01-12-10 Web Fernando has good news.

My first meeting was at 8:30. The City Manager, Deputy City Manager Nicole Zieba, and Ephraim Smith from Public Works met to discuss the Santa Fe Depot's potential uses.


9:30 We had a large meeting with the Mayor, City Manager, Planning Director and others to discuss developments in Chinatown.


10:30 I had a dentist appointment with Dr. Gorman.


After one year on the job, I finally took my photo for my employee badge (which I'll wash a few times and then lose).


2:30 was the weekly Downtown and Community Revitalization Department staff meeting. Fernando announced that he was offered a job by the Economic Development Corporation and he accepted. That is great news and he’ll do a great job for EDC.


3:45 I quickly dropped in on Councilmember Borgeas.


4:00 We had a large meeting to discuss projects and plans for the area south of Ventura in Chinatown. This is the area where the Poverello House and Rescue Mission reside, where the tuff sheds and the homeless encampments are located. These are incredibly complicated issues, especially when you add Chinatown Revitalization and the needs of the business and property owners in the area just south of Chukchansi Park.


This area will be included in the Fulton Corridor Specific Plan, but many decisions will have to be made without a clear plan or clear policy, which often leads to long-term mistakes.


5:30 I hosted an introductory meeting with our new Planning Director John Dugan and community watchdog Jeanette Jurkovich and Downtown Association President Joe Moore. Both had expressed concerns about the City's Historic Preservation Ordinance, so I wanted John to hear the concerns directly.


7:00 We had a gathering for Fernando at Livingstone's after work to celebrate his new job.