“As an attorney, I’m rarely speechless… But at this moment, I’m just so overwhelmed. This is priceless,” Caprioglio said, visibly moved as he lifted the medal that hung around his neck by a red and blue ribbon. “I’m proud to wear this and to be affiliated with the university. … I’m just overwhelmed. … I appreciate you and I’ll always be a Bulldog and continue my service to the university until the day I die. So I thank everybody, I think that’s about all I’m good for right now.”

Caprioglio, a Fresno State alumnus, represents District 4, which includes the Fresno State campus. He called Fresno State “the crown jewel of District 4.”

“Paul’s bold service has been instrumental in further strengthening ties between his alma mater and our surrounding neighborhoods within his district, and for that, we are extraordinarily grateful,” Castro said. “I am pleased to bestow this honor on our longtime friend whose enlightened and compassionate leadership is a gift to our students, the University and the entire City of Fresno.”

Following the Medal of Distinction presentation, councilmembers took turns honoring Castro, who will begin a new role next month as chancellor of the 23-campus California State University system, the nation’s largest public university system with nearly half a million students.

“I also want to thank you and your wife, First Lady [Mary] Castro, for your service to the Fresno community,” said District 2 Councilmember Michael Karbassi. “I was [at Fresno State] in Dr. Welty’s time and it’s amazing how much the campus has hanged and you’ve taken us to a whole new level. Being the first Californian to lead the CSU system is very fitting. It’s the largest system of higher education, but we love you in Fresno and you’re still a Fresnan, and we’re never going to forget about you and you always have a home here and I mean that.”

Karbassi then presented Castro with a small stuffed Bulldog.

“I’ve had that since I was a student,” Karbassi said. “He has been through a lot. I never thought I’d be able to take him to City Hall with me. And I’ve been so blessed to do that. I want you to take him to the CSU chancellor’s office so he can keep moving up, if you don’t mind, as a very small token of our gratitude. But never forget, we’re definitely a part of your roots and we appreciate your service to our community.”

Established in 1993, the President’s Medal of Distinction is the highest non-degree award presented by Fresno State. It is given to citizens of the region, state or nation whose contributions in the area of professional achievements or public service are of national or international significance.

Caprioglio graduated from Fresno State in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. He earned his juris doctorate from University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. He began his professional career in the California State Attorney General’s Office, going on to prosecute murder cases for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. He later established a private law practice.

A Fresno native, Caprioglio and his wife, Rhonda, have lived in the district he represents for more than 40 years.

He was sworn in as a member of the Fresno City Council in January 2013 and has served two terms as the Council president — in 2016 and 2019. During his time on the City Council, Caprioglio has focused on public safety and safer neighborhoods. He became trained in repairing streetlights and now spends time nearly every week repairing or replacing damaged streetlights.

“It has been an honor to work with Councilman Caprioglio,” said Larry Salinas, executive director of government relations for Fresno State. “He has been a tireless advocate for not only Fresno State but for all of District 4. He truly embodies the spirit of this award.”

Previous recipients of the President’s Medal of Distinction have included Virginia Eaton and Joan Eaton (2020), Jon Parish Peede and John E. Horstmann (2019), Fred Ruiz (2018), Fran Pavley (2016), Ray Steele Jr. (2015), Justice Armando Rodriguez (2015), Justice Marvin Baxter (2014), John “Phil” Larsen (2014), Jim Nielsen (2012), Richard D. Hovannisian (2012), Satoshi “Fibber” Hirayama (2009), Ulises Ruiz Ortiz (2006), His Holiness Karekin II (2005), Robert E. Coyle (2003), M. Victoria Kazan (1998), Kenneth L. Maddy (1998), Meline Kalfayan (1998), Joe Williams (1994) and George Kauffman (1994).

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Along with her role as the interim PARCS Director, Miller was also the Director of Customer Relations and Analytics, where she has been successfully streamlining customer service delivery through the City’s FresGO mobile app and its full-service, non-emergency customer service line.

