City of Fresno  
Tower Theater  
815 E Olive Ave., Fresno, CA 93728  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Tuesday, April 16, 2024  
5:30 PM  
Regular Meeting  
In Person and/or Electronic,  
Ted C Wills, 770 N San Pablo Ave., Fresno, CA 93728  
Tower District Specific Plan Implementation  
Committee  
Chairperson - Christopher Johnson  
Vice Chair - Janay Conley  
Board Member - Annie Lokrantz  
Board Member - Michael Birdsong  
Board Member - Myra Coble  
Board Member - James Kitch  
Board Member - Joseph Catania  
THE COMMITTEE WELCOMES YOU TO THE TED C WILLS COMMUNITY CENTER,  
LOCATED AT 770 N SAN PABLO AVE, FRESNO, CA 93728  
The meeting can also be viewed live at 5:30 P.M. on Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T  
channel 99.  
PUBLIC COMMENT:  
The following options are available for members of the public who want to address  
Tower District Specific Plan Implementation Committee:  
1. You are invited to a Zoom webinar.  
a) Register in advance for this webinar:  
https://fresno-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_taAP1qgNRGGeXj2cB5mzQQ  
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about  
joining the webinar.  
b) If you do not wish for your name to appear on the screen, then use the drop down  
menu and click on “rename” to rename yourself.  
c) Those addressing Committee must state their name for the record.  
OR  
2. Join by phone: 1-669-900-9128  
Webinar ID: 951 8694 8275  
a) Those addressing the Committee must state their name and address for the  
record.  
3. Email: LongRangePlanning@fresno.gov  
a) Attendees may also email comments to be read during the meeting. Please include  
the agenda date and item number you wish to speak on in the subject line of your  
email. Include your name, and address for the record, at the top of the body of your  
email.  
b) Emails will be a maximum of 450 words.  
c) All comments received will be distributed to the Tower District Specific Plan  
Implementation Committee prior and during the meeting and will be a part of the  
official record.  
d) Notwithstanding subsection c) above, unless otherwise required by law to be  
accepted by the City at or prior to a Tower District Specific Plan Implementation  
Committee meeting, no documents shall be accepted for review unless they are  
submitted to Long Range Planning at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of  
the meeting at which the associated agenda item is to be heard.  
All participants will be on mute until they are called upon, at which point each person  
will have the opportunity to speak for two minutes on each item. To prevent  
participants from having their video on, we will remove the option to show their  
video.  
Pursuant to the Executive Order, and in compliance with the Americans with  
Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in the Tower District  
Specific Plan Implementation Committee meeting, please contact the Planning  
Division, 559-621-8277 within 48 hours of the meeting.  
I. Call to Order & Roll Call  
Chair called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm and initiated roll call.  
Also present were Long Range Planning staff Sophia Pagoulatos, Adrienne  
Asadoorian-Gilbert, Yamilex Nava, Preston Her, Matthew Chea, and  
Christopher Green; High Speed Rail Authority staff Samer Shaath; Caltrans  
staff Scott Friesen;  
Present 7 -  
Chairperson Christopher Johnson, Board Member Michael  
Birdsong, Board Member Annie Lokrantz, Vice Chair Janay  
Conley, Board Member Myra Coble, Board Member James  
Kitch, and Board Member Joseph Catania  
II. Approve Agenda  
On motion of Board Member Coble, seconded by Board Member  
Catania, the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by  
the following vote:  
Aye: 7 -  
Chairperson Johnson, Board Member Birdsong, Board  
Member Lokrantz, Vice Chair Conley, Board Member Coble,  
Board Member Kitch and Board Member Catania  
III. Approve Meeting Minutes  
March 19, 2024 Tower District Specific Implementation Committee  
Regular Meeting Minutes  
III-A  
ID 24-445  
On motion of Board Member Lokrantz, seconded by Board Member  
Birdsong, that the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 7 -  
Chairperson Johnson, Board Member Birdsong, Board  
Member Lokrantz, Vice Chair Conley, Board Member Coble,  
Board Member Kitch and Board Member Catania  
IV. Council District Updates  
Staff member Asadoorian-Gilbert gave an update on behalf of District 3 on  
the Broadway Parque. The construction bids are being evaluated by City  
staff and a construction agreement award is anticipated for May 2024.  
V. Staff Updates  
Gilbert-Asadoorian updated the Committee and the public on the special  
meeting taking place on April 30th, 2024 at Ted C. Wills Community Center.  
VI. Continued Matters  
VII. New Matters  
VII-A  
ID 24-448  
Caltrans Workshop regarding upcoming projects and closures in the Tower  
District.  
