City of Fresno

2600 Fresno Street

Fresno, CA 93721

www.fresno.gov

Meeting Minutes - Final

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

9:00 AM

Budget Hearings Continued From June 5, 2023. The budget

hearings will be considered one continuous meeting

Council Chambers (In Person and/or Electronic)

City Council

President - Tyler Maxwell

Vice President - Annalisa Perea

Councilmembers:

Mike Karbassi, Miguel Angel Arias, Luis Chavez,

Garry Bredefeld, Nelson Esparza

City Manager - Georgeanne A. White

City Attorney - Andrew Janz

City Clerk - Todd Stermer, CMC

City Council resumed the budget hearings in open session in the Council Chamber,

City Hall, on the date and time above written.

9:10 A.M. ROLL CALL

Present: 7 -

Councilmember Nelson Esparza

Council President Tyler Maxwell

Vice President Annalisa Perea

Councilmember Mike Karbassi

Councilmember Miguel Angel Arias

Councilmember Luis Chavez

Councilmember Garry Bredefeld

Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

Councilmember Bredefeld led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023 - 9:00 A.M.

Council President Maxwell announced public comment would be taken at

the beginning of each budget hearing for the departments to be discussed

that day. Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council:

Patience Milrod, Queen Sister, Alyssa Smith, Karla Martinez, Brandi

Nuse-Villegas, Sarah Parkes, Camila Rivera, Adela Moreno, Judith Medina,

Ruben Espinoza, Robert McCloskey, Nishea Balajadia, Jessica Martinez,

Benita Vasquez, Lisa Flores, Michael Yamamura, Ashley Rojas, Juana

Vigil, Lilia Becerril, and Eric Payne.

REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING BUDGET

OVERVIEW:

Councilmember Esparza requested a memo informing if the city were to

raise $1 billion via the taxpayer- what would be the resulting financial

impact on residents.

Council President Maxwell requested a memo on the following Information:

1.) Cost for designing and constructing a splash pad shade structure at

Melody Park. 2.) Cost for a rod iron fence along the perimeter of the Rotary

West park. 3.) Cost for resurfacing the volleyball and tennis ball courts at

Einstein Park. 4.) Remaining Cost for assessing the Old Roessler building

to utilize the building. 5.) Cost on all urgent needs that need to be

addressed at the Old Roessler Building

Council President Maxwell requested Information on the Cost of increasing

all water conservation rebates at the same rate as CPI for the past 12

months.

Council President Maxwell requested the following Information on the

senior center: 1.) Information regarding the Section 108 staff was going to

pursue, what is the process for that, has the request to HUD has been

submitted, and what the timeline is. 2.) In the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, is

there sufficient funding to fulfill the RFQ/proposal for the senior center, if

not, what is the funding amount needed.

Councilmember Karbassi requested the following Information regarding

trolleys: what does the city do if residents get rowdy, what can be done for

drivers to have quick access to safety, and to provide possible suggestions.

Councilmember Karbassi requested an estimate for the design phase of

lighting at Oso De Oro Park and an estimate for the design and construction

of lighting at Koligian Park.

Councilmember Arias requested a memo regarding the feasibility of

Gottchalks as office space.

Councilmember Arias requested Information regarding the city's parking lot

security monitoring and to confirm the operational hours.

Department of Transportation

ID 23-788

The above Transportation Department Oveview was presented to Council by

Director Barfield.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OVERVIEW:

Council President Maxwell requested a list of the remaining bus stops

needing shelters in District 4.

Council President Maxwell requested a memo to include the contract details

with Provost & Pritchard and any other firm contracted to design and

construct bus stop shelters.

Councilmember Chavez requested information regarding pepper spray

training for FAX drivers and how many drivers have opted in.

Vice President Perea requested a list of unsheltered bus stops in District 4

based on priority and site criteria.

Councilmember Arias requested information on the amount of the Fiscal

Year 2024 proposed PG&E cost increase.

Councilmember Arias requested the last five years of calls for service from

FAX to the Police Department.

Councilmember Arias requested a cost analysis of a dedicated route from

the downtown community medical center to the Clovis community medical

center, a similar model to the trolley.

THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS WERE MADE DURING THE DEPARTMENT

OF TRANSPORTATION DISCUSION:

Council President Maxwell motioned to allocate $500,000 to continue

reduced-cost services for qualifying populations under the Kaiser grant

contingent upon City not receiving funds. Councilmember Arias seconded

the motion.

Council President Maxwell motioned to add nine (9) bus stop shelters in

District 4 to the current list. Councilmember Esparza seconded the motion.

Councilmember Arias motioned to fund $500,000 for a route from CRMC

downtown to CRMC Clovis. Councilmember Chavez seconded the motion.

Police Department

ID 23-789

The above Police Department budget overview was presented to Council by

Police Chief Balderrama.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING POLICE

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:

Councilmember Chavez requested information regarding domestic violence

incident numbers and the department's capacity.

Councilmember Bredefeld requested information regarding the funding plan

by the administration for the need for a helicopter for the Police Department.

Vice President Perea requested a report to discuss the current condition and

possible ways to use Cornelia and Swift's location in Northwest Fresno.

Councilmember Arias requested staff provide the last five years of officers

and management ratio with civilians.

Councilmember Arias requested the last 10 years of lawsuits, the name of

the lawsuit, and the amount.

Councilmember Arias requested the number of officers on long-term

medical leave for the last five years.

Councilmember Arias requested the operational hours for all police

locations open to the public.

Councilmember Arias requested a memo for response times for 9-1-1 calls

for the last five years and a memo for responses for police responding to

9-1-1 for the previous five years in various categories.

Councilmember Arias requested a memo regarding when the Chief decides

to pursue accreditation.