“T.J. has proven beyond a doubt that she not only can successfully lead our PARCS Department, but that her problem-solving and leadership skills will serve our city and its residents well,” said City Manager Quan. “T.J. embodies our continued efforts to attract and promote people who will help improve the quality of life for everyone in Fresno.”

Before she was appointed Director of Customer Services and Analytics, Miller served as Assistant Director of Personnel Services; a position she held since January, 2013. In that capacity, she served the City by providing service to City departments with their Human Resources and Risk Management needs. In 2015 the City Manager assigned her to co-lead the Assistant Director team with a focus on FresGO operations.

Prior to that, T.J. served for more than six years as Human Resources Manager with the City of Fresno. She was instrumental in forming the Public Sector Collaborative as part of the Regional Jobs Initiative. She also led the transition to an automated employment application and self-service environment for City employees.

Miller has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from University of Phoenix.

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Based on public comments received during four community water forums and a separate water rate summit, the Administration proposed a new, five-year capital plan totaling approximately $429 million that includes:

• $6.4 m Intentional groundwater recharge

• $98.4 m Raw water supply to bring water to treatment facilities

• $186.4 m Surface water treatment to address groundwater overdraft and quality

• $55.4 m Finished water distribution to Fresno residents and businesses

• $82.5 m Rehabilitation and replacement of older water pipes and wells

With this vote, the City’s Department of Public Utilities staff is authorized to initiate the Proposition 218 hearing process for proposed changes to the schedule of rates, fees, and charges for public service. Ballots will be mailed on December 22nd with an envelope clearly marked with language that states “this includes important information about an increase to your water rates.” Inside there will be written notification describing proposed changes to water rates and a protest ballot card with a self addressed, pre-paid mail reply envelope.

The ballots will be sent to both property owners and tenants, who will have 45 days to return them if they don’t approve of the City’s plan. The City Council will then take up the proposed rate and infrastructure plan for final approval at City Hall on Thursday, February 5th at 5:00PM.

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A City of Fresno Lower Water Bill Referendum, Measure W ballot question may be on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the city of Fresno in Fresno County, California.
This referendum measure seeks to overturn a water rate hike proposed by Mayor Ashley Swearengin in August of 2013 that resulted in an average water bill of $48 per month for city residents in 2014 – double the rates from the previous year. The additional revenue was designed by the mayor’s plan to fund a $410 million upgrade to the city’s water system.

A group of taxpayers called “Citizens of Lower Water Bills — Yes on Measure W” ran the petition drive to put the mayor’s water rate program to the test before voters at the fall general election. The petitioners survived multiple efforts from the city to stop the referendum, including a lawsuit.

The Fresno City Council and Mayor Ashley Swearengin have vehemently opposed the effort to overturn their 2013 ordinance to increase the water rates in the city.

Those opposed to the referendum and supportive of the city’s water rate hikes argue that the additional revenue is necessary to fund essential infrastructure improvements and updates for the city’s water system. They propose that making these improvements and updates before the system breaks down could save taxpayers large sums of money in the future.
The city has even argued in its lawsuit against the petitioners that the referendum effort illegally obstructs the city’s duty to provide water services.
Mayor Ashley Swearengin said, “The city of Fresno believes there is ample case law that indicates that a core public service is not subject to a referendum. I recognize the short-term pain of raising water rates in the city of Fresno. However, I believe this short-term pain will result in long-term gain for the people of Fresno.”

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The UC Merced SBDC Regional Network was selected to receive one of the FAST grant awards.  The mission of the SBDC network is to provide entrepreneurs and small businesses with high quality consulting, support for innovation, access to information and the tools necessary to build successful sustainable businesses throughout Central California.

The FAST Program is designed to stimulate economic development among small, high technology businesses through federally-funded innovation and research and development programs like the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR).  The project and budget periods are for a 12-month period.

“The FAST program is an important tool of the SBIR/STTR program.  The mission of the SBIR program is to support scientific excellence and technological innovation by investing federal research funds in small businesses. STTR focuses on partnerships between small businesses and America’s premier universities and nonprofit research institutions. It helps ensure that the world’s greatest academics and inventors have the resources they need to transform their ideas from the lab to the marketplace,” said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet.

