downtown revitalization effort.
11:30 Elaine Robles (Neighborhood Revitalization Manger) and I headed to Fresno State for a meeting to further the concept of engaging the University in the effort to revitalization of the Lowell Neighborhood. We grabbed a quick lunch from locally-owned Don Pepe on Woodrow across from Fresno State.
12:00 What an unbelievably great meeting! Fresno State is on it. The have departments lined up with classes and internships all focused on Lowell. Off the top of my head: construction management, recreation, education, the library (for research and database), political science, psychology, business, engineering, arts (lighting)...and others that I'm forgetting. The have a matrix of every department's involvement. They have specific classes that will be involved. The are organizing an event to link nonprofits in Lowell to students. This is so incredibly gigantic. They are hosting a national conference for Urban Universities next year and will bring schools from around the country to Fresno to see how an engaged city and university can work together. Somebody pinch me...I never, in my wildest dreams, thought that this would all be happening so quickly. Dr. Welty, the Provost and Assistant Provost are all actively engaged to pull this focus and follow-through together. I do not believe that there is anything quite like what is happening, anywhere in the country. As the Mayor says, "it is different this time." Folks, it is different, I've been doing this stuff off and on for 25 years. I have never seen things happening like this before.
2:00 We (Downtown and Community Revitalization Dept.) had a couple of items at the City Council meeting today.
First, we had a proclamation and press event for the former Gottschalks employees who are still looking for work. The Mayor and council member Brand presented the proclamation. About 85 former Big G employees were on hand. This is an incredibly talented and hard-working group of people. We have probably never had this large of an educated, trained, management group enter the workforce at once. A couple of years ago local companies were complaining that we did not have enough management depth in our job market. Well, business owners, we have some incredible talent in our workforce, form the Gottschalks Alumni and other unfortunate closures. We want to keep as many of these experienced people in our economy as possible.
Second, we had a couple of property owners from Lowell express their displeasure with the code enforcement activities in the neighborhood, specifically as they relate to front Yard fence height. The conversation at the meeting was friendly and we will continue to work with folks. The Lowell neighborhood asked for code enforcement in their area, to bring the neighborhood up to the same standard as other parts of the city.
Third, the City Council unanimously voted their support a contract with FUND to help some of the homeowners in Lowell to bring their homes up to code. This money comes to the City from the Fedreal Government's Community Development Block Grant program for use in low-income areas. There are very few homeonwers in Lowell and we wnated to use the resource to help bring the neighborhood up to code, but not to adversly affect the homeowners that have stuck with the neighborhood.
3:00 The Urban Entrepreneurship class that I teach spent a day with Reza Assemi touring his downtown proejcts: Vagabond Lofts, Iron Bird Lofts and the next project to get started, the Broadway Lofts. The class loved the day, meeting with a younger entrepreneur and also seeing a very attractive living option as they graduate soon.
6:00 I had the opportunity to make one ArtHop stop at Cameron Moor's building on Braodway. This adaptive reuse project participated in ArtHop for the first time...it just keeps growing.
6:30 I met with a downtown property owner and a potential new tenant for downtown. We met at the Cosmo and had some great appetizers. The hamburger at the table next to us was a work of art too. The Cosmopolitan Tavern was hopping. The potential downtown tenant was laughing about how some people are afraid of downtown, but the Cosmo was packed with everyone from seniors, middle-aged folks andf one young family with their toddler. The Cosmo is a great place, with great history a fun old town atmosphere, unbelievable food and is a locally-onwed gem. The old bar is really cool too.
I told ya'....it was a great day in downtown Fresno. Craig
I got up at 5:30 and barely had time for a jog. I try to go before sunrise so that I can let the dog off of the leash before people are up. If there are people out, she has to be on a leash, I know some folks are scared of dogs.
7:00 weekly meeting with Rollie from HUD, Preston and Eileen from Housing Authority and Keith from Fresno Planning Dept. Today's topics were far ranging, from the public housing at First and Clinton, to the future of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program update in the Lowell Neighborhood.
