2600 Fresno Street  
Fresno, CA 93721  
www.fresno.gov  
City of Fresno  
Meeting Minutes  
Parks, Recreation, and Arts  
Commission  
Chair – Kimberly McCoy  
Vice Chair – Jon Dohlin  
Commissioner – Dr. Francine Oputa  
Commissioner – Scott Miller  
Commissioner – Mona Nyandoro Cummings  
Commissioner – Harman Singh  
Commissioner – Jose Leon Barraza  
Commissioner – Sarah Parkes  
Commissioner – Vacant  
5:30 PM  
Monday, February 27, 2023  
Council Chambers (In  
Person and/or Electronic)  
1.  
2.  
Call to Order  
Vice Chair Dohlin called the meeting to order at 5:33 P.M.  
5:34 P.M. Roll Call  
Chair McCoy and Commissioners Vang and Miller were absent during roll  
call but joined the meeting shortly thereafter. Commissioner Vang joined  
the meeting at 5:36 P.M. Commissioner Miller joined the meeting at 5:42  
P.M. Chair McCoy joined the meeting at 6:05 P.M.  
Present 7 -  
Chair Kimberly McCoy, Vice Chair Jon Dohlin, Commissioner  
Francine Oputa, Commissioner Scott Miller, Commissioner  
Mona Cummings, Commissioner Jose Barraza, and  
Commissioner Sarah Parkes  
Absent 1 - Commissioner Harman Singh  
Pledge of Allegiance  
Vice Chair Dohlin led the Pledge of Allegiance.  
3.  
4.  
Approve Agenda  
On motion of Commissioner Cummings, seconded by Commissioner  
Oputa, the agenda was APPROVED. The motion carried by the  
following vote:  
Aye: 5 -  
Vice Chair Dohlin, Commissioner Oputa, Commissioner  
Cummings, Commissioner Barraza and Commissioner  
Parkes  
Absent: 4 -  
Chair McCoy, Vang, Commissioner Miller and Commissioner  
Singh  
5.  
Approval of Minutes  
Approval of the regular meeting minutes of February 6, 2023, and January  
23, 2023.  
5.-A.  
ID 23-340  
Secretary Stermer noted the minutes of January 23, 2023, had been updated  
as requested by Commissioner Oputa during the previous meeting.  
Upon request of Commissioner Parkes, separate votes were taken to  
approve the minutes of January 23, 2023, and the minutes of February 6,  
2023.  
On motion of Commissioner Cummings, seconded by Commissioner Oputa,  
the minutes of January 23, 2023, were APPROVED. The motion carried by  
the following vote:  
Aye: 5 - Vice Chair Dohlin, Commissioner Vang, Commissioner Oputa,  
Commissioner Cummings and Commissioner Barraza.  
Absent: 3 - Chair McCoy, COmmissioner Miller and Commissioner Singh  
Abstain: 1 - Commissioner Parkes  
On motion of Commissioner Cummings, seconded by Commissioner  
Oputa, the minutes of February 6, 2023, were APPROVED. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 6 -  
Vice Chair Dohlin, Vang, Commissioner Oputa,  
Commissioner Cummings, Commissioner Barraza and  
Commissioner Parkes  
Absent: 3 - Chair McCoy, Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Singh  
6.  
Discussion: Subcommittee Reports:  
6-A.  
Cultural Arts Plan:  
Commissioner Vang announced the Cultural Arts Plan Subcommittee would  
meet March 1, 2023, and that the draft Cultural Arts Plan would be released  
for public review and comment on March 20, 2023.  
6-B.  
6-C.  
Parks Master Plan:  
There was no update from the Parks Master Plan Subcommittee.  
Outreach Committee:  
Vice Chair Dohlin announced the Outreach Subcommittee had  
automatically dissolved as there was no longer a specific task to complete.  
The Outreach Subcommittee could be reformed in the future should the  
Commission identifiy a specific task for the body.  
7.  
Members Reports and Comments  
Commissioner Barraza Comments. Expressed appreciation to the people  
that attended the workshop in Southeast Fresno at the Juan Felipe Herrera  
Elementary School.  
Commissioner Oputa Comments. Acknowledged the great local events,  
activities, lectures, and performances held in celebration of Black History  
Month.  
Commissioner Parkes Comments. Expressed disappointment that  
Executive Director Chavez of the Fresno Arts Council was not added to the  
agenda to discuss the organization's intended roll within Measure "P"  
despite the request coming from two Commissioners. Assistant City  
Manager Miller responded to Commissioner Parkes concern during City  
Administration Comments.  
Commissioner Cummings Comments. Acknowledged the community  
events held in celebration of Black History Month including an awards event  
and an event held at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.  
Vice Chair Dohlin Comments. Delighted to see his fellow Commissioners  
in person as well as the great public turn out.  
8.  
