Clovis · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Clovis public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Clovis Transit System Reliability
Residents expressed strong concerns about recent changes to the Clovis transit system, citing inaccurate text alert arrival times, longer wait times, accessibility barriers at bus stops, and missed connections.
Enforcement Against Synthetic Kratom Sales
Police briefed the council on unregulated Kratom and 7-OH products sold in local smoke shops, noting that state health officials have declared them illegal.
Mixed-Use Infill Development at 319 Bullard Avenue
A developer is building a three-story mixed-use project with retail space and an apartment on a vacant lot in Old Town. Neighboring business owners raised concerns about parking congestion, construction noise, and trash toters, leading the commission to add conditions barring a bar and requiring better trash placement.
Economic Development and Commercial Growth
City staff highlighted ongoing commercial expansion across Clovis, including new restaurants in Old Town, medical office complexes on Herndon Avenue, and industrial park developments.
Neighborhood Traffic and Intersection Safety on Escalon Avenue
Residents from Clovis West Estates voiced strong concerns regarding recent traffic changes and safety assessments at the Escalon Avenue and Willow Avenue intersection, asking for better neighborhood notification.
Electoral system change
Clovis is shaking up how City Council members get elected! This means your vote might count differently in future elections. Stay tuned to see how this impacts who represents you.
City Council Agenda Item
Clovis City Council punted on a 'non-sanctuary' city proposal. They decided not to even talk about it, despite a council member wanting it on the agenda.
Election Law Challenge
Get ready for potential changes in how Clovis City Council members are elected! A voting rights lawyer is eyeing a lawsuit, suggesting the current system might not be fair under state law.
City Council Elections
Clovis City Council is up for grabs, but the current vibe leans conservative. If you're thinking about throwing your hat in the ring, be ready for a politically charged race.