2600 Fresno Street

Fresno, CA 93721

www.fresno.gov

City of Fresno

Meeting Minutes

Women's Commission

Leonela A. Harari, Chair

Laura E. Ward, Vice Chair

Amy Fuentes, Member

Guadalupe Cazarez, Member

Stefanie M. Diaz, Member

Olivia Adams, Member

Vacant, Member

12:00 PM

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

In Person, City Hall, 2nd

Floor, Room 2120

The Women's Commission met in regular session on the 2nd Floor, Room 2120, Meeting

Room C, at Fresno City Hall on the date and time above written.

Call to Order

Chair Harari called the Women's Commission to order at 12:07 P.M.

12:07 P.M. Roll Call

Present 4 -

Vice Chair Laura E. Ward, Member Guadalupe Cazarez,

Chair Leonela Harari, and Member Stefanie Diaz

Absent 2 - Member Amy Fuentes, and Member Olivia Adams

Approval of the Agenda

On motion of Vice Chair Ward, seconded by Member Cazarez, that the

above be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 4 -

Vice Chair Ward, Member Cazarez, Chair Harari and

Member Diaz

Absent: 2 - Member Fuentes and Member Adams

Approval of Minutes

Approval of minutes for February 29, 2024, special meeting.

4.-A.

ID 24-503

On motion of Member Diaz, seconded by Member Cazarez, that the

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

vote:

Aye: 4 -

Vice Chair Ward, Member Cazarez, Chair Harari and

Member Diaz

Absent: 2 - Member Fuentes and Member Adams

Staff Updates:

Council Assistant Gallardo announced that staff has met with the

subcommittees and are moving forward with the current scholarship

recipients that will be receiving awards.

Subcommittee Reports

Scholarship Subcommittee Update

ID 24-505

6.A.

Vice Chair Ward announced the scholarship program application period was

extended until April 1, 2024; after the period closed, we received over 100

applications; identified an initial 44 scholarship recipients to move forward

to receiving awards; distributed a list of proposed recipients to the members

that are present at the meeting.

Council Assistant Gallardo announced there were 44 scholarship

recommendations from both Member Ward and Member Cazarez;

suggested to proceed without the recommendations of Member Fuentes,

whose recommendations will be proceeded at a later time.

Hygiene Product Subcommittee Update

ID 24-511

6.B.

Member Diaz announced that the Feminine Hygiene Product Subcommittee

is going well. The grant applications are being sent out to communities that

are in need of feminine hygiene products. The application is extended to

April 12, 2024 at 5 pm.

Council Assistant Gallardo reported that the Feminine Hygiene Product

Subcommittee is requesting a special meeting on April 17, 2024 to proceed

with their organizations that they have received.

Member Updates:

Member Diaz requested staff to notify the members of the commission if

there's businesses or nonprofits that they can be involved in; announced

that the commission had been receiving good feedback; mentioned the

application for the Feminine Hygiene Product application is extended to

April 12, 2024 at 5 pm.

Public Comment - Members of the public may address the Commission

regarding items that are not listed on the agenda but within the subject matter

jurisdiction of the Commission. Each person is limited to a three (3) minute

presentation. Anyone wishing to be placed on an agenda for a specified topic should

contact the City Clerk at least seven (7) days prior to the desired date. Commission

action on unscheduled items, if any, shall be limited to referring the item to a future

meeting.

Upon call, there were no public comments.

Action Items:

Direction to reallocate the 2024 Grant Funding

9.A.

ID 24-513

Council Assistant Gallardo recommended that $15,000 goes towards the

Scholarship Program and $12,537.25 goes to Feminine Hygiene Product

Program for reallocation; reported the funds were originally allocated in the

staff salaries/wages, creation of a website, and marketing materials.

On motion of Vice Chair Ward, seconded by Member Diaz, that the

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

vote:

Aye: 4 -

Vice Chair Ward, Member Cazarez, Chair Harari and

Member Diaz

Absent: 2 - Member Fuentes and Member Adams

Recommendations of Scholarship Award Recipients and direction to

9.B.

ID 24-507

award recipients and scholarship amounts

Council Assistant Gallardo gave the members a list of names of the 44

recipients who were selected by Vice Chair Ward and Member Diaz;

recommends to proceed with 44 scholarships with the recommendation of a

later time to decide with Member Fuentes' scholarship applications;

expected Member Fuentes' 20 selected awardees be brought up during the

special meeting with the Feminine Hygiene subcommittee for next week;

reported that staff should have a total of 64 applicants; recommended the

members to create $625 for 80 scholarship applicants altogether.

On motion of Member Diaz, seconded by Member Cazarez, that the

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

vote:

Aye: 4 -

Vice Chair Ward, Member Cazarez, Chair Harari and

Member Diaz

Absent: 2 - Member Fuentes and Member Adams

Direction regarding Marketing Items Budgeted in State Grant/Spending on

9.C.

ID 24-512

Marketing Items

Council Assistant Gallardo reported there is $1,000 to spend on marketing

materials; recommended that the funds are spent to purchase shirts, polos,

jackets, and a tablecloth; staff will provide each of the members a set.

Vice Chair Ward suggested for future meetings the members can

recommend community events so the commission are able to engage with

the public.

On motion of Member Diaz, seconded by Vice Chair Ward, that the

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

vote:

Aye: 4 -

Vice Chair Ward, Member Cazarez, Chair Harari and

Member Diaz

Absent: 2 - Member Fuentes and Member Adams

Discussion Items:

Discussion regarding the 2024 Grant Status

10.

10.A.

ID 24-504

Council Assistant Gallardo announced there is an extension for the grant

funding until July 31, 2024; all funds will need to be spent by that month.

Chief of Staff Lopez suggested members of the commission to plan ahead

before July 31, 2024 if wanting to sponsor a table for community events.

Vice Chair Ward encouraged members of the commission to contact

Council Assistant Gallardo and Chief of Staff Lopez with various events for

consideration by the commission by email.

Chair Harari suggested staff to email the members of the commission the

link of event, name of event, the fee, and the date.

Discussion regarding the 2024 Scholarship Program Status

10.B.

ID 24-506

Council Assistant Gallardo discussed there will be 44 applicants that will be

contacted this week to ensure they are all able to fill out their W-9 form; for

the applicants who aren't able to fill out their W-9 form will be reported to

the Scholarship Subcommittee either to move forward or be replaced.

Discussion regarding the scholarship award presentation at an upcoming

ID 24-510

10.C.

City Council meeting

Council Assistant Gallardo discussed proceeding once Member Fuentes

have given us a given day and selecting the other awardees; the check and

certificate will be given on a set day; there will be a staff member outside of

the Council Chambers to check in awardees as well as after the

presentation; encouraged the awardees to participate; after the presentation,

no checks will be handed out; staff will verify identification and a completed

W-9 form then obtaining the checks from the Finance Department to award

the scholarships.

Vice Chair Ward directed staff to notify Member Fuentes there will be a total

of 26 awardees to look forward to this week.

Chief of Staff Lopez mentioned there is no set date for the scholarship

award presentation until receiving the W-9 forms.

11.

Adjournment

The Women's Commission meeting adjourned at 12:37 pm.

The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the Women's Commission

during the April 17, 2024, special meeting with Member Harari absent.