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, August 18, 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

Vice Chair Ward called the meeting to order at 5:37 P.M.

5:37 P.M. Roll Call

On motion of Commissioner Dohlin, seconded by Vice Chair Ward,

Commissioner Caglia's absence was EXCUSED. The motion carried by the

following vote:

Aye: 6 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Barraza,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, and Commissioner Trillo

Absent: 3 - Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Kucharski, and

Commissioner Miller

On motion of Commissioner Barraza, seconded by Commissioner Trillo,

Commissioner Miller's absence was EXCUSED. The motion carried by the

following vote:

Aye: 6 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Barraza,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, and Commissioner Trillo

Absent: 3 - Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Kucharski, and

Commissioner Miller

On motion of Vice Chair Ward, seconded by Commissioner Dohlin,

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

the following vote:

Aye: 6 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Barraza,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, and Commissioner Trillo

Absent: 3 - Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Kucharski, and

Commissioner Miller

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

Present 7 - Chair Kimberly McCoy, Vice Chair Laura E. Ward,

Commissioner Jose Barraza, Commissioner Jon Dohlin,

Commissioner Mckay A. Duran, Commissioner Kelly

Kucharski, and Commissioner Vincent L. Trillo

Absent 2 - Commissioner Rose Caglia, and Commissioner Scott Miller

Pledge of Allegiance

Chair McCoy led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approve Agenda

On motion of Commissioner Dohlin, seconded by Commissioner

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

following vote:

Aye: 6 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Barraza,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran and

Commissioner Trillo

Absent: 3 - Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Kucharski and

Commissioner Miller

Approval of Minutes

Approval of the regular meeting minutes of July 21, 2025.

ID 25-1049

5.-A.

On motion of Vice Chair Ward, seconded by Commissioner Duran, that

the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the

following vote:

Aye: 6 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Barraza,

Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran and

Commissioner Trillo

Absent: 3 - Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Kucharski and

Commissioner Miller

Discussion: Subcommittee Reports

6-A.

Cultural Arts Grant Fund Subcommittee

Vice Chair Ward reported. In 2025, access to art grants expanded, with 197

applications submitted from 278 letters of intent, up by 60 from the previous

year. The breakdown includes 24 general operations applications from

established organizations and 12 from emerging ones, while project grants

saw 46 from established and 115 from emerging organizations. Over $6

million will be available for awards. Review panels met from July 28, 2025, to

August 15, 2025, and the subcommittee thanked the panelists and the

Fresno Arts Council for their efforts. The panel meeting schedule was

posted and sent to applicants and fiscal sponsors to improve transparency.

The cultural arts subcommittee will meet later this month to finalize grant

allocations for September.

Members Reports and Comments

VICE CHAIR WARD REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Congratulated the city

and community on the opening of Broadway Parque in Central Fresno.

Announced Measure "P" funded art projects are ongoing, with many grant

awardees from last year planning and scheduling their events. Encouraged

the community to participate in the upcoming art and cultural events.

City Administration and PARCS Staff Reports and Comments

PARCS DIRECTOR AGUIRRE REPORTS AND COMMENTS. PARCS

Department is expanding several programs, including "Mondays on the Mat"

yoga classes at three new locations. Announced a digital literacy grant that

will help seniors learn digital skills, with a chance to win a free tablet upon

course completion. Launching a "Midnight Soccer" program on September

12, 2025, in Southeast Fresno, similar to the "Midnight Basketball" initiative.

Celebrated the groundbreaking of the first dedicated senior activity center, a

$41 million investment offering various amenities like a heated pool, library,

and fitness room.

Unscheduled Communication

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

with unscheduled communication: Kiel Lopez Schmidt.

10.

Workshops

Workshop: Presentation - Overview of PARCS Department’s FY25

capital projects portfolio. (PARCS)

10.-A.

ID 25-1122

The above item was presented to the Commission by PARCS Department

Projects Administrator Portale.

Commission discussion on this item included: new exercise equipment

installed at parks, including the new park in West Fresno; Radio Park and

Dolores Huerta Park receiving Prop "68" funding for new pickleball facilities

with existing tennis courts being striped for multiple sports; $165,000

allocated for the conceptual design of a gym at the Southeast Fresno Sports

Complex, with community outreach and site planning including mailers and

social media efforts; concerns about the centralization of senior facilities and

the need for decentralized services, considering the expense and feasibility

of building new community centers and gyms; maintenance plans for parks

include limiting playtime, aeration, reseeding, and a new turf management

program to prevent deterioration of facilities; demand for pickleball and futsal

facilities addressed with new courts being added at various parks; Vinland

Park pickleball and futsal project is in the insurance and bonding phase, with

construction expected to start soon and complete by early summer 2026;

Camp Fresno projects funded by general funds and Federal Emergency

Management Agency (FEMA) reimbursements, as Measure “P” cannot be

used outside city limits; city committed $61 million for park projects,

demonstrating significant investment beyond Measure “P” funds, and;

PARCS Department exploring technology to track park usage to better

allocate resources and improve maintenance.

11.

Discussion Items

Hearings

12.

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

ID 25-1050

12.-A.

Grant Program.

The above item was called to order at 6:25 P.M. and there was no

presentation. Upon call, the following members of the public addressed the

Commission: Johannus Reijnders, and Sine Chan. Public comment closed

at 6:32 P.M.

There was no Commission discussion on this item.

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

ID 25-1051

12.-B.

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 6:32 P.M. and there was no

presentation. Upon call, the following members of the public addressed the

Commission: Kiel Lopez Schmidt. Public comment closed at 6:34 P.M.

Commission discussion on this item included: unexpended grant funds from

previous cycles carried over to future grant cycles, with some funds

reallocated due to unaccepted awards and penalties for late reports;

allocation of arts funding being tracked by zip codes and service areas to

ensure equitable distribution across the city, and; Fresno Arts Council as the

point of contact for any commissioners questions.

13.

Adjournment

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

6:43 P.M.

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

and Arts Commission during the September 15, 2025, regular meeting.