… I am proud of the fact that Clovis is the safest city in the Valley and a great place to live, work, and raise a family. Unfortunately, crime and homelessness from nearby communities are starting to come to Clovis, and recent rainstorms have damaged our local roads. We are working hard to maintain 911 emergency response times, restore crime prevention programs, and ensure streets and roads are in good condition while maintaining fiscal accountability, but state policies and national inflation have made it more difficult for us to provide the services our community has come to expect

With unfunded mandates from California’s state government, takeaways of local funds, and inflation being what it has for the past few years, expenses for City operations are growing faster than the City’s revenue base. Between 2007 and 2023, we have seen a 39% increase in the population of the City, and comparatively, we have only grown our city staff by 13% – just a third of the rate of population growth. If this trend continues, it will be difficult to continue to provide the high level of service our residents have become accustomed to. This is why we recently conducted an updated community survey to obtain initial resident input on service priorities. Some of the priorities identified by your neighbors include:

1.  Keeping public areas safe and clean
2.  Retaining local small businesses and jobs
3. Maintaining the City’s long-term financial stability
4. Maintaining 911 emergency medical, police, and fire response
5. Maintaining streets and roads
6. Ensuring emergency rescue workers have updated life-saving tools such as the “jaws of life”
7. Addressing homelessness

All across our region, crime – including violent crime and property crime – has been increasing. In 2023, there were nearly 800 robberies and burglaries and over 250 car thefts. Over the past fifteen years, in order to dedicate more resources toward patrol within our limited budget, we have reduced or eliminated the following positions and services: FBI task force officer, municipal code enforcement, juvenile counseling, PAL, DARE, Community Watch, Community Events, Explorer Post, Community Day school resource officer, reduced traffic unit, eliminated separate gang and narcotics unit, and eliminated our Bike and Mounted patrol units.

Now, with crime continuing to increase, we need to increase the number of Clovis police officers and ensure that there are additional neighborhood police patrols to keep residents and their property safe.

Additionally, nearly two-thirds of all calls to the Clovis Fire Department are related to medical emergencies where every second counts. We must improve response times from 11 minutes to the standard of 6 minutes and 30 seconds in all areas of the city and ensure that Clovis has the needed firefighters and paramedics while increasing the number of certified EMT firefighters and lifesaving equipment to respond to emergencies and save lives.

In the face of our current financial constraints, the City of Clovis is committed to transparency and community engagement. As we navigate these financial waters, we are exploring innovative approaches to ensure the continued provision of high-quality services. This may involve a comprehensive review of city operations, prioritizing projects, and seeking input from our residents on their preferences for the allocation of resources.

Your voice matters, and we invite you to be active participants in shaping the future of our city. Please fill out our feedback form to share your service priorities. If you’re a member of a community organizations, please invite us to come and speak with your organization.

Together, I trust that we can identify creative solutions that align with our community values while addressing the fiscal challenges we confront.

Sincerely,

John Holt

City Manager