REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember
District Three
BY: GABRIELA OLEA, Chief of Staff
District Three
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Warnors Theater Roof Repair Project (District 3):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Class 1, Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 23rd Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2024-122 appropriating $86,900 from the Public Works Department District 3 Infrastructure Project to the City Council Department for the Warnors Theater Roof Repair Project (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the following items: (1) Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Class 1, Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; (2) Adopt the 23rd Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2024-122 reallocating $86,900 from the Public Works Department to the City Council Department for the Warnors Theatre Roof Repair Project.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This action is to reallocate $86,900 from the Public Works Department to the City Council Department for the Warnors Theatre Roof Project that will enable the historic theatre’s roof to be recoated.
BACKGROUND
On October 1, 2024, Councilmember Miguel Arias received a tour of the historic Warnors Theatre, which is now under new management. During the tour, it was apparent that immediate repairs were needed for the roof. Nicole Owens, the Executive Director of the Warnors Center for the Performing Arts, detailed the extent of the work needed for the roof and emphasized that it is at the top of the theatre’s priority repair list. Without immediate repairs, there is concern that the historic theatre will suffer further damage from the upcoming cold and rainy season. In 2024, Warnors Center for the Performing Arts was granted a $62,100.00 Measure P Expanded Access to Arts and Culture - Project Support Grant for a once-weekly Community Sunday Matinee that will feature a movie selected to celebrate the diversity of the Fresno community. The appropriation of $86,900 from the Public Works Department to the City Council Department for the Warnors Theatre Roof Repair Project will the ensure the historic theatre receives the repair to maintain its historic integrity and be able to provide a great experience to the Fresno community during its planned Sunday Matinees.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This approval is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to a Class 1 Categorical Exemption (Existing Facilities) as set forth in CEQA Guidelines section 15301. Class 1/15301 consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use.
The appropriated funds will be used to provide grant funding to the Warnors Theater Center for the Performing Arts, a California Non-Profit Corporation, to perform roof repairs on the existing roof on the Warnors Theater in Downtown Fresno. The work to be funded by this appropriation is the recoating of the theater’s roof which consists, in part, of removing debris from the flat roof, pressure washing of all flat roof systems, cutting away of all foam and coating bubbles, application of foam or butter to all of the cut out sections and exposed foam, detailing all of the protrusions, drains, and exposed foam sections, application of cloth-n-coat repairs to all of the critical sections, application of three gallons per square inch of elastomeric acrylic top coat, and removal of all debris caused by the recoating process. In its entirety, this work consists of roof recoating and will not result in an expansion of the existing or former use of the Warnors Theater. In addition, none of the exceptions to exemptions set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 apply in this instance. As such, this project is exempt from the provisions of CEQA, and no further assessment is required.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented as this item does not involve the bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available in the FY24/25 Council District 3 Infrastructure Budget.
Attachment: 23rd Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution