City Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning, everyone. We wanna thank you. You are the most patient city in the world. We did have a wonderful reception this morning for Black History Month. Thank you to council member Esparza for putting that together and his staff and for all of you who were here to enjoy that and some of the great food and company. And we're gonna get started with our meeting at 09:30AM. City clerk would you please call the roll.

Yes thank you good morning. Council member Korea present council member excuse me council president Carbassi here council member Arias. Council member Maxwell. Absent. Council member Vang?

Present.

Council member Richardson? Here. Council vice president Esparza?

Present.

With six members being present, we have a quorum.

And for the record, council member Maxwell does have an excused absence today. Okay. Next is invocation followed by the pledge of allegiance. Invocation is gonna be by our good friend from Northwest Fresno, rabbi Rick Weiner. I had to throw the Northwest Fresno in there, sir. I had to do it. So glad to have you here, rabbi. Floor is yours.

It's an honor to be here. Thank you. This week, the Jewish community celebrated the new month new the new moon with a special blessing. By no accident, this coincided with the Asian Lunar New Year as we enter the year of the fire horse, and the same moment began the holy month of Ramadan on the Muslim calendar. Each of these traditions tie to the cycles of the moon.

Today, our city council recognizes Black History Month, and I can't help but think about the moon's important role shining the way along the underground railroad. The council also recognizes teen dating violence awareness month, which reminds us to take back the night. Each of these commemorations remind us of our connections to the moon and our place in the cycle of nature and our common interest as members of this wondrous world of creation. The ancient Jewish prayer for peace looks to the heavens and the heavenly bodies and wonders at their harmony as we recite, May the one who makes peace in the heavens bring peace, completion, harmony upon us. And may this week's recognition of the moon inspire us with divine harmony and give us strength in our continual efforts to nurture harmony here on Earth, here in Fresno, for the beautiful, diverse tapestry of humanity that calls our city home.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, rabbi. Councilmember Richardson, would you honor us by leading the pledge of allegiance?

Good morning, president. Who's staying standing?

It's your left high right this way, Andrew Garford from the military. Welcome to present

the military salute and salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands,

And

we world. Foundation have a for Some of you are here regularly at meetings. We have, of course, law enforcement here. Thank you all for being here. I do wanna thank a very special guest who is here, that is our congressman, Jim Costa. Jim, you're very welcome. We do have a vacant seat if you wanna come up here and vote with us today.

But thank you for being here.

Glad to have you here. Thank you, Jim. So now we're gonna move on to the approval of the agenda. City clerk, are there any changes or items removed from today's agenda?

Yes. Thank you. First, I'd like to announce our translation services that are available. We do have Wordly virtual translation available in Spanish and Punjabi. In order to access those services, there is a QR code.

It is placed on a placard up here at the front of the dais, as well as a QR code online. We also have virtual interpreters available for Hmong and American Sign Language. As for changes to the agenda, there's a change to ceremonial item ID 20 dash 85 regarding proclamation of Marjorie Mason Center ten teen dating violence awareness month. Council member Maxwell has been listed as a cosponsor. With regard to item two b, ID 20 dash one forty nine regarding bill for introduction to amend section two dash one one zero five of the Fresno municipal code relating to campaign contributions, a clerical change has been made to begin with a bracket and that section to read, quote, bracket, California senate and assembly limitations and the limits set forth in government code section eight five three zero two subdivision a in bracket.

With regard to item two r, ID 26 dash two one two regarding a resolution in support of the health and welfare trust efforts to ensure the contract, council member Perea and vice president Hesparza have been listed as cosponsors. Council approves adding the language as well to say, council approves up to $50,000 in legal fees. Anything beyond this amount is subject to council approval. Items removed from the agenda. Item two d, ID 26 dash two one five regarding resolution adopting the forty first amendment to the annual appropriation resolution number 2025 dash 179 was removed by staff to the 02/26/2026 meeting as the item needs to go before the Parks Recreation and Arts Commission prior to coming before council.

That meeting, the PRAC meeting, is being held on Monday, 02/23/2026. Item five I, I d 26 dash one seventy four regarding conference with legal counsel existing litigation, government code section five four nine five six point nine Subdivision D Subdivision one, Angela Baskerville was moved to the 02/26/2026 meeting by the city attorney's office. Items moved to contested consent for further discussion. Item two h, ID 26Dash115 regarding actions pertaining to RFP 12600292 for the allocation of the Youth Service Corps homeless pilot program was moved to contested consent by council member Arias. Item two k, ID 26 dash 36 regarding actions pertaining to emergency shelter operations provided by Elevate Community Services was moved to contested consent by council member Arias.

Item two l, ID26Dash37 regarding approve the first amendment to the service agreement with Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission was moved to the contested consent by council member Arias. This concludes the changes to the agenda.

Just to be clear, for contested consent, it's two h, two k, and two L. Correct?

2H, two k, two l. That's correct.

Got it. Thank you so much. Not so bad. Okay. Okay. Council members, are there any other items you wish to remove, continue to report from the agenda? Council Member Raya? Council Vice Council Member Arias?

No, thank you, Council Member.

Okay. Council Member Mang? Just a point

of clarification, Clerk. The only items that you read that's the official items removed, changed or removed from the agenda?

That I have been provided up to this point, yes.

Okay. Thank you. Yep. Council Member Vice President. Oh, sorry. Council Vice President? Council Member Richardson?

None.

Okay. Is there a motion to approve the agenda as amended? Moved by council member Arias, second by council member Paria. Any opposition to that motion? There being none, it passes six to zero. Okay. The favorite part of our day is the ceremonial presentations. It's when everyone gets along, And we have some great ones today. We are going to go a little bit out of order. We're going to actually start with Black History Month, and the sponsor is Vice President Esparza.

President, I do want to take a moment of privilege to welcome our former city councilwoman from District 3, Ms. Cynthia Sterling. And she's been granted the permission to drink coffee in the audience, given that it's one of the many perks that comes with being a former councilwoman. Thank you.

Thank you. Welcome.

That's a convenient rule about drinking coffee if you're a former council member given that Arias and I are about ten months away from that. So we'll we'll we'll remember that, the the privileges. Good morning to all. Good morning to all all everyone who was able to attend the the light reception we had for Black History Month out in the foyer. Great to see so many faces from our community come out to celebrate and and give the proclamation this year.

I do wanna invite our our friends on up and honorees to to join me up here as well. Come come on down. I'll keep chatting while everybody walks up. You know, among the dignitaries, we had at the reception, as, my colleagues have noticed, noted, we're joined by our congressman, Jim Costa. We also had a trustee Keisha Thomas, I'm not sure if she's still around.

Our former council member Cynthia Sterling and the honorable mister Eric Payne. We also had representatives join us from the offices of assembly member Joaquin Arambula, United States senator, Adam Schiff, assembly member, Esmeralda Soria, and, from the office of, congressman Adam Gray as well. So I wanna thank, all of our different levels of of government representatives for joining us to celebrate Black History Month here at at City Hall. And oh, I didn't see sorry. Yeah.