“SBIR and STTR are a win-win. Federal agencies are able to meet their R&D needs. Small businesses get the support they need to turn innovative new ideas into job-creating new businesses and these programs strengthen America’s competitiveness and global economic leadership.”

This year’s recipients include:

FAST provides over $90,000 per award to pay for outreach and technical assistance to science and technology-driven small businesses.  The program places particular emphasis on helping socially and economically disadvantaged firms compete in the SBA’s SBIR and STTR programs.

FAST funding awardees demonstrated in their proposals how they will help support areas such as:

• small business research and development assistance,
• technology transfer from universities to small businesses,
• technological diffusion of innovation benefiting small businesses,
• proposal development and mentoring for small businesses applying for SBIR grants; and,
• commercializing technology developed through SBIR grants.

Proposals were evaluated by a panel of SBIR program managers. The SBA, the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation jointly reviewed the panel’s recommendations and made awards based on proposal merit. The grant required varying levels of matching funds from each participating state and territory.

Companies supported by the SBIR and STTR programs often generate some of the most important breakthroughs each year in the U.S.   For example, about 25 percent of R&D Magazine’s Top 100 Innovations come from SBIR-funded small businesses.

For more information about the FAST grants and the SBIR and STTR programs, visit www.sbir.gov.

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The survey, commissioned by the Newseum Institute’s First Amendment Center, has been conducted since 1997 to determine public knowledge and opinion about the First Amendment and related issues. The results were released today at a luncheon for high school students attending the 2014 Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference.

“It’s valuable to know the five freedoms of the First Amendment — religion, speech, press, assembly and petition — but it’s even more important to know how we can use them,” said Gene Policinski, chief operating officer of the Newseum Institute. “As a nation, we must better prepare our fellow and future citizens for the hard decision of defending core freedoms against those who would damage or limit them by violence or by law.”

In this year’s survey, conducted in May 2014, 68 percent said they agreed that public high school journalists should not need prior approval to explore controversial subjects, while 27 percent disagreed. In 2001, 58 percent said prior approval should be required, while 40 percent opposed the need to get approval in advance.

A new question on the survey this year asked if someone who makes a defamatory comment on social media should be subject to the same legal consequences as someone who makes a similar comment on television or in print. Sixty-nine percent of Americans said the consequences should be the same.

Also new in 2014, the survey asked respondents what qualifies someone to be a “journalist.” Thirty-six percent said a journalist is someone who creates stories based on objective fact; 21 percent said a journalist is someone who works for an established news operation, 16 percent believe it is when an individual reports to an audience, and 14 percent of Americans said someone is a journalist when that person is paid to gather news.

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Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin

Mayor Swearengin shared her gratitude for the open forum and gave insight into her upcoming speech, saying, “I appreciate the Chamber giving me an opportunity to share Fresno’s many accomplishments over the past year, as well as the challenges we continue to face as we look to the future. I’m especially glad to report that there’s an air of optimism and a newfound confidence around City Hall that is decidedly different from previous years, with an outlook that is both encouraging and achievable.”

Fresno Chamber President and CEO, Al Smith, is anticipating a particularly compelling update from the Mayor at this year’s event. “This year’s State of the City address should be most illuminating,” he said.  ”A lot of things are currently happening that can affect our city and Mayor Swearengin’s report should be of high interest to everyone.”

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. with the program beginning at noon in the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center’s New Exhibit Hall.

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The original agreement began November 1 and was set to end June 30, 2014.  It will now extend through June 30, 2015. This agreement sets aside five beds for the Fresno Police Department and guarantees that designated arrestees will be held in the jail and not released due to overcrowding.  These car thieves have been tied to even more serious crimes such as murder.

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The Tulare County board of supervisors last Tuesday gave direction to staff to draft an ordinance to ban all cultivation of marijuana whether by an individual or a current or future collective or cooperative.

