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

Monday, June 2, 2025

Council Chambers

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

2, 2024, at 9:00 A.M.

9:11 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

Mayor Dyer led the Pledge of Allegiance.

APPROVE AGENDA

On motion of Vice President Arias, seconded by Councilmember

Perea, the Agenda was APPROVED. The motion carried by the

following vote:

Aye: 7 -

Karbassi, Arias, Perea, Maxwell, Vang, Richardson and

Esparza

Monday, June 2, 2025 - 9:00 A.M.

Council President Karbassi announced public comment would be taken at

the beginning of each budget hearing day and read through the budget

hearing procedures.

Upon call, no members of the public addressed Council.

General Fund Overview

Finance Assistant Director Chinevere presented an overview of the General

Fund for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

General Services Department

Director Barr presented the General Services Department budget for Fiscal

Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Information Services Department

Director Horn presented the Information Services Department budget for

Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Finance Department

Controller Danisi presented a brief overview of the Finance Department

budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Airports Department

Director Thompson presented the Airports Department budget for Fiscal

Year 2025-2026

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS)

Director Aguirre presented the PARCS Department budget for Fiscal Year

2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Council Motions Made June 2, 2025

Councilmember Perea motioned (#1) to set aside $10,000 for trolley rentals

for City Council members. Councilmember Maxwell seconded the motion.

(General Services)

Council President Karbassi motioned (#2) any dollars saved through fleet

reductions in City Attorney's Office will go to fund the criminal prosecution

and special assignments team as an ongoing funding source.

Councilmember Perea seconded the motion.(City Attorney)

Councilmember Vang motioned (#3) amount to be determined and source to

be determined; motion to add an additional TV screen in Council Chambers

behind the speaker. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion.

(Information Services)

Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#4) to allocate $1,000,000 to Storyland

and Playland for ADA improvements. Vice President Arias seconded the

motion. (PARCS)

Vice President Arias motioned (#5) to allocate $150,000 to the Arts Council

to further outreach and administration of the arts and cultured funds under

Measure "P". Councilmember Maxwell seconded the motion. (PARCS)

Council Requests for Information Made June 2, 2025

Councilmember Maxwell line item request for "Other Revenues/Charges"

Sources totaling $122.6 million from Mayor's presentation. (Mayor & City

Manager's Office)

Councilmember Maxwell/Vice President Arias requested Master list of all

parcels, all property owned by the City of Fresno and the value of each if

they are assessed. On 6/2/2025 Vice President Arias requested the

following: Provide list of properties owned by the City, vacant or not,

identifying which department is responsible for managing the property, and

if there is an active lease. (Personnel Services; General Services)

Councilmember Maxwell requested a List of all property purchased with

Measure "P" Dollars that are yet to be developed. (PARCS)

Councilmember Maxwell requested a master list of all properties that the

City leases: How much are they costing us, what is the square footage, how

many people are working inside, and what departments are they? (General

Services)

Vice President Arias requested the last five years of the vacancy rates for

Police Department and Fire Department including what the current vacancy

rate is for both Departments; as well as their overtime expenditures for each

of the last five years and where we are to date. Regardless if it is general

fund or not. (Fire, Police)

Vice President Arias requested where are we with all of the licenses that

have been awarded? How many are operational? When do we expect the

rest to come online? (Planning & Development)

Vice President Arias requested How much housing funds do we have?

Detailing funds that have been received, funds that already been allocated

to projects, and unallocated funds. (Planning & Development)

Vice President Arias requested from FAX last five years of incidents as it

relates to safety matters and the current rate of incidents. What is the

funding source for the four new officers? (FAX, Police)

Vice President Arias requested what is the delta of keeping the tree

trimming at a 10-year cycle? What is the revenue source for the tree

trimming? (Public Works)

Vice President Arias requested update on the loss of funding that Advance

Peace has had, what the mental health shift is going to do in terms of

adding funds, and what the potential is for them to get additional funds to

replace it? Are the federal funds lost or frozen at this point in time?

(PARCS)

Councilmember Richardson would like a line item on the expense for the

four PD positions in FAX. (Finance)

Councilmember Richardson would like the lease length and interest rate on

the PD helicopter. (Finance)

Councilmember Maxwell requested:

1: For FY25 (Year-to-Date):

- How many new trees were planted in areas where no trees previously

existed (i.e., net new canopy expansion)?

- How many dead or hazardous trees were removed?

- Of the dead trees removed, how many were replaced with new plantings in

the same or nearby areas (assuming the location had suitable irrigation and

conditions for replacement)?

- What is the total number of net new trees planted in FY25 (i.e., total new

plantings minus total removals)?

2: For FY26 (Budget Allocations):

- What is the total amount of funding and funding source allocated

specifically for new tree plantings (across all departments and funding

sources)?

