2600 Fresno Street  
Fresno, CA 93721  
www.fresno.gov  
City of Fresno  
Meeting Minutes  
Women's Commission  
Laura E. Ward, Chair  
Kendy Villa, Vice Chair  
Amy Fuentes, Member  
Stefanie M. Diaz, Member  
Olivia Adams, Member  
Vacant, Member  
Vacant, Member  
12:00 PM  
Tuesday, November 26, 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.  
1.  
2.  
Call to Order  
Vice Chair Ward called the Women's Commission to order at 12:05 P.M.  
12:05 P.M. Roll Call  
Present 3 -  
Chair Laura E. Ward, Member Amy Fuentes, and Vice Chair  
Kendy Villa  
Absent 2 - Member Stefanie Diaz, and Member Olivia Adams  
3.  
Approval of the Agenda  
On motion of Member Fuentes, seconded by Vice Chair Ward, the  
above AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
Aye: 3 - Chair Ward, Member Fuentes and Vice Chair Villa  
Absent: 2 - Member Diaz and Member Adams  
4.  
Approval of Minutes  
Approval of minutes of April 17, 2024, Special Meeting  
ID 24-1632  
4.-A.  
On motion of Member Fuentes, seconded by Member Villa, that the  
above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
Aye: 3 - Chair Ward, Member Fuentes and Vice Chair Villa  
Absent: 2 - Member Diaz and Member Adams  
5.  
Staff Updates:  
Council Assistant Gallardo introduced Member Villa as the new  
appointment representing District 5. Announced Chair Harari had moved to  
New York and was no longer serving the commission. Reported District 3  
had a vacancy. Explained the required number of sitting members to meet  
quorum.  
6.  
Member Updates:  
Vice Chair Ward requested staff reach out to constituents from districts with  
vacancies to find applicants.  
Community Events in 2025  
ID 24-1638  
6.-A.  
Council Assistant Gallardo announced staff had registered for the Black  
Maternal Health Week Event. Clarified no more than three members from  
the commission could be at the event. Suggested finding future events that  
have no cost.  
Vice Chair Ward requested members of the Women's Commission share  
community events that would be good for the Women's Commission to  
participate in. Announced the commission had exhausted its funding.  
Suggested members of Women's Commission notify Diana about  
participation availability.  
7.  
Subcommittee Reports:  
Vice Chair Ward reported the Feminine Hygiene Program and Scholarship  
Program subcommittees were dissolved when they concluded their purpose  
prior to the conclusion of the last fiscal year.  
8.  
Action Items:  
Election for Chair and Vice Chair  
ID 24-1634  
8.-A.  
On motion of Member Fuentes, seconded by Member Villa, to elect  
Vice Chair Ward as Chair and Member Villa as Vice Chair of the  
Women's Commission. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 3 - Chair Ward, Member Fuentes and Vice Chair Villa  
Absent: 2 - Member Diaz and Member Adams  
Approval of the Women’s Commission Schedule for Calendar Year 2025  
8.-B.  
ID 24-1633  
On motion of Member Villa, seconded by Member Fuentes, that the  
above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
Aye: 3 - Chair Ward, Member Fuentes and Vice Chair Villa  
Absent: 2 - Member Diaz and Member Adams  
9.  
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, the following members of the public addressed the Commission  
with unscheduled communication: Adela Resendez.  
10.  
Discussion Items:  
Update on State Grant  
10.-A.  
ID 24-1642  
Commission discussion on this item included: Funding from the California  
Commission of Women and Girls came through pandemic budgeting so the  
grant was no longer available. All funds had to be spent by July 31, 2024.  
Leftover funds were spent for a scholarship recipient who did not end up  
using it. The funds were returned to the state per the state's request and the  
GL string had been closed out with the City last week. Reporting had been  
concluded and there were no remaining funds.  
Update on Feminine Hygiene Program  
ID 24-1643  
10.-B.  
Commission discussion on this item included: Being able to assist five  
programs within the City of Fresno: Fresno Mission, Evangel Home,  
Poverello House, Shine Together, and We Are Not Invisible. The duration of  
delivering feminine hygiene products to City Hall. Conversations with  
security regarding the trucks at City Hall and the boxes of feminine hygiene  
products. Saving expenses on transporting the feminine hygiene products  
due to staff using their free time. Having no leftover feminine products.  
Distributing feminine hygiene products to women experiencing  
homelessness or transitional situations funded by state grants.  
Update on Scholarship Program  
ID 24-1641  
10.-C.  
10.-D.  
Commission discussion on this item included: Women's Commission  
granting 80 scholarships. Statistics reported to California State Grant to  
Fund Women and Girls for use in their final research. A recent article  
featuring a Fresno State scholarship recipient.  
Update on Women’s Conference by Commissioner Ward and  
ID 24-1636  
Commissioner Fuentes  
Commission discussion on this item included: Member Fuentes, Member  
Adams, and Vice Chair attending the Women's Conference together.  
Commending the conference as inspiring and uplifting. Large gathering at  
the conference who support women and provided number of presentations  
of educational topics to promote women being independent. Vice Chair  
Ward attending a session to learn the importance of women understanding  
and managing their own financial situation. Member Fuentes applauded the  
conference and attended a session with a local author that spoke about  
overcoming greed.  
Women’s History Month  
ID 24-1637  
10.-E.  
Commission discussion on this item included: Desire to celebrate what the  
commission had achieved in uplifting women and girls for a March 2025  
City Council meeting.  
11.  
Adjournment  
The Women's Commission meeting adjourned at 12:34 p.m.  
The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the Women's Commission  
during the February 25, 2025, regular meeting.