10:00 Wilma, Elaine, Elliott and I met to coordinate on the Specific Plan. We are going to be soliciting for members of the neighborhood piece soon, so if you are a stakeholder (property owner, resident, business owner) in Southwest, Jefferson/Lowell, our Southeast Fresno let me know and we'll get an application to you. Or pass the word along to others, please.
11:00 We had a meeting about temporarily implementing new standards for downtown development, for the interim period until the specific plan is adopted. We could potentially have two years of bad urban design if we wait. Planning, Public Works, Public Utilities and others were all present. John Dugan, our new Planning Director was at the meeting and will be a valuable leader on moving this forward. I will probably repeat this somewhat often...John Dugan is one of the best things to happen in the downtown revitalization effort.
11:30 Elaine Robles (Neighborhood Revitalization Manger) and I headed to Fresno State for a meeting to further the concept of engaging the University in the effort to revitalization of the Lowell Neighborhood. We grabbed a quick lunch from locally-owned Don Pepe on Woodrow across from Fresno State.
12:00 What an unbelievably great meeting! Fresno State is on it. The have departments lined up with classes and internships all focused on Lowell. Off the top of my head: construction management, recreation, education, the library (for research and database), political science, psychology, business, engineering, arts (lighting)...and others that I'm forgetting. The have a matrix of every department's involvement. They have specific classes that will be involved. The are organizing an event to link nonprofits in Lowell to students. This is so incredibly gigantic. They are hosting a national conference for Urban Universities next year and will bring schools from around the country to Fresno to see how an engaged city and university can work together. Somebody pinch me...I never, in my wildest dreams, thought that this would all be happening so quickly. Dr. Welty, the Provost and Assistant Provost are all actively engaged to pull this focus and follow-through together. I do not believe that there is anything quite like what is happening, anywhere in the country. As the Mayor says, "it is different this time." Folks, it is different, I've been doing this stuff off and on for 25 years. I have never seen things happening like this before.
2:00 We (Downtown and Community Revitalization Dept.) had a couple of items at the City Council meeting today.
First, we had a proclamation and press event for the former Gottschalks employees who are still looking for work. The Mayor and council member Brand presented the proclamation. About 85 former Big G employees were on hand. This is an incredibly talented and hard-working group of people. We have probably never had this large of an educated, trained, management group enter the workforce at once. A couple of years ago local companies were complaining that we did not have enough management depth in our job market. Well, business owners, we have some incredible talent in our workforce, form the Gottschalks Alumni and other unfortunate closures. We want to keep as many of these experienced people in our economy as possible.
Second, we had a couple of property owners from Lowell express their displeasure with the code enforcement activities in the neighborhood, specifically as they relate to front Yard fence height. The conversation at the meeting was friendly and we will continue to work with folks. The Lowell neighborhood asked for code enforcement in their area, to bring the neighborhood up to the same standard as other parts of the city.
Third, the City Council unanimously voted their support a contract with FUND to help some of the homeowners in Lowell to bring their homes up to code. This money comes to the City from the Fedreal Government's Community Development Block Grant program for use in low-income areas. There are very few homeonwers in Lowell and we wnated to use the resource to help bring the neighborhood up to code, but not to adversly affect the homeowners that have stuck with the neighborhood.
3:00 The Urban Entrepreneurship class that I teach spent a day with Reza Assemi touring his downtown proejcts: Vagabond Lofts, Iron Bird Lofts and the next project to get started, the Broadway Lofts. The class loved the day, meeting with a younger entrepreneur and also seeing a very attractive living option as they graduate soon.
6:00 I had the opportunity to make one ArtHop stop at Cameron Moor's building on Braodway. This adaptive reuse project participated in ArtHop for the first time...it just keeps growing.
6:30 I met with a downtown property owner and a potential new tenant for downtown. We met at the Cosmo and had some great appetizers. The hamburger at the table next to us was a work of art too. The Cosmopolitan Tavern was hopping. The potential downtown tenant was laughing about how some people are afraid of downtown, but the Cosmo was packed with everyone from seniors, middle-aged folks andf one young family with their toddler. The Cosmo is a great place, with great history a fun old town atmosphere, unbelievable food and is a locally-onwed gem. The old bar is really cool too.
