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, September 15, 2025

Council Chambers (In

Person and/or Electronic)

https://www.fresno.gov/pra

c-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 5:33 P.M.

5:33 P.M. Roll Call

On motion of Commissioner Dohlin, seconded by Commissioner Miller,

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

the following vote:

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

Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran,

Commissioner Miller, and Commissioner Trillo.

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Kucharski

Present 8 -

Chair Kimberly McCoy, Vice Chair Laura E. Ward,

Commissioner Jose Barraza, Commissioner Rose Caglia,

Commissioner Jon Dohlin, Commissioner Mckay A. Duran,

Commissioner Scott Miller, and Commissioner Vincent L.

Trillo

Absent 1 - Commissioner Kelly Kucharski

Pledge of Allegiance

Chair McCoy led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Approve Agenda

On motion of Commissioner Trillo, seconded by Commissioner Miller,

the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following

vote:

Aye: 8 -

Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Barraza,

Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner

Duran, Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Trillo

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Kucharski

Approval of Minutes

Approval of the regular meeting minutes of August 18, 2025.

5.-A.

ID 25-1180

On motion of Commissioner Duran, seconded by Commissioner

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

by the following vote:

Aye: 8 -

Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Barraza,

Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner

Duran, Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Trillo

Absent: 1 - Commissioner Kucharski

Discussion: Subcommittee Reports

6-A.

Cultural Arts Grant Fund Subcommittee

Vice Chair Ward reported. The Culture Arts Subcommittee met earlier in the

month. Minutes from that meeting were included in the current agenda. The

subcommittee made initial recommendations for award allocations, and

applicants were notified of those recommendations on September 5. 2025.

The appeal window remained open through the evening of this meeting, and

the subcommittee is scheduled to meet tomorrow to review any submitted

appeals. The subcommittee also discussed process improvements for next

year’s grant review cycle. It was recommended that all participants in the

grant review process complete implicit bias training, a suggestion made by

an applicant and modeled after the California Arts Council’s practices.

Additionally, the subcommittee is seeking community feedback on further

improvements to ensure a fair and transparent process. Both the Arts

Council and subcommittee members expressed a strong commitment to

continuously strengthening the process.

Cultural Arts Subcommittee Meeting Minutes September 3, 2025.

ID 25-1250

Members Reports and Comments

COMMISSIONER BARRAZA REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Expresses

appreciation to staff for organizing a successful soccer event held at the

Mosqueda Center. Noted the high quality of the event and the sport,

emphasizing soccer’s growing popularity and demand within the community.

Noted regularly receiving community feedback, both positive and critical.

COMMISSIONER CAGLIA REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Expresses

appreciation for the event organized by Dr. Lilia Chavez at the park,

highlighting the impressive and well-coordinated display of the drawn on

columns, and commended the quality of the work and expresses high regard

for her efforts. Shared having listened to a segment on KMJ titled “Legacies

and Legends”, which discussed the origins of baseball in Fresno and noted

the important role parks played in supporting the sport’s development.

COMMISSIONER DOHLIN REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Acknowledged

the inherent challenges of the Cultural Arts Grant process and notes that it

is unlikely to satisfy everyone completely. Commended the significant time,

effort, thoughtful consideration, and good faith demonstrated by the Fresno

Arts Council, subcommittee members, and the broader arts community.

Emphasized that the current process reflects progress from the previous

year and continues to improve due to the dedication of those involved.

CHAIR MCCOY REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Announced an upcoming

Community Mural Refresh event honoring the 93706 zip code. Encouraged

residents, community leaders, and local organizations to participate in

repainting and revitalizing California’s largest street mural as a tribute to the

community’s spirit, resilience, and creativity. The event is scheduled for

Saturday, September 27, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the corner of Cesar

Chavez and Klette Avenue, across from Madison High School. It is hosted

by Faith in the Valley, Fresno City Council District 3, Councilmember

Miguel Arias’s office, Southwest Power Team, and the Fresno Housing

Authority.

City Administration and PARCS Staff Reports and Comments

PARCS DIRECTOR AGUIRRE REPORTS AND COMMENTS. This meeting

kicks off the budget series, with meetings scheduled twice a month through

September, October, and November. A presentation is provided on the

adopted FY 2026 budget to assist the committee. Staff encourages

members to make recommendations and offers to meet individually to

address any questions or funding concerns outside of scheduled meetings.

Unscheduled Communication

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

with unscheduled communication: Ome Lopez, Johannus Reijnders,

Christina Soto, Cassandra German, Alicia Rodriguez, Elizabeth Laval,

Brandon Weis, Amy Kitchner, Paula Allen, and Kiel Lopez-Schmidt.

10.

Workshops

Workshop - Presenting the Mayor’s Parks, After School, Recreation and

Community Services Department Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (PARCS).

10.-A.

ID 25-1223

The above item was presented to the Commission by PARCS Business

Manager Xiong, Beautify Fresno Director Standriff, and Public Works

Director Mozier.

Commission discussion on this item included: accomplishments or projects

completed in the 93706 zip code or Southwest Fresno during FY 2025;

frequency and geographic distribution of graffiti cleanup by the Quad Crews;

use of funds for trails in Southwest Fresno, including plans for bike lanes or

trail connections beyond TCC funding; appreciation for the responsiveness

of the graffiti team, and for their prompt service; clarification on the

allocation of $150,000 to the Fresno Arts Council, and whether the full

amount was granted or partially funded in the 2026 budget; current and prior

year expenditures, focusing on the general funds’ contribution to the PARCS

Department; whether increased volunteer participation affects funding

allocations for beautification projects; use of Measure “P” funds for services

related to the unhoused population; Beautify Fresno’s disposal costs related

to homeless encampment cleanups, including frequency and volume of

reports; $250,000 allocation for minor capital projects in collaboration with

the San Joaquin River Parkway Trust and the San Joaquin River

Conservancy, and updates on monthly coordination meetings; progress of

Camp Pashayan, its potential for youth programming and the need for

vegetative barriers due to proximity to a shooting range; how budget

projects are selected and how the PRAC Commission can support or be

involved in the process; and, perceived low impact of PRAC Commission

recommendations on the final City Council adopted budget, and requests for

data on the value or percentage of adopted recommendations.

PRESENTED

Discussion Items

Hearings

11.

12.

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

ID 25-1181

12.-A.

Grant Program.

The above item was called to order at 7:28 P.M. and there was no

presentation to the Commission by. Upon call, the following members of the

public addressed the Commission: Christina Soto, Brooke Payton, and Ome

Lopez. Public comment closed at 7:35 P.M.

Commission discussion on this item included: suggestion for community

members to compile and submit written concerns and recommendations to

the PRAC Commission for consideration; request for a list of panel

members along with their ethnic backgrounds to assess participation

diversity; concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the panel selection

and evaluation process, and a request for clarification on existing checks

and balances; importance of transparency and community trust in the

Fresno Arts Council’s grant making process; clarification the PRAC

Commission follows established guidelines and procedures, which can only

be revised at specific points in the funding cycle; openness to public

feedback and the importance of timing for implementing suggested

changes; request for service delivery data to be broken down by zip code

and City Council district to ensure equitable distribution of Measure "P"

resources.

DISCUSSED

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

ID 25-1182

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 7:45 P.M. and there was no

presentation to the Commission by. Upon call, the following members of the

public addressed the Commission: Brooke Payton. Public comment closed

at 7:47 P.M.

There was no Commission discussion on this item included:

DISCUSSED

13.

Adjournment

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

7:47 P.M.

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

Arts Commission during the September 29, 2025, regular meeting.