And we have also the representatives from Senator Cabello. Good to see you, David. Welcome to City Hall. I missed a name here. You know, first off, I just wanna start off by saying I'm, you know, proud to stand with you today as we recognize Black History Month here in the year of 2026.

It's a historic year marking a hundred years of national commemorations of black history within our country, even though black history goes far far beyond that. And, you know, for for me, this moment is not just about honoring the past, it is about understanding understanding how history shapes our policy, how our remembrance shapes, identity, and how, truth strengths strengthens our our community overall. And so, this year's theme, a century of black history, that is the theme for Black History Month this year nationally, it challenges us to reflect on a power of on the power of public commemoration. For a hundred years, communities across our country have intentionally uplifted the stories, the scholarship, and contributions of black Americans, not just as an act of symbolism, but as an act of correction, recognition, and justice. In in 1915, Carter G.

Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History because he understood something fundamental. If a people's history is erased, their humanity is diminished. A decade later, he launched the Negro History Week, and planting that seed that would grow into what we know now and, recognize as each February, Black History Month. And that recognition grew over time. In 1976, during the nation's bicentennial, Gerald r Ford became the first president to officially recognize Black History Month officially.

And ten years later, Congress formally designated February as Black History Month. But long before the federal recognition, you know, black communities were already preserving their history through faith, through our faith institutions, through civic organizations, family storytelling, through scholarship, and certainly through through activism. And you know, so it's important to note that black history is not not separate from American history. It is not supplemental. It is in fact foundational.

And so from watch night services to Juneteenth celebrations, from labor organizing to civil rights advocacy, from the arts to public service, black Americans have shaped every chapter of our national story and every chapter of this city's history as well. And here in Fresno, you know, that story is is very much alive. So today, it's really my honor to to recognize Nancy Whittle as our twenty twenty six Black History Month honoree. If I could say just a few words about Nancy, give her a round of applause. So Nancy is a distinguished social worker.

She's an educator and a living historian whose work reflects the very purpose of this centennial year. And, that purpose is to remember and to teach. In, in 2023, inspired by the vision of Liora McLean and and Nancy Whittle, the Taste of Freedom project was founded by a group of community volunteers dedicated to preserving black history, and educating others about it. The group works to document, share, and uplift local stories through exhibitions, through workshops, and community programming, including hosting a Black History Day over at Fresno State. And their mission is very clear, and that's to preserve black history.

As coordinator of the African American voices oral history project, she helps to preserve the testimonies of Central Valley elders and leaders. She ensured that Fresno's black history would not be footnotes in someone else's narrative, but rather, you know, documented and accessible for for many generations to come. So for more than thirty years, she has portrayed Harriet Tubman in civil war reenactments and educational programs across California. In doing so, she has brought history into classrooms, libraries, and public spaces, reminding young people that courage and resilience are are part of their inheritance. So her work has earned her, Fresno NAACP Image Awards, recognition from the Fresno and Madera County Sheriff's Offices, as well as the Presidential Youth Service Award.

But her real legacy is not necessarily in the awards. It is in the lives that she has ultimately impacted. The stories that she has preserved and the pride that she has cultivated within our our broader community. So as we approach the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of American independence in this country, this centennial here reminds us that an honest nation tells the full story of the people. Black history does not belong to just one month on the calendar, it belongs in our schools, in our institutions, our policy making, and our civic engagement.

It belongs in how we allocate resources, preserve neighborhoods, and and create opportunity. Because when we fully understand history, we I think that that leads us to governing a lot more justly. So this month and throughout this historic year, let us recommit ourselves to protecting and preserving the complete story of our nation. Let's honors the honor the scholars who began this work 100 ago. And let us thank Nancy Whittle for ensuring that here in Fresno, black history is not only remembered, but but lived.

And unfortunately, Nancy is unable to be here today. She's in DC for the premier of a documentary, but she took the time to send in a video message for everyone. And her family, as well as the Taste of Freedom group are here to speak on on her behalf. And so I don't know if we have the video queued up, if we could hear from Nancy first before we start passing around the microphone, but we'd love to hear from from Nancy at this point.

Hi. My name is Nancy Eilett Little. I am a living historian and also the president of the Taste of Freedom Project here in Fresno, California. I would like to thank the Fresno City Council Members for honoring me with this proclamation concerning Black History Month and also an express extreme gratitude for for being honored for something that I truly love. I am excited to be a part of the living history world, to be able to portray someone as famous as Harriet Tubman to meet her family.

And I just remember how this all started thirty seven years ago when Rose Cagler, who was a very close friend of mine and also the executive director of the Fresno Historical Society Society called me and said, Nancy, I have this big venue that's gonna happen. I want you to be a part of it. And I knew there was something about it because she was very hesitant, and then she blurted out, could you play a slave? And of course, I said no. And we went back and forth for weeks after that.

I relented. I remembered my first reenactment. It was a very powerful moment for me especially when I went and saw a battle and I actually cried at the battlefield because I thought about this is what really took place. This was brother fighting against brother, friend against friend, son against father, and so on and so forth. And it just hit me how what a you know, how painfully real history is and how we need to also be able to show it to people, you know, not just have them read it, but to portray these people that lived before us and how important their lives were to us.

And I see that in the faces of the students that I go to. It doesn't matter if it's from kindergarten all the way up to, say, Stanford University level. It resonates with them when they see someone come up and actually talk about that and reenact how his American history was. I'm very concerned at this time that parts of history is being erased from American history. That history that shows us what we're made of, the fiber of our country, and taking away things from children because my whole concept is if you don't know your history, you really don't know who you are.

You have no foundation, and I see that in children because when I go up and I'm talking about speaking in as Harriet Tubman to these children, a lot of them, they resonate because some of them are very in very horrific circumstances. They're trying to survive, and they see this woman who didn't know how to read, who didn't know how to write, who was raised in in terrible sit situation, but yet she still had family. She still survived. She was a survivor and they and it resonates with them again that they can also survive, that how important education is, how important family is. That's what I take away from history is the importance of family and the importance of of knowing who you are and how to build on to that and go, you know, and just go forth and become what you know, live out your life, live your dream.

Fortunately, I am unable to attend these ceremonies for this proclamation due to the fact that on the same day, I will be in Washington DC at the premiere of the film of the documentary that about my being a living historian for thirty seven years. So I will be at the premier, and I just want to just just say thank you again, earnestly. I just really wanna thank you for this. Hi. My name is Nancy Eilett Whittle.

Go to give Nazir on

the applause. A Living historian.

So we're we're very proud of Nancy. She's out out there being being honored and and gonna see the documentary. In in in our place. We have our family as well as representatives from the the Taste of Freedom Project. And so I wanna go ahead and pass the the microphone.

