Page 5 - Mid Valley Times 7-11-19 E-edition

REZONE Continued from page A1
enough land for the state re- quired 1,080 housing units.
The council's decision will now be reviewed by the State of California Housing and Com- munity Development Depart- ment.
In choosing sites to be re- zoned the council agreed with the planning staff and com- mission on four sites, 22, 29, 30 and 31 and replaced four recommended sites, 11, 20, 27 and 28, with two sites not rec- ommended, 21 and 23, to come up with the 54.09 acres.
Two of the rezoned sites totaling 21.36 acres are in Hurtado’s district, two total- ing 12.73 acres are in Garza’s district, one with 10 acres is in Martinez’s district and one with 10 acres is in Ontiveros’s district.
The previous state admin- istration under Jerry Brown had not been enforcing af- fordable housing mandates and Sanger, unlike Reedley and Dinuba, had not kept pace with requirements for incremental increases in land to accommodate affordable housing.
One of Gov. Gavin New- som's first acts was to threaten cities like Sanger with penal- ties if they didn't catch up with the state's affordable housing requirements.
The Sanger planning staff began wrestling with issues related to playing catch up in 2018 and the planning commis- sion started working on finding appropriate sites that could be rezoned on March 22, 2018.
The state, in 2018, was de- manding that Sanger rezone 63 acres. That total was later downsized to 54 acres.
The required rezoning, no matter the amount of acreage, was controversial and conten- tious from the start.
The public reaction was mostly negative with angry residents telling the planning commission and city council that rezoning would lower property values and increase crime rates.
Even though "affordable housing" is a relative term, depending on many factors in each community, it seemed most Sanger residents were convinced it meant Section 8 apartments — that could be
DINUBA Continued from page A3
shirt and blue jeans reportedly tried stealing a bike in the 1100 block of East El Monte Way at 9:01 a.m.
• Domestic violence was reported in the 1300 block of Elizabeth Way at 6:35 p.m. • Illegal fireworks were reported in the area of North Way and Whitney Avenue at 9:32 p.m.
Reedley police, fire cite 14 for illegal fireworks
SANGER Continued from page A3
Rey Ave.
• Vehicle stop and DUI arrest, 10th and K streets
• Petty theft/warrant arrest, 800 block of Academy Ave.
Saturday, July 6
• There were 105 calls for ser- vice.
• Repossession, 2100 block of 9th St.
• Theft report, 700 block of Bethel Ave.
•Theft report, 1600 block of Brehler Ave.
• Mental health evaluation, 1900 block of 3rd St.
• DUI arrest (traffic collision), 800 block of Claremont
• Warrant arrest, Webster and Brehler avenues
• Probation violation arrest,
North Ave. and J St.
• Incident report, 500 block of J St.
• Domestic violence arrest, 800 block of Camellia Ave.
• Prowler arrest, Gloria Ave. and Hume Dr.
• Probation violation arrest, 900 block of Church Ave.
Sunday, July 7
There were 74 calls for service.
• Vandalism, 2600 block of
Spencer Ave.
• Field interview, Academy and Annadale avenues
• Field interview, 1300 block of 7th St.
• Domestic violence arrest, 300 block of Bethel Ave.
• Field interview, 1300 block of 12th St.
• Narcotics violation arrest, 1700 block of O St.
• Hit and run traffic collision, 1900 block of 10th St.
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Thursday, July 11, 2019
| A5 |
Mid Valley TiMes
Dick Sheppard / Mid Valley Times
Public testimony at the rezone meeting was frequently heated and animated. On the dais, L-R: Tim Chapa, city manager; Esmeralda Hurtado, councilmember; Daniel Martinez, mayor pro tem; Eli Ontiveros, coun- cilmember; Hilda Cantu Montoy, city attorney; and Shannon Chaffin, assistant city attorney.
City of Sanger / Mid Valley Times
The map shows sites available to be rezoned and sites chosen by the city council on July 2 to be rezoned for affordable housing. Two cho- sen sites are in Council District 1 represented by Esmeralda Hurtado, two are in District 2 represented by Humberto Garza, one is in District 3 represented by Daniel Martinez and one is in District 4 represented by Eli Ontiveros. The map with available sites was provided by the City of Sanger and the chosen sites and acreage are pointed out by MidValley Times.
RIVER Continued from page A1
mer break. Crowds were at both locations enjoying the summer weather on June 6.
