2600 Fresno Street

Fresno, CA 93721

www.fresno.gov

City of Fresno

Meeting Minutes

Parks, Recreation, and Arts

Commission

Chair - Kimberly McCoy

Vice Chair – Jon Dohlin

Commissioner – Dr. Francine Oputa

Commissioner – Scott Miller

Commissioner – Mona Nyandoro Cummings

Commissioner – Harman Singh

Commissioner – Jose Leon Barraza

Commissioner – Kelly Kucharski

Commissioner - Laura Ward

5:30 PM

Monday, July 17, 2023

Council Chambers (In

Person and/or Electronic)

The Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission (PRAC) met in regular session in the

Council Chamber at Fresno City Hall on the date and time above written.

Call to Order

Chair McCoy called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.

5:30 P.M. Roll Call

Commissioner Oputa was absent during roll call and joined the meeting at

5:37 p.m.

Present 7 -

Chair Kimberly McCoy, Vice Chair Jon Dohlin, Commissioner

Mona Cummings, Commissioner Francine Oputa,

Commissioner Scott Miller, Commissioner Jose Barraza, and

Commissioner Laura E. Ward

Absent 2 -

Commissioner Harman Singh, and Commissioner Kelly

Kucharski

Pledge of Allegiance

Chair McCoy led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approve Agenda

On motion of Vice Chair Dohlin, seconded by Commissioner

Cummings, the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the

following vote:

Aye: 6 -

Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Dohlin, Commissioner Cummings,

Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Barraza and

Commissioner Ward

Absent: 3 -

Commissioner Oputa, Commissioner Singh and

Commissioner Kucharski

Approval of Minutes

Approval of the regular meeting minutes of June 26, 2023.

5.-A.

ID 23-1105

On motion of Commissioner Cummings, seconded by Commissioner

Ward, the MINUTES were APPROVED. The motion carried by the

following vote:

Aye: 6 -

Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Dohlin, Commissioner Cummings,

Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Barraza and

Commissioner Ward

Absent: 3 -

Commissioner Oputa, Commissioner Singh and

Commissioner Kucharski

Discussion: Subcommittee Reports:

6-A.

Cultural Arts Plan:

There was no update from the Cultural Arts Plan Subcommittee.

6-B.

Parks Master Plan:

There was no update from the Parks Master Plan Subcommittee.

Members Reports and Comments

CHAIR MCCOY REPORTS AND COMMENTS: expressed appreciation for

the Parks Department's active presence on social media and their efforts in

sharing information about various activities taking place in town. Mentioned

the opening of cooling centers and swimming pools for children due to the

hot weather. Complimented the Parks Department for their work.

City Administration and PARCS Staff Reports and Comments

PARKS DIRECTOR AGUIRRE REPORTS AND COMMENTS: Introduced

Parks Department Projects Administrator Rooks to provide an update on the

senior activity center, including information about ongoing activities,

upcoming events, and outreach plans.

PARKS DEPARTMENT PROJECTS ADMINISTRATOR ROOKS REPORTS

AND COMMENTS: Announced the launch of the first outreach phase for

planning a new citywide dedicated senior activity center located on

Blackstone between Holland and Swift. Invited the public to provide

feedback on website features and programming for the new center.

Announced there would be a series of outreach meetings, as well as

surveys at community centers and online. Highlighted the "Outreach

Headquarters" - a drop-in location where the public could visit, provide

comments, and have discussions. The commissioners were provided with

information packets, and were encouraged to be ambassadors for the

project.

Unscheduled Communication: Members of the public may address the

Commission regarding items that are not listed on the agenda and within the subject

matter jurisdiction of the Commission. Each person will have up to three (3) minutes

to present.

Upon call, Brandi Nuse-Villegas addressed the Commission. There were no

other comments from the public.

10.

11.

12.

Workshops:

Discussion Items:

Hearings:

Hearing: Consideration of redline Cultural Arts Plan for recommendation to

City Council as drafted by the Fresno Arts Council and Cultural Arts Plan

Subcommittee.

12.-A.

ID 23-1110

The above hearing was called to order at 5:48 p.m.

Commissioner Ward presented the Cultural Arts Plan.

Upon call, Hugo Morales and Amy Kitchener, addressed the Commission.

There were no other comments from the public or the commissioners

Commission discussion on this item included: Appreciation for the previous

configuration of the subcommittee, and the work done by former

Commissioner Miller, and former Commissioners Parkes and Vang.

Recognized the contributions of Lilia Chavez and the collective effort that

led to the current stage of the discussion. Acknowledged Mr. Morales for

proposing the inclusion of demographic information for the age group of

zero to five, recognizing it as a brilliant idea. Gratitude for the

commissioners that worked on the previous and current versions of the plan.

The progress made in aligning the plan with the local sentiment and the

promises of Measure P. Concerns about the limited connections to

educational institutions such as Fresno Unified School District, Fresno City

College, and Fresno State. The importance of identifying and targeting

specific groups and communities to avoid lip service and ensure inclusivity.

Greater outreach to low-income communities, specifically mentioning South

Fresno, Southwest, Southeast, and South Central. Private sector

involvement and encouraged participation from small organizations and the

private sector.

The hearing closed at 6:15 p.m.

Commissioner Oputa motioned to amend the item to include the zero

to five demographics in the plan, Commissioner Cummings seconed

the motion which was APPROVED by the following vote:

Aye: 7 -

Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Dohlin, Commissioner Cummings,

Commissioner Oputa, Commissioner Miller, Commissioner

Barraza and Commissioner Ward

Absent: 2 - Commissioner Singh and Commissioner Kucharski

Hearing - Receive public input on allocations related to Measure P,

12.-B.

ID 23-1107

updates to the Parks Master Plan and Cultural Arts Plan, and annual

PARCS Department Budget and Capital Improvement Plans.

The above hearing was called to order at 6:15 p.m.

Upon call, no members of the public addressed the Commission. There

were no other comments from the public or the commissioners

The hearing closed at 6:17 p.m.

13.

Adjournment

Chair McCoy adjourned the meeting at 6:17 p.m.

The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the Parks, Recreation, and

Arts Commission during the August 21, 2023, regular meeting with Chair McCoy and

Commissioner Miller absent.