Tulare County’s decision to move forward with an outright ban of marijuana would mark the second California county to ban growing. In January 2014, the Fresno County board of supervisors voted to ban the growing of marijuana in the county’s unincorporated areas.

“Enhancing the ordinance will provide the necessary tools to allow our County agencies to eradicate marijuana in our communities,” said Phil Cox, chairman of the board of supervisors. “There are hundreds of large marijuana grow sites who are not abiding by our existing ordinance and they are a threat to public safety.”

Chairman Cox said there are hundreds of illegal marijuana grow sites within unincorporated areas and the county is doing its best to eradicate them. For example, County agencies increased their eradication by 20 percent in 2013 when compared to 2012; with 161 grow sites being eradicated. The efforts resulted in 239,829 plants being eradicated on public and private lands, 152 weapons being seized, and 162 arrests.

Before the draft ordinance is brought back to the board of supervisors, it will be introduced and reviewed at a future Tulare County Planning Commission meeting. During the Planning Commission meetings, the public will have an opportunity to offer feedback and comments.

Currently, there is a moratorium, or ban, on the opening of any new storefront, mobile dispensary, or collective grow sites. In addition, individual grow sites can cultivate up to 99 plants, per the State’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996. Under Tulare County’s ordinance, legal grow sites require marijuana to be grown within a secure, locked, and fully enclosed structure and located in proper zoning.

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“Too many of the veterans who have dedicated themselves to protecting the ‘Home of the Brave’ have no home of their own,” said Mayor Swearengin. “By building on our community’s ongoing commitment to this issue and sharing our successes with other communities, I’m confident that we can end veteran homelessness in our city and our country. I’m proud to join my fellow Mayors as we work toward the important goal of honoring the service of our veterans by making sure all of them have a place to call home.”

Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin

The City of Fresno will work with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), and the National League of Cities to leverage federal resources and develop a local strategy to make sure every veteran in the community has access to stable housing and the supportive services they need to stay off the street.

Since 2010, when the Federal government launched Opening Doors, a strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness, there has been a 24 percent reduction in homelessness among veterans. This reduction has been achieved through a partnership between the Obama Administration, local governments, non-profits, and the private sector. Through this final push to leverage momentum and strengthen our commitment, the goal of ending veteran homelessness in America is within reach.

To learn more about resources for local veterans experiencing homelessness, visit https://www.onecpd.info/homelessness-assistance/resources-for-homeless-veterans/ .

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“This program will have a significant impact on residents and businesses in the community regarding their insurance rates starting July 1,” said Selma City Manager D-B Heusser.  ”If their insurance company participates in the ISO Insurance Rating Program, their insurance rates will decrease.”

Fire agencies are rated on such factors as emergency communications (10%), review of fire department (50%) and adequacy of water supply for fire suppression (40%).  The first number is an indication of the Fire Department’s ability to provide fire suppression to the community based on staffing, training and response effectiveness, while the second is a ranking of available water for fire suppression ( fire flow supply).  California Water Service is Selma’s contract provider.  A “1” is best.  ISO is the leading supplier of data and analytics for the property/casualty insurance industry.  Most insurers use Public Protection Classification Program (PPC) for underwriting and calculating premiums for residential, commercial and industrial properties.

They use PPC information as part of their decision-making when deciding what business to write, coverage to offer or prices to charge for personal or commercial property insurance.

“Only 60 Departments out of 48,000 fire agencies in the nation receive a 1 rating for their fire services,” said Selma Fire Chief Michael Kain.  ”There are 750 that are rated 2 and only 2,410 that are rated 3 as we are, including City of Fresno and City of Clovis Fire Department (5% of all agencies nationally).  This is a significant accomplishment for our agency and our staff, highlighting many of the recent changes we have instituted.”

The Selma Fire Department recently contracted out the ambulance service, allowing the department to increase staffing on fire apparatus.  This change impacted fire service and the agencies that review it for insurance purposes.

Fire rankings for some East side agencies include Reedley Fire Department (4), Sanger Fire Department (4), Fresno County Fire (9), and Kingsburg Fire Department (5).

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