2600 Fresno Street

Fresno, CA 93721

www.fresno.gov

City of Fresno

Meeting Minutes

Parks, Recreation, and Arts

Commission

Chair - Kimberly McCoy

Vice Chair - Laura Ward

Commissioner - Jose Leon Barraza

Commissioner - Rose Caglia

Commissioner - Jon Dohlin

Commissioner - Mckay A. Duran

Commissioner - Kelly Kucharski

Commissioner - Scott Miller

Commissioner - Vincent L. Trillo

5:30 PM

Monday, October 13, 2025

Council Chambers (In

Person and/or Electronic)

https://www.fresno.gov/prac

-meeting/

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 5:31 P.M.

5:31 P.M. Roll Call

On motion of Commissioner Caglia, seconded by Commissioner Dohlin,

Commissioner Kucharski's absence was EXCUSED. The motion carried by

the following vote:

Aye: 7 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Caglia,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, Commissioner Miller, and

Commissioner Trillo.

Absent: 2 - Commissioner Barraza, Commissioner Kucharski

Commissioner Kucharski subsequently joined the meeting at 5:51 P.M.

On motion of Commissioner Dohlin, seconded by Commissioner Caglia,

Commissioner Barraza's absence was EXCUSED. The motion carried by

the following vote:

Aye: 7 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Caglia,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, Commissioner Miller, and

Commissioner Trillo.

Absent: 2 - Commissioner Barraza, Commissioner Kucharski

Present 8 - Chair Kimberly McCoy, Vice Chair Laura E. Ward,

Commissioner Rose Caglia, Commissioner Jon Dohlin,

Commissioner Mckay A. Duran, Commissioner Kelly

Kucharski, Commissioner Scott Miller, and Commissioner

Vincent L. Trillo

Absent 1 - Commissioner Jose Barraza

Pledge of Allegiance

Chair McCoy led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approve Agenda

On motion of Commissioner Trillo, seconded by Commissioner Caglia,

the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following

vote:

Aye: 7 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Caglia,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, Commissioner

Miller and Commissioner Trillo

Absent: 2 - Commissioner Barraza and Commissioner Kucharski

Approval of Minutes

Approval of the regular meeting minutes of September 29, 2025.

ID 25-1364

5.-A.

On motion of Commissioner Dohlin, seconded by Commissioner

Caglia, that the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried

by the following vote:

Aye: 7 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Caglia,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, Commissioner

Miller and Commissioner Trillo

Absent: 2 - Commissioner Barraza and Commissioner Kucharski

Discussion: Subcommittee Reports

6-A.

Cultural Arts Grant Fund Subcommittee

Vice Chair Ward reported: The Cultural Arts Subcommittee has made

recommendations on proposed EAAC grant allocation awards that will be

discussed by the full commission at the item later on the agenda. We also

held a public subcommittee meeting in these chambers on October 6, 2025,

and the minutes from that meeting are included with today’s agenda

materials.

I hope that each member of this commission has been able to watch the

video of that subcommittee meeting and has listened to the public comments

with empathy and care. We received comments from a variety of

perspectives, and the EAAC proposed grant allocations continue to stir deep

emotion – a reflection that these grant funds, for both established and

emerging applicants, touch on both dreams and livelihood.

I hope that my fellow commissioners, and the members of the public, took

the time to analyze the documents that were included with that

subcommittee meeting agenda, and the presentation materials included with

today’s agenda, to examine the zip codes and narratives about communities

served by EAAC grant funding, that was taken into consideration when

making the funding allocations proposed for consideration today. The

subcommittee believes the recommended awards do recognize, reflect, and

support the cultural, demographic, and geographic diversity of all parts of the

City of Fresno. If equity concerns remain, I hope that we receive concrete

and specific feedback about those concerns and how they can be

addressed.

I also hope that the members of this commission have had a chance to

review and consider the twelve appeals that were discussed at the

subcommittee meeting on October 6, 2025. The subcommittee findings were

that none of these twelve appeals met the narrow and opaque criteria in the

current EAAC grant program guidelines, adopted by the Fresno City Council

in Resolution 2025-19 on January 30, 2025, as follows: “Any applicant not

recommended to receive an award may submit a written appeal to the arts

council staff no later than 5:00 p.m. by the 10th calendar day following the

release of the Intent to Award notification. Appeals must be based on the

following criteria: clerical or technical error, and/or incorrect processing of

required application materials negatively influencing the panel's assessment

of the applicants request for funding. Arts Council staff will present the

appeals to the PRAC Subcommittee for review and recommendation to

PRAC. The PRAC will make the final ruling.”

The Cultural Arts Subcommittee did not change its recommendations on

proposed EAAC grant award allocations following a review of the twelve

appeals under the current appeal criteria, and a recommendation to PRAC

that they did not meet the criteria for successful appeal. However, the

subcommittee only has the authority to make a recommendation to the

PRAC, and the ultimate decision on both appeals and the proposed EAAC

grant awards is vested in the full commission – so please bring forward any

questions and considerations on the twelve appeals you may have had

when reviewing those materials, in our discussion on the proposed EAAC

grant awards, so that the current EAAC grant program process is followed

with respect to appeal adjudication.