Hi. I'm Nancy. I mean, I'm Alvin Widdle, her husband. All this was possible only through the lord Jesus Christ. So, we honor him today because without him, she would not be the woman that she is today and so I'm so proud of her And not only that, I wanna say another thing, is that it is important as a human race That God made us all from one blood, and there is no one above one another, because in the sight of the Lord, all men are made from one blood, and we're brothers and sisters in his eyes.

And so I just wanna appreciate that opportunity to receive the reward for my wife. My

name is Marie. Nancy is my godmother and that's who also got me into reenacting, I've been reenacting the past twenty three years with her, and it really is a joy to see, not just children, but the adults that come up to us from hearing our stories. It's one thing to read about history, but to be able to interact with someone that is looking just like what you are read about or or even to hear stories that aren't what you were taught because everything's not in the books, there are stories that our people pass down to each other by word-of-mouth. So there are these stories that we can give you, there are these answers that we can give to questions that you may have been afraid to ask. So it's important that we tell this history to be able to bridge the gap between the past and the present, so that we can see where we can go and to continue to inspire people to maybe interact differently with each other, because I always like to say one of Sojourner Truth's most famous quotes, I believe that everyone should have rights, whether you're a man or a woman, slave or free, because we're all created equal by God.

Thank you all. At this point at this time, I would oh, excuse me. Cynthia, you know, I'm gonna have to say a few words as well.

Yes. Thank you. Point of privilege. Good morning to everyone. I am Cynthia Sterling, former city councilwoman here in Fresno, and I am president of black women organized for political action, Fresno San Joaquin Valley chapter.

I'm a friend of Nancy Whittles, and it is a honor and a privilege to be here today. If it had not been for her faith and her courage to get out and be a first at the reenactment program, out at, Kearny Park, when this first started over, almost forty years ago, we wouldn't be here today. And because of Harriet Tuckman, who was a trailblazer in herself and working towards freedom that we now experience today, I wouldn't be here today. And because of Harriet Tutman, through generation, my mother was born, and she marched with doctor Martin Luther King. It allowed me then to meet to it allowed me the the opportunity to be here today.

So with that, I say thank you all for the consideration that you have shown Nancy. Nancy is a humble person. She is a very, she is a Christian woman. She, exemplifies all of the traits of Harriet Tubman. There will be a number of programs. April, we will have a, program. We will make sure that the council, knows about that, where there will be, representation from Harriet Tubman's family then as well as in October. And it gives us an honor and a pleasure to be a force in that presentation. With that I'd like to pass it over to my colleague, are you okay? Alright.

And also to recognize, trustee Keisha Thomas, who is a product of Harriet Tubman. Because without Harriet Tubman, neither one of us would have had an opportunity to be the women that we are today and the representatives, an integral part in city government. Thank you so much council member Nelson Esparza. You have been a great advocate for the black history month programs, and we thank you for recognizing us.

Thank you. Thank you.

Before we read the proclamation into the the record, we have we're gonna read a record into the record. So I do wanna invite our our congressman. He's been waiting here very patiently, and he has a a brief presentation of his own. So we're gonna do that before we read the the city proclamations of record. Come on down, congressman.

Thank you very much, councilman Nelson Esparza, for taking the initiative and leading this effort, today to observe Black History Month and, also to the city council for allowing us to be a part of this and staff who really reflect, I think, the best that our city has to offer. But today, this morning, we have leaders in our community that we've worked with and that really, I think, made the understanding of the common thread of the importance of Black History Month. But as you noted, mister Councilman, it's not a month, it's the entire year. Because in 1619, it is believed about the first when when, sadly, slavery was introduced into this country. And I really believe that it is so critical, and therefore fitting and appropriate, that we make this recognition this morning of the long history, of over four hundred years that our nation, has engaged in.

And today, when we have people attempting to rewrite history rewrite history, it it it should alarm all of us. Because, I think as the poet philosopher, Santana, once said, for those whom forget history, we are doomed to repeat it. And whether or not history repeats itself or whether or not history rhymes, the methods that we use, the reenactment that Nancy, as she told her story, engaged upon is so important. I I really believe that we don't teach history so well these days in in our schools and civics.

And

and I think that makes it, from my perspective, more fearful when we have those individuals and organizations that wanna rewrite history or try to pretend that none of this ever happened. We can only move forward as a community, as a country, if we acknowledge our past, both the good, the bad, and those things that are still challenging in our nation today, such as racism, senses, antisemitism, senses, the various other, I think, efforts where we portray people and pursue the politics of fear and the politics of hate. And so we're all in this together. And for all of these reasons, I think it's so critical that we observe not only Black History Month, but throughout the country understand that we're all part of one nation. We, the people, those are special magic words.

It's all of us. And in order to form a more perfect union, that's aspirational. We're never gonna be perfect. Our history demonstrates that. But to be aspirational, to do that, to every day make this, an effort that is more inclusive, it's all of us, and to remind ourselves of those who went before us, Cynthia's mother, and and so many other leaders in our community here that made a difference.

And for Nancy's efforts, over the last thirty years, we acknowledge that today, and it's fitting and appropriate that we do so. And we all have a role to play. Believe me, and I'll close on this note. We are in a seminal moment in American and world history. I'm a student of of history.

I I love history because it it tells us the more we know about our past, the know we the more we know about ourselves. And that's just the truth, as my mother would say. So, Alfred, I'd like to present this resolution for you and your family, but for Nancy's efforts to remind us every day that what took place in the past is relevant to the future. And Nancy has committed herself and appropriately been honored in our nation's capital. So I'd like to present this, Alfred, if you'd accept it, a special congressional recognition to Nancy Whittle in recognition of being honored a Black History Month honoree, your leadership and lasting impact to our community.

It's fitting and appropriate in Hawaii. Some of you know I had the opportunity twice with faith and politics to recreate the steps with my friend and one of the real icon leaders of the civil rights movement, John Lewis. We brought John Lewis here to to Fresno for a day and a half. And and John taught me so much as he taught all of members of congress. He was revered as a almost like a saint like status because of his his contributions.

And so when you walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with as I was able to do with John Lewis, as you go to Birmingham and see the the church where four little girls were killed, I mean, these are all part of our history. And sadly, we see it recreating itself today in in places like, you know, Saint Paul and and and and and Minnesota. And and so it's a time that we are being tested. When you look at things in The Middle East and in Ukraine and elsewhere, this is a real challenge for all of us. So thank you, council member Esparza, and the city council here at Fresno for bringing us together to remind us to remind us that we're all in this together.

And, therefore, it is a test of our time, and we need to be together. So thank you, Alfred. Thank you.

You. And in the words of the congressman, very fitting and appropriate. You know, we we the last several years, we've tried to find either organization or individuals, that we could honor in in light of the theme. And I I do think, Nancy was really the perfect, person to be able to to bring, to city hall and and, shine some light on the great work she's been doing for a very, very long time in this community. So, it is, my pleasure, to, present, this 2026, Black History Month proclamation, a century of black history to Nancy Widdle.