- What is the total amount of funding allocated specifically for replacing

dead or removed trees, list funding sources?

3: Projections for FY26 (Based on Current Trends):

- Using either the Dudek Urban Forest Management Plan’s baseline

estimate of approximately 1,600 tree losses per year, or the actual number

of dead trees removed in FY25, what is the City’s anticipated net new tree

count for FY26? (Public Works)

Councilmember Maxwell requested clarification and confirmation regarding

the individuals and groups who are currently eligible to ride Fresno Area

Express (FAX) services under free, subsidized (due to a third-party

contract), or reduced fare arrangements for FY26.

Specifically, could you please provide the following details:

1: Free Riders

- A list of all individuals or groups who are eligible to ride FAX services

(fixed-route or otherwise) at no charge.

- Please include details such as age groups, student categories, or special

programs that grant free access.

2: Subsidized Riders (Covered by Contract or Third-Party Agreement)

- A list of any organizations or agencies that hold contracts or agreements

with FAX that subsidize or fully cover the cost of rides for eligible

individuals (e.g., Fresno State, State Center Community College District,

Fresno Unified, CTSA/FEOC).

- Please include the specific populations served under each contract (e.g.,

seniors, developmentally disabled, veterans, Head Start families) and the

funding sources or mechanisms involved.

3: Reduced Fare Riders

- A summary of the categories of riders who are eligible for reduced or

discounted fares (e.g., seniors, individuals with disabilities, veterans,

Medicare cardholders, low-income groups) and the current reduced fare

rates.

Based on an initial analysis of the budget I believe I have gathered most of

the categories listed, but wanted to seek clarification. (FAX)

Councilmember Maxwell requested information regarding the Youth Sports

Fee Waiver Program for budgeting and program tracking purposes:

1: FY26 Allocated or Deferred Revenue:

- Please provide the total amount of funds allocated or deferred revenue

expected for the Youth Sports Fee Waiver Program in FY26.

2: Eligible Sports in FY26:

- Please provide a list of which sports and programs will be eligible under

the Youth Sports Fee Waiver Program in FY26.

3: FY25 Program Utilization:

- Please provide the total number of youth participants who were able to

utilize the Youth Sports Fee Waiver Program in FY25. (PARCS)

Vice President Arias requested Overview of how deficit grew from 20 million

to 50 million, general idea of how we got from deficit to balanced budget.

(General City Purpose)

Vice President Arias requested what is the status of the card rooms being

fully activated? (General City Purpose)

Vice President Arias requested what is the average percentage of General

Fund allocated to PERS historically? (General City Purpose)

Councilmember Vang, Vice President Arias, Councilmember Perea

requested a breakdown of room tax by category ie: Short term rentals (Air

bnb and VRBO), hotels, and motels. (Finance)

Councilmember Esparza, Councilmember Perea requested what are the

dates of the rest of the cannabis locations opening? What would revenue be

if only 13 were operating? Can department provide what percentage

increase is expected per new Cannabis location? (Planning & Development)

Councilmember Perea requested please confirm estimate for FY 2026

Community Benefit Fund. (General City Purpose)

Vice President Arias requested what process it takes to claw back hotel /

motel for the Visitor Bureau. (City Attorney)

Councilmember Maxwell requested Fresno TOT Rate Compared to other

large CA cities. (Finance)

Council President Karbassi requested historical info on last 3 years of sales

tax revenue and breakdown by industry type, high level. (General City

Purpose)

Council President Karbassi requested Is there any opportunity to revisit

franchise fees for potential revenue? (Finance)

Councilmember Vang requested what is the feasibility/analysis of using the

Trolley from other parts of town to the fairgrounds for the first day, full two

weeks, last day? (General Services)

Vice President Arias, Councilmember Esparza requested list of events and

ridership of Trolley in last year including those that were chartered and

breakdown by day. (General Services)

Vice President Arias requested status and estimated cost, if available, of

both phases for Santa Fe depot. Provide information on the settlement for

the Santa Fe Depot. Confirm accessibility of the ADA entrances on Tulare

street. Status of secondary Santa Fe Depot building currently used as City

Storage. (General Services)

Council President Karbassi requested a status of the first floor café at City

Hall and a list of options for getting it operational in FY 2026. Please

include options for automated services, including beverages, self-serve

stations, automated machines, and more. (General Services)

Council President Karbassi requested information for how many vehicles in

the City Attorney’s Office department meet the criteria for fleet reduction,

how much is saved per vehicle, the total potential vehicle savings, etc. Also

requesting that General Services meet with the CAO to present a proposed

fleet reduction plan with maximum savings and minimal service impacts.