Finally, I want to address something I have noticed over these last three

meetings – with each public meeting since September 15th, some of the

public comments have included misinformation and personal attacks that

grow wilder and bolder each week and make me think that I am not the only

one in these Council Chambers with a creative writing degree. What started

with twisted words grew into very personal statements against individuals

getting at their integrity and character, and most recently, allegations of

illegal activity. The members of this commission are community volunteers,

and, like the Fresno Arts Council staff, we are all private citizens – not public

figures. We are your neighbors, and members of a shared community –

again, let us return to a place where we can engage in difficult discussions

with respect, and find a way to listen to each other even when we disagree,

so that we can continue to make progress toward a shared goal of

expanding access to arts and culture in meaningful ways throughout the City

of Fresno.

Draft Cultural Arts Subcommittee Meeting Minutes of October 6, 2025.

ID 25-1418

Members Reports and Comments

COMMISSIONER CAGLIA REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Referenced

comments made at the September 29, 2025, meeting by an individual

involved in the Arch to Zoo project. Noted that similar challenges, such as

criticism, misinformation, and delays, were experienced during that project

nearly 30 years ago. Emphasized the importance of continued dialogue to

improve the process moving forward into next year.

City Administration and PARCS Staff Reports and Comments

PARCS DIRECTOR AGUIRRE REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Announced

the PARCS Department has six Halloween-themed events scheduled for the

week. All events are free and open to the community, and attendees are

encouraged to check the department’s calendar for details. Attended an

awards ceremony in Monterey were the PARCS Department received a

statewide award from the American Planning Association (APA) for the

implementation of Measure “P”. Expressed gratitude to the PARCS team,

administration, and PRAC Commissioners for their support.

Unscheduled Communication

Upon call, the following members of the public addressed the Commission

with unscheduled communication: Pedro Navaro Cruz, and Cesar Gomez.

10.

Workshops

Discussion Items

Hearings

11.

12.

Hearing - Consideration of the PRAC Cultural Arts Subcommittee list of

recommended grantees, award amounts, project titles and a brief

summary of the project location, scope, schedule and anticipated impact

to PRAC and acceptance of the recommended grantees.

12.-A.

ID 25-1408

The above item was called to order at 5:48 P.M. and was presented to the

Commission by Fresno Arts Council Executive Director Lilia Gonzales

Chavez, and Program Manager Andrea Mele. Upon call, the following

members of the public addressed the Commission: Jackson Kytle, Carolynn

Thomas, Pam Whalen, Julia Copeland, Johannus Reijnders, Alicia

Rodriguez, Hugo Morales, Christina Soto, Joel Pickford, Parvin Malek,

Vivian Velasco Paz, Monica Madrigal, Nasreen Johnson, Grisanti Aventano,

Smiley G, Veronica Chavez, Jazmen Moore, Christina Olayne, Amy

Kitchener, Kiel Lopez-Schmidt, Ome Lopez, Derek Paton, Chris Pultz,

Cesilia Acevedo, Dian Nixon, Jade McAfee, Elizabeth Laval, Arianna Paz

Chavez, and Michelle Ellis Praisey. Public comment closed at 7:44 P.M.

Commission discussion on this item included: requirement for grant

applicants to attend workshops; clarification on the public panel process and

its current status; budget allocation for support materials, PR, and

communications; panelist recruitment, demographics, and impact on

decision-making; grant distribution in unincorporated Fresno County and

eligibility criteria; public comment regarding additional funding and budget

presentation confusion; anticipated reduction in funding and number of grant

recipients next year; accessibility and public recording of panelist review

meetings; suggestions for improving transparency and public engagement in

the review process; proposal to include cultural competency and budget

literacy training for panelists; and, inquiry about repeated panelists from

previous grant cycles.

On motion of Commissioner Caglia to Approve the EAAC Emerging

Organizations General Operating Support as recommended by the Fresno

Arts Council and the Cultural Arts Subcommittee, seconded by

Commissioner Trillo. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 8 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Caglia,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, Commissioner Kucharski,

Commissioner Miller, and Commissioner Trillo.

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Barraza

On motion of Commissioner Dohlin to Approve the Emerging Organization

Project Specific Support as recommended by the Fresno Arts Council and

the Cultural Arts Subcommittee, seconded by Commissioner Caglia. The

motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 8 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Caglia,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, Commissioner Kucharski,

Commissioner Miller, and Commissioner Trillo.

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Barraza

On motion of Commissioner Caglia to Approve the EAAC General

Operations Support as recommended by the Fresno Arts Council and the

Cultural Arts Subcommittee, seconded by Commissioner Trillo. The motion

carried by the following vote:

Aye: 8 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Caglia,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, Commissioner Kucharski,

Commissioner Miller, and Commissioner Trillo.

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Barraza

On motion of Commissioner Dohlin to Approve the EAAC Project Specific

Support as recommended by the Fresno Arts Council and the Cultural Arts

Subcommittee, seconded by Commissioner Miller. The motion carried by the

following vote:

Aye: 6 - Chair McCoy, Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran,

Commissioner Kucharski, Commissioner Miller, and Commissioner Trillo.

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Barraza

Recused: 2 - Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Caglia

Hearing - Receive public input on Expanded Access to Arts and Culture

ID 25-1366

12.-B.

Grant Program.

The above item was called to order at 7:48 P.M. and was presented to the

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

Commission. Public comment closed at 7:48 P.M.

There was no Commission discussion on this item.

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

ID 25-1367

12.-C.

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

PARCS Department Budget and Capital Improvement Plans.

The above item was called to order at 7:49 P.M. and was presented to the

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

Commission. Public comment closed at 7:49 P.M.

There was no Commission discussion on this item.

13.

Adjournment

Chair McCoy adjourned the meeting in Memory of Dr. Francine Oputa, at

7:50 P.M.

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

and Arts Commission during the October 27, 2025, regular meeting.