2600 Fresno Street

Fresno, CA 93721

City of Fresno

Meeting Minutes

City Council

President - Mike Karbassi

Vice President - Miguel Angel Arias

Councilmembers:

Annalisa Perea, Tyler Maxwell, Brandon Vang,

Nick Richardson, Nelson Esparza

City Manager - Georgeanne A. White

City Attorney - Andrew Janz

City Clerk - Todd Stermer, MMC

9:00 AM

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Council Chambers

The City Council met for resumed budget hearings in the Council Chamber, City Hall, on

June 3, 2024, at 9:00 A.M.

9:04 A.M. ROLL CALL

Present: 7 -

Council President Mike Karbassi

Vice President Miguel Angel Arias

Councilmember Annalisa Perea

Councilmember Tyler Maxwell

Councilmember Brandon Vang

Councilmember Nick Richardson

Councilmember Nelson Esparza

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Vice President Arias led the Pledge of Allegiance.

APPROVE AGENDA

The agenda for the budget hearing was approved at the start of the meeting

on June 2, 2025.

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 9:00 A.M.

Council President Karbassi announced the budget process.

Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Jovana

Morales, Galvia Juarez, Juana Meza, and Brandi N.

Capital Projects Department

Interim Director Assistant City Manager Mascia presented the Capital

Projects Department budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Economic Development Department

Director Long, and Assistant Director Trevino presented the Economic

Development Department budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Planning and Development Department

Director Clark presented the Planning and Development Department budget

for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Public Works Department

Director Mozier presented the Public Works Department budget for Fiscal

Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Department of Transportation / FAX

Director Barfield presented the Department of Transportation / FAX budget

for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Animal Center Department

Director Torres presented the Animal Center Department budget for Fiscal

Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Council Motions Made June 3, 2025

Councilmember Vang motioned (#6) to add additional dollars to the design,

dollars to be determined, source to be determined, of the 49-acre park and

use available acres to add a gymnasium. Vice President Arias seconded the

motion. (Capital Projects)

Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#7) An additional $50,000 from Public

Work's funds specifically for D4. Council President Karbassi seconded the

motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#8) $25,000 to finish the shop

beautification project that was started last year. Vice President Arias

seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#9) $300,000 for new district 4

beautification (median island projects). Council President Karbassi

seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Richardson motioned (#10) for $25,000 directly which

would be matched with D6 funds to go specifically into safety measures to

be used at the intersection of Friant and Shepard. Councilmember Vang

seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Vice President Arias motioned (#11) for $150,000 to the Animal Center for

the Department budget. Councilmember Maxwell seconded the motion.

(Animal Center)

Council Requests for Information Made June 3, 2025

Councilmember Richardson is interested in knowing how much it would cost

to remove all of the tree stumps in Woodward Park. (Public Works)

Council President Karbassi requested an answer, as best as possible given

the limited information. If CEQA requirements are rolled back pursuant to

the passage of AB 609 and SB 607, what impact will that have to our tax

base over the next few years? Will that permit the Costco proposed in

Council District 2 to move forward? Are there any other employment

producing projects impacted by CEQA lawsuits or housing subdivisions that

are on hold, which could benefit from the passage of the above referenced

bills? How would this impact SEDA? Will this allow the City to prevail on

the recent appellate court ruling on the PEIR (would the Council be able to

challenge the court ruling given the change in law or request a

reconsideration by the Courts)? (Planning & Development)

Councilmember Esparza requested a list of District 7 PARCS that need

construction funding, or have a funding gap, with confirmation about

whether the funding is in the Mayor's proposed budget for FY 2026.

(PARCS)

Council President Karbassi requested information on the history of the

Planning and Development Department related to its funding. Specifically,

when the department was an enterprise and general fund department. What

is the process to change its current structure to an enterprise department?

(Planning & Development)

Vice President Arias requested the process for identifying new parks

locations. (PARCS)

Councilmember Esparza requested provide Hiring Status of ISD Salesforce

Position. (Personnel Services)

Vice President Arias requested what is the status of the new Starbucks

being built in Southwest Fresno (Martin Luther King Ave / Church Ave).

(Public Works)

Councilmember Vang requested a list of current CDBG projects in District 5.

(Planning & Development)

Vice President Arias requested what is the lease agreement for the

Convention Center and Pardini’s? What do they call for in terms of the split?