City Administration and PARCS Staff Reports and Comments  
Assistant City Manager Miller Comments. Responded to Commissioner  
Parkes comments by noting the Fresno Arts Council presentation was not  
rejected as an agenda item but was deferred to a future agenda as some  
details were still being worked out.  
PARCS Director Aguirre Comments. Warming center hours had been  
extended through March 8, 2023, at 8:00 A.M. due to storms and cold  
temperatures in the forecast. A memorandum was sent to the  
Commissioners with updates on outreach efforts at the four highest needs  
parks: Frank H. Ball, Dickey, Holmes and Romain. The second community  
meeting regarding the Radio Park re-design would be held February 28,  
2023, at 5:30 P.M. at the Fresno Art Museum.  
Assistant PARCS Director Ramirez Comments. A Senior Dance had been  
scheduled for March 18, 2023, at the Ted C. Wills Community Center from  
1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. Program Manager Drew Wilson was introduced as  
he was new to the PARCS Department and would be assisting with  
Measure "P" and attending Commission meetings.  
9.  
Unscheduled Communication: Members of the public may address the  
Commission regarding items that are not listed on the agenda and within the subject  
matter jurisdiction of the Commission. Each person will have up to three (3) minutes  
to present.  
Upon call for unscheduled communication, the following members of the  
public addressed the Commission: Jose Luis Barraza, Michalelynn Lewis,  
Lisa Flores, Michael Ledezma, Brandi Nuse-Villegas and Keith Siemen  
During unscheduled communication, the following people discussed the  
involvement of the Fresno Arts Council in relation to the Cultural Arts  
portion of Measure "P:" Lilia Chavez, Chester Mizowitz, Gerald Palladino,  
Michelle Pracy, Steven Wilson, Bruce Kallowski, Vivian Velasco Paz, Julia  
Copeland, Nafesha Yisrael, Marion Karian, Victor Chavez, Lori Hunter, Jose  
Luis Barraza, Matthew Gillian, Caleb Durate, Tiffany Mangum, Daniel  
Jensen, David A. Fox, Francine Farber, Anthony Molina, Lisa Flores, Kay  
Bertken, Nicholas Rasmussen, Eric Payne, Brandi Nuse-Villegas, Keith  
Siemen and Melanie Glass.  
10.  
Workshops:  
Workshop - On the park classification of a pocket park as defined in the  
Parks Master Plan and the number of City of Fresno pocket parks  
10.-A.  
ID 23-309  
(PARCS)  
Assistant PARCS Director Chinevere presented the workshop for the  
Commission.  
Commission discussion on this item included: restrooms at pocket parks;  
the difference between pocket park and a new development park; the criteria  
needed to update previous green space area with structures; policies on  
funding and how to encourage developers to create park projects; the  
percentage of park space dedicated to building pocket parks in the city; the  
park score for the City of Fresno, and; the disparity between North and  
South Fresno when it comes to pocket parks.  
WORKSHOP HELD  
11.  
Discussion Items:  
There were no discussion items on the agenda.  
12.  
Hearings:  
HEARING - Actions Pertaining the Parks, Recreation and Art  
ID 23-310  
12.-A.  
Commission’s Meetings for Calendar Year 2023.  
1. Discuss - in person meetings for future meetings.  
2. Discuss - Updating the meeting schedule for CY 23 PRAC.  
3. Action - Adopt meeting schedule for CY 23.  
The above hearing began 7:23 P.M.  
Assistant PARCS Director Ramirez presented the revised 2023 regular  
meeting calendar.  
Commission discussion on this item included the timing of meetings,  
Commissioner availability, the ability to call special meetings and listing  
future items at the end of each agenda.  
Upon call, there was no public comment for this item. The public comment  
period closed at 7:30 P.M.  
APPROVED  
On motion of Vice Chair Dohlin, seconded by Commissioner  
Cummings, to approve the calendar changes. The carried by the  
following vote:  
Aye: 8 -  
Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Dohlin, Vang, Commissioner Oputa,  
Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Cummings,  
Commissioner Barraza and Commissioner Parkes  
Absent: 1 - Commissioner Singh  
Hearing - Receive public input on allocations related to Measure P, updates to  
the Parks Master Plan and Cultural Arts Plan, and annual PARCS Department  
Budget and Capital Improvement Plans. (PARCS)  
12.-B.  
ID 23-341  
The above hearing began 7:33 P.M.  
Upon call, there was no public comment for this item. Public comment  
closed at 7:34 P.M.  
Commission discussion on this item included: clarification of the different  
agenda sections that allow public comment and when the public should  
speak under each section; Measure "P" policy concerns, and the  
Commission's role in regards to Measure "P" funds.  
DISCUSSED  
13.  
Adjournment  
Chair McCoy adjourned the meeting at 7:41 P.M.  
The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the Parks,  
Recreation, and Arts Commission during the March 27, 2023, regular  
meeting with Commissioner Vang absent.