2600 Fresno Street  
Fresno, CA 93721  
www.fresno.gov  
City of Fresno  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Women's Commission  
Leonela A. Harari, Chair  
Laura E. Ward, Vice Chair  
Amy Fuentes, Member  
Guadalupe Cazarez, Member  
Stefanie M. Diaz, Member  
Olivia Adams, Member  
Vacant, Member  
12:00 PM  
Thursday, February 29, 2024  
In Person, 2nd Floor, Room  
2165A  
The Women's Commission met in special session on the 2nd Floor, Room 2165A, at  
Fresno City Hall on the date and time above written.  
1.  
2.  
Call to Order  
Vice Chair Ward called the meeting to order at 12:08 P.M.  
12:08 P.M. Roll Call  
Present 5 -  
Vice Chair Laura E. Ward, Member Guadalupe Cazarez,  
Member Stefanie Diaz, Member Amy Fuentes, and Member  
Olivia Adams  
Absent 1 - Chair Leonela Harari  
3.  
Approval of the Agenda  
On motion of Member Adams, seconded by Member Fuentes, that the  
above be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 5 -  
Vice Chair Ward, Member Cazarez, Member Diaz, Member  
Fuentes and Member Adams  
Absent: 1 - Chair Harari  
Approval of Minutes  
4.  
Approval of minutes for January 23, 2024, regular meeting.  
4.-A.  
ID 24-334  
On motion of Member Fuentes, seconded by Member Cazarez, that  
the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the  
following vote:  
Aye: 5 -  
Vice Chair Ward, Member Cazarez, Member Diaz, Member  
Fuentes and Member Adams  
Absent: 1 - Chair Harari  
Staff Updates:  
5.  
Chief of Staff Lopez announced the approval for an extended deadline of  
July 31, 2024, for the Women's Recovery Grant. Recommended the kickoff  
for the Women's Scholarship Program be in March since its Women's  
History Month. The members will work on the application once they approve  
who the award will go to. Staff will work on getting everyone's contact info,  
W-9 forms, and sending out the awards.  
Senior Deputy City Clerk Mac announced the Office of the City Clerk is  
providing a meeting procedures training on February 29, 2024 at 5:30 pm  
regarding Training for Boards & Committees; reminded the members that  
their 700 forms will be due no later than April 2, 2024.  
6.  
7.  
Member Updates:  
Vice Chair Ward announced the commission continues to have a vacancy  
for District 4 commissioner position; encouraged to let members of the  
community know to be able to get some applicants for the vacant position.  
Public Comment  
Upon call, the following member of the public addressed the Commission:  
David Taub. There were no other comments from the public.  
8.  
Discussion Items:  
Status of Funding from Prior Year  
ID 24-343  
8.-A.  
Chief of Staff Lopez mentioned the grant from the previous year received  
was for $25,000 that came from the California Commission. With those  
funds, the Women's Commission created the Scholarship Program. A  
remaining balance of $35.25 would need to be moved and utilized during  
the year of 2024.  
Status of the State Grant  
ID 24-340  
8.-B.  
Council Assistant Gallardo reported the last year's grant for the Women's  
Commission's budget has $100,000 in total which the Women's Commission  
can use for the July 31, 2024 extension; recommended a reallocation to  
programs for the items within the budget including the Personnel website,  
marketing materials and administrative expenses; only $1,000 remain in the  
account for the marketing including $14,000 go back into the programs;  
suggests to lower the administrative expenses to $1,000 and putting $4,000  
into the programs.  
Marketing Items Budgeted in State Grant/Spending on Marketing Items  
ID 24-344  
8.-C.  
8.-D.  
Council Assistant Gallardo recommended spending $1,000; suggested the  
members to only continue shirts for the members and remove the canopy  
and table cloth from the marketing items.  
Hygiene Product Committee Update  
ID 24-336  
Chief of Staff Lopez announced the Hygiene Product Committee was not  
able to meet prior to this meeting due to lack of attendance and hoped to  
meet as soon as possible  
Vice Chair Ward had brought a copy of the original grant application  
including the narrative on how the grant should be spent.  
Scholarship Committee Update  
ID 24-337  
8.-E.  
Council Assistant Gallardo Comments. The Scholarship Committee was  
able to meet and discuss other scholarships that are available for women  
and girls. contacted had sent the applications to high schools and chairs of  
university departments.  
Vice Chair Ward Comments. The Women's Commission was able to provide  
some other scholarships that the other community members reviewed. The  
scholarship application includes academic and professional achievements,  
extracurricular activities in school, or volunteer work in the community.  
Discussed that last year's application was very brief, was open for a week  
and had 300 applicants. Requested $40,000 to put towards scholarships  
and would like to serve at least 50 individuals. Directed the staff to  
implement additional questions into the prior year scholarship application.  
Attempted to serve both individuals who were entering Undergraduate  
education as well as through graduate, low-income, immigrant or refugee,  
individuals that identify as women of color, and LGBT members.  
Member Fuentes Comments. It is critical to ask more questions on the  
scholarship applications.  
9.  
Action Items:  
Reallocation of Funds in State Grant Budget per City Attorney  
Recommendation  
9.-A.  
ID 24-341  
Council Assistant Gallardo recommended the reallocation of some of the  
funds to the Feminine Hygiene Products Program and the Scholarship  
Program including the salaries, wages, and some of the supply materials  
and equipment money.  
Member Diaz motioned to amend the reallocation of $27,500 to the  
scholarship program and $35.25 to the Feminine Hygiene Products  
Program. Motion FAILED for lack of second.  
Vice Chair Ward suggested to move the money from last year's funds to the  
Feminine Hygiene Product Program.  
Member Adams requested the funds be reallocated to the Feminine  
Hygiene Products Program.  
Member Fuentes motioned to reallocate the funds to the programs and  
continue in April to discuss.  
On motion of Member Fuentes, seconded by Member Diaz, that the  
above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following  
vote:  
Aye: 5 -  
Vice Chair Ward, Member Cazarez, Member Diaz, Member  
Fuentes and Member Adams  
Absent: 1 - Chair Harari  
Women’s Commission Scholarship Program  
9.-B.  
ID 24-342  
Vice Chair Ward directed staff to have the scholarship application available  
online along with physical copies at City Hall by March 1, 2024; announced  
to serve at least 50 individuals for the 2024 cycle.  
Member Adams suggested a two to three week time frame to close the  
application period for a reasonable amount of time.  
Council Assistant Gallardo discussed the deadline of hearing back, voting  
process, and applicants receiving a call about their acceptance to the  
scholarship.  
Member Diaz motioned to close the scholarship application on March 23,  
2024 at 5:00 P.M.  
On motion of Member Diaz, seconded by Member Adams, the above  
AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye: 5 -  
Vice Chair Ward, Member Cazarez, Member Diaz, Member  
Fuentes and Member Adams  
Absent: 1 - Chair Harari  
Adjournment  
10.  
The Women's Commission adjourned at 12:44 P.M.  
The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the Women's  
Commission during the April 10, 2024, regular meeting with Member Adams  
and Member Fuentes absent.