Interview with Lee Brand
by Sylvia Sneedly, Political Correspondent
Lee Brand is currently finishing up his time as Fresno's City Councilmember for District 6 and is running for Mayor (you've probably seen his signs). We sat down with him through the computer to ask him some questions about his plans for Fresno.
Something that must be ever on your mind as a candidate running for Mayor in Fresno is that Mayor Swearengin is leaving some pretty large shoes to fill. How would you grade the job she has done in office?
Mayor Swearengin has done an excellent job in helping keep our City out of bankruptcy through fiscal responsibility and promoting revitalization of downtown and our older neighborhood’s. I would give her an A.
It’s no secret that you’ve had your disagreements with Mayor Swearengin in the past (HSR is the first thing that comes to mind.) Are there any policies of hers that you will seek to undo if you are elected as mayor?
Your campaign is calling for the addition of 270 police officers over the next 5 years. Based on the median income for a police officer in Fresno (according to salary.com), when all is said and done this would cost an extra $14,434,470/year. As you know, this is no small chunk of change. You say that you will "find new long-term and sustainable funding sources". Are there any specific funding sources that you have in mind?
We currently have 775 authorized sworn police officers. I anticipate that the authorized number will go to 800 in our budget hearings next month. This will leave us about 200 short of my goal of 1,000 police officers. The plan is to implement the staffing increase over a time line of 5 to 10 years depending upon identifying a reliable, long term funding stream. It will cost approximately $20 million per year to cover the costs of 200 more police officers.
My plan is to finance the costs is to grow our economy using my Economic Expansion Act as a catalyst to create thousands of jobs. I also plan to use innovative financing such as selling surplus City properties and compile the cumulative net sales proceeds into an annuity that would be structure to pay cash deposits into the General Fund over a 10-15 year period to ensure a long term funding stream to pay for ongoing police personnel and related costs. Value added opportunities such as electronic billboards on City properties adjacent to freeways would also produce long-term income streams. I have some other “out of the box” solutions that I will introduce later this year.
There has been and will be an element of gentrification in our efforts to revitalize downtown and our older neighborhoods in Southeast and Southwest Fresno. The opening of Fulton Mall is designed to make dramatic improvements in the commercial, retail and residential segments along this street. An improved Fulton street will attract higher end tenants and rents will rise. Current commercial rates of $.50 per square foot will escalate to over $1.00 per square foot. Some Ma and Pa tenants will be forced to leave because they will not be able to compete. The same is true of residential neighborhoods. As the area improves and more homebuyers move in lower income tenants will not be able to afford the rising rents.
Fresno is ranked one of the lowest cities in park acres per 1,000 people. The Parks Master Plan has been started but it will take over a year to complete. By the end of the year the Council will adopt a vision to proceed with the plan. I will thoroughly explore all state and federal grant funding to provide for capital projects and sustainable funding streams to pay for parks maintenance. I will also explore alternative funding sources including new market tax credits.
Lee Brand is currently finishing up his time as Fresno's City Councilmember for District 6 and is running for Mayor (you've probably seen his signs). We sat down with him through the computer to ask him some questions about his plans for Fresno.
Something that must be ever on your mind as a candidate running for Mayor in Fresno is that Mayor Swearengin is leaving some pretty large shoes to fill. How would you grade the job she has done in office?
Mayor Swearengin has done an excellent job in helping keep our City out of bankruptcy through fiscal responsibility and promoting revitalization of downtown and our older neighborhood’s. I would give her an A.
It’s no secret that you’ve had your disagreements with Mayor Swearengin in the past (HSR is the first thing that comes to mind.) Are there any policies of hers that you will seek to undo if you are elected as mayor?
My plan to continue the work the Mayor started on vitalizing downtown and improving our older neighborhoods. We may disagree on the HSR but I will work to ensure that Fresno receives its fair share of benefits from the construction work and jobs related to the HSR. I will have a broader focus on the entire community to work for a full economic recovery.
Your campaign is calling for the addition of 270 police officers over the next 5 years. Based on the median income for a police officer in Fresno (according to salary.com), when all is said and done this would cost an extra $14,434,470/year. As you know, this is no small chunk of change. You say that you will "find new long-term and sustainable funding sources". Are there any specific funding sources that you have in mind?