Give them a round of applause. And at this point, we're going to go ahead and have the city clerk read the proclamation formally into the record. And while she does that, we can snap a few photos. And and, again, it was great to have you all here this this morning, and great thank you to everybody who came out to the reception as well. Thank you for being here.

Blake. Thank you.

Whereas February is nationally recognized as Black History Month, a time to honor the achievements, contributions, struggles, and resilience of African Americans throughout the history of The United States. And whereas the 2026 theme, a century of black history commemorations, marks the historic one hundredth anniversary of black history month. This centennial theme encourages reflection on identity, culture, and the recognition of black contributions to society. For the one hundredth theme, the founders of Black History Month invite us to explore the importance and meaning of black history commemorations in transforming the position of black peoples in the modern world. And whereas Black History Month originated in 1926 as Negro History Week, founded by doctor Carter g Woodson, who sought to establish an organized, far reaching, and sustained effort illustrating and honoring the contributions black Americans have made to the culture, economy, science, arts, politics, and civil rights of The United States.

And whereas the history of African American presence in Fresno dates back to the mid nineteenth century with the 1850 census recording many black families, including some who were runaway slaves, but were all counted as The United States citizens. By 1882, there was a large enough presence of black families in Fresno to establish the Carter Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, who had their first gathering at a home on F Street. And whereas inspired by the collective vision of Laoria McLean and Nancy Whittle, the Taste of Freedom Project was established in 2023 by a dedicated group of community volunteers, including social workers, educators, artists, parents, community organizers, and living historians. The organization stands as a vibrant collaboration, weaving together art, history, and healing. Through exhibitions, performances, and workshops, the Taste of Freedom project uplifts and honors community voices, ensuring that the richness of California's cultural legacy continues to inspire and connect new generations.

And whereas the 2026 honoree Nancy Whittle is a distinguished social worker and living historian, she coordinated and conducted most interviews for the African American Voices Oral History Project 02/2004 to 2006, preserving the stories of Central Valley elders and civic leaders. For over three decades, she has portrayed Harriet Tubman in civil war reenactments across California, bringing this iconic freedom fighter's legacy to life. Her contributions have been recognized with two Fresno n double a c p image awards, the Fresno Madera County Sheriff's Award, and the Presidential Youth Service Award from President Bill Clinton in 1993, reflecting a lifetime of leadership and community impact. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, mayor Jerry p Dyer, council vice president Nelson Nelson Esparza, and the Fresno City Council do hereby proclaim February 2026 as a century of black history month in the city of Fresno.

Terrific presentation by so many great speakers. Okay. Next is going to be an item sponsored by myself, Council Member Parea and Council Member Maxwell, and that is the Marjorie Mason Center Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

Alright, good morning everyone. So today we're standing here to talk about something that often hides in plain sight, and that's teen dating violence. This day and age especially, our teens know how to post TikToks, they know how to send text messages, but they don't always they're not always equipped with the skills to be able to identify in real life, red flags, to be able to identify in real life how to set boundaries, and they often do not have parents that can set an example of what a healthy relationship looks like. And so oftentimes we have young people that are not equipped with the tools that they need to protect themselves, especially during something so scary like dating for the first time. And so it's my honor to have the Marjorie Mason Center here with us, and for as long as we need to continue to talk about this and raise awareness, you will have partnerships with us here at the city.

I know this organization does a lot of work by meeting the kids where they are, which is going straight into their high schools and educating our teens about the importance of what this means for themselves personally. About the importance of how to identify what those mental, emotional, or physical red flags look like when they do start to get out into the dating scene. So I wanna hand the mic to my council president. Thank you for standing with me in this. I I guess this is my last year here, but for as long as we need to be here, we will continue to stand with you guys in whatever capacity that that we we can moving forward. Council president.

And the council member is correct. Oh. Please. No. No. Please. Yeah. Council member is is correct. We are gonna continue this legacy that you've honored at the Margin Mason Center, making sure these issues, while very sensitive, are at the forefront of policy making. And I know you're gonna do that in Sacramento as well for us, so we're confident in that. Yes. So I'm Mike Carbassi, I'm the council president, and I'm really honored to be here today to talk about an issue. Look, I I I graduated high school in 2001, so I was in middle school and high school in the late nineties, and I say to myself, things must have changed. It didn't seem this complicated. The fact that kids have to deal with stalking or violent behavior in a what they believe a relationship or not knowing what a proper relationship looks like.

And it seems very dumbfounding, but you know what? I bet you it was just as bad back then. We didn't have the awareness we have now. And there's tremendous opportunity because we have resources in our law enforcement. We have resources in people like Tiffany and the Margin Mason Center and the work you do to help educate us as people that observe and can see.

Maybe we have kids of our own, or nephews or nieces or cousins or neighbors, and we can identify that, and be able to show them what resources are out there, and show them what a healthy relationship looks like. So the Marjorie Mason Center has been a tremendous resource for us as policy makers here at this council. To be able to be, I've been on calls where officers have seen something, and they say, you know what, this is a phone number, you're gonna get someone right now that's gonna help you, and that is the Marjorie Mason Center. And having that real time support, it's comforting for the victims, but for the officers to go call to call to know they can pass that on to a trusted resource is a very big deal as well, and I'm confident deputy chief will talk about that in a moment. So I wanna thank you for all you've done.

Councilmember Maxwell is not here right now, but you are in his district, and he's very, very honored. The neighborhood around there loves what you do. You have a lot of support, and I'm gonna pass it on to deputy chief right now, Salazar, to talk a little bit about partnership.

I put you on the spot, sorry.

That's okay.

Thank you, Council President. Up here we have detectives from our domestic violence unit, our sergeants in our SR unit, and the lieutenant from the Family Justice Bureau. And our partnership with the Marjorie Base Center runs deep. It runs we appreciate their work. But with the work they're doing in the community from a prevention intervention standpoint is outstanding. And then we'll take care of the EE, the enforcement part of it. And so we're here to show our appreciation. If there was more room, we'd bring more officers because that's how much appreciation that we have for you as an organization and what you're doing in in the domestic violence issues that we have in our community. Thank you.

Thank you, everyone. Thank you council member Carbassi and Paria. I'm Leticia Campos. I'm the chief programs officer with the Marjorie Mason Center. So I oversee all of our client services. So anything that intersects with clients. And I have a great team and you'll hear from our prevention manager in just a second, but I'm really up here just to give thanks and to continue to spread the awareness and the importance. They said it all already, but I will tell you at the Marjorie Mason Center level, especially with our prevention team and our crisis team, we see as young as 12 year olds walking through our doors that have are the primary victims of domestic violence. And so, in just the last three years alone, we've seen high increases of strangulation on campuses. We've reported two campuses, both middle school and high schools.