In a news release re- leased from the department, the sheriff informed the pub- lic that water release levels from Pine Flat Reservoir were expected to stabilize, creating safe enough condi- tions for the public to access the river.
"The Sheriff’s Office is ex- tremely pleased with how well the public cooperated with the rules set in place during the closure of the river," part of the statement read.
The news also was good for those who work on the river during the season.
"It was less busy, for sure," said Sean Albrecht of the opening weekend.
Albrecht works assisting floaters with rafts at the pub- lic entrance of the Goodfellow Bridge. "We anticipate that next weekend will be better because of the heat, and we're making plans to start running buses back and forth again."
Nikolich also said that the opening day was less busy than they expected. But they expect an increase in activ- ity on the water as the sea- son continues, and the word
spreads that the river is open again.
"Usually in the morning, we'll see more people coming out because it's cooler," he said. "But it all just depends. It's the weekend, it could be sporadic."
Deputies began patrolling the river to make sure no one would try to access the water after the river closed to rec- reational activities on June 4.
Deputies did not issue any citations during the closure of the river, although there some warnings issued.
With the river now open, the sheriff's department also urged the public to always use caution when enjoying time on the water and re- minded people to wear their life jackets. The department also urged those who are not experienced swimmers to stay away from the water.
"Alcohol causes swim- mers to fatigue faster than normal and can create dan- gerous situations," the re- lease stated. "Also, please keep an eye on your children at all times. In less than a minute they can slip into the water and be put at risk for injury or death. The Boating Enforcement Unit will con- tinue to patrol the river this summer to enforce the law and assist with any safety matters."
build in their neighborhood if the zoning was changed.
The council failed to reach a decision on the state ordered rezoning at two previous meet- ings, Jan. 23 and June 6.
While the third time may have been a charm as far as finally making a decision, it was not — as expected — a
decision that was popular with everyone.
“It was an exercise in ben- efitting individual districts,” said planning commissioner Vincent Wall who sat through the meeting, watching the com- mission’s recommended sites beingreplaced bysitespicked by council members.
• A person was reportedly robbed by two subjects with handguns in a black sedan in the 1400 block of West El Monte Way. It was reported at 9:57 p.m.
• Illegal fireworks were reported in the area of Kern and O street at 11:24 p.m.
• Illegal fireworks were reported in the 8000 block of Griggs Avenue at 11:34 p.m.
Sunday, July7
• Illegal fireworks were reported in the area of College and Kamm avenues at
12:25 a.m.
• Illegal fireworks were reported in the area of Johnson and Marshall avenues at 12:26 a.m.
• Illegal fireworks were reported in the 200 block of Ramblewood Drive at 8:33 p.m.
• Illegal fireworks were reported in the area of Eaton Avenue and Davis Drive at 9:54 p.m.
• Illegal fireworks were reported in the 7000 block of Avenue 416 at 10:21 p.m.
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"Hurtado gave up too soon," said Wall, referring to a sometimes contentious ne- gotiation between Hurtado and Ontiveros over sites to be rezoned.
“I was in disbelief of the confusion and misunderstand- ing that was expressed at the meeting,” said Hope Sanger president/CEO Julie Mendoza.
Mendoza brought three residents of Hope Sanger to the meeting, Rita Piña, Grace Mendez and Brandi Barocio. All are staying at the home- less shelter while trying to find affordable housing. "It's difficult — impossible — to find," said Barocio.
Mendez said she was embarrassed by public com- ments that characterized ev- eryone who is poor or home- less as a bad person.
Several who remained in the community center af- ter the meeting puzzled over why sites chosen by the coun- cil, except for one of only 1.36 acres were around the edges of the city, mostly on the east side.
"The high school is on the west side," said one man, shak- ing his head. "It'll make it diffi- cult for kids to get over there."
Many others left as soon as the meeting was over, ap- parently happy there would be no rezoning in their back yards.
The reporter can be con- tacted by email at sangerher- ald@gmail.com
Two kayakers paddled along the Kings River on July 6, the first day the river was reopened to recreational activities.
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Reedley police and fire officials issued 14 citations — its largest total yet — to people possessing or ignit- ing illegal fireworks in the city during the Fourth of July.
The joint operation,
featuring police and code enforcement officers, tar- geted their efforts to lo- cate and identify offenders in the city. The department increased staffing levels the evening of July 4 to provide sufficient coverage
See REEDLEYonpageA12
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
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