REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: AARON A. AGUIRRE, Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SHELBY MACNAB, MPA, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
BY: CHANELL JOHNSON, MPA, Senior Management Analyst
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Service Agreement between the City of Fresno and Fresno Metropolitan “Metro” Ministry:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
2. Approve a Third Amendment to the Service Agreement with Fresno Metropolitan “Metro” Ministry to extend the term of the Agreement to June 30, 2027, and to increase the contract amount by $38,000 for a total amount not to exceed $78,000, for Community Garden Liaison Services for Lowell Community Garden, McKinley Peace Garden, and Romain Community Garden
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend that the City Council adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and approve a Third Amendment to the Service Agreement (Agreement) between the City of Fresno and Fresno Metropolitan “Metro” Ministry (Fresno Metro) to extend the term of the Agreement to June 30, 2027, increase the contract amount by $38,000 for a not-to-exceed amount of $78,000, and update the scope of services. Staff also recommend that the City Council authorize the City Manager or designee to sign the Agreement and all related documents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of CEQA findings and the Third Amendment to the Agreement will result in the following updates: extend the term of service to June 30, 2027; increase the funding by $38,000 for a total amount not to exceed $78,000; update the list of community garden facility locations that receive services; amend Section 3. compensation; and modify the scope of services and schedule of fees.
BACKGROUND
On July 21, 2023, the City of Fresno and Fresno Metro entered into a two-year Agreement, in an amount not to exceed $40,000 per year, to provide community garden liaison services with the option for two one-year extensions.
On June 30, 2025, the First Amendment was executed to extend the term to June 30, 2026.
On January 20, 2026, a Second Amendment was executed to adjust line-item expenditures between budget categories.
The City of Fresno is proposing a Third Amendment to extend the term to June 30, 2027. The third amendment will also increase the funding by $38,000 for a total amount not to exceed $78,000; update the list of community garden facility locations that receive services to include three gardens (Lowell Community Garden, McKinley Peace Garden, and Romain Community Garden); amend Section 3. compensation; and modify the scope of services and schedule of fees.
The City of Fresno PARCS Department currently has three active community garden facilities open to residents: South Peach Community Garden, the Al Radka Garden and the Lowell Community Garden. In addition, there are two other community gardens that have been built and will be ready to open to the public in 2026. The two additional sites are the McKinley Peace Garden located at McKinley and 41 (built by Caltrans) and the Romain Community Garden located at Romain Park. Combined, these five gardens offer approximately 230 garden plots to the community.
The addition of the Romain and McKinley gardens to PARCS’s community gardens portfolio will add approximately 50 new garden plots for the community. To help fund community garden operations, PARCS has secured grant funding from the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Under Section 15301/Class 1, the proposed project is exempt from CEQA requirements when the project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. The key consideration is whether the project involves negligible or no expansion of use.
The project is exempt from CEQA because the City is approving a Service Agreement to provide $78,000 in funding to Fresno Metro Ministry for community garden liaison services. The project does not involve new construction, ground disturbance, or increased capacity beyond existing facilities and previously approved operations. Accordingly, the project will not have a significant impact on the environment, as it involves the activation of already-built facilities and the continued use of facilities. None of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions outlined in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to the project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable. The City is not issuing a request for quote for this lease agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact on the General Fund. The PARCS Department included funding in the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget for Community Garden Liaison services. Services will be funded, in part, using grant funding from the Trust for Public Land.
Attachments:
CEQA Categorical Exemption
Third Amendment
Second Amendment
First Amendment
Service Agreement