After pausing two months to consider other plans and bids, the Clovis City Council on Monday voted 3-2 to award MVD a $5.5 million, 10-year contract.

Vong Mouanoutoua, Diane Pearce and Drew Bessinger voted in favor; Lynne Ashbeck and Matt Basgall voted against.

The council considered the contract in February, but delayed any vote to consider splitting the contracts for residential and commercial services. Although MVD was the lowest among three providers — current contract holder Republic Services, and Caglia Environmental also bid — the cost is still 20% more than the current contract.

Mouanoutoua said the bidders engaged in a fair process.

“Tell (us) what our staff did wrong in that ranking. Please, just tell me. Give me something to question them,” Mouanoutoua said. “I owe it to the city, the residents and the commercial users, to give them the best price.”

Ashbeck criticized the process on awarding the contract. She supported waiting, with an interim contract with Republic Services at a higher rate of $1.2 million for three years.

“We are in such muddy water here. I don’t feel like it’s a responsible thing to issue any contract,” Ashbeck said. She called a 10-year contract “insanity.”

Pearce said she based her vote on the cost.

Challengers Make Final Pitch

The other bidders made a final appeal.

Ashlee Cawley with Republic Services and Richard Caglia with Caglia Environmental insisted if the bids were truly evaluated “apples to apples,” each would be the lowest.

Cawley said evaluating the bids took on too many assumptions, such as how many carts per commercial property. She added that her company truly provides the “Clovis Way of Life,” by a fair compensation package for its drivers.

Caglia called  the process “frustrating,” and said he was “deeply disappointed” that he could not have additional meetings with staff.

Caglia Environmental General Manager Keith Hester called MVD’s bid “nonresponsive” and “irresponsible” because he said it did not properly estimate vehicle safety and maintenance and would “provide pathetic benefits.”

Joe Heisdorf with MVD defended their numbers to the council.

Caglia Concerned About Conflict of Interest

Nathan George, an attorney representing Caglia Environmental, questioned the fairness of the bidding process.

He mentioned conflicts of interest, with consultant HF&H that helped develop the original bid, and the Kalpakoff family — owners of MVD — hosting a fundraiser for Pearce last year.

“Those are all things that give me very serious pause, and I think should give all of you very serious pause to go back and look at this all and say, you know are we doing what we need to do for the people of Clovis?” George said.

Pearce reported $250 of in-kind contributions from Joe Kalpakoff and Wendy Kalpakoff for hosting a June 2024 fundraiser. That is the cap — within a 12 month period under state campaign finance law — before a recusal or return of the money is triggered.

Related Story: Clovis Reconsiders Recycling Vote. Will a Campaign Contribution Matter?

“I’m up here to do the best interest of the ratepayers of this community. And so the rest of it doesn’t factor in,” Pearce said in response.

Electric Motor Shop, under the Caglia group of companies, contributed $250 to Pearce in June 2024. Caglia Environmental also provided Ashbeck with an in-kind contribution of $1,862, but outside the 12-month window in November 2023.

City Attorney Scott Cross said one interpretation of the law may exempt a contract, like the recycling bid, from the fundraising cap.

Scott Redelfs, Clovis public utilities director, clarified that the consultant had no conflict. Redelfs created confusion during the February discussion using language that implied a conflict.

Bessinger said George’s complaints “irritated” him. He said any ethics complaints should be made to an investigating agency like the District Attorney’s office.

Meanwhile, Basgall said he is concerned about potential litigation.

School Board Member Considering Council Run

A second school board member could be running for a southwest Fresno City Council seat.

Sources say Fernando Alvarez, an elected board member on the West Park School District, plans to run for District 3. Alvarez is also a government affairs specialist with the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. An announcement could come in a few weeks.

Fresno Unified school board member Keshia Thomas is the only candidate to formally file. State Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula also said he intends to run for the seat representing southwest Fresno and downtown.

Alvarez currently lives outside the district, and would have to move to run.

Thomas and Arambula are Democrats; Alvarez is registered no party preference.

Miguel Arias, the current D3 councilmember, terms out after the 2026 election.

City Employee Union Gives to Vang

One week after taking his seat on the Fresno City Council, an employee union contributed to his campaign.

The Fresno City Employees Association PAC gave $5,500 on April 18, campaign records show. Vang took the oath of office on April 10.

The union represents non-supervisory white collar city employees.

The council will discuss in closed session negotiations with the union at Thursday’s meeting. Campaign finance law exempts personnel negotiations from forcing a recusal of elected officials.

The post Clovis Awards Recycling Contract Amid Controversy appeared first on GV Wire.

The city council on Monday will consider awarding the $5.5 million contract to Mid Valley Disposal, after months of back and forth over the nature of services.

In February, the city council delayed any vote, to consider additional proposals from Republic Services — which currently has the recycling contract expiring July 31 — and Caglia Environmental.  The city council also wanted to consider splitting residential and commercial recycling contracts.

To split the contracts, the city would need an interim renewal with Republic. The cost of the interim contract gave some councilmembers concern at the April 7 meeting, leading to Monday’s vote to go back to the original proposal with MVD.

Mid Valley Disposal proposed the lowest rate to the city, but it is still 20% higher than the current rate. The city bills residential recycling customers, then reimburses the hauler. Commercial customers are billed directly by the recycler. The city is already calculating a 4% a year residential rate increase.

Related Story: Clovis Council Has ‘Buyer’s Remorse’ Over Recycling Contract ...

Recycler Hosted Fundraiser for Pearce Last Year

Last year, Joe Kalpakoff — president and CEO of MVD — and his wife, Wendy Kalpakoff, hosted a fundraiser at their Clovis home for councilmember Diane Pearce. Campaign finance records show nonmonetary contributions from the Kalpakoffs of $250 ($125 each) for “event facility” of the June 5, 2024, fundraiser.

Pearce reported $13,850 in contributions from others on that date.

She is next up for election in 2026. In February, Pearce voted against reconsidering the contract, and earlier this month voted to reconsider the original deal with MVD.

Councilmembers would have to recuse from votes on items involving a party contributing more than $500 within the last year, based on state campaign finance law. Money over the limit could also be returned. The law initially set the limit at $250, but was raised to $500 starting this year.

Pearce said she will make the best decision for the residents of Clovis.

“I have received contributions from many people over the years, as have my colleagues. My only consideration when voting on any item is what is in the best interest of the people of Clovis,” Pearce told Politics 101.

Neither the Kalpakoffs nor MVD have made any other contribution since.

“As they have for many candidates for office, the Kalpakoffs hosted a reception nearly a year ago at their home,” MVD spokesperson Kacey Auston-Tibbetts said via text.

“We look forward to the council making a good decision for residents of Clovis  by agreeing to high-quality recycling and waste services at the best price for ratepayers with Mid Valley Disposal.”

A flyer for the Kalpakoffs hosting a fundraiser for Clovis City Councilmember Diane Pearce last year. Note: home addresses and phone numbers were redacted to protect privacy.

Caglia Has Doubts

Richard Caglia, the owner of Caglia Environmental, doubts that $250 in-kind contribution is accurate. He said renting another facility would cost way more.

“It just looks like it’s Operation Rezone number two waiting to happen.” — Richard Caglia, owner of Caglia Environmental

“It just looks like it’s Operation Rezone number two waiting to happen,” Caglia said.

Operation Rezone was a bribery scandal in the 1990s, affecting elected leaders and land-use consultants in Fresno and Clovis.

“This just goes to show you how brazen they are, like that’s bought and paid for,” Caglia said. “These kind of actions violate the spirit and intent of conflict of interest laws.”

Other Clovis Campaign Contributions

The Pearce-Kalpakoff transactions are the only such to take place between any councilmember and any of the three trash/recycling haulers under consideration since 2024, campaign finance records show.

Drew Bessinger does not have an open campaign account for a potential 2026 run, therefore he has not posted any campaign finance activity since 2023.

Fundraising documents for Matt Basgall show nothing raised in the last year.

Vong Mouanoutoua and Lynne Ashbeck ran for city council re-election in 2024. Neither posted any contributions from any of the haulers.

Senator Endorses Fresno City Council Candidate

California’s junior U.S. Senator is endorsing a candidate for Fresno City Council in 2026.

Adam Schiff, D-California, is supporting Nav Gurm in the 2026 District 7 race.

“Nav Gurm brings a thoughtful, forward-looking perspective to the Fresno City Council. He understands the challenges facing Fresno families and will be a tireless advocate for safer neighborhoods, affordable housing, and good-paying jobs that uplift our working families,” Schiff said in a news release.

Gurm said he was “honored” by the endorsement.

“Fresno’s future is bright, but only if we invest in our neighborhoods today. I’m dedicated to bringing new energy to City Hall, tackling immediate challenges like roads, parks, and public safety, while planning thoughtfully for long-term economic growth and opportunity. Together, we’ll ensure that District 7 thrives,” Gurm said.

Gurm and former City Hall staffer Ariana Martinez Lott filed to run and are raising money. Businessman AJ Rassamni said he will run, but has not filed yet.

The post Clovis Reconsiders Recycling Vote. Will a Campaign Contribution Matter? appeared first on GV Wire.

By a 4-1 vote in closed session, Santillan — who had a rocky relationship with Mayor Scott Robertson — will be officially relieved when he receives his final paycheck next week. He served as city manager since 2021.

The growing Fresno County community with a population of 25,000 — a 6% increase in 10 years — is 17 miles southeast of Fresno along Highway 99.

Robertson read a statement from the dais, saying the people’s trust in government is broken.

“When a city administration goes too far and believes in its own superiority over the people it’s supposed to serve and has as an accomplice a weak city council majority who refuses to stand up for the people, aggressive measures are called for to make things right,” Robertson said.

Santillan, speaking with Politics 101 on Wednesday, called the move predictable.

“This was a purely politically motivated firing with no wrongdoing involved whatsoever. It’s unfortunate that the taxpayers have to bear the risk and cost of such behavior by the city council,” Santillan said. “But at the end of the day, I’m very happy with the way that in the financial condition of the city, despite the liability caused by the mayor and the council.”

Robertson also referred to the Dec. 12 city council meeting, when he moved ahead with the swearing in of two new city councilmembers — Jim Avalos and Santiago Oceguera, both more like-minded with Robertson than the members they replaced. The city attorney at the time advised the council that it needed to first declare the election results, and did not have a quorum to do so. Robertson scheduled a meeting the following week to include the election declaration. The new council also replaced the city attorney with Neal Costanzo.

Santillan called Robertson’s public statement “improper” and “malicious.”