I told ya'....it was a great day in downtown Fresno. Craig
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
10/4/09 Hump day
4:30 Up and at 'em. I took the dog for a run up Wishon.
6:15 I was at Uncle Harry's getting two "dozen deals", a cup of coffee and the Bee.
6:45 I had to take my car to Clawson to be smogged.
7:00 Fernando picked me up and we headed to our 7:30 meeting.
7:30 We had our first Independent Retailers and Restaurants meeting. We met at the new Coney Island restaurant concept from locally-owned Me & Ed's. My job was to bring the bagels.
This Affinity group met to discuss ways that they could work together to improve their businesses and to brainstorm ways that the City could help. We had a great group for our first meeting. The Mayor was on hand to hear their concerns and to listen as they formed their group priorities. Some of the ideas were to create a directory for locally-owned businesses, to create a best of Fresno award that only included locally-owned businesses, an awareness campaign to inform the community about locally-owned business and their economic impact. We'll get back together in January. Support your locally-owned retailers and restaurants this holiday season!
9:15 The car is ready and I'm headed to City Hall
10:00 We (Elliot, Elaine, Wilma) had a meeting with the Planning Department to discuss our mutual effort to secure funding for our downtown planning needs alon with the needs of the City General Plan and our goals for Sustainable Fresno. Fresno is starting to get some traction for our efforts to improve planning efforts.
11:00 I had a meeting to update City Council President Cynthia Sterling to keep her up to date with our department's activities and to make sure that we are working together.
11:30 I had lunch with Gary Schulz at Heros. Gary and I worked together while we were at the Central Valley Business Incubator. Now Gary is heading up the Raisin Administrative Committee. We discussed some ways that we could re-integrate the raisin industry into Fresno through a downtown festival or other activities.
2:00 I had my update meeting with the Mayor. This is a regular meeting to keep her up to date with our department's activities, to coordinate and to get direction.
4:00 The weekly downtown meeting with all of the City departmetns involved in the revitalization effort. We are refining the possible City incentives like fee waivers in downtown.
6:30 Attended the reception for the California Enterprise Zone Conference. Our own Kelly Trvino is responsible for bring this 150+ attendee conference to town. Kelly has organized the event and from the looks of things, everyone was thrilled...especially the folks who came in from Indiana and Colorado who I met tonight.
Danged Yankees won. Baseball is over until next season. We are entering the year of the Giants!
6:15 I was at Uncle Harry's getting two "dozen deals", a cup of coffee and the Bee.
6:45 I had to take my car to Clawson to be smogged.
7:00 Fernando picked me up and we headed to our 7:30 meeting.
7:30 We had our first Independent Retailers and Restaurants meeting. We met at the new Coney Island restaurant concept from locally-owned Me & Ed's. My job was to bring the bagels.
This Affinity group met to discuss ways that they could work together to improve their businesses and to brainstorm ways that the City could help. We had a great group for our first meeting. The Mayor was on hand to hear their concerns and to listen as they formed their group priorities. Some of the ideas were to create a directory for locally-owned businesses, to create a best of Fresno award that only included locally-owned businesses, an awareness campaign to inform the community about locally-owned business and their economic impact. We'll get back together in January. Support your locally-owned retailers and restaurants this holiday season!
9:15 The car is ready and I'm headed to City Hall
10:00 We (Elliot, Elaine, Wilma) had a meeting with the Planning Department to discuss our mutual effort to secure funding for our downtown planning needs alon with the needs of the City General Plan and our goals for Sustainable Fresno. Fresno is starting to get some traction for our efforts to improve planning efforts.
11:00 I had a meeting to update City Council President Cynthia Sterling to keep her up to date with our department's activities and to make sure that we are working together.
11:30 I had lunch with Gary Schulz at Heros. Gary and I worked together while we were at the Central Valley Business Incubator. Now Gary is heading up the Raisin Administrative Committee. We discussed some ways that we could re-integrate the raisin industry into Fresno through a downtown festival or other activities.
2:00 I had my update meeting with the Mayor. This is a regular meeting to keep her up to date with our department's activities, to coordinate and to get direction.
4:00 The weekly downtown meeting with all of the City departmetns involved in the revitalization effort. We are refining the possible City incentives like fee waivers in downtown.