Councilmember Arias requested information regarding the City of Fresno

Police Department Facebook page and a memo regarding policies and

procedures for posting.

THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS WERE MADE DURING THE POLICE

DEPARTMENT BUDGET DISCUSSION:

Councilmember Chavez motioned to add two positions to the Elder Abuse

Unit. Councilmember Karbassi seconded the motion.

Councilmember Chavez motioned to allocate $100,000 for Project Spotlight

to feed video images into the surveillance command center. Councilmember

Karbassi seconded the motion.

Councilmember Esparza motioned to add $220,000 to re-launch the

Neighborhood Watch Program within the Police Department Budget. Vice

President Perea seconded the motion.

Vice President Perea motioned to allocate $100,000 for small business

security camera grants. Councilmember Karbassi seconded the motion.

Economic Development Department

ID 23-790

The above Economic Development Department budget overview was

presented to Council by Director Lippincott.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING THE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET OVERVIEW:

Councilmember Arias requested a list of businesses that have been

attracted or retained due to work done by economic development.

Vice President Perea gave direction to prioritize the Tower District.

Vice President Perea requested a memo on current sites in District 1 that

you are currently in the works to attract new business or will be moving

forward.

THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS WERE MADE DURING THE ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET DISCUSSION:

Councilmember Karbassi motioned to allocate $100,000 for a new position

of sister city liaison. Councilmember Chavez seconded the motion.

Councilmember Karbassi motioned to allocate $50,000 for sister city travel.

Councilmember Chavez seconded the motion.

Planning and Development Department

ID 23-791

The above Planning and Development budget overview was presented to

Council by Director Clark.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING THE

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET OVERVIEW:

Council President Maxwell requested additional information on the

$27,420,200 for Miscellaneous State Grants, including various state grants

such as Local Early Action Planning, Local Housing Trust Fund funds and

Encampment Resolution Funding” (B-158). He requested additional

information regarding the exact usage of the following funds: 1.) A list of

projects or groups that will receive funding from the grants. 2.) The amount

of funds each group or project will receive. 3.) The grant funding source for

each project or group, and include any budget pages that can be referenced

for detailed information concerning these inquiries.

Councilmember Esparza requested an updated timeline for the CEDA and

Environmental Impact Report.

Councilmember Arias requested information regarding the full accounting of

housing funds that have been received and awarded by project and amount,

and to include funds that have yet to be awarded for the past 3 years.

Councilmember Chavez requested a list of all housing permits currently

being processed, what category they would fall under, and how many are

affordable.

Councilmember Chavez requested a copy of the General Plan outline of the

anticipated need for housing units based on population growth.

Councilmember Karbassi requested a memo listing all vacancies in the

Planning Department, how long they have been vacant, the salary range, a

comparison of salary range vs. other entities, e.g., Caltrain, Clovis, Madera

County, and what is being done to fill those vacancies.

Vice President Perea requested information regarding the senior home

repair program, what has been expended, what is left, and what will be a

carryover.

THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS WERE MADE DURING THE PLANNING AND

DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BUDGET DISCUSSION:

Councilmember Arias motioned to fund $1 million for the acquisition of

Helm Home for the operation of a youth LGBTQ shelter. Vice President

Perea seconded the motion.

Vice President Perea motioned to carryover $50,000 and funded an

additional $275,000 for the West Area Specific Plan. Councilmember

Karbassi seconded the motion.

Public Works Department

ID 23-792

The above Public Works Department budget overview was presented to

Council by Director Mozier.

Discussion was held between Council and the administration.

REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING THE PUBLIC

WORKS DEPARTMENT BUDGET OVERVIEW:

Council President Maxwell requested information on the concrete and

paving repair proposed at Browning, Bullard, Millbrook, and Ninth that is

currently on hold and asked if the project includes the frontage road on the

south end of Bullard.

Councilmember Arias requested an up-to-date list of all incomplete or not

completely funded public works projects in District 3 to be included with

status.

Councilmember Chavez requested a list of all the projects that made it into

the Fiscal Year 2024 proposed budget and requested a spreadsheet with

just District 5 projects.

Council President Maxwell requested information on how often median

islands in District 4 are cleaned and the cost to increase the litter removal of

median islands in District 4.

Councilmember Chavez requested the following information from the

Budget, Personnel Department, and Public Works Department: 1.) What is

the historical data for Fresno regarding the sales/use tax trends, what was

subsequently reconciled, and the trend specific to the city. 2.) What is the

property tax trend in the city. 3.) What positions are being funded at "90%"

and what has been the percentage of positions funded in the past 5 years.

4.) How many proposed funded positions were filled in the past 3 years by

departments, and a list by departments. 5.) What are the estimates for

infrastructure projects that have been coming in over the amount estimated,

what is the trend, and are these trends reflected in the new estimates for

capital/infrastructure budgets.

Vice President Perea requested information on the estimate to repave the

Hughes, Cornell, Crystal, and Brown neighborhoods.

THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS WERE MADE DURING THE PUBLIC

WORKS DEPARTMENT BUDGET DISCUSSION:

Councilmember Arias motioned to allocate $1.5 million for infrastructure

dollars for each council district. Councilmember Chavez seconded the

motion.

Councilmember Karbassi motioned to add to Fiscal Year 2023 motion #58.

If the property is re-zoned, the funds will be transferred to the Public Works

Department for discretionary (by the council member) infrastructure projects

in Council District 2. Councilmember Arias seconded the motion

ADJOURNMENT

City Council recessed the June 6, 2023 Budget Hearing at 5:07 P.M. The

Budget Hearing was scheduled to resume Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at

9:00 A.M.

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

June 15, 2023, regular meeting.