Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 7-14-22 E-Edition

Thursday, July 14, 2022
Vol. 4, No. 2
Reedley
adopts
impact fee
policy
MVT Staff Report
The Reedley City Coun- cil approved a its lone action item — an update to the city's Developmental Impact Fee structure – at a brief regular council session on June 28.
The council voted 3-1 — Mayor Mary Fast voted 'no' while Council Member Bob Beck was an excused absence — to update the fee structure that had been in place since 2015. The action of increasing the fees is expected to provide approximately $75 million in total fee revenues for identi- fied public improvements be- tween 2022 and 2025.
The estimate is based on assumptions of population growth, development activ- ity and adoption of maximum fee levels. It includes an au- tomatic rollover annual Con- sumer Price Index increase. Paul Melikian, assistant city manager, made a presentation in addition to a public hearing.
Because of a lack of agen- da items, Reedley canceled its scheduled regular meeting on July 12.
Hot times continue
50 cents
Sanger
approves
North
Academy
corridor
More work is needed on Well 2-A
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The Sanger City Council, following more than 45 min- utes of debate and some spir- ited public comment, voted to approve the financing plan and formation of the Sanger North Academy Corridor Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Dis- trict (EIFD) and the allocation of incremental property tax money in the new district.
By a 4-0 vote — Mayor Eli Ontiveros was representing the city at a six-hours-long Council of Governments meet- ing in Fresno — the council approved the formation of the Sanger EIFD, which starting with the 2022-23 fiscal year will see the city commit 100 percent of property tax fund- ing in the expected new dis- trict (north of the city to High- way 180) for 50 years.
It's expected with this setup that approximately $67 million of incremental tax revenues would be allocated to the EIFD by the city in the 50-year pe- riod. The Public Financing Authority intends to utilize numerous funding sources and financing mechanisms to implement the intended im- provements, including grant sources and impact fees align with potential private sector investment.
There was multiple public comment, some expressing op-
See CORRIDOR on page A10
Positivity rates still up, but new cases dip
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Case positivity rates for coronavirus continued to increase in the past week in Fresno and Tulare counties, but the new daily case rates per 100,000 people did begin to decline according to the latest data provided.
Updated numbers on July 11 showed that the positivity rates climbed from
17.6 to 19.1 percent in Fresno County, and edged up a 10th of a percent to 15.8 percent in Tulare County. However. daily new case numbers scaled back from 34.9 to 31.5 per 10,000 in Fresno and 27.6 to 26.3 in Tulare. There were no new deaths for the week in Fresno County, but an additional eight deaths in Tulare County.
Date released for communities in the eastern Fresno County region showed
substantial increases in incidence rates. In Reedley, the northeast part of the city climbed to 113 per 10,000, up sharply from 74 per 10,000 as of early June. The region west of the city toward Parlier nearly doubled, from 69 to 122 per 10,000.
In Sanger, incidence rates in all parts of the city climbed above the 100 level; with the peak at 179 per 10K in northeast
See VIRUS on page A10
Dinuba library followers get a visit from 'Reptile Ron'
MVT Staff Report
Children with Dinuba's Sum- mer Reading Program got up close and personal with snakes, courtesy of a visit from "Reptile Ron" Guill on July 7 at Felix Del- gado Park.
Attendees were allowed to hold, touch and see up close snakes and other creatures of all sizes. Reptile Ron makes a variety of appearances around the Central Valley.
Dinuba Library's final Sum- mer Reading Program event — "Princesses in the Park" with Elsa and Anna from the "Frozen" movie — will be Thursday, July 22, at Delgado Park beginning at 11 a.m. The Disney characters will be reading stories and sing- ing songs for attendees.
Dinuba Library / Photos Contributed
ABOVE: "Reptile Ron" Guill (left) held a large Albino Burmese Python named Sunshine along with young participants and assistant Guy Cisneros, right, dur- ing a July 7 visit to Felix Delgado Park.
LEFT: A young attendee cupped his hands in anticipation of holding Angel, a smaller hognose snake, during the July 7 event hosted by the Dinuba Library.
The Central Valley is in the midst of a typical summer heat wave, and temperatures are ex- pected to reach 107-108 degrees this weekend in Dinuba, Reedley and Sanger. Cooling centers will be active in Reedley and Sanger, and it's advised to limit outdoor activities.
ABOVE: Zachary Tristan, lifeguard with the Reedley Recreation Department, guides a young boy by the hand during swim lessons at Reedley High Aquatics Complex on July 11.
LEFT: Construction crews at the site of the new Dinuba High School moved dirt in the early morning on July 11 to beat the heat.
Photos by Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Coronavirus Update
Classifieds - A16 Directory - A6
Legals - A11-16
Sports - A9
Lifestyle - A7-8 Lights & Sirens - A3, A5 Obituaries - A2, A10 Opinion - A4