City of Clovis Holds Enterprise Canal Trail Workshop

January 25, 2023: At Miss Winkles Pet Adoption Center in Clovis Wednesday night, a few members of City staff were present alongside MIG, an architecture company, to present to members of the Clovis community three separate examples of a new bridge that the City plans to build over a certain location of the 168 freeway.

This location, at the Enterprise Canal Trail, would connect Clovis trail improvements and work south, giving access to both the north and south sides of the 168.

This would not only connect the trails in this area, but would provide more retail opportunities and greatly improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

Renee Mathis, Planning and Development Services Director stated “We want them [the trails] to have maximum benefit for the community,” and said that there were very few instances in which there was a break in continuity of the trail system in Clovis, with the 168 freeway being one of those exceptions.

The Enterprise Canal Trail that runs along Owens Mountain Parkway and Temperance streets stops at Owens Mountain Parkway according to Mathis, but with a bridge over the 168, would be able to continue further south and open the mentioned easy access north and south of the 168.

MIG Architecture gave a presentation that

Football

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A 26-yard touchdown and several perfect field goals, as well as a fantastic 38 yard catch for the Central Valley team are just a small part of the great game they played. Excellence in military service was present in the half-time ceremony, in which U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Torres publicly rededicated himself to service in a reenlistment

Mayor

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE so necessary to democracy, responsive local government, and a stronger community. exemplified the three different bridges that they believe can be built over the 168 freeway. They, as well as City of Clovis staff, made it known that they understand this bridge will last for a long time for Clovis residents.

A recent article in another California newspaper spoke to the value of local journalism, editorials, and opinion pieces—especially in the face of the ‘tsunami’ of State and national ‘breaking news’ that occupies so much of our media space and that is mostly driven by ‘clicks’ on this story or that headline.

Our traditions, our values, our issues, and our community are far more important for us to focus on—and that’s what Clovis City Councils have done for generations. And what we will continue to do.

The three possible options of bridges across the 168 would be either a Box-Girder Span, Tied-Arch Span, or Cable-Stayed Span with examples of each that can be explored by looking at the link at https://cityofclovis.com/planning-and-development/ engineering/projects/.

The Box-Girder Span, explained to be the most widely used of the three across the state, was estimated to have cost the least amount, coming in at around $10-15 million. This type also was said to have possibly the most potential in terms of being an “open canvas” in which different types of artwork could be completed on it.

The Tied-Arch Span, which gets its name from the arches that hold cables assisting the bridges’ sustainability, was estimated to cost around $15-20 million and received the least amount of votes from the focus-group like poll.

Some members of the public did believe however that the arches themselves would help frame the Sierra Mountains when headed east on the 168 freeway.

Finally, the Cable-Stayed Span, equipped much alike the Tied-Arch Span, with cables connecting to only one or two large arcs in the middle of the bridge came in at around ceremony.

A team of students from Golden Charter Academy presented their positive affirmations song, and several Fresno rappers and dance groups also performed at halftime.

“The program here is meant to introduce the community to our local hometown heroes,” said CVMD CEO Lorenzo Rios, “by recognizing their service and having the community be introduced to some of our traditions and also the opportunities that are found in

So, thank you, Clovis Roundup, for the role you play and for the chance to submit this first column.

It occurs to me that 2023 will be a year of transitions for our community. Two new Councilmembers were sworn in at the end of 2022, the first time we have had two new members since 2001 when now-Supervisor Magsig and I were elected. A new Clovis Unified Superintendent is coming this summer, new businesses, a new fire chief, new civic leaders, new neighborhoods. There certainly have been many transitions over the 111 years of our City. That is not new. But what seems more important than ever is to be sure we ‘pass these batons’ with great attention to the core values that have served us well for decades. I am not saying

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Carole Grosch an estimate of $20-25 million, yet received the highest number of votes when asked of its aesthetic pleasing view to the public. It is said that the City of Clovis has high expectations for the proposed bridge, and “envisions it as a distinctive architectural feature echoing the progressive modernist styles of its surrounding context.” military service.” we must stay the same—that has never been the case. But our community values become even more important in a world of rapid change and partisan divides fueled by attention spans the length of a social media message. In this world of more remote work and less civic engagement, we need ways for our citizens to engage more than ever before.

This gathering, with less than twenty members of the Clovis public, was just a beginning round of further focus group like meetings that the City of Clovis plans to host in the future.

Active members of the California National Guard, Airforce, and Army were present at the event as, well as the Fresno State ROTC members.

Dustin Castillo, CEO at CoreWare Group and former U.S. Army Officer, says that one conversation with a naval commander changed his entire life path. He went from a junior-olympic level waterpolo player to Westpoint Military Academy.

We look forward to an update of the City’s strategic plan this year. It has been a number of years since we have spent some time imagining the future of our community, and it is time to do that again. Your input into that process will be essential so keep an eye out for ways to tell us what you think.

As you know, your Council members are elected at large, and we do not yet have

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With bridge construction planned for 20262027, they intend to plan for another meeting this year, coming in around April. A final recommendation will be made before 2025 when the plan then is to submit a final bridge design.

More information can be found at https:// cityofclovis.com/planning-and-development/ engineering/projects/

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Castillo said, “The discipline you learn in sports can apply to everything.”

CVMD CEO Lorenzo Rios said, “In future years, we hope to have those who are looking to enlist do an oath of office,” at the event as well.

The U.S. Army All-Stars Best of the West Football game is only in its second year, but there are promises of many more to come.

‘districts’ in Clovis. Each Councilmember is here to serve you—and a request to any one of us will find its way to the Council and/or the staff who can help. Connect with us at the City’s website: www.cityofclovis.com, via our email addresses, or the next time you see us in the grocery store or at a soccer game.

That’s what I love most about local government. Even as we grow and welcome new neighbors, we can hear about your concerns on one day and take care of them on the next. That is one thing that we never want to transition away from in Clovis.

I look forward to running into you soon.

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