In a 17-page memo, Costanzo said Santillan failed to perform his duties for making sure declaration of results were on the Dec. 19 agenda, and for continuing to recognize the prior city councilmembers, whose terms expired. Costanzo also said Santillan “acted in excess of his authority” for seeking legal advice from a third-party law firm that yielded a $21,000 bill.

In a statement to Politics 101, Costanzo said the city plans to pursue malpractice charges against former city attorney Megan Crouch.

Robertson, Sarah Guerra, Jim Avalos, and Santiago Oceguera voted in favor of the termination. John Trujillo voted against. Trujillo exited the meeting after the closed session vote, and did not participate in the rest of the meeting.

The city council elevated Deputy City Manager Jerome Keene into the interim city manager role.

Bad Blood Between Mayor, City Manager

In 2023, Robertson and Santillan filed claims against each other for various grievances. Robertson eventually dropped his claim. The previous city council settled with Santillan, which among other things, gave him a raise, extended his contract, and required a 5-0 vote for his removal.

The last contract amendment, approved by the lame-duck city council on Nov. 18, 2024, required the city to pay a $342,000 severance pay if his termination vote was not 5-0.

Costanzo said the votes to revise Santillan’s contract are invalid. His legal theory is the councilmembers violated government code of self-enrichment. That means all the city owes is Santillan, Costanzo said, is accrued salary and vacation pay, and not any severance.

“The city is referring the matter to the Attorney General for criminal charges and will sue Santillan to recover the amounts paid under the void contracts,” Costanzo said.

Santillan’s attorneys said they plan to file a complaint challenging the termination, as well as filing a tort claim.

“We strongly disagree with the message from the city council. Mr. Santillan has in no way engaged in any wrongdoing. They are very simply retaliating against him for raising legitimate concerns related to the elections code and changeover of the city council, raising other concerns about the dealings of the city council, and for resolving his previous employment-related retaliation and discrimination claims against the city and Mayor Robertson,” Santillan’s attorney, Charles Hamamjian, told Politics 101 in an email statement.

Hamamjian also issued a memo in response to the city, refuting its legal argument.

Santillan said he wants to return to city governance in the future.

“I look forward to spending time with my family and kind of resetting so I can continue to do great work,” Santillan said.

Republican Enters Assembly Race

Jim Polsgrove filed to run for state Assembly with $25,000 of his own money.

Polsgrove, R-Fresno, becomes the first Republican to file in Assembly District 31, currently held by Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno. Arambula intends to run for Fresno City Council in 2026.

Regarding the issues, Polsgrove said he believes in increasing penalties for crime, no Medi-Cal expansion for illegal immigrants, pro-guns, and eliminate High Speed Rail.

“There are so many things out there that have come through Sacramento that make no sense whatsoever. The support of high-speed rail, you know, where’s the audit when we’re five times over budget? Where’s the accountability for criminals?” Polsgrove said.

Two Democrats have filed to run — Arambula-backed Sandra Celedon, the president/CEO of nonprofit Fresno Building Healthy Communities; and Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea.

A former engineer supervisor with the city of Fresno, Polsgrove, 68, retired five years ago. He has been active in local Republican politics, serving on the Fresno County central committee for one term. GOP voters opted not to re-elect him in 2024.

It might be a longshot for Polsgrove to head to Sacramento. District voter registration is 44%-24% Democrat over Republican.

But, with the top-two primary system, Polsgrove might have a chance to break through to the general election. It is a strategy Polsgrove is counting on.

“I would imagine that they will split the Democratic vote, which would put me in the general as well as one of those two. So I can save money in the primary and concentrate on the general,” Polsgrove said.

Kern County Supervisor Joins State Senate Race

Kern County Supervisor David Couch filed paperwork to run for a state Senate seat that includes Bakersfield and extends into Fresno and Clovis.

Couch, R-Bakersfield, becomes the third candidate to file. He joins Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig, R-Clovis, and former congressional candidate and businessman Michael Maher, R-Kingsburg.

The district favors Kern County, which has 44.3% of the registered voters. Fresno County makes up 39.3%, with the remaining 16.4% in Tulare County.

The current office-holder, State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield, is termed out after 2026.

Republicans hold a 46% to 27% voter registration edge over Democrats in the district.

Term Limits in Clovis?

Members of the Clovis City Council broached the idea of term limits in future elections, possibly as soon as next year.

Matt Basgall mentioned the idea during his councilmember report on Monday night.

“We have to go to districts, we’re doing all these things. So my question is, do we start talking about term limits for city council members?” Basgall said. “I know that’s kind of a bombshell to drop, but we don’t really get to talk about anything otherwise.”

The council changed the election system in Clovis from at-large to five districts. The first district election takes place November 2026.

Colleagues Diane Pearce, Drew Bessinger, and Lynne Ashbeck openly supported having the term-limits discussion.

City Attorney Scott Cross said the city council could take the issue to voters, in time for the June 2, 2026 primary ballot. If passed, it could go into effect for November 2026.

Clovis Not Ready for Historic District

The Clovis council wants to give the concept of a historical preservation district more time.

At Monday’s meeting, staff presented options on what the district would look like and what it would do. Namely, it would create a framework to preserve historic buildings (minimum 75 years). The Clovis-Big Dry Creek Historic Society first asked the city to create such a district and/or committee in 2022.

The proposed one square-mile district is roughly bounded by Sierra, Minnewawa, Sunnyside, and Barstow avenues.

