11-17-09 Day started with a shooting star

Really, it did. I got up for a run (jog) with the dog and was out of the door at 5:00. As I started down Wishon I saw one of those really great shooting stars streaming across the western sky. It's going to be a good day, I decided. And, it was. Shooting star? Attitude? The revitalization effort is on a roll? I'm not sure...it was just a great day. Even though I spilled coffee on my shirt as I drove into the City hall parking lot.


8:15 (yes, I was late) I had a meeting with one of the City Attorneys to discuss the process for resolving some of our code enforcement issues with downtown property owners. We're about to get some of the toughest cases wrapped up, I hope. I'll report as soon as I can.

9:00 My weekly one on one with George Smith our Administration Manager. George had quite the list of things to go over today, but the biggest was that we, through George's leadership and many other people's help, submitted a HUD Healthy Homes Grant for the Lowell Neighborhood. This is HUGE!

9:30 We (Elliot Balch and Angela Vasquez) had a quick meeting to prepare for Wednesday's meeting with the Department Directors regarding downtown efforts. Elliott and Angela coordinate these weekly meetings that are designed to keep all departments involved, engaged and coordinated. Although most of this meeting was focused on the nonprofit that was created to support and organize downtown events.

10:00 Elliott and I met with representatives from the Facilities Management Dept. to discuss the possibility of the Downtown and Community Revitalization Department's possible move to the Fulton mall. There are many issues to be resolved and it will have to make sense for the larger City needs, but it sure would be great to be more on-site.

11:00 Travel by home to change coffee-stained shirt

11:30 Technology Affinity Group, or as the called themselves F-TAG. We are moving this meeting to all parts of town. This time we went to Fajita Fiesta on Shaw, near Cedar. Amy Huerta and Fernando Santillan chose the location for the convenience of our two guests, relatively new Computer Science professors from Fresno State. There was another large group. We went through the priorities that they had identified last September and we reviewed the progress that we were making. The two professors are working hard to fill the gap between the academic world and practical industry needs. Everyone was very excited by the efforts to involved students into local companies. It continues to amaze us how many tech companies there are in Fresno and how many of them go unnoticed.

2:00 I had a meeting with more potential investors for downtown buildings. Things are beginning to boil, folks. I'm telling you, the general population is going to miss out on the opportunity to get in early. Traditional investors will sit on the sidelines until it's too late and then they'll all talk about how they wish that they'd gotten in while everything was cheap. Sure, there is still risk, but that's why prices are low. There are still many pieces that have to move forward for the revitalization effort to succeed. But with the City focus, with growing community support, with changes in state legislation that forces growth inward...the forces are finally lining up for a revival.
3:00 Wilma Quan (Urban Planning Specialist) and I had a conference call with representatives from the California Endowment about some of their initiatives that focus on healthy communities. The have resources to help cities to plan and design neighborhoods and town centers for mobility, exercise and access to healthy foods. We think that this effort could line up nicely with part of the Downtown Neighborhoods Community Plan. We were planning a Health Impact Assessment, so hopefully we can share resources and accomplish even more by working together.



4:30 I had my weekly one on one meeting with our Neighborhood Revitalization Manager Elaine Robles. We were both still riding the high from last night's Lowell Community meeting. It was such a positive group of people, both residents and City staff. That positive experience really carries forward and motivates everyone to do even more. We also discussed the dinner honoring Fresno's own Brian King Wednesday night for his Peace Prize. Elaine and I also discussed the need for more capacity to manage the resources that are coming into the Lowell revitalization effort. If anyone out there wants to lend a hand on a regular basis, we could use any help. We have research, we have stuff like data entry to build our database, website content, communications and of course work in the neighborhood.
5:30 Amy Huerta and I tried to corner Chamber CEO and all around great guy Al Smith into opening a downtown entertainment spot. Don't you guys think he'd make a great host of a really cool place? If you see him or have his email address please encourages him. His New Orleans sense of style, music, food and attitude are just what we need in a downtown joint.
I was home by 8:00 and remembered the half and half that my wife Betty Ann asked me to bring for her morning's coffee. I told you it was a great day.