What do they keep? How much is Ace allowed to charge for parking, and

how much are we capturing as the City? What is the split? (Planning &

Development)

Councilmember Maxwell requested what is the estimated cost for what it

would take to pave year-round? (Public Works)

Councilmember Maxwell requested the process and cost to clean median

and buffer islands more frequently. What would it cost to bring cleanings up

to a 2-month cycle versus a 3-month cycle. (Public Works)

Councilmember Vang requested provide feasibility of tree planting on the

island median on Clovis Ave between California Ave and Butler Ave.

(Public Works)

Councilmember Vang requested provide feasibility of reducing two lanes to

one lane on California Ave from Fowler Ave to Clovis Ave. (Public Works)

Councilmember Esparza requested staff provide a memo stating what

streets make up the 69.1 miles of street overlay and paving projects. (Public

Works)

Councilmember Esparza requested Provide a memo with cost estimates for

the following projects:

1. Construction of left turn phasing at the Van Ness and Clinton intersection.

2. Construction costs for the repaving of Clinton Avenue from Clovis Avenue

to Fowler Avenue.

3. Potential traffic safety improvements with cost estimates for the Olive

Avenue and Ninth Street intersection.

4. Construction costs for the installation of speed radar signs and high

visibility stop signs, as well as repainting of school pedestrian crosswalks at

all schools within District 7. (Public Works)

Councilmember Richardson requested staff provide all traffic studies done

within last year/FY25 conducted by Department of Public Works within D6.

(Public Works)

Vice President Arias requested staff provide No Neighborhood Left Behind

details including costing, how it worked and how could it work now? (Public

Works)

Councilmember Perea requested staff provide current boundary Scrubcan is

servicing and which days of the week they are servicing in the Tower

District? (Public Works)

Councilmember Esparza requested staff provide a memo on the status of

the residential infill program including how many applicants are currently in

the queue and how much funding remains in the program. (Public Works)

Vice President Arias requested staff provide a list (with costs) of all the

lawsuits that the city has settled related to broken sidewalks (as they relate

to public infrastructure) for the last 5 years. (Public Works)

Vice President Arias requested staff provide a proposal for use of $150,000

in additional funding. (Animal Center)

Vice President Arias requested information on the Transparency Act as it

relates to incentives for Veterinarians. (City Attorney)

Council President Karbassi requested staff recommendations for software

improvements (Accela, Track Management Tool, etc.) to increase the

number of permits issued. (Planning & Development)

Council President Karbassi requested an update on efforts to implement an

ag land mitigation program. What would be required to implement a

program? What would be required to implement essentially a copy of

Visalia’s program? (Planning & Development)

Council President Karbassi requested an estimate from DPW to hold an

election to create a new, consolidated Community Facilities District in

Northwest Fresno. Area to be identified after my office meets with staff to

select the most appropriate area. (Public Works)

Council President Karbassi requested a memo regarding the process to

complete the full buildout of Veterans Blvd to Grantland. Is the developer

required portion the same as the full build out? Can current Measure C

funds be used to complete this project? What is the cost required to

complete build out? (Public Works)

Councilmember Perea requested estimate the cost of installing a baby

changing station in a men's restroom and provide an estimate of how many

park restrooms would require installation. (PARCS)

Councilmember Perea requested Estimated construction of $15 million but

PARCS suggests having construction done in phases. (PARCS)

Councilmember Maxwell requested during his presentation, Director Mozier

mentioned that Measure "P" funds have been allocated for major corridor

beautification. Our office would like clarification on which specific streets or

corridors are scheduled to receive beautification improvements and how

Measure P funds are allocated for this purpose in FY26. (Public Works)

Council President Karbassi requested what would be the cost estimate to

add swings at Logan Park? (Swings that would accommodate kids and

adults) (PARCS)

Councilmember Esparza requested a memo on the requested revised

estimates for the Pave More Now Program. (Public Works)

Councilmember Esparza requested a memo on the maintenance costs for

pocket parks in this last year. (PARCS)

Councilmember Esparza requested a memo including various scenarios and

timeline on the progress of the City of Fresno Senior Center. (PARCS)

ADJOURNMENT

City Council recessed the June 3, 2025, Budget Hearings at 5:23 P.M. to be

resumed Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 9:00 A.M.

The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the City Council during the

June 19, 2025, regular meeting.