Several residents spoke at the meeting unsure if this was the best idea. Some were concerned about another layer of government regulation. Others debated on who should serve on the potential committee.

Ashbeck expressed concerned for the future of Old Town Clovis, but believes more work needs to be done to create a formal committee or district.

Other councilmembers liked the concept of preserving historic spaces but want to work on the details.

The post Selma City Manager Says His Firing Was ‘Purely Politically Motivated’ appeared first on GV Wire.

Rudolph Martin Acosta has been in prison since 1992, serving 78 years after admitting to raping at least eight women in the Tower District. He is at Avenal State Prison.

His next parole hearing is June 6 at the prison, and the council opposed his release on a 6-0 vote.

“We are here to speak on behalf of those who were silenced, who still carry the weight of unspeakable trauma, and who continue to fight each day for the justice that we were promised,” Councilmember Annalisa Perea said.

Perea called Acosta’s crimes “deliberate, ruthless, and horrifyingly repetitive.” She said there are 22 known victims.

‘I Will Not Allow Him to Be Released as Long as I Breathe’

One victim, Mirna Navarro Garcia, spoke publicly to the council.

“I can’t stand by and not do something about it. I can’t take the liberty of laying in my bed and pretending this never happened,” Navarro Garcia said.

Navarro Garcia said two victims committed suicide, and others suffer from addiction problems.

“I will not allow him to be released as long as I breathe, because one person is one too many,” Navarro Garcia said.

The parole board denied Acosta in 2019, after he voluntarily waived his right to appear. The council also publicly opposed his release then.

In a statement Acosta read to the media after the 2019 hearing, he said “I’m well aware of the devastating affect [sic] my crimes had on others. Had I foreseen the destructive path that would land me in prison for 28 years, I would have instead chosen a moral and decent life. I am very, very sorry.”

Acosta also voluntarily waived his right to parole hearings in 2022, 2023 and 2024, online prison records show. He is eligible for parole as a “youth offender” because he committed his offense when he was 26 or younger.

Councilmember Nick Richardson was absent for the vote, explaining that he left for Marine Corps reserve duty. He expects to be back from Africa “in a few weeks.”

Public Works Money Transferred to Arias

The council approved transferring $195,000 from the city’s public works department into councilmember Miguel Arias’ operating budget.

The 5-2 vote took place during the consent calendar, meaning there was no discussion on the matter. The transfer needed a minimum of five votes. Mike Karbassi and Richardson voted no; Arias, Perea, Tyler Maxwell, Brandon Vang and Nelson Esparza voted yes.

Arias declined Politics 101’s questions about the transaction.

Mayor Jerry Dyer does have veto power, according to the agenda.

Politicker …

Councilmember Annalisa Perea said she will appeal a planning commission decision denying a convenience store in her district a permit to sell beer and wine. The April 2 decision denied A’s Family Market a conditional use permit. Only a councilmember or the mayor can appeal to the full city council, within a 15-day time period.

Perea, during the meeting, also revealed that she and her partner are pregnant. It is her partner that is carrying.

Mayor Jerry Dyer honored new city Poet Laureate Aideed Medina with a proclamation. Medina got to work immediately, reading a poem about Fresno.

The council awarded a $12.9 million contract to Soltek Pacific Construction to build a new 9-1-1 emergency call center. The vote was 7-0. Construction will start this summer, with an anticipated finish in fall 2026. The center will be located at the Fresno Municipal Services Center, at G and El Dorado streets.

Several longtime behind-the-scenes political vets have changed scenes. Larry Salinas — who has lent his expertise to Fresno State, former Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, and several others — returns to advising a congressmember.

Salinas is now district deputy chief of staff for Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno. Costa’s former district rep, Kathy Mahan, is now the central California regional director for new U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff.

At City Hall, See Xiong is the interim chief of staff for new councilmember Brandon Vang. She helped work on his campaign.

Isaac Gudino, formerly with state Sen. Anna Caballero, is now working for councilmember Nelson Esparza.

The post Fresno City Council Opposes Parole for the ‘Tower Rapist’ appeared first on GV Wire.

Vang took his place on the dais representing southeast Fresno, bringing the city council to full strength on Thursday. The city council unanimously accepted the March 18 special election results. Vang delivered his opening remarks in both Hmong and English, talking about immigrating to America as a refugee from Laos in 1979.

His emotions flowed when talking about his parents, now both deceased, and his brother who died in the Secret War. Vang fought through tears, recalling how his brother sacrificed his life for his family.

“My parents instilled in me the value of perseverance, hard work, and that America is the greatest country in the world, and if you apply yourself, you will achieve your dream. And today, I am living my American dream,” Vang said.

The full house at City Hall gave Vang a standing ovation after he took the oath of office.

“When I graduated in 1990 from McLane High School, I would not have imagined that I would be sitting here,” Vang said.

Vang’s first order of business was issuing a proclamation for local Hmong leader Lue N. Yang, former executive director of the Fresno Center for New Americans.

Related Story: Brandon Vang Wins Fresno City Council Special Election Outright

Vang: ‘I Am Independent’

Only one city councilmember, Miguel Arias, publicly supported Vang during the campaign. Arias is holding a fundraiser for Vang on Thursday night.

“I’m not aligning myself to anybody, councilmembers or any stakeholders. I will try to do my very best to represent the constituents in District 5 and that’s what I have done. That’s why I am here today because I am independent during the campaign and I hope to be independent in the future,” Vang said in a brief chat with Politics 101.