6:30 Attended the reception for the California Enterprise Zone Conference. Our own Kelly Trvino is responsible for bring this 150+ attendee conference to town. Kelly has organized the event and from the looks of things, everyone was thrilled...especially the folks who came in from Indiana and Colorado who I met tonight.
Danged Yankees won. Baseball is over until next season. We are entering the year of the Giants!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
11/3/09 Still Blogging After All These Days
Rise and Shine
8:00 we had a dress rehearsal for our next community meeting in the Lowell neighborhood (11/16). Each department presented their activities from the past 4-8 months. This turned out to be a great exercise. None of us were satisfies with the information or presentation. Our saying is the Lowell is the place where Fresno learns neighborhood revitalization. The departments within the City have really been delivering effort and results in Lowell. Now we are figuring out how to to communicate the information to the community. This is not nearly as easy as you might think. But, the effort to communicate effectively should yield great results. Revitalization is an effort made by people, so having good communication is paramount.
9:15 I had my one-on-one meeting with the City Manager Andy Souza. As a Department Director, I report directly to the City Manager. The one-on-one meetings are a time to get specific feedback and direction as well as a time to get management guidance. As a newly restructured department (10 months old) it it vital.
10:00 We (Elliott Balch and I) had a meeting regarding the operations and maintenance of the Fulton Mall. The meeting included city Management and the PARCS Dept. We are discussing some ways to improve the coordination of events on the Mall, and some opportunities to spruce up the Mall while were working on the larger policy issues during the Specific Plan process.
11:00 Neighborhood Revitalization Manager Elaine Robles and I had a meeting with the Mayor and representatives from The California endowment. Fresno is one of 14 California cities that TCE has decided to focus attention and resources. Our meeting was largely informational, but it will also be necessary to coordinate our neighborhood revitalization efforts like our Lowell neighborhood and Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan ( which has a nearly identical footprint to the TCE targeted area). Our community has some huge needs, we need to use every resource that come our way as effectively as possible, to get the best results. That was the conclusion of this meeting.
12:00 Local Business Initiative Manager Amy Huerta and I had lunch with the Mayor's Chief of Staff Georgeanne White (reminder: I do not expense these meals). We talked about ways that we can use individual issues that local businesses face to improve processes within the City, and how to make the changes between departments.
2:00 We had our internal management meeting. Today we had Elaine, Amy, Elliott and me in the meeting. We talked about a broad issue, how to keep our fire and vision as a group while we are working toward long-term goals. We also get around to some of the more mundane daily issues too.
3:00 Weekly full staff meeting. This was a short meeting. We had a late start and we finished early. There was no need to meet for the whole hour if things were humming along well. Kelly Trevino has the California Enterprise Zone statewide conference in Fresno Wednesday through Friday. They are bringing about 170 people to town for this convention. We had a couple of people out this week, too.
4:30 We had a Fulton Mall/Downtown walking tour with a group primarily from Fresno State. Administrators, Faculty and students participated. This is leading up to our strategy lunch on Thursday. Fresno State's engagement in downtown and the neighborhoods is going to make a gigantic difference. Their resources with faculty and students is incredibly deep. We also had David and Lupe along for the tour. Elliott came along and so did a special guest the Honorable Judge Mike Price (and his two adorable girls).
6:30 Time for a quick motivational meeting with Holly Carter before heading home.
8:00 we had a dress rehearsal for our next community meeting in the Lowell neighborhood (11/16). Each department presented their activities from the past 4-8 months. This turned out to be a great exercise. None of us were satisfies with the information or presentation. Our saying is the Lowell is the place where Fresno learns neighborhood revitalization. The departments within the City have really been delivering effort and results in Lowell. Now we are figuring out how to to communicate the information to the community. This is not nearly as easy as you might think. But, the effort to communicate effectively should yield great results. Revitalization is an effort made by people, so having good communication is paramount.
9:15 I had my one-on-one meeting with the City Manager Andy Souza. As a Department Director, I report directly to the City Manager. The one-on-one meetings are a time to get specific feedback and direction as well as a time to get management guidance. As a newly restructured department (10 months old) it it vital.
