FRESNO (KMJ) — The first step towards closing down 16 of the City of Fresno’s 22 CRV recycling centers has been taken by district representatives.
Concern that the sites are attracting crime and causing blight are two of the reasons cited by Councilmember Paul Caprioglio in his presentation in the Council Chambers Thursday afternoon.
“Transients often times exchange cans for cash at the CRV recycling center, the cash is often used to buy alcohol and drugs. The other part of it is that individuals continue to loiter in the surrounding area, thereby creating a public nuisance and neighborhood blight.”
The District 4 representative proposed the amendment alongside District 3’s Oliver Baines. Caprioglio says other Fresno City Councilmembers have received similar complaints.
“The residents for all of us have consistently made complaints to our offices of the conduct near the CRV recycle centers. It totally interferes with the quality of life of the residents in the neighborhood.
“We also get calls from several businesses who are concerned that their proximity to the CRV recycling centers is costing them customers as well as thousands of dollars in repairs due to vandalism and additional fencing costs.”
The answer presented to the representatives behind the dais is to restrict where the recylcing centers can be placed and require them to be housed inside a permanent structure. That would ban the current metal ISO containers as they are considered temporary. Locations would also only be allowed within a business’ footprint, inside what California law calls a “convenience zone.”
“Convenience zones are areas surrounding a supermarket. The supermarket must gross $2 million or more annually to create the convenience zone.”
That area would be a half-mile radius, and Caprioglio says state law requires each zone to have its own recycling center.
“To remove CRV recycling centers in order to restore the safety, comfort, and quality of life of Fresno residents.”
The motion passed unanimously with a 7-0 vote. It’s the first step towards a final approval, which will require another vote before the new ordinance comes into force.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