There are several policy issues that will come before Vang — the tobacco shop ordinance, the future of growth in southeast Fresno, and what to name a new sports complex. Vang was not ready to talk.

“We’re doing 100 miles an hour, and I’m starting at 60, so wait until I get 200 miles an hour, and then I will have the conversation,” Vang said.

“District 5 has been historically neglected and I’ve lived there for 16 years and I know what the landscape is like. We cannot solve issues overnight. It’s going to take a lengthy period of time to solve issues in District 5. But right now I’m just happy to get started,” he said.

Tavlian Contract Canceled

During the campaign, Vang advocated for small businesses and public safety. He endured a negative attack ad mailer from an independent expenditure group called Fresno Future Forward. The mailer accused Vang of statutory rape in the 1990s.

Vang and his wife, in an interview with GV Wire, admitted he was 20 and she was 15 when they had their first child in 1993. They were married in 1995, continuing to raise a family. Vang was never criminally charged.

“My family, we faced adversity, we overcame challenges, we are stronger today because of you (Vang’s wife). This is vindication,” Vang said from the dais.

Despite a mystery surrounding Fresno Future Forward, GV Wire found links to local political consultant Alex Tavlian.

Before he left office, former District 5 representative Luis Chavez signed a contract with Tavlian’s public affairs firm, Local Government Strategic Consulting. Signed on Dec. 17, LGSSC would provide public outreach services.

Related Story: Is Fresno Political Consultant Alex Tavlian Behind Election Attack Mailer?

Vang canceled a $100,000 contract with Tavlian and LGSC within hours of taking office.

LGSC sent four invoices — on the first of each month, January through April — for a total of $33,333.32.

In an April 10 letter Vang sent to LGSC, he said his office is not paying on the invoice, as it was not authorized by Mike Karbassi, the city council president. Karbassi oversaw the District 5 office during the councilmember vacancy.

“Karbassi did not authorize rendering of these services or making these payments,” Vang wrote.

Vang added that the payments might exceed the $100,000 threshold requiring a city council vote, “as such, your request to process the invoice will be denied.”

“It’s been a pleasure serving the office of District 5 for these past years. I wish Councilman Vang and his staff the best in strengthening southeast Fresno,” Tavlian said by text.

About the Election

Vang won a special election on March 18, with 50.19% of the vote — nine votes above the majority to avoid a runoff. He defeated Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas (35.01%), Chavez’s wife, and three other candidates.

No one requested a recount, Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus said. That sealed Vang’s victory, allowing the city council to declare the election results without delay.

Vang is the second city councilmember of Hmong heritage. He acknowledged his predecessor, Blong Xiong, calling him a “trailblazer.”  Xiong, who attended the ceremony, served on the city council 2007-2015.

Vang officially resigned from his position as Sanger Unified board trustee on Tuesday, giving a farewell address to the school board. He said he will miss his every-other-Tuesday meetings, but looks forward to Thursday meetings in Fresno, as seen in this video captured by The Sanger Scene.

 

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The post ‘Independent’ Vang Starts Work as New Fresno Councilmember. Cancels Tavlian Contract. appeared first on GV Wire.

State Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield — whose district includes north Fresno and Clovis — wants the state to exempt classic cars from biennial smog checks. That means designated collector cars older than 35 years qualify.

Leno testified and led a classic car cruise around the Sacramento Capitol before the hearing on Assembly Bill 712 — dubbed “Leno’s Law” — in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday.

“A car from the ’30s would be almost easier (to make smog compliant) to do than the ’90s,” Leno said. “I don’t like the fact that people have to sort of become criminal if they have a car from the ’90s.”

The bill would exempt 1% of cars on the road, the bill’s supporters said.

Some groups opposed. The California Air Pollution Control Officers Association, a lobbying group that represents the Fresno-based San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and other districts, testified against the bill.

Their main argument was based on the environment and clean air.

The bill passed out of committee, 12-2, with bipartisan support. It heads next to the appropriations committee.

It is unclear if CAPCOA’s legislative advocate, Brendan Twohig, ever hosted a network late-night talk show.

Dyer Supports HSR Study Bill

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer is supporting a bill that will create a study on the economic benefits of High Speed Rail.

Senate Bill 545, authored by Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, passed out of the transportation committee, 11-1 along party lines.

Although Dyer did not testify at the Senate Transportation Committee, he did write a letter in support, Cortese said.

“I strongly believe in two things — that Downtown Fresno is on the cusp of a major economic revival, and that if the state’s High Speed Rail project becomes a reality, that revival will be even better and stronger,” Dyer said in a Cortese news release.

Lobbyist Angie Manetti testified on Dyer’s behalf. She said Fresno has been counting on a proposed HSR station near Chinatown to revive the area.

Cortese admits private HSR has been lacking. He publicly thanked Dyer for his support, “a mayor not of my own party, who sees the excitement of what’s happening and the opportunity and then that’s what happens when you start putting things into the ground.”

The bill next goes to the local government committee.

When Will Next DA, Sheriff Election Be?

What takes precedence in determining an election date — a county charter or a state law?

At stake is whether Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp and Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni face re-election in 2026 or 2028.

The decision will come soon.

The California Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit — a writ of mandate — to enforce Assembly Bill 759 of 2022. That bill changed the election date for most county district attorneys and sheriffs from midterm election years — the same year a governor is elected — to the same year a president is elected.