10:00 We (Elliott Balch and I) had a meeting regarding the operations and maintenance of the Fulton Mall. The meeting included city Management and the PARCS Dept. We are discussing some ways to improve the coordination of events on the Mall, and some opportunities to spruce up the Mall while were working on the larger policy issues during the Specific Plan process.
11:00 Neighborhood Revitalization Manager Elaine Robles and I had a meeting with the Mayor and representatives from The California endowment. Fresno is one of 14 California cities that TCE has decided to focus attention and resources. Our meeting was largely informational, but it will also be necessary to coordinate our neighborhood revitalization efforts like our Lowell neighborhood and Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan ( which has a nearly identical footprint to the TCE targeted area). Our community has some huge needs, we need to use every resource that come our way as effectively as possible, to get the best results. That was the conclusion of this meeting.
12:00 Local Business Initiative Manager Amy Huerta and I had lunch with the Mayor's Chief of Staff Georgeanne White (reminder: I do not expense these meals). We talked about ways that we can use individual issues that local businesses face to improve processes within the City, and how to make the changes between departments.
2:00 We had our internal management meeting. Today we had Elaine, Amy, Elliott and me in the meeting. We talked about a broad issue, how to keep our fire and vision as a group while we are working toward long-term goals. We also get around to some of the more mundane daily issues too.
3:00 Weekly full staff meeting. This was a short meeting. We had a late start and we finished early. There was no need to meet for the whole hour if things were humming along well. Kelly Trevino has the California Enterprise Zone statewide conference in Fresno Wednesday through Friday. They are bringing about 170 people to town for this convention. We had a couple of people out this week, too.
4:30 We had a Fulton Mall/Downtown walking tour with a group primarily from Fresno State. Administrators, Faculty and students participated. This is leading up to our strategy lunch on Thursday. Fresno State's engagement in downtown and the neighborhoods is going to make a gigantic difference. Their resources with faculty and students is incredibly deep. We also had David and Lupe along for the tour. Elliott came along and so did a special guest the Honorable Judge Mike Price (and his two adorable girls).
6:30 Time for a quick motivational meeting with Holly Carter before heading home.
Monday, November 2, 2009
11/2/09 Leadership Development
I love gaining an hour. I wonder about the difference between thinking that we get an extra hour of sleep or an extra hour to do stuff.
I started the day at 5:00 and went for a run with my mutt. I had to shake off the devastating loss to my wife in tennis yesterday. 6-1. Ouch.
7:00 I met Preston Prince and Wayne Rutledge for breakfast/coffee at the Newsroom Cafe (L and Kern). Preston is a national leader among Housing Authority executives and Wayne is interested in investing in the urban neighborhoods. It was a connection. Who knows what it will lead to? Sometimes we just connect good people knowing that good things will emerge downstream. Another great connection was between Wayne, the owner of Uncle Harry's Bagels and Vic, the owner of the Newsroom Cafe. I love to see locally-owned businesses connect. There is so much opportunity to learn, market and cut expenses through group buying power.
8:30 I worked with our Downtown Revitalization Team Elliott Balch and Angela Vasquez to continue planning our weekly downtown coordination meeting and our Friday meeting with downtown investors to get feedback on our proposed City incentives.
9:30 I barged in on a meeting with Elaine Robles and Linda Gleason from Street Saints.
10:00 We met with City leadership to review the City incentives and to outline further research before we present to downtown investors.
10:30 I went to give a tour to a Fresno State Dean, but had the opportunity to run into Sally Caglia, or the Warnors Theater and Cynthia Cooper of FCASH. A new tenant was moving into the Warnors and they are preparing the way for others who are coming soon.
12:00 I met with a downtown property owner who is interested in fixing his property on the Fulton Mall. This would be a major facade improvement that could be a real example for the value of a large scale facade program. We met with a banker to inform them about the public and private investment in downtown from the Specific Plan to the Property Based Improvement District (PBID) to the proposed city fee incentives.
