Clovis · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Clovis public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
General Plan Update Land Use Alternatives
The General Plan rewrite is on schedule for adoption by end of 2027, with three land-use map alternatives headed to public workshops. Council members pressed the consultant to make Old Town historic preservation policies concrete rather than vague, and to keep the citizens preservation committee involved.
Roadway Safety Action Plan and rural interface concerns
The city is spending $308,384 on a consultant study of where crashes happen and how to prevent them. Ashbeck flagged that the study's map stops at the city edge and ignores the rural interface — the exact stretch where fatal crashes on Fowler and Perrin occurred.
Proposed 'Shield Act' on sex offender housing
Mayor Pro Tem Pearce wants the city to explore new rules for for-profit homes housing paroled sex offenders — Clovis has 174 registered offenders. Other members want a legal primer first, warning the county's similar ordinance has drawn lawsuit threats.
General Plan Advisory Committee Involvement
The commission's GPAC representative, Ex-Officio Hannon, was scheduled to report on General Plan Advisory Committee activity, connecting youth perspectives to the city's long-range planning.
Youth Commission Hygiene Kit Drive
The youth commission picked a hygiene kit drive as its primary service project for the year. The meeting was set to plan logistics and next steps, with possible partnerships including the Marjaree Mason Center.
Outpatient Pharmacy Drive-Through at Clovis Community Medical Center
Community Medical Centers is seeking approval to add a drive-through lane for a new outpatient pharmacy on its medical campus. The project requires a conditional use permit and environmental review exemption.
Chipotle Mexican Grill Beer and Wine Sales Permit
Chipotle received approval to sell beer and wine for on-site consumption at its new restaurant on Owens Mountain Parkway. The location will also feature a mobile order drive-through lane.
Water Master Plan Phase 3 Amendment & $506M Infrastructure Needs
The city reviewed population growth and water supply projections through 2050, confirming strong conservation numbers and exploring future recovery of treated wastewater effluent.
State Route 168 Decorative Overpass Feature
The council discussed adding eye-catching art to the State Route 168 overpass to boost city pride and welcome visitors. While some worried about the multi-million dollar Caltrans estimates, the city decided to look into cheaper internal design options.
Peg Bos Plaza Honoree Selection Policy
The city established a clear rulebook for who gets honored at Peg Bos Plaza. Future honorees will be chosen through a review committee and signed off by the mayor and a council member to keep the process fair and dignified.
Shaw Avenue closure and developer fees
The city adopted a formal policy to tie developer road and utility improvements to specific traffic studies and project phases rather than waiting until the very end of construction. This aims to protect public safety and ensure roads keep pace with new housing.
Shaw & Locan Multifamily Rezone and Housing Element Compliance
The city proposed rezoning a ±7.39-acre parcel at Shaw and Locan Avenues from single-family low density to high density residential to replace housing units lost from other projects and maintain state housing element compliance. Residents strongly opposed the plan, citing concerns over traffic congestion, school overcrowding, parking shortages, and diminished property values.
Williamson Act Contract Cancellation for Residential Development
The council cancelled a agricultural land conservation contract on a small 1.16-acre parcel to allow for single-family residential development near Perrin Avenue.
CDBG 2025-2026 CAPER Report and Housing Programs
The city approved its 2026-2030 CDBG plan, directing federal funds toward affordable housing rehab, sidewalk repairs, and local services for lower-income residents.
Personnel Appointment
The city welcomed 21 local high school students to the Youth Commission to engage young voices in municipal government and community service projects.
Chuze Fitness 24-Hour Operation at Sierra Pavilions
Chuze Fitness is bringing a 35,000-square-foot facility to the Sierra Pavilions shopping center at Shaw and Cole avenues, offering 24-hour access and fitness classes.
Crossover Church of God ADA Accessibility Expansion
Crossover Church of God at 434 Fifth Street received approval to build a new lobby and elevator tower, making their 100-year-old historic building wheelchair accessible.
Fowler and Shepherd Avenue Construction Delays
Frustrated residents and council members highlighted major traffic and project delays around Fowler and Shepherd avenues, prompting a demand for a staff report.
Multi-Family Residential Design Standards and Parking
Clovis is updating its apartment design rules and cutting required parking spaces to comply with state housing mandates. The changes reduce minimum open space and parking ratios for multi-family units, which raised concerns among commissioners and residents about neighborhood parking congestion and privacy.
Infill Rezone Program (54 Acres)
The city is rezoning 20 parcels totaling 54 acres to high and very high-density residential use to satisfy a court judgment and state housing element requirements. Residents raised strong concerns about traffic, school crowding, crime, and the conversion of planned commercial land in Harlan Ranch.
Comprehensive Signage Code Review
The city hired a consultant to review sign regulations, with a strong focus on updating electronic billboard rules and revenue opportunities.
Tilt Tap House and Arcade at Crossroads Shopping Center
A new retro arcade and tap house featuring pinball, classic video games, and beer on tap is coming to 50 West Bullard Avenue, bringing a family-friendly and evening entertainment option to the Crossroads shopping center.
Adult Day Care Center at Shaw Avenue Plaza
Social Vocational Services is opening a new adult day care and vocational training center at 1750 Shaw Avenue, providing daytime services and transportation for adults with developmental disabilities.
Assessment District 95-1 Rate Adjustments
Property owners in Blackhorse Estates face a $55 annual assessment increase for neighborhood maintenance in area one, while area two rates remain steady.