We currently have 775 authorized sworn police officers. I anticipate that the authorized number will go to 800 in our budget hearings next month. This will leave us about 200 short of my goal of 1,000 police officers. The plan is to implement the staffing increase over a time line of 5 to 10 years depending upon identifying a reliable, long term funding stream. It will cost approximately $20 million per year to cover the costs of 200 more police officers.
My plan is to finance the costs is to grow our economy using my Economic Expansion Act as a catalyst to create thousands of jobs. I also plan to use innovative financing such as selling surplus City properties and compile the cumulative net sales proceeds into an annuity that would be structure to pay cash deposits into the General Fund over a 10-15 year period to ensure a long term funding stream to pay for ongoing police personnel and related costs. Value added opportunities such as electronic billboards on City properties adjacent to freeways would also produce long-term income streams. I have some other “out of the box” solutions that I will introduce later this year.
Many of our readers are hipsters who ride fixie bicycles and they would like to know if you, as an avid cyclist, support any particular common sense bike safety laws or infrastructure upgrades (such as increased minimum passing distance by automobiles or more bike lanes throughout the city)?
As a long-term cyclist who has logged many miles over the years, I know and appreciate the safety challengers of riding a bicycle in Fresno streets or any streets. Remember that we must abide by state and federal laws for bicycle riding laws. The City can play a significant role in promoting bicycle safety by increasing and widening bicycle lanes and be enforcing bicycle safety.
As a long-term cyclist who has logged many miles over the years, I know and appreciate the safety challengers of riding a bicycle in Fresno streets or any streets. Remember that we must abide by state and federal laws for bicycle riding laws. The City can play a significant role in promoting bicycle safety by increasing and widening bicycle lanes and be enforcing bicycle safety.
Some are worried that Fresno is being revitalized through gentrification. Do you think this is the case? In your opinion, how is urban development achieved without gentrification?
There has been and will be an element of gentrification in our efforts to revitalize downtown and our older neighborhoods in Southeast and Southwest Fresno. The opening of Fulton Mall is designed to make dramatic improvements in the commercial, retail and residential segments along this street. An improved Fulton street will attract higher end tenants and rents will rise. Current commercial rates of $.50 per square foot will escalate to over $1.00 per square foot. Some Ma and Pa tenants will be forced to leave because they will not be able to compete. The same is true of residential neighborhoods. As the area improves and more homebuyers move in lower income tenants will not be able to afford the rising rents.
The City should plan to find alternative housing for displaced residential tenants and alternative sites for displaced retail/commercial tenants.
What is your stance on urban infill, specifically in Downtown Fresno?
Is there anything you have achieved in your time as a City Councilmember that you are the most proud of?
You say that you support more "parks and green space" in Fresno but want to make sure that you can find "long term sustainable funding to pay for the maintenance and operations". Have you considered privatizing the park system or do you believe this is an important public works project?
What is your stance on urban infill, specifically in Downtown Fresno?
I have supported infill in downtown as evidenced by several votes including the 2035 General Plan. I wrote and successfully passed the Infill Development Act. I chaired the Infill Development Council Subcommittee. I also wrote and passed the Economic Expansion Act that incentivizes revitalized areas of our city including downtown.
Is there anything you have achieved in your time as a City Councilmember that you are the most proud of?
I have authored or co-authored 19 legislative acts. Most were focused on fiscal reform including the Better Business Act, debt management policies, reserve policies, labor management policies, etc. The fiscal reform acts serve as a fiscal foundation for the city. I wrote important acts like the Council Residency Act that provided more accountability for council candidates to demonstrate that they live in the district they run for. I also wrote the Transparency in City Government Act that requires the City to annually disclose all city employee compensation including deferred compensation and bonuses.
In 2012, Councilmember Andreas Borgeas and I successfully passed a charter amendment to include my fiscal reform policies the Better Business Act, Debt Management Policies and Reserve Management Policies.
I took the lead on the City’s water capital infrastructure project in 2014-15 for a $430 million water capital project to build the water infrastructure to insure a long term, sustainable and safe water supply for the City for many years to come.
You say that you support more "parks and green space" in Fresno but want to make sure that you can find "long term sustainable funding to pay for the maintenance and operations". Have you considered privatizing the park system or do you believe this is an important public works project?
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