2:00 We met with our Licensed Contractors Affinity Group. The concept of Affinity Groups is to get similar Fresno businesses together to find their common issues and priorities. The Licensed Contractors are concerned with the unlicensed contractors who are underbidding jobs because they do not have the same expenses like workers' comp insurance or proper bonds. This underground economy leaves customers at risk for poor work or liability for injuries on their property. Many Valley communities are strict about these rules to protect their legitimate businesses. The State License Control Board recently opened an office in Fresno and the Fresno County District Attorney's office is also involved. The City's Building Division was also present today. A coordinated effort hasn't existed in recent memory.
4:00 I had my weekly one-on-one meeting with Elaine Robles, our Neighborhood Revitalization Manager. We reviewed the rehearsal tomorrow for the upcoming November 16th neighborhood meeting in Lowell. We want to make sure that the information from each department is presented in the clearest possible way. We also have a meeting with the Provost and Assistant Provost from Fresno State and other Departments on Tuesday and a lunch meeting with Fresno Pacific University on Friday to prepare for.
5:30 I met with my old buddies Kurt Madden (FUSD Chief Technology Officer), Tim Stearns (Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) and Al Smith (CEO Chamber of Commerce). It's been months since we've been at the same place at the same time...this time it was a last minute get together. A little time with your friends can result in a whole lot of energy and enthusiasm.
I started the day at 5:00 and went for a run with my mutt. I had to shake off the devastating loss to my wife in tennis yesterday. 6-1. Ouch.
7:00 I met Preston Prince and Wayne Rutledge for breakfast/coffee at the Newsroom Cafe (L and Kern). Preston is a national leader among Housing Authority executives and Wayne is interested in investing in the urban neighborhoods. It was a connection. Who knows what it will lead to? Sometimes we just connect good people knowing that good things will emerge downstream. Another great connection was between Wayne, the owner of Uncle Harry's Bagels and Vic, the owner of the Newsroom Cafe. I love to see locally-owned businesses connect. There is so much opportunity to learn, market and cut expenses through group buying power.
8:30 I worked with our Downtown Revitalization Team Elliott Balch and Angela Vasquez to continue planning our weekly downtown coordination meeting and our Friday meeting with downtown investors to get feedback on our proposed City incentives.
9:30 I barged in on a meeting with Elaine Robles and Linda Gleason from Street Saints.
10:00 We met with City leadership to review the City incentives and to outline further research before we present to downtown investors.
10:30 I went to give a tour to a Fresno State Dean, but had the opportunity to run into Sally Caglia, or the Warnors Theater and Cynthia Cooper of FCASH. A new tenant was moving into the Warnors and they are preparing the way for others who are coming soon.
12:00 I met with a downtown property owner who is interested in fixing his property on the Fulton Mall. This would be a major facade improvement that could be a real example for the value of a large scale facade program. We met with a banker to inform them about the public and private investment in downtown from the Specific Plan to the Property Based Improvement District (PBID) to the proposed city fee incentives.
2:00 We met with our Licensed Contractors Affinity Group. The concept of Affinity Groups is to get similar Fresno businesses together to find their common issues and priorities. The Licensed Contractors are concerned with the unlicensed contractors who are underbidding jobs because they do not have the same expenses like workers' comp insurance or proper bonds. This underground economy leaves customers at risk for poor work or liability for injuries on their property. Many Valley communities are strict about these rules to protect their legitimate businesses. The State License Control Board recently opened an office in Fresno and the Fresno County District Attorney's office is also involved. The City's Building Division was also present today. A coordinated effort hasn't existed in recent memory.
4:00 I had my weekly one-on-one meeting with Elaine Robles, our Neighborhood Revitalization Manager. We reviewed the rehearsal tomorrow for the upcoming November 16th neighborhood meeting in Lowell. We want to make sure that the information from each department is presented in the clearest possible way. We also have a meeting with the Provost and Assistant Provost from Fresno State and other Departments on Tuesday and a lunch meeting with Fresno Pacific University on Friday to prepare for.
5:30 I met with my old buddies Kurt Madden (FUSD Chief Technology Officer), Tim Stearns (Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship) and Al Smith (CEO Chamber of Commerce). It's been months since we've been at the same place at the same time...this time it was a last minute get together. A little time with your friends can result in a whole lot of energy and enthusiasm.
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