2600 Fresno Street

Fresno, CA 93721

www.fresno.gov

City of Fresno

Meeting Minutes

City Council

President - Annalisa Perea

Vice President - Mike Karbassi

Councilmembers:

Miguel Angel Arias, Tyler Maxwell, Luis Chavez,

Garry Bredefeld, Nelson Esparza

City Manager - Georgeanne A. White

City Attorney - Andrew Janz

City Clerk - Todd Stermer, CMC

3:00 PM

Friday, December 13, 2024

Council Chambers

The City Council met in special session in the Council Chamber, City Hall, on the

date and time above written.

3:09 P.M. ROLL CALL

Councilmember Bredefeld led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present: 7 -

Councilmember Annalisa Perea

Council President Mike Karbassi

Vice President Miguel Angel Arias

Councilmember Tyler Maxwell

Councilmember Luis Chavez

Councilmember Garry Bredefeld

Councilmember Nelson Esparza

APPROVE AGENDA

On motion of Councilmember Maxwell, seconded by Councilmember

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

following vote:

Aye: 6 - Perea, Karbassi, Maxwell, Chavez, Bredefeld and Esparza

No: 1 - Arias

Notice of Special Meeting - Signed

ID 24-1698

OPEN SESSION

Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Darren

Rose, Corine Demetreos, Walter Smith, Will Oliver, and Ethan Smith.

Actions pertaining to a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of

Fresno and the County of Fresno (Sphere of Influence):

1. Adopt a finding that the Memorandum of Understanding between

the City of Fresno and the County of Fresno relating to property

tax sharing, sales tax sharing, annexation, and development

within the City’s sphere of influence is exempt from the California

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to the common

sense exemption in that it can be seen with certainty that there is

no possibility the Memorandum of Understanding will have a

significant effect on the environment pursuant to Section

15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act

Guidelines; and

ID 24-1699

2. Approve a Memorandum of Understanding substantially in the form

attached between the City of Fresno and the County of Fresno

relating to property tax sharing, sales tax sharing, annexation,

and development within the City’s sphere of influence.

Council discussion included: expressions of gratitude toward the ad hoc

committee, City staffers, county supervisors, and the mayor's administration;

the need for increased housing construction across income levels;

clarification that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) does not

approve any development, including the Southeast Development Area

(SEDA); how the MOU increases revenue for essential City services; the

challenges and complexities of reaching an agreement; discussions of

development standards and fire transition fees; the importance of updating

the tax revenue-sharing agreement to reflect current City needs; the

definition and application of "substantially developed" land; the annexation

of county islands and conditions for initiation; fire district fees; concerns

about the timing and transparency of the meeting notice; compliance with

Brown Act and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regulations;

whether there was a financial emergency or critical reason to approve the

agreement immediately; concerns about the short notice for

Councilmembers and the public to review the document; the impact on

development projects; an explanation of the 10-year property tax payment to

the Fresno County Fire Protection District under the current agreement; the

property tax revenue splits, and a breakdown of tax rate adjustments for new

annexations in specific areas; financial incentives for expediting

development in SEDA; the County’s role in rezoning for high-density

development; the financial feasibility of expanding the city eastward, and

potential public subsidies for developers; and a comparison of the revenue

generated versus potential infrastructure costs.