Scott Friesen presented on the purpose of 99 El Dorado to Clinton  
pavement rehabilitation project, project description, the closures of Belmont  
and Mckinley ramps, traffic impacts, project benefits, features, and  
schedule.  
Catania asked about the accessibility of Weber Avenue going South to  
Belmont Avenue, and whether it was a Caltrans project and Friesen  
responded that Weber would go under Belmont, and that there will be no  
direct access. Catania also asked if there were any plans to widen the  
streets, and Friesen replied that there aren't any plans to do so because it is  
not in their jurisdiction.  
Coble raised concerns from Tower residents about the closure of the  
McKinley and Belmont ramps, stating that it would result in increased traffic  
on Belmont Avenue. Coble further asked if any studies have been  
conducted to assess the impact of this decision to this, Friesen replied that  
they have run simulations, and show that there are minimal impacts.  
Lokrantz expressed appreciation for the sound wall's aesthetics and the  
overpass idea.  
Catania asked that if Belmont Avenue and Mckinley Avenue are closed how  
will traffic traverse the area without negatively impacting the area and  
Friesen reassured that the only thing that is closing are the exits, but the  
streets will remain open and gave alternative ways to access the area.  
Birdsong expressed concern about the circulation problems that will occur  
once Mckinley and Belmont close.  
Conley has the same concerns as all the other board members and asked  
how the public will have access to the zoo and the cemetery. Friesen said  
the primary entrance to the zoo will be off of Olive Ave.  
Coble stated she had concerns about how UPS will have access to the  
freeway.  
Johnson asked what the project budget was, and Friesen said it is around  
$400 million.  
Public comment  
Members of the public have raised concerns and suggestions regarding  
various aspects of transportation in their area such as route for trucks,  
lighting under the underpass, repair of El Dorado Bridge, UPS access,  
roundabouts at Olive, Caltrans and HSR impact, zoo accessibility, and  
better lighting and bike lanes.  
VII-B  
ID 24-515  
California High-Speed Rail Workshop regarding upcoming projects in the  
Tower District.  
Samer Shaath presented on the infrastructure projects that are currently  
underway. The Belmont Ave Overhead project includes utility relocations,  
signalization of Belmont/SR 99 on-ramp, and the construction of the  
Belmont Ave Overhead structure. The Olive-overhead project involves the  
construction of an overpass leading to the zoo. The McKinley-overhead  
project includes the construction of a connector road and a roundabout.  
These projects are anticipated to be completed in 2026 and will include bike  
lanes and sidewalks for improved safety.  
Birdsong asked for the most efficient way to get to Belmont when exiting at  
Olive.  
Johnson is concerned about the overpass wall on Weber in the  
neighborhood and its impacts the overpass will have on the nearby  
businesses. He also asked if there will be a connection from Belmont to  
Weber and how the DMV will be accessed.  
Coble asked about Delno and Carruth, and what's happening there.  
Johnson asked HSR (High-Speed Rail) about the timeline and Shaath  
stated they are coordinating with the City and are very committed to the  
schedule.  
Public Comment  
Member of the public raised concern about the Olive construction project  
between Fruit and 99. Business owner wants to protect bike lanes on  
overpasses. Property owner had concerns about delay claims in contracts  
related to High-Speed Rail. The closure of H Street and single eastbound  
lane on Belmont bridge into Palm causing safety concerns.  
Review and discuss the topic of Circulation of the Tower District Specific  
ID 24-493  
VII-C  
Plan Update.  
Birdsong expressed the need to have access to Belmont from Weber.  
Catania raised a question about H Street being excluded from the  
discussion.  
Public Comment  
Members of the public suggested improving universal accessibility, defining  
"mobility help", enhancing transit amenities, and had concers about traffic  
flow and sidewalks.  
Review and discuss the topic of Land Use of the Tower District Specific  
ID 24-446  
VII-D  
Plan Update.  
Item continued to April 30, 2024.  
On motion of Board Member Birdsong, seconded by Board Member  
Catania, that the above Discussion Item be CONTINUED. The motion  
carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 7 -  
Chairperson Johnson, Board Member Birdsong, Board  
Member Lokrantz, Vice Chair Conley, Board Member Coble,  
Board Member Kitch and Board Member Catania  
VIII. Unscheduled Oral Communications  
Member of the public asked when TED will be addressed and staff stated it  
will be on a separate track to be presented to City Council in July.  
IX. Adjournment  
The Chair adjourned meeting at 7:39 pm.