Fresno County voters approved Measure A in March 2024 with 55% support. The measure changed the county’s charter to keep the election dates in the midterm election year.

Judge D. Tyler Tharpe heard the conflict in his courtroom on Tuesday. He took the matter under advisement without making an immediate ruling.

The Legal Arguments

The state said Measure A violates state law two ways — it is not allowed by the state Constitution; and it is preempted by AB 759. The law provided some specific exemptions — mainly if the election date was already established in the county charter — before the law. That would not be the case for Fresno County.

“AB 759 still prevailed because it regulates a matter of statewide concern and is narrowly tailored to achieve those ends,” Deputy Attorney General S. Clinton Woods argued.

Tharpe asked how the law is a statewide concern, if one-third of the state population is not affected. Los Angeles County would be exempted under the law.

“A law that affects two-thirds of California absolutely is a statewide concern,” Woods answered.

The county argued that the state Constitution does allow it the leeway to set election dates.

“The situation here from the county’s perspective is, by the text of the state constitution, the county may set the terms with its officials,” Chief Deputy County Counsel Peter Wall said in court.

It could come down to how “terms” in the Constitution is defined.

Article XI, Section 4 (c) reads:

County charters shall provide for: An elected sheriff, an elected district attorney, an elected assessor, other officers, their election or appointment, compensation, terms and removal.

The county said that gives it the power to set dates, differentiating between “term” and “tenure,” the actual time served; the state said that “terms” specifically mean setting the length of time.

The default position now is a 2026 election.

“They are on my list for this coming June,” Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters James Kus told host Alexan Balekian on the March 23 “Sunday Conversation” radio show on KMJ. “As of right now, our charter holds, and we will be following the charter.”

The post No Joke. Jay Leno Helps Fresno Legislator Advance Car Bill appeared first on GV Wire.

In February, the council held off, wanting staff to consider splitting the contract for separate residential and commercial collection.

To do so, the city would need a temporary extension with its current recycling provider, Republic Services. That 10-year contract expires July 31. The cost for a short-term three-year contract would be $1.2 million total.

That cost gave heartburn to some councilmembers, who voted Monday to reject a short-term deal and reconsider MVD’s offer. Joseph Kalpakoff, president/CEO of MVD, said the deal still stands.

“When we come back with the split contract, it could be significantly higher than the bid that we got, and we’re going to have potentially buyer’s remorse that we didn’t make the decision with the RFP (request for proposal) we had in hand,” Councilmember Drew Bessinger said.

Bessinger joined Vong Mouanoutoua and Diane Pearce in the reversal.

The 3-2 vote means the council will reconsider the MVD contract on April 21.

Bessinger’s vote was a change of heart from Feb. 18. He voted with Lynne Ashbeck and Matt Basgall against initially awarding MVD the long-term deal so the city could  explore splitting the contract.

Republic Services’ Contract

Republic Services bills the city for residential services, and in turn, the city bills the customer. Commercial customers are billed directly by Republic Services.

The company provided three options for an extension, at one, two and three years. Each would create an increased cost — the three-year deal would have the lowest residential cost increase at 30%, about $110,000 — which the city said it would absorb.

Mouanoutoua and Pearce wanted to “undo” the February vote, and eventually got their wish.

Ashbeck said she was “embarrassed we can’t figure this out,” which caused momentary tension with Mouanoutoua.

Kalpakoff told the council he changed his position on the contract delay, saying “this is not right,” even though his 10-year proposal was the lowest among MVD, Republic Services, and Caglia Environmental.

“This is not the Clovis Way of Life,” Kalpakoff said of splitting the contract. “Now you got unintended consequences.”

Ashlee Cawley with Republic Services, and Richard Caglia of Caglia Environmental also spoke, advocating for their companies.

“What they did last night flies in the face of what the council intended to do at the last meeting, which was to divide the RFP, so a service provider could actually bid the residential, the commercial or both. And that’s the process we were expecting,” Caglia told Politics 101 on Tuesday.

Caglia said he is “contemplating next steps.”

“Republic remains a committed partner to the city of Clovis and will continue to provide excellent service as the city explores its options,” Cawlee told Politics 101 Tuesday.

Related Story: Clovis Delays 10-Year Recycling Contract as Controversy Erupts

Clovis Establishes Measure Y Sales Tax Oversight Committee

Five members of the Clovis community will provide oversight on a new $26 million-a-year sales tax.

The five-member committee — each councilmember appoints one — will meet at least twice a year to review Measure Y expenditures. Voters approved the measure last November, with 66.92% of the vote.

Requirements to serve include living in Clovis for at least two years at the time of appointment and being at least 18 years old. There is no term limit, but members could be removed by a majority vote of the council.

Because the Measure Y tax goes into a general fund, an oversight committee was not built into the law. For the coming fiscal year, more than 92% of the tax initiative goes to public safety, with police receiving 60% and fire getting 33%.

The 1% sales tax went into effect April 1, raising the city’s sales tax to 8.975%.

The 5-0 vote on Monday will come back at a future meeting for a final vote.

Related Story: Wired Wednesday: Clovis Sales Tax Hike Starts April 1

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The planning department denied A’s Family Market, at 2717 N. Hughes Ave. between Clinton and Shields avenues, a conditional use permit. Owner Yeslam Haimed appealed to the planning commission, which upheld the original decision at its April 2 meeting.