(General Services)

Vice President Arias requested what is disclosable on delinquent Business

Tax accounts, what can we share publicly? (City Attorney)

Councilmember Maxwell requested Status update on mitigation program

with the federal government, how much we have in there currently, how

much we are expected to get, how many houses do we have in the pipeline

for design, construction, and how many houses in the eligible area have yet

to receive assistance. (Airports)

Councilmember Perea, Councilmember Richardson Cost estimate for an

external pod for a Mother's Room and a cost estimate for adult changing

tables. (Airports)

Vice President Arias, Councilmember Maxwell requested:

1. Explanation of how the department covered the 5 million reduction to the

General Fund

2. Were any services impacted?

3. Breakdown of the cost savings from the transition of Landscape and

Irrigation from DPW to PARCS

4. Council Member Maxwell further requests explanation of the indirect cost

savings associated with the transition from DPW to PARCS (PARCS)

Councilmember Maxwell requested when the last time that we allocated

money from the COF to the Storyland non-profit, how much, and what for?

(PARCS)

Councilmember Vang requested which parts of parks fall under CFDs?

(Public Works)

Vice President Arias requested please provide a clear trim cycle for the

PARCS department for every tree in the PARCS inventory and the cost, also

a plan for replacement and adding of additional trees. (PARCS)

Vice President Arias requested provide a detailed PowerPoint of all parks

similar to the Parks Recreation and Arts Commission presentation and

include park ranger calls. (PARCS)

Vice President Arias requested provide staff responses to all motions made

by PRAC. (PARCS)

Councilmember Maxwell requested Unallocated Measure P funds by

expenditure category. (PARCS)

Councilmember Esparza requested estimates for bathroom and new

equipment at Carozza park. (PARCS)

Councilmember Esparza requested updates on park rangers program, how

many rangers there are currently, how they have they alleviated calls for

service at our City parks. (PARCS)

Council President Karbassi requested information about the Pinedale

Community Center with revised estimates for ongoing improvements.

(PARCS)

Council President Karbassi requested information about the current

facilities and programming at Dickey Park and future plans, including

expansion. (PARCS)

Council President Karbassi requested a timeline update on the installation

of multiuse courts (including pickleball) at Logan Park. (PARCS)

Council President Karbassi requested an evaluation of Stallion Park in

Council District 2. (I have requested this from PARCS multiple times in the

past, so hopefully they can build off that). I would also like estimates for the

replacement of the playground woodchips to soft fall surfacing. (PARCS)

Council President Karbassi requested does the Administration have

contingency plans for AB 942 or any potential future state legislation that

may eliminate local government credits and savings for solar projects?

(Public Works)

Council President Karbassi requested background information on the 3 new

positions being added to Retirement. What will the job duties be, pay range,

what is their need, etc? (Retirement)

Council President Karbassi requested is the City of Fresno still paying HUD

for misuse of CDBG dollars? (Planning & Development)

Council President Karbassi requested information regarding Fresno Animal

Center. Are there any plans to increase capacity and has any consideration

been given to using modular buildings as a cost-effective option? (Animal

Center)

Council President Karbassi requested if Measure C is not renewed, what

will be the impact to our finances and will any City of Fresno jobs be

eliminated? Are any projects funded based on future revenues through an

extension of Measure "C"? (Public Works)

Council President Karbassi requested why is $1,000,000 allocated in the

Mayor’s proposed budget for a residential infill program? What has been our

return on investment? (Public Works)

Council President Karbassi requested a list of Enterprise Fund departments

that operate on a deficit and by how much, over the last 5 years. (General

City Purpose)

Council President Karbassi requested an estimate for design services for a

park at Veterans Blvd at Barstow. This was a recent acquisition, funded in

the FY 2025 budget. (PARCS)

Council President Karbassi requested The proposed budget mentioned a

payment for 30 additional FPD vehicles in FY 2027. How much will that

payment be and what is the source for payment? (Police)

Council President Karbassi requested an estimate for LT phasing at Van

Ness and Bullard avenues. (Public Works)

Council President Karbassi requested a list of the $5.3 million in unfunded

mandates, as referenced in the proposed budget. (General City Purpose)

Council President Karbassi requested an estimate for corridor maintenance

and one-time improvements to the corridor along Marks Avenue from Sierra

to Shaw avenues. Please include both the City and County portions and

estimates for each portion. (Public Works)

Council President Karbassi requested a breakdown of franchise fee revenue

by source. (General City Purpose)

Council President Karbassi requested a breakdown of sales tax revues by

source, e.g. auto dealerships, Amazon, etc. as a Sales Tax Revenues by

Source percentage of revenue for the last 5 years. (General City Purpose)

Council President Karbassi requested How much of the City’s overall

budget is exclusively for personnel costs (salaries, benefits, etc) and the

percentage of the General Fund and Enterprise Fund that is personnel

related. (General City Purpose)

ADJOURNMENT

City Council recessed the June 2, 2025, Budget Hearings at 4:51 P.M. to be

resumed Tuesday, June 3, 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.