We have a very strong relationship with, all of Fresno PD, but definitely our SRO, so a big thank you to them across our campuses. Just a few years ago, we lost, a young lady that was a week away from graduating, and just two years ago, we lost a young lady that was a year after her graduation. So it's happening at such a young age. Earlier, in the week, last week, I believe, I gave a similar speech and I said, you know, when people ask what should I do, what do I need to do, how can I be on the lookout? And I say, talk to your kids, talk to your children about the dangers of unhealthy relationships.

And I always I always ask folks to put yourself in your shoe in in the shoes of others. I won't ask you to put yourself in your own shoes, how you wanna be treated or what you wanna know. I'm asking you to put yourself in the shoes of someone that you love, if it's your children. Imagine your child growing up and going through something like this. What would you want for them?

And then take that all in and produce it out, for that awareness. And so I'm I'm real humbled, to be up here alongside all of our community partners. Like deputy chief said, if we had enough room, we'd bring everybody because it really does take a village in order to continue spreading awareness. In order to intercept a cycle of domestic violence, you gotta start when they're young. Most oftentimes, all the clients that are walking through our doors, adult clients, were hearing, well, I started this relationship when I was 14, 15 years old, and here I am at 25, 26 years old, and I'm still in it.

So just some quick stats before I turn it over to Jessica here. So since August 2023, our local data dashboard shows more than seven thousand victims 18. There have also been over ten thousand victims between the ages of 18 and 24 showing that unhealthy relationship patterns often continue into young adulthood, and these numbers represent real people in our community and highlight the need for early ongoing prevention. So this team above all of our other teams really is getting to be proactive instead of the reactive piece, and so we just gotta keep that going and I thank you guys again for your support. Thank you.

Jessica Saylor, prevention education manager, I have the opportunity of working with all of the schools that we partner with. We're in five school districts, 43 schools, we educated last year over 10,000 students about healthy relationships, and we're seeing an increase of students acknowledging their unhealthy behaviors and their relationship red flags, and working with my team, I have two of my team members here, working with them to help acknowledge and learn new ways to approach their relationships, and so really equipping students, their toolboxes, to have healthy relationships moving forward with good communication, healthy boundaries, consent, and recognizing those red flags. Leticia mentioned it, but we would not be where we are without the help of our SROs. They are so great on campuses calling us and bringing us in, and letting students know that there's resources available to them, but thank you to the council for acknowledging February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, and I'm so excited to see what the next year holds. So

Leticia and team, we do have a proclamation to acknowledge February the month of February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in the city of Fresno. City clerk?

Thank you. Whereas each year, an estimated one in three adolescents in The United States experiences physical, emotional, or verbal abuse from a partner, and many more experience controlling behaviors, digital harassment, or threats to their own safety. And whereas an increasing amount of high school students report being physically hurt by a partner in the past year, and victims of teen dating violence face increased risk of academic failure, depression, and even self harm. And whereas college aged and transition aged youth experience unique relationship dynamics during critical periods of independence and identity development, research indicates dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking occur at disproportionately high rates among this population, negatively impacting mental health and overall well-being of these individuals. And whereas parents, guardians, educators, and community leaders play a vital role in prevention by encouraging conversations about healthy relationships, boundaries, and consent.

This can help ensure that young people know how and where to seek help when they or their peers are in danger. And whereas each February, the recognition of teen dating violence awareness month along with community partnerships such as the work of the Marjorie Mason Center and No More Peer Educators provides an opportunity to raise awareness and work to end the cycle before it begins. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, mayor Jerry p Dyer, and the Fresno City Council members do hereby proclaim February 2026 as teen dating violence awareness month in the city of Fresno.

Next proclamation we have is recognizing the beginning of Ramadan twenty twenty six sponsored by the office of the mayor, city manager, and council member Arias.

Yes. It is. Good morning to everyone. We are the last presentation but I think the most important presentation for this morning. We are here to recognize the official beginning of Ramadan. It is observed by millions of our brothers and sisters in the Muslim faith, and we wanted to take a moment to recognize that. So I'm gonna ask Hina Fatima to take over.

Good morning. Peace be to you, and Ramadan Kareem to anybody who is celebrating. So I'm Hina Fatma. I'm with CARE, which is Council on American Islamic Relations. With me, I have my colleague, Walid Tahir here.

We express our deepest gratitude gratitude to you for presenting this Ramadan recognition resolution. It's an honor for us to be standing here to accept this resolution. I also have with me here some community members, Aileen Giron and Hanan Elmis Misri. You know, their presence basically reflects our shared commitment in our towards service and advocacy. Ramadan is one of the holiest months for us as Muslims, and it is the month where we have increased prayer, increased charity, and the self reflection on towards compassion and towards self discipline.

Yeah. Sorry. It is a month that calls us that calls us to care for the vulnerable, to strengthen family and community bonds, and to renew our commitment to justice and mercy. Recognizing Ramadan acknowledges not only a time of spiritual renewal, but also the shared values of empathy, generosity, and community that strengthen our city. The resolution sends a powerful message that Fresno is a place where all communities are seen, valued, and cherished. We are deeply honored to accept this proclamation with appreciation and hope to and hope to look hope and look forward to continuing to work together to build a Fresno rooted in dignity, understanding, and shared humanity. Thank you so much.

Thank you, missus Batima. And this is a part of Fresno I love. Most people see us as the ninth most diverse city in the country. But when you come to a council meeting today, we heard from our Jewish community, and we're also hearing from our Muslim community, and facilitated by our Catholic community. And then we're gonna turn over to our Greek community, because that's exactly who we are on a day that we celebrate our African American community, and that's just a representation of who we are as a city, and we're very proud and we embrace it, and we hope that you, as a community, feel that the city loves you and that you're part of us, because you are brothers and sisters, and we take that seriously.

Our mayor isn't gonna be here today, but we shipped him out of Sacramento to fight to protect our taxes. In his place is the well versed city manager, George Ann White.

Thank you, council member. And on behalf of the mayor, it's my honor to be here today to help present this proclamation. I think we all know that the mayor talks about One Fresno, and I think exactly what the council member just said today was really a representation of that, of different faiths being in these council chambers, different ethnicities, different races, and that really is what what Fresno One Fresno is all about. So I think, I don't know what the correct terminology is, it's not, you know, I know this is one of the holiest days for the Muslim community, and so I think we honor you in that. I know it's a very important time period, as you said, for your self reflection and and discipline.

So it's not congratulations, but I think it's like we honor you and as you enter into Ramadan and know that, you know, on behalf of the mayor, we support what what you mean to this community along with all of the other members of our community. So thank you for allowing us to be a part.

Thank you. City clerk, would you read? Oh, before you read. Go ahead.

Also, you know, when I came in the morning, I was almost about to break my fast. The the the food, the breakfast was amazing, and but we we missed it. But, yeah, thank you everyone for arranging that. Thank you.

I'll Okay. I'll start with with the Muslim greeting way to greet everyone. It's peace be upon you everyone. My name is Hanan Al Mossri. It's this is my tenth year to live in Fresno, and I'm an interior designer, and I work right now as a center committee member for MAC PAC, which is Muslim American cactus, and as well, I'm the office director of a newborn Azhar Islamic Academy school for our Muslim community.

