REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: JENNIFER K. CLARK, AICP, Director
Planning and Development Department
BY: ASHLEY ATKINSON, AICP, Assistant Director
Planning and Development Department
ISRAEL TREJO, Planning Manager
Planning and Development Department
BRITTANY MARTIN, Planner
Planning and Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
HEARING to Consider Street Name Change Application No. P26-00936 changing the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard to the original street names of California Avenue, Ventura Street, and Kings Canyon Road (Council Districts 3, 5 and 7)
1. CONSIDER and ADOPT the determination of Categorical Exemption Section 15301/Class 1, Section 15302/Class 2 under Environmental Assessment No. P26-00936.1 or the Finding of No Possibility of Significant Effect under Section 15061(b)(3) as prepared for Environmental Assessment No. P26-00936 dated April 15, 2026, in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. RESOLUTION - To approve Street Name Change Application No. P26-00936 in accordance with Article 62, Chapter 15 of the Fresno Municipal Code.
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
1. CONSIDER and ADOPT the determination of Categorical Exemption Section 15301/Class 1, Section 15302/Class 2 under Environmental Assessment No. P26-00936.1 or the Finding of No Possibility of Significant Effect under Section 15061(b)(3) as prepared for Environmental Assessment No. P26-00936 dated April 15, 2026, in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. RESOLUTION - To approve Street Name Change Application No. P26-00936 in accordance with Article 62, Chapter 15 of the Fresno Municipal Code.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Street Name Change Application No. P26-00936 is being considered at the direction of the City Council to change the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard to the original street names of California Avenue, Ventura Street, and Kings Canyon Road along a ±6.9‑mile street segment. The affected segment begins at the intersection of West Cesar Chavez Boulevard and South Marks Avenue and extends east to South Peach Avenue. The street name change does not apply to the half-mile street segment between South Hughes and South West Avenues, as that is located in Fresno County, and is already named West California Avenue (Exhibit A).
On March 19, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-42 which directed the administration to change the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard to the original street names of Kings Canyon Road, Ventura Street, and California Avenue in support of the Stand with Farmworkers Integrity Act (Exhibit B). The resolution cites recent public discourse and information regarding Cesar Chavez’s legacy and expresses the Council’s intent to ensure that public street names reflect City values.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
Street Name Change Application No. P26-00936 is being considered at the direction of the City Council to change the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard to the original street names of California Avenue, Ventura Street, and Kings Canyon Road along a ±6.9‑mile street segment. The affected segment begins at the intersection of West Cesar Chavez Boulevard and South Marks Avenue and extends east to South Peach Avenue. The street name change does not apply to the half-mile street segment between South Hughes and South West Avenues, as that is located in Fresno County, and is already named West California Avenue (Exhibit A).
On March 20, 2023, City Council passed Resolution No. 2023-056, which renamed Kings Canyon Road, Ventura Street, and California Avenue alignment which runs west to east between Marks Avenue and Temperance Avenue to Cesar Chavez Boulevard (Exhibit C).
On March 19, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-42 which directed the administration to change the name of Cesar Chavez Boulevard to the original street names of Kings Canyon Road, Ventura Street, and California Avenue in support of the Stand with Farmworkers Integrity Act (Exhibit B). The resolution cites recent public discourse and information regarding Cesar Chavez’s legacy and expresses the Council’s intent to ensure that public street names reflect City values.
Fresno City Planning Commission Action
The subject application was considered by the Fresno City Planning Commission at its meeting on April 15, 2026. After hearing testimony from City staff and the public, the Planning Commission voted to recommend approval of the proposed application by a vote of 4 to 0. Public comments included discussion of the historical context of the original street names and suggestions for alternative names. Additional details are provided in the Planning Commission resolution (Exhibit F).
Fresno Municipal Code
Street name changes are allowed pursuant to Section 15-6204 of the Fresno Municipal Code (FMC). Historically, the re-naming of streets has been allowed for the purpose of honoring or calling attention to persons or places having special prominence and significance to the culture or the history of the city. The proposed application implements the City Council’s direction and initiates the formal process to remove the current street name designation and restore the original street names.
Safety Review
The subject application did not require review by other departments as it proposes the reinstatement of previously existing street names. Based on staff evaluation, the proposed change is not expected to create confusion or impact the ability of emergency responders or other users to navigate the City’s street system.
Existing Addresses on Cesar Chavez Boulevard
Should the subject application be approved, the street name will be updated for all addresses located within the Cesar Chavez Boulevard corridor that are currently addressed under that designation. Notice of Address Change letters shall be mailed to all affected property owners and tenants prior to implementation of the restored street names. Only the street name will change; all address numbers and directional designations will remain the same. For example, 555 East Cesar Chavez Boulevard would become 555 East Kings Canyon Road.
The City of Fresno will notify applicable City Departments and outside agencies of the street name change, including the Police Department, Fire Department, Public Utilities Department, Business License and Tax Office, and external agencies such as the U.S. Postal Service, Fresno County Tax Assessor, PG&E, Fresno County Board of Elections, and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department. Updating addresses for personal information or records such as banking information, driver’s licenses, credit cards, phone/cell companies, etc., will be the responsibility of each property owner or tenant.
NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The Planning and Development Department published a notice of this City Council hearing in The Fresno Bee newspaper on April 3, 2026 (Exhibit D). Section 15-5007.D of the FMC allows the posting of a public hearing notice, in at least one newspaper of general circulation, as an alternative noticing method for large mailings.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
Two environmental assessments were prepared for this project in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. Environmental Assessment No. P26-00936, resulting in a finding of No Possibility of Significant Adverse Effect, was prepared on April 15, 2026. That assessment found that the street name change request was subject to the provisions of Section 15061 of the CEQA guidelines. Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA guideline provides for the exemption of any project which will clearly have no significant effects on the environment (Exhibit E).
A second environmental assessment, also prepared on April 15, 2026, determined that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Sections 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) and 15302/Class 2 (Replacement or Reconstruction). This assessment found that the street name change request involves only in‑kind replacement of existing street signage, with no expansion of use and the same functional purpose and capacity. All replacement signs will be installed in the same locations as the existing signage. Accordingly, the project qualifies for these exemptions (Exhibit I).
Both Environmental Assessments have been provided for City Council consideration.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this project does not include a bid or award of a construction or service contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this project was not anticipated in the FY 26 budget. The total cost to effectuate the street name change is approximately $199,305, broken down as follows:
FY26
General Fund - $68,600
Prop 111 Gas Tax - $5,705
FY27
General Fund - $125,000
Attachments:
Exhibit A - Vicinity Map
Exhibit B - City Council Resolution No. 2026-42
Exhibit C - City Council Resolution No. 2023-056
Exhibit D - Public Hearing Notice
Exhibit E - Environmental Assessment No. P26-00936 dated April 15, 2026
Exhibit F - Planning Commission Resolution No. 19953
Exhibit G - City Council Resolution for Street Name Change Application No. P26-00936
Exhibit H - PowerPoint Presentation
Exhibit I - Environmental Assessment No. P26-00936.1 dated April 15, 2026