“It’s become harder with rent going up, with PG&E going up, it’s hard to survive without beer and wine,” Haimed told the planning commission.

The city cited many reasons for the denial, including its location — in an area with other liquor stores and high crime — and that the license would not meet transfer rules established by the city’s Responsible Neighborhood Market Act.

The location used to be Primo’s Family Market, which had its liquor license revoked after a shooting there several years ago. Haimed bought the store and wants to re-establish the right to sell beer and wine.

District 1 Councilmember Annalisa Perea intervened, writing in a letter to the planning commission, “This is a family-owned small business, and I’m confident that, with approval of this ABC (California Alcohol Beverage Control) Beer and Wine license, they will be able to keep their doors open and continue investing in revitalizing that corner of District 1.”

Another elected official, Fresno County Assessor-Recorder Paul Dictos, spoke at the meeting in support of Haimed.

Haimed said he already invested $14,000 in the CUP application. He installed more cameras and lights to deter crime.

Peter Vang, Kathy Bray, Monica Diaz and Gurdeep Singh Shergill voted to deny Haimed’s appeal. Jacqueline Lyday recused herself, as she has business interests in the surrounding area. DJ Criner and Linda Calandra were absent.

Vang said he empathized with the business, but it was “difficult” to override the findings of the planning department. Bray, Diaz and Shergill agreed.

Only Perea and Mayor Jerry Dyer are permitted to appeal the decision to the full city council.

Perea said she would review her options before making a decision.

After initial reluctance commenting publicly, a spokesperson for Dyer said he would support the councilmember’s wishes.

Beltran Files for Supervisor

Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran filed to run for Fresno County Supervisor in 2026.

The Republican would be the second challenger to incumbent Buddy Mendes in District 4 — which covers the southern end of the county, with the borders stretching east to west.

Beltran first won election in Parlier in 2014, winning new terms in 2018 and 2022. Her road as leader of the city of approximately 15,000 has been rocky at times, clashing with the city council over issues of keeping a city attorney.

State Center Trustee Danielle Parra filed to run earlier this year. She is a Democrat.

Mendes, a Republican, first won elected to the board of supervisors in 2014. He had nearly $117,000 in the bank for his campaign as of Dec. 31, 2024.

Neither Beltran nor Parra posted supervisor fundraising figures.

The primary is June 2, 2026.

Now Pitching for the Fresno Grizzlies …

The Fresno Grizzlies opened the 2025 season Friday, which meant members of the Fresno City Council threw out ceremonial first pitches.

Some were close, but no strikes were thrown.

Although they left this year for the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, former councilmembers Luis Chavez and Garry Bredefeld donned their Grizzlies jerseys and posed for pictures with their former colleagues on the field.

Fresno County Superior Court Judge Glenda Allen-Hill threw out the first pitch for Saturday’s game. The team honored the military, and Allen-Hill is Grand Marshall for this year’s Veterans Day parade, having served previously as a Judge Advocate General in the Air Force.

 

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A post shared by Councilmember Nelson Esparza (@d7esparza)

The post Despite Councilmember’s Plea, No Beer Selling for This Fresno Store appeared first on GV Wire.

It happens when computing government math.

Although former Bitwise Industries CEOs Jake Soberal and Irma Olguin Jr. started serving sentences of eleven and nine years, respectively, on March 18, that is not how long they are scheduled to serve. Last year, both pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges in a $115 million scam to defraud investors.

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate finder, Soberal is serving in USP Atwater, with a release date of July 31, 2034 — or about nine years, four months.

Olguin is serving in FCI Victorville Medium I, with a Nov. 15, 2032 release date — or about seven years, eight months.

Despite the names, both are minimum security faculties.

The BOP builds in good conduct time credits when calculating release dates, BOP spokesperson Scott Taylor said, speaking generally.

Federal law allows 54 days credit for each year. For Soberal, that is 594 days shaved off his sentence; for Olguin, it’s 486 days.

Taylor also said inmates can earn additional credits for completing certain programs and activities.

Perea Wins LGBT Endorsement

Although she hasn’t officially announced running for state Assembly, Annalisa Perea won the endorsement of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.

Perea filed paperwork to run for AD 31, which represents most of Fresno. She is the first openly gay member of the Fresno City Council, winning election in 2022.  Joaquin Arambula holds the seat, and plans to run for Fresno City Council in 2026.

The caucus said Perea (and three other legislative candidates they endorsed) ” possess the courage and strength to advance the rights and protections of the LGBTQ+ community in a time of unprecedented level of threat and violence directed at our community.”

Sandra Celedon, president/CEO of the nonprofit Building Healthy Communities, also filed to run. She has the financial support of Arambula and his family.

Perea said she plans to officially announce “in the coming weeks.”

Parra Pleads Not Guilty

Although he was not present, Fowler City Councilmember and Orange Cove City Manger Daniel Parra — through his attorney — pleaded not guilty to assault in a Tampa, Florida, courtroom on Monday.

A city councilmember from San Leandro in the Bay Area accused Parra of an unwanted kiss while the two attended a National League of Cities meeting in Tampa last November. Xouhoua Bowen made the accusation publicly at a city council meeting there last month.

Parra did not appear personally for his arraignment, a court spokesperson told Politics 101. A not guilty plea is entered automatically. His next court date is a status hearing on May 12.

He attended the Fowler City Council meeting this week, the city clerk said.