And as my past ten years living here in Fresno, I have to say, I I was working, you know, blending with my kids in the public school, doing all the volunteer work, I was enjoying myself, but I have to say this, there is always one part is missing in my heart. Every Christmas, I love to go out and say for everyone Merry Christmas. But I always felt when Ramadan started, my heart melt because I was hoping that anyone would come to me and say, happy Ramadan. I just needed it, and I did not know how this was tough emotionally, and I was like, I tried to share information about the months, I try to share love. We wanna We always wanna love each other, but we always love to feel that the love comes back to us.

And it's as simple sometimes as a word. I am a I'm a mother of a competitive swimmer and an advanced band son in high school. The first night of Ramadan, was like, you know, two days ago, he had a big event at school in Clovis North for the band, and he plays saxophone. And, it was supposed to be for us to start to prepare for the whole month's fasting. And and it was really very tough to be able to meet the concert needs with him and not being able to prepare for our food and dinner and stuff.

So those kind of things, I love for this recognition to go forward and be something more important where I do not want my son to suffer. I do not want to have to have him excused from a big event that he wanna go to and perform. I wanna be there for the school, for the effort of everyone working in the band. At at the same time, I do not want him to miss or me on having a simple dinner that is is once a year that is very very important. So I would love that our city and our city council members works to make our life more easy, and to be able to feel not only recognition and have a certificate.

I really love my this city, and I feel that the one part is missing in my heart is I wanna feel that I'm cared for with very few simple things throughout the year that will make my children feel better, and and feel that they their life is easier. And and we love you guys, and thank you so much, Miguel, for everything that you do with our community. As well, thank you so much, Nick Richardson. He's been always a great help for our community in my you know, in district in in our district, District 6, this is where I live. And But I would love to come back again and see that the city of Fresno, probably maybe we have a iftar together with the community during the months of Ramadan that is host by the city.

I I'm trying to support my Muslim children with working at the school, but I do not feel that we have to do that. I feel like working at a Muslim school community to teach some more about the religion and the Arabic language, still we do not have to be isolated to feel that we are part of the city. We should still feel the city honor us and and honor our big events. Thank you so much for listening to me and being patient today. Thank you.

Thank you. Of course. City clerk.

Thank you. Whereas Islam is one of the world's major religions with over 2,000,000,000 Muslims globally and thousands residing in Fresno, reflecting the city's rich cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity. And Muslim residents continue to contribute meaningfully to Fresno's cultural, educational, and socioeconomic vitality. And whereas, Muslim Americans have played a vital role in the history and development of The United States, making significant contributions to fields including medicine, agriculture, education, science, business, law, public service, and civic engagement. And whereas the city of Fresno recognizes the important role of local mosques, organizations, families, and community leaders who promote service, interfaith dialogue, and community care through charitable efforts that strengthen the broader community.

And whereas Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting, spiritual reflection, and increased charitable giving, emphasizing values of compassion, generosity, self discipline, and community. And whereas the city of Fresno formally recognizes the observance of Ramadan two thousand twenty six as expected to begin at sunset on 02/19/2026 and continue for one lunar month, concluding with the celebration of Ayid Al Fatur and extends its respect to the Muslim community while encouraging residents to acknowledge this time of reflection, gratitude, and unity. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, mayor Jerry p Dyer and the Fresno City Council, do hereby proclaim the period of February 19 to 03/19/2026 to be the holy month of Ramadan in the city of Fresno.

Thank you so much, council member. And we're going to move on to our last proclamation.

And that will be a proclamation for American Heart Month sponsored by council member Vang.

Thank you. Thanks, council member.

Good morning. Good morning. I, would have to agree with my colleague Arias that we did save the best for last. And so, this is the last proclamation of the day. Thank you very much, council member for your continued support.

Can I have, Lauren Bruno, doctor Jose Sanchez from the American Heart Association, and finally, Laura Wilson from American Red Cross? And, thank you very much for coming. Today, we recognize American Heart Month and raise awareness about heart health in our community. Heart disease continues to be one of the leading cause of death in this country, in the Central Valley, and in the city of Fresno. There are a few keys that, we can help to reduce that.

That is education, prevention, and early detection. And also, that's key for every health issue, not only heart. And so keep that in mind. And these are just simple simple steps such as regular checkup once a year, mammograms, etcetera. Healthy eating, you know, we are tempted to stop by McDonald's on the way home.

We are tempted to stop by Chipotle on the way home, and I am guilty as charged. But again, a healthy eating habit is key. And, understand the warning signs of, what can lead to a heart attack. Again, going back to education. And I wanna acknowledge the American Red Cross here and the American Heart Association for providing life saving education, training, research, etcetera, for our local community.

We must continue to work towards equitable access to health care, and that is the key, to make sure that the valley is healthier, that the valley is taken care of, because these health issues do not discriminate based on your color. It does not discriminate based on your location, where you live, your ZIP code, etcetera. So this month is a reminder that we need to take proactive steps to better help our heart. And as my mother used to say, my late mother used to say, take care of your heart, and your heart will take care of you. On a personal note, my father and my father-in-law both passed away because of heart attack, and so this is near and dear to my heart.

And it should be near and dear to everybody's heart. Here is a, starting statistics. Every thirty four seconds, there is someone who died of heart related issues, who passed away, every thirty four seconds. So by the time that I've been speaking, there are five or six who have passed away. And also, every forty seconds, someone suffers a heart attack, which leads to complications.

And so we are reminded again that the city of Fresno does more than just make policies, does more than make sure that our streets are safe, but we have a responsibility to inform our community that a healthy city, a thriving city is what we aim for, and part of that is also the health issue. And so for today, on behalf of the city of Fresno, we proudly recognize the month of February as American Heart Month. And, before I, put this down, you know, I am happy to say that, yes, a majority of the council members who come up here, they have one proclamation, but today I have two. And so I'm proud that, yes, council member Aras, if you're still here, we did save the best for last. And so let me present the proclamation to American Heart Association and American Red Cross.

I am happy to be here on behalf of the American Heart Association to accept this proclamation declaring February American Heart Month. My name is Jose Varel Sanchez, and I am an American Heart Association board member in the Central Valley. And I would like to express my sincere gratitude to councilman Brandon Bang and the entire city council for this recognition. Heart disease and stroke are our number one killer our number one killer. Chances are we all know someone who has been touched.

But the good news is a majority of cardiovascular disease can be prevented through education and lifestyle changes. American Heart Month serves as an opportunity to honor those we have lost to heart disease and stroke and also inspire action for better health. Community members can take inspiration from American Heart Month and do something good for their heart, like scheduling an annual wellness visit, taking a walk, or preparing a heart heart healthy meal for their families. Information, ideas, and resources about heart healthy living is available on the American Heart Association website heart.org. That's really easy to remember, heart.org. Thank you so much councilmember.

