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

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Council Chambers

The City Council met for resumed budget hearing in the Council Chamber, City Hall,

on June 5, 2025 at 9:00 A.M.

9:22 A.M. ROLL CALL

Council member Vang joined the meeting at 1:36 P.M.

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

Councilmember Esparza led the pledge of allegiance.

APPROVE AGENDA

The agenda for the budget hearing was approved at the start of the meeting

on June 2, 2025.

On motion of Vice President Arias, seconded by Councilmember

Perea, that the above be APPROVED. The motion carried by the

following vote:

Aye: 7 -

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

Esparza

Z Thursday, June 5, 2025 - 9:00 A.M.

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

Morales, Rosa DeLeon, Damaris Sid, and Sam Frank.

Office of the City Clerk / Copy Center

City Clerk Stermer presented the Office of the City Clerk / Copy Center

budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

City Attorney’s Office

City Attorney Janz presented the Office of the City Attorneys Office budget

for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

General City Purpose

Assistant City Manager Quinto presented the General City Purpose

Department budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Office of Mayor & City Manager

Assistant City Manager Quinto presented the Office of Mayor & City

Manager budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

City Council Offices

Assistant City Manager Quinto presented the City Council Offices budget for

Fiscal Year 2025-2026.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

Council Motions Made June 5, 2025

Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#16) for $20,000 for the Tenant

Relocation Program. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (City

Attorney)

Vice President Arias motioned (#17) to allocate up to half a million dollars

for the Eviction Protection Program contingent that it is needed and that the

money is available. Councilmember Esparza seconded the motion. (City

Attorney)

Council President Karbassi motioned (#18) to add $500,000 for the City

Attorney Office to fund the creation of an in-house prosecution and litigation

team. As part of this motion will be to add to the Position Authorization

Resolution four new positions but details to be determined. Vice President

Arias seconded the motion. (City Attorney)

Council President Karbassi motioned (#19) Motion to add $120,000 to the

City Attorney's Office to create a municipal transparency and election

integrity unit. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (City Attorney)

Councilmember Richardson motioned to transfer $52,087 from the City

Council budget to the General Fund to share in the sacrifice with other city

departments participating in attrition. The motion died for lack of a second.

Council President Karbassi motioned to transfer $52,087 from the District 6

Council Office budget to the General Fund to match the percentage of

attrition contributed by the Fire Department. The motion died for lack of a

second.

Councilmember Richardson motioned (#20) to transfer $27,087 from District

6 Budget to the General Fund. Vice President Arias seconded the motion.

(City Council)

Councilmember Perea motioned (#21)for $350,000 for the Black Wellness

and Prosperity Center. Vice President Arias seconded the motion.

Councilmember Perea motioned (#22) to allocate a to be determined

amount to complete the first phase of construction of Quigley Park. Vice

President Arias seconded the motion. (PARCS)

Councilmember Perea motioned (#23) to set aside an amount yet to be

determined to complete concrete repair in the neighborhood of West,

Griffith, Tielman, and Dakota. Council President Karbassi Councilmember

seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Perea motioned (#24) to set aside a yet to be determined

amount for road repaving in the neighborhood of Tielman, Clinton, Fruit, and

University. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Perea motioned (#25) to set aside a yet to be determined

amount for street repaving and concrete repair in Garland, Palm, Shields,

and Jeanne. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Perea motioned (#26) Set aside a yet to be determined

amount to complete concrete repair for the neighborhood of McKinley,

Blackstone, Olive and Van Ness. Vice President Arias seconded the motion.

(Public Works)

Councilmember Perea motioned (#27) to set aside a yet to be determined

amount to complete concrete and paving in the neighborhood of Hughes,

Holt, West, and Emerson for phases one through three, Vice President Arias

seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Perea motioned (#28) to set aside a yet to be determined

amount to complete the road repaving on Santa Fe Ave from West to

Carruth Avenues. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Perea motioned (#29) to complete concrete repair for the

neighborhood of Shields, Van Ness, Clinton, and Palm. Vice President

Arias seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Perea motioned (#30) to set aside $50,000 for building

repairs at the Sequoia Brewery building. Vice President Arias seconded the

motion. (General Services)

Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#31) for a $50,000 incentive fund for the

new vet for the Animal Center. Vice President Arias seconded the motion.

(Animal Center)

Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#32) for $25,000 for a District 4 Art

Program. Councilmember Esparza seconded the motion. (City Council)

Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#33) $50,000 for the Valley Caregiver

Resource Center. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion.

Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#34) $50,000 for a youth sports

scholarship program. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion.

(PARCS)

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#35) for $100,000 for the creation of

Fresno's Second Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District. Vice President

Arias seconded the motion.

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#36) to provide $30,000 to fill the

funding gap for the Belmont and Blackstone corridor PBIDs. Vice President

Arias seconded the motion. (Economic Development)

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#37) to fund the construction of a left

turn phasing signal at the Van Ness and Clinton Avenue intersection

pending estimate. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Public

Works)

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#38) for $830,000 to fill the gap on the

Radio Park renovation project. Vice President Arias seconded the motion.