Parra has been on leave from his Orange Cove job since January. It is unclear if his leave has anything to do with the accusation.

Related Story: Bay Area Councilmember Accuses Fowler Politician of Assault

The post If ex-Bitwise CEOs Behave in Prison, How Much Less Time Will They Serve? appeared first on GV Wire.

The group, South Fresno Community Alliance, sued the city in 2021, alleging that the city’s environmental studies did not adequately mitigate pollution harms. Last year, a state appeal court sided with the alliance, ruling that builders could no longer use the city’s blanket environmental study to approve projects. City leaders said this would cause delays.

San Francisco-based Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger, and Fresno-based Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability referred to a state law that not only entitles them to attorney’s fees, but permits those fees to be doubled. In this instance, the total tab to the city could be $2.1 million.

The lawyers also partnered with the Environmental Law and Justice Clinic at Golden Gate University.

Listed attorney fees range from $250 an hour for a paralegal, to $850 an hour for SMW senior partner Ellison Folk.

“Two million dollars is unconscionable. Do they expect us to layoff police officers and firefighters to pay them? It’s grossly unfair to the hardworking taxpayers of the city of Fresno,” Fresno City Council President Mike Karbassi said.

Folk says the the fee request is fair.

“California law is very clear that successful petitioners are entitled to their fees when their litigation results in the enforcement of an important public right,” she said. “Petitioners in this action have long borne the brunt of industrial warehouse development in Fresno. Petitioners exhausted all options to work out their concerns with the city before litigation was filed and to settle their fee claim after the litigation was successful. The city did not even respond to petitioner’s attempt to resolve their fee claim.”

The council last discussed the item Jan. 30, on the closed-session agenda. The council took no action.

The court hearing takes place April 24 in front of Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Hamilton.

GV Wire’s Edward Smith contributed to the above item.

Fresno Honors Women of the Year

Kelsie Igasan aspired to be a top cheerleader and gymnast at Buchanan High School. But injuries led to addiction, which led to crime, which led to a suicide attempt.

But Igasan turned it all around, and today she runs a nonprofit The Butterfly Inside, mentoring young women and girls through mental health challenges.

Igasan was one of nine women honored by the city on Wednesday as Women of the Year.

“There is no greater gift than being given a second chance, but then also being able to sit across from the youth in district six who are broken,” Igasan said accepting her honor.

She held back tears, as she told her story of asking for help at the age of 16, and attending rehab in Los Angeles and Fresno.

“My whole world opened up and it changed my life and it made me the woman I am today to be able to love every walk of life. Trauma does not discriminate. Addiction doesn’t discriminate, mental health doesn’t discriminate,” Igasan said.

The full list of honorees:

• Mayor Jerry Dyer: Ashley Webster, associate publisher of The Business Journal
• City Council: Marisol Sanchez, longtime City Hall employee; and Adrienne Kinney, Fresno senior account clerk
• Annalisa Perea (District 1): Serena Dohi, executive director of the Foundation for Central Schools
• Mike Karbassi (District 2): Melinda Marks Mehlhoff, retired executive officer for the San Joaquin River Conservancy
• Miguel Arias (District 3):  Harinder Kaur Rai, Punjabi language educator
• Tyler Maxwell (District 4): May Gnia Her, executive director of Stone Soup Fresno
• Nick Richardson (District 6): Kelsie Igasan, founder of The Butterfly Inside
• Nelson Esparza (District 7): Cheri Cruz, Fresno State educator

Note: there was no District 5 recipient.

Also at City Council …

The city’s Eviction Protection Program is asking for a Fiscal Year 2026 budget of $2.5 million to fully serve its clients, the City Attorney’s Office told the  council at an update.

The current budget is $2 million, but the council recently added $500,000 at the request of City Attorney Andrew Janz.

City Manager Georgeanne White said there is money in the upcoming budget, but she didn’t reveal how much.

The program received approximately 2,600 calls for help since its 2021 inception, of which 1,500 were referred out to an outside attorney. Service peaked in 2022-23 with 720 referrals. That number is down to 101 in the past fiscal year. One reason is the expiration of COVID-era rental policies allowing for more legal evictions.

Former City Councilmember Brian Calhoun spoke publicly, complaining about trash trucks using Audubon Avenue. Calhoun indirectly became a subject of an ongoing defamation lawsuit between Karbassi and former councilmember and current state Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria.

Karbassi accused Soria of implying he had a criminal record in a flyer for a 2022 election. It was Calhoun — a Karbassi consultant at the time — who had a prior assault conviction, that Soria referred to.

The case continues through Fresno County Superior Court, with a trial date set for Dec. 1.

The city is changing banks. On the consent calendar without discussion, the council voted 6-0 to move from Bank of America to Wells Fargo. The five-year contract will cost the city $869,575. JP Morgan (Chase) offered a better deal at nearly $9,300 over the five years.

“The committee found that the pricing was incomplete and created uncertainty around the conversion process, particularly with respect to the large number of deposits made by utility customers using bill pay,” a special city committee said about the JP Morgan offer.

There was no drama over the bank contract, unlike 2018 when then-councilmember Garry Bredefeld led an effort to temporary derail a BofA contract renewal over concerns of its racial discrimination history.

Councilmember Tyler Maxwell ties the knot. Karbassi congratulated east central Fresno council representative Maxwell from the dais for his March 22 nuptials to his wife, Fernanda.

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