The Fresno Bee from Fresno, California • A3

THURSDAY JUNE 11 2015 3A LocalFRESNOBEE.COM FRESNOBEE.COM/NEWS/LOCAL FACEBOOK.COM/FRESNOBEE TWITTER.COM/@FRESNOBEE 0001764891-01 FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 559-449-5035 or email www.EyeCareFresno.com Official EyeCare Provider for Fresno State Athletics Must be present to win. LASIK prize holds no monetary value. LASIK prize is non-transferable. Cash only pricing, promotional offer subject to availability. BELIEVE YOUR EYES LASIK SEMINAR When You Schedule Your Consultation At This Seminar Dr.

Andrew Maxwell Wednesday, June 17th At 6 PM California Eye Institute (Across From Saint Agnes) SPECIAL SEMINAR PRICING PER EYE Attend This Seminar Enter To WIN A FREE LASIK PROCEDURE A $5,600 GRAPE GROWERS GRAPES WANTED Fresno County officials confirmed Wednesday that a tentative agreement has been reached with its largest union, a contract offering in raises by July 2017 if the Service Employees International Union membership rat- ifies the proposal. The tentative deal comes on the heels of a decision two weeks ago by the state Public Employ- ment Relations Board that found in favor of Fresno County negotiators after SEIU filed unfair labor practices. The unfair labor practices allegation stemmed from a unilateral decision made by Fresno County supervisors to cut employee wages by in 2011. The latest offer is the same as one made by Fresno County supervisors before the state ruling, said John Navarrette, county administrative officer. are grateful and happy we have reached an agreement that could be Navarrette said.

If the proposal wins a ratification vote and ap- proval by supervisors, 4,400 SEIU employees would get a raise as early as next month, fol- lowed by a 1.5% raise in July 2016 and a 2.5% increase in July 2017. Under the agreement, the union also would not appeal the state employ- ment decision. The cost of the contract is about $28 million over three years. In October, the union rejected an offer of a raise that was to take effect the next month and another in August. Riley Talford, an SEIU unit shop steward and juvenile corrections offi- cer, said he was optimistic about the latest offer, because it was the same proposal made be- fore the state personnel board ruling.

County fell behind a lot of other coun- ties that are offering bet- ter benefits and Talford said. sure one of the things the board was considering in trying to make the mem- bers as close to whole as possible. Hopefully, this does a little bit to help us catch Talford said a vote of the membership is expected in about two weeks. do believe a majority of members will vote to ratify the contract and move he said. time for the county and the workforce to Before the state ruling, he said, SEIU members were reluctant to agree on a contract, because if they had won the state ruling the county could have been liable for back pay at interest to the union members.

good that the per- sonnel board (decision) is behind Talford said. was the elephant in the Eulalio Gomez, another correctional officer lead- ing a group trying to sever ties from SEIU, said he thinks employees serve more than the for the four years of hard- ships they Supervisor Andreas Borgeas said the agree- ment is an opportunity to usher in a period of labor- management peace. is a very fair, reasonable and financially sustainable offer that puts us back on the right track of restoring salaries lost and honoring the sacrifices made by county Supervisor Henry R. Perea said he was in- terested in returning the sooner, but the nego- tiations resulted in the two-year time frame. He credited new board mem- bers Buddy Mendes and Brian Pacheco for making a difference in getting a deal done.

Marc Benjamin: (559) 441-6166, Fresno Co. OKs pact with SEIU SEIU members will get returned to them over two years Supervisors made cuts in 2011 to alleviate budget problems County won board ruling BY MARC BENJAMIN Coats of paint and sweetheart leases took center stage Wednesday at Fresno budget hearings. Council Member Clint Olivier asked City Hall to do its duty by painting the outside of the Fresno Art Museum. The city-owned building at Radio Park (southwest corner of First Street and Clinton Avenue in central Fresno) been paint- ed in 14 years, Olivier said. The lease mandates fresh paint every seven years.

Mayor Ashley Swea- proposed $1.2 billion budget for fiscal year 2016 include money to fix this mismatch. building is showing signs of ne- said Olivier, whose district in- cludes Radio Park. motion directs the Public Works Department to quickly get an estimate. The maximum is $10,000, though Olivier made clear he would be willing to spend more if necessary. This part of Fresno has a handful of revitalizing agents, Olivier said.

The popular Italian Deli is on First, north of Clinton. The veterans hospital is a short walk to the west of Radio Park. The park itself is getting more attention from City Hall. Olivier said a city focused on neigh- borhood revitalization is foolish to think saving money by ignoring legal com- mitments to a regional treasure such as the Art Museum. Council Member Steve Brandau deliv- ered the second, and motion went into the along with a handful of other motions.

They will get an individual vote, perhaps next week. Michelle Ellis Pracy, the executive director, left the council cham- ber with a smile. First, though, City Manager Bruce Rudd reminded Olivier and his council colleagues that public finance as simple as majority vote. Rudd said the Art Museum is merely one of several community assets housed in city-owned structures and blessed with unusually low rent. The Art Museum pays $1 a year.

The museum takes care of everything inside the building. The city handles the exte- rior and the grounds. This subsidy comes out of hide, Rudd said. Public Works Director Scott Mozier said his staff will begin calling painting contractors. Rudd said he will make sure the coun- cil and administration if smart policy to have a bunch of $1-a-year leases, especially when City Hall needs all the maintenance money it can find.

The third day of budget hearings sug- gests million-dollar motions are in style. Hearings in recent years have been bleak affairs. Revenues were down and expenses maddeningly stable. Bankrupt- cy loomed. Council members, inclined by nature to spend, were reduced to moping.

But these days are financially brighter. Council Member Esmeralda Soria on Tuesday moved to spend an extra $1.5 million on parks. Brandau on Wednesday moved to spend an extra $1.4 million on streets. And more departments come to the table Monday. George Hostetter: (559) 441-6272, Olivier: Paint Art Museum BY GEORGE HOSTETTER Clint Olivier District 7 council member says building exterior needs help Cost is unclear, but could be in the $10,000 range City Manager Rudd says lease should be reviewed JOHN WALKER Time Out carries an apprehensive 3-month-old Victor E.

Bulldog III to his waiting press conference at Fresno State on Wednesday afternoon. Victor E. III is filling the paw prints of Victor E. Bulldog II, who passed away in March. The English bulldog will carry on the proud live mascot tradition set forth by his predecessors.

He will support the university and make his way around the Valley to meet Red Wavers, pose for photos and interact with alumni and friends. Born in a litter of seven puppies to parents Itchky and Ruby on March 14, he weighs 13.5 pounds and has a projected adult size of 45-50 pounds. INTRODUCING VICTOR E. III.