Thank you so much and thank you for, including, the Red Cross in this proclamation because we do also agree, having awareness of healthy, being healthy in prevention is critical. But it's also important to understand the signs and be prepared if something happens. We know that only thirty percent of adult population is comfortable should something happen. So in this room, if they're talking about thirty percent, how many of you would be comfortable if something were to happen right now? Right?

So of the things we think is really important to remind everybody is to also look at taking first day CPR training. So that if something happens, you have the ability to react and to take care of people. Those critical, critical moments that can make all the difference between whether somebody lives or dies if they have a heart attack. If you don't have the ability to get in and take a full on class, we have the ability to at least teach you hands only so that you can have that ability in those moments as well. But if you wanna learn how to do that, you can also visit the American Red Cross. Go to redcross.org backslash take a class and you can schedule an opportunity to get that that as well. So best is prevent. Right? Let's prevent. But if something does happen, be prepared to react and take care of people. Thank you.

It is, February 19. And for those of you who are still committed to your New Year resolution, that's great. Those of you who don't have one or have broken yours, let's commit starting today to have a healthier heart. Thank you very much. Clerk, could you please read the proclamation into the record? Thank you.

Thank you. Whereas heart disease remains the leading cause of death in The United States, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, cardiovascular disease claims one life every thirty four seconds, while heart attacks occur every forty seconds. Cardiovascular care is also increasingly costly, and individuals impacted by health care limitations and socioeconomic barriers experience more difficulty accessing critical care. And whereas the American Red Cross remains committed to its mission to relieve suffering around the world, The American Red Cross has raised awareness by creating heart health education, including tools to differentiate between heart attacks and cardiac arrest, recognize symptoms, undergo first aid training, and reduce risk. These efforts to make vital health information accessible to the public have saved lives.

And whereas cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke continue to impact millions, and comprehensive and coordinated prevention and management strategies are essential to address its increasing prevalence and improve patient outcomes. And whereas American Heart Association is dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, including the Central Valley Division, serving Fresno, Inyo, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, and Tulare Counties, has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years, funding groundbreaking research, advocating for the public's health, and providing critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. And whereas American Heart Month serves as an opportunity to honor the lives lost to cardiovascular disease and to strengthen our collective efforts to achieve accessible, high quality cardiovascular care that promotes healthier living and longevity. And whereas on this nineteenth day of February, the city of Fresno encourages all Fresno residents to take proactive steps towards better cardiovascular health, support health education, and advocate for the expanded equitable care for our most vital organ. Now, therefore, be it resolved that we, mayor Jerry p Dyer, and the Fresno City Council, do hereby proclaim the month of February 2026 as American Heart Month in the city of Fresno.

Thank you very much, council member Vang, for bringing that very important item to our attention. It has been a it is a busy month in February. That's for sure. So next, we're gonna move on, and thank you again to the audience for being so patient, to the council member reports and comments. And we're going to start with council member Arias. Council member Richardson.

Alright. Thank you, council president. And thank you to the 94 volunteers that we had who showed up at the very January to help us with our Beautify Fresno event. It was almost one ton of garbage picked up in Blackstone and Abbey area. We were out there. It was a great time. Good fun. Good music. And we left the place far more beautiful than we found it. Congrats to UCP, United Cerebral Palsy, UCP plus who had us out for a tour of their fantastic facility on Maple Knees, providing vital resources to not just the cerebral palsy community, but those with other disabilities around our community of varying ages up to 80.

We're excited to come back and participate in more of your events. Had a great panel with some great beer last week. So thank you to those who put that on and those who attended, including my lovely wife. And congratulations to the fifth graders in Miss Hildreth's class at McCartill Elementary School, who won our competition and made Valentine's Day cards for the vets who live in the Fresno Veterans Home. We delivered them, and there were tears in eyes. And they were just so excited to see beautiful drawings and lovely messages these kids wrote to veterans that they do not even know just to make sure they knew that someone was thinking about them on Valentine's Day. And that's all I have.

Thank you so much, council member. And while we wait for council member Vang to come back, I'm gonna move to council Okay. Well, I'll do some comments and then wait for the next person to come back. Just a couple of brief things. One, I really do want to thank my staff for the work they did arranging a press conference earlier this week on a very rainy day in Fresno, but we had Jim Costa in here earlier. Over the last two years, we've been working to secure more federal dollars to support the San Joaquin River. Growing up in Northwest Fresno, a couple miles away, had no idea there was a river there, and in fact, it's the second largest river in California. Imagine if you live on the West Side or in Southeast Fresno or anywhere in the city. This is our natural treasure. It is our playground.

We should have access to it. And for decades, there have been a lot of folks, council members before us, people at the county, Madera County, and a lot of dedicated volunteers as part of the San Joaquin River Conservancy working to restore access. The Conservancy now owns thousands of acres back into the hands of the public along the river, but the key is access through Fresno. And I do want to thank the mayor and the administration, city manager for their work managing the River West Fresno project, which will break ground later this year. It's going be a key component of access through multiple points throughout North East and Northwest Fresno for everybody across this region, including the West Side.

But what Congressman Costa was able to do, we applied two years ago and finally got $2,000,000 in federal funds, which is a lot of money back to invest to increase access to the river, whether it's ADA access or improvements at Camp O'Shea and or improvements along the Eaton Trail. And that's going to go a long way to ensure that the next generation of our kids will be able to grow up in Fresno and know they can literally go for a short drive or bus ride and be just on the edge of the city at the border. And it's like they're not even in Fresno anymore and enjoy the natural environment. So thank you so much, Jim, for your work on that. Later today, a couple of my colleagues and myself will be holding a press conference in regards to the health insurance situation for not just the thousands of city employees in this city, but also anyone that has Blue Shield coverage.

We want our city employees to know that we hear you loud and clear. And we're going to we're exploring every option possible to ensure that we can get this issue remedied because you shouldn't be losing access to inpatient care at the Valley's Level one Trauma Center. God forbid, anything should happen. So that's our dedication to you. And with that, I'm going to move back to Councilmember Vang.

Thank you very much, Council President Carbassi. Just a few comments to report from my office. I had the opportunity to attend Fresno Unified's honor band and orchestra performance at Roosevelt High School, and this is the district's the best of the best. This is their all pro at the instruments that they play, and so I was honored to be there. And, of course, the venue at Roosevelt High is one of the very best high school venue that we have in the Central Valley, so congratulations to all those students.

I also had the opportunity to attend Kalwa Elementary School's first Lotteria Night, which is their bingo night. Families, students, community members were there, and there were prizes donated by my office and community members to that event. And so I wanna thank Vanessa from the community schools for coordinating that at, Calwat Elementary. And, also, I wanna thank, public works. They have been proactive in preparing for the recent storms, including today, this morning, in filling the potholes ahead of the second round of rain.