City of Clovis Alternate Dispatch Center
The city is building a new 4,000-square-foot alternate police dispatch center at Fire Station 6 on Encino Avenue. The facility will house up to 15 employees and improve emergency dispatch resilience.
Road Safety on Fowler Avenue
Residents and grieving parents urged the city to take immediate action on dangerous traffic speeds and road conditions along Fowler Avenue, particularly during ongoing construction closures.
Infectious Materials and Non-CLIA Laboratory Oversight
The city is partnering with Fresno County to inspect and regulate privately funded research labs that fall outside federal oversight, learning lessons from the Reedley lab incident.
Remote Public Participation Policy (SB 707)
Clovis is setting up a new remote participation system using Webex so residents can watch and speak at council meetings from home starting July 1. The policy also outlines strict rules for what happens if the internet or phone lines go down during a meeting.
Water Service Rates and Municipal Code Updates
The city proposed significant water rate increases over the next few years to cover rising inflation, operating costs, and critical infrastructure maintenance. Residents raised concerns about the impact on fixed-income households and the jump in volumetric costs.
Transition to District-Based Municipal Elections
City Clerk Briana Parra outlined preparations for Clovis's first district-based elections in November 2026 for Districts 1, 4, and 5.
FY 2026-2027 Annual Budget and Measure Y Implementation
City leadership reviewed the 5-year financial forecast, confirming stable conditions and ongoing Measure Y public safety staffing. Council members urged building emergency reserves faster toward long-term targets.
FY 2026-27 City Budget and Measure Y Implementation
The Measure Y Oversight Committee presented its first annual report, highlighting strong revenues and accountability for public safety, parks, and street maintenance funds.
Traffic Congestion and Parking Near Clovis High School
A resident raised concerns regarding recurring traffic congestion, blocked driveways, and safety hazards from overflow parking during school events, noting jurisdictional enforcement confusion between city police and school resource officers.
Tentative Tract Map 6550 Residential Development
A developer is building a 37-lot single-family neighborhood on Bullard Avenue with larger-than-average lots. Neighbors had some traffic worries, but the project will dead-end a street to prevent cut-through driving and bring much-needed spacious housing options.
Council Member Term Limits
The council debated whether to establish term limits for city council members after a community survey showed strong support, but ultimately decided against putting it on the ballot.
Stanford Addition Bullard Couplet Improvements
A resident urged the city to invest in and recognize the historic Stanford Addition (Beanville) neighborhood with local monuments or markers, echoing past requests for equitable city attention.
Election Deadlines
Get ready, Clovis! The June 2026 primary election is on the horizon. Make sure you're registered and know all the important dates so your vote counts.
Residential Subdivision at Baron and Perrin Avenues
Lennar Homes received approval for a 137-lot single-family subdivision on 17.41 acres, featuring larger lot sizes and public streets.
County Supervisor Elections
Get ready, Clovis! While you're not voting directly, the upcoming Madera County supervisor elections could still impact you. A big race is happening because a long-time supervisor is stepping down, and new leadership could mean changes that ripple over.
Implementation of Mixed Income Zoning Ordinance (MISO)
The city is moving forward with a new ordinance requiring residential developments of 11 or more units to dedicate 5% of homes as affordable housing or pay in-lieu fees. This is part of a legal settlement agreement to meet state housing mandates.
Maintenance Community Facilities District (CFD)
Council reviewed options for establishing a maintenance CFD to fund ongoing upkeep of future neighborhood infrastructure and reduce strain on the general fund.
Nuisance Abatement at 2075 Swift Avenue
The council intervened on a severely blighted, vacant residential property that had accumulated nearly $16,000 in fines and overgrown weeds, authorizing lien assessments and court-ordered cleanup.
Shaw Avenue Mini-Storage Development
The council approved a text amendment allowing a multi-story storage facility at Shaw and Fowler avenues, overriding strong neighbor objections regarding traffic, scale, and noise.
Timing of Off-Site Infrastructure and Roadway Improvements
The council reviewed options to overhaul how off-site infrastructure is timed for new developments, aiming to ensure safety and prevent stalled road projects.
Residential Subdivision Density and Planning Precedent
Commissioners debated the appropriateness of blended density calculations and after-the-fact density adjustments for residential subdivisions, leading to the denial of Lennar Homes' 136-lot project.
County Transportation Funding and Measure C Support
With Measure C expiring in 2027, the council debated two rival citizen-led transportation measures. The council chose to endorse the 'Better Roads, Safe Streets' measure to protect local transit funding and trail development.
Reservoir 4 Tank Liner Bid Protest and Re-advertisement
The city faced a late bid protest over a major water reservoir lining project. After reviewing the protest and hearing from the protesting contractor, the council chose to reject all bids to ensure a fair process and re-advertise the project.
Old Town Mixed-Use Development Appeal (CUP2025-006)
Neighbors and business owners fought a new three-story mixed-use project at 319 Bullard Avenue over parking and congestion fears, but the city council ultimately let it move forward.
Community Survey and National Motto Display
The community survey showed strong resident satisfaction with safety, economy, and city services, while pointing out concerns like air quality and affordable child care.
General Services Department Operations and Facility Needs
A new facilities assessment revealed a $2.1 million annual shortfall in routine building maintenance, highlighting the need for proactive investments to prevent costly repairs.