(PARCS)

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#39) for park benches and beautification

at APN: 5743102X located at La Verne and Weldon Aves pending an

estimate. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (PARCS)

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#40) for installation of speed radar

signs, repainted school cross walks and high visibility stop signs at district 7

elementary and middle schools. Council President Karbassi seconded the

motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#41) for $170,000 for median island

beautification including irrigation, tree planting, and concrete work on

Chestnut Ave that is between Olive Ave and Cesar Chavez Blvd. Council

President Karbassi seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#42) for $100,000 for median island

beautification including irrigation, tree planting, and concrete work on First

Street that is between Olive Ave and Cesar Chavez Blvd. Council President

Karbassi seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#43) for $200,000 to be added for the

industrial large office development impact fee elimination or reduction. The

iDIFER program. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion.

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#44) to fund design costs for a new play

structure and bathroom renovations at Carozza Park. Council President

Karbassi seconded the motion. (PARCS)

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#45) for $50,000 from the District 7

portion of the Public Works infrastructure to be moved to the District 7

council operating budget. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion.

(Public Works)

Councilmember Esparza motioned (#46) to amend the salary resolution

(SAR) for Service Aids to $18.00 to $23.50. Council President Karbassi

seconded the motion. (Personnel Services)

Vice President Arias motioned (#47) to allocate an additional $50,000

specifically for new alley gate installations. Councilmember Perea

seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Vice President Arias motioned (#48) to allocate $100,000 for new

speedbump installations. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion.

(Public Works)

Vice President Arias motioned (#49) to allocate $200,000 to complete the

conversion of the historic light posts to LED and repair the globes in the

downtown triangle. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Public

Works)

Vice President Arias motioned (#50) to allocate $819,000 for the median

installation along Olive Ave from Palm to Roosevelt. Councilmember Perea

seconded the motion. (Public Works)

Vice President Arias motioned (#51) to allocate $151,200 for the

replacement of 126 benches at Roeding Park from the Measure "P"

Category 1 fund 2711. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion.

(PARCS)

Vice President Arias motioned (#52) to reappropriate carryover funds from

Measure "P" from Veteran's Memorial, Fink White, and Basin design plans

to the construction phase and improvements at Ted C. Wills.

Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (PARCS)

Vice President Arias motioned (#53) to allocate up to one million dollars for

tree installation, replacement, and maintenance at City parks.

Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (PARCS)

Vice President Arias motioned (#54) to carry $181,000 of unspent project

funds from FY25 to FY26 for the convention center. Councilmember Perea

seconded the motion. (Convention Center)

Vice President Arias motioned (#55) to allocate $400,000 from Mobile Food

Vendor Program to be administered by the Fresno Area Hispanic

Foundation. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Finance)

Vice President Arias motioned (#56) to allocate a million dollars in HOME

funds that are unallocated for mobile homes preservation fund and program.

Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Planning & Development)

Vice President Arias motioned (#57) to allocate $50,000 from Public Works

infrastructure budget to District 3's budget. Councilmember Perea seconded

the motion. (Public Works)

Council President Karbassi motioned (#58) to take $50,000 in the District 2

portion of internship program funds, and move that towards funding the new

in-house prosecution and litigation unit in the City Attorney's Office. Vice

President Arias seconded the motion. (City Council)

Council President Karbassi motioned (#59) for $50,000 to the Fresno

Resiliency Center to support the Compassion Center including the CalAIM

Program. Vice President Arias seconded the motion.

Council President Karbassi motioned (#60) for $400,000 in Measure P

funds to support the Fresno City and County historical society to operate

museums, including those located in the fairgrounds. Councilmember Perea

seconded the motion. (PARCS)

Council Requests for Information Made June 5, 2025

Council President Karbassi requested why is $1 million allocated in the

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

return on investment? (Public Works)

Vice President Arias requested total cost of the three additional positions for

Retirement. (General City Purpose)

Councilmember Maxwell requested a memo on which landlords and which

agencies have not paid the Tenant Relocation Program. (City Attorney)

Council President Karbassi requested information on the feasibility of a

dedicated bus lane along Shaw Avenue in the City of Fresno.(FAX)

Council President Karbassi requested information on ridership for the

Herndon Crosstown route and the annual costs. Include similar data for

other routes along the Herndon corridor. (FAX)

Council President Karbassi requested information on the process of

referring property crime cases for prosecution to the District Attorney’s

Office and what happens when the referred cases are returned as “declined

to prosecute”. What are the most common reasons such cases are not

prosecuted. Do you have statistics showing how many cases have been

declined and returned to Police Department over the last five years? Does

the ORT grant require tracking of these cases? (Police)

Vice President Arias requested as part of the Responsible Neighborhood

Market Act how many establishments have been inspected? Are inspections

done? (City Attorney)

Vice President Arias requested the proposed budget, how many weekdays,

evenings, weekends, and special events are we expecting to be able to

execute mobile food vendor enforcement (after hours). (City Attorney)

Councilmember Esparza requested analysis of what it would take to open

the warming centers on a more consistent basis once temperature reaches

40 degrees. (Mayor & CMO)

Council President Karbassi requested information regarding developer

impact fees. General background information. Information on the balances

of each impact fee account. How funds are distributed. Are there rules

regarding how much can be distributed annually? What happens to funds

not distributed, if they are rolled over, how can they be distributed

later?(Public Works)

ADJOURNMENT

City Council recessed the June 5, 2025, Budget Hearings at 4:48 P.M. to be

resumed Wednesday, June 6, 2025, at 9:00 A.M.

The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the City Council during the

June 26, 2025, regular meeting.