So far so far, my office has not received any complaints about flooding in the district, knock on wood. And, again, thank you to Public Works for that. And finally, I wanna make an announcement about the, waste tire amnesty day. That will be held on Saturday, February 28 between 8AM until noon at the Hanoi Shopping Center located on 4218 East Butler Avenue. If you have any questions, please call coenforcement division at 621-8400.

And again, that's (621) 840-8400. And this is the Waste Tire Amnesty Day going on, scheduled for February 28 from eight a. M. To twelve noon. Thank you very much, Council President.

Thank you so much, Council Member. Okay. So moving on to the City Manager. Oh, I'm sorry. Ready to go. Council Vice President and then City Manager.

Yeah. Thanks, Council President. Sorry. So, again, I wanna thank everyone who joined us for the Black History Month reception and just the proclamation this this morning. It was great to be able to honor Nancy Whittle once again. So thank you to all. Just a little bit about what's been going on in in District 7. Recently, our district seven staff, along with dedicated volunteers, participated in the Beautify Fresno cleanup event over at Webster Elementary. It's always great to see the community come together to improve our our schools and neighborhoods. And so, as always, a very big thank you to all those who volunteered.

You know, we're making Fresno a cleaner and more beautiful place, one person and one cleanup at a time. Earlier this month, we celebrated the ninety fifth anniversary of the Mexican consulate in Fresno. I joined council president and council member Arias in in honoring them. As many of you know, the consulate provides vital services to our residents and serves as a very important connection to Mexico for for many families from assisting with their documentation to fostering their cultural ties. They remains a pillar of support for for our community.

So proud to have marked that milestone and look forward to continued collaboration with them. And lastly, probably my favorite here, I was very thrilled to attend the grand opening of El Premio Mayor's new location in District 7. If you haven't ever tried the tacos at El Premio Mayor, I I recommend that you do. They're life life changing. And, you know, they've been around since 1996.

It's kinda it's a beloved restaurant. Both both locations are located in District 7. We're now three locations, this this being the third. So it's it's grown from just a food truck into one of, again, one of the best taco spots, food spots within in Fresno. And again, all three locations over in District 7. So we're excited to see this small business grow and remain committed to our residents there in Central Fresno. So if you want to try some tacos for lunch today, they've got a spot over at Shields And Maroa. They've got a spot over at these guys are laughing down here. I'm I'm They

like tacos.

They like tacos. They've got their newest location over at first in McKinley where the old Popeyes was and then their original location at normal McKinley just down the street there. So Council President, that will be it for my report.

Alright. Thank you, council vice president. Council member Richardson, I believe you have one more thought.

Yes. One thing I left off. Thank you. Alright. When I was talking about the Veterans Valentine's Day cards, some people were smiling and nodding their heads. Well, this is your chance if you like veterans and or being nice. We've got a veterans home donation drive that we're putting on. So familiar with, Sequoia Brewing. They have two locations. They have one down there on Olive in District 1.

We've got one up on Champlain and Perrin in District 6. At either of those locations, both of them, you will find a box for donations for the Fresno Veterans Home. They have a little canteen, a little commissary in there where the veterans can go get dry goods. These will include nail care products, shower caps, scarves, blankets, men's razors, combs and brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, washcloths, shampoo, shaving cream, and grooming supplies. If you have any of those and you'd like to give them to a good home, I'll even throw Q tips in there.

It's not on the list, but probably Q tips. Sequoia Brewing, either one that you know about, you can go in there, grab a beer and some calamari rings, whatever you like, and drop off some dry goods. For the veterans home, they'll be going going directly there. This will be open for the entirety of the month of March. So look forward to seeing those there. Council president, that was my last point, promise.

Oh, not a problem. Thank you so much, council member. It's good information. Now the city manager.

Okay. I have a few things today. I feel like I've stored up So on I have a lot of recognition of staff, and I think it's important even though, you know, these are people's jobs and, you know, that's why we employ them to do this type of work. I think sometimes when people go above and beyond, it's important for us to recognize. And I wanna start with one that I forgot to do because it happened over Christmas.

And we had a pretty significant waterline break at Mini Wawa And Pit over I believe it literally was Christmas Day where we had 13 feet deep water. And we had crews out there working in several inches of standing water to try and troubleshoot, get the valves closed, you know, go door to door to let people know their water is gonna be turned off at a terrible time, Christmas. I think this neighborhood banded together because the houses whose water were turned off, their neighbors had hoses connecting to their homes to be able to have water in their homes. But we had a whole gaggle of city employees out there that were just so Johnny on the spot, and just total commitment and exceptional commitment to the residents of Fresno. And there's a whole bunch of names and I'm gonna zip through them really really quick.

Thomas Correa, Mike Bacconi, Roberto Vittucci, Jose Rangel, Travis Rogers, Jimmy Lopez, Joseph Sanchez, Rick DeLira, Jesse Trevion, Daniel Garcia, Augustin Antunes, Mike Jeff Battalion, Billy Sanders, Orlando Sovena I'm I'm so sorry Orlando. Julio Cuevas, Jacob Seltzer, along with our leadership staff. Amazing. And then, I don't know why this always happens on holidays, Christmas day, let's fast forward to this past Monday, also a holiday, and a break in council member Sparza's district at Millbrook and Bond that had a neighborhood also dealing with a significant water break where their water had to be turned off and boil notices. And in addition, the team banding together, streets coming out to there was a pole that was at risk of falling over in the in the water, and they were able to get out there very quickly to stabilize that pole.

So I don't have the specific names of that team, but I also wanna thank all of the DPU water staff and public works staff for their efforts in getting that situation under control very quickly. Last but not least, I'm sure all of you have heard about a project we have going on at Blackstone and McKinley. And obviously, you know, the city had 18 properties that are involved in in one way or another, and we've had vacant buildings and and fires, and we were able to get capital projects and general services purchasing together a team to get everything in line to get those buildings demoed very, very quickly. So we had a little bit of a slow start, but boy, we then moved like gangbusters to get the vacant buildings that we have possession of down. And I want to acknowledge the people who were involved in that.

Adam Lee, Tamara Clark, Nancy Bruno, Elsa Reese Delgado, Adriana Gonzalez, Julie Zach, Deborah McGarry, Andrew Escobedo, Brett Wong, Robert Kron, Brian Kujawski, Antonio Buena Denix, our fearless leader in capital projects, in addition to the general services department purchasing staff, Brian Barr and Melissa Perales, who are very instrumental in getting us through a very quick informal bid process. I'm sure I've missed other people. Nick Mesilla, my ACM, who oversaw that effort. So thank you. Any people who I have missed, thank you so much.

When we come together, it's amazing what we can get done. Last but not least, I wanna talk about the mayor's not here today. He's actually not in Sacramento. He's in Berkeley. Today is the League of California City's board meeting where the vote is happening on the redistribution of sales tax for online distributors.

We have been fighting this effort. I know council member Arias has been very involved in this as well. And unfortunately, a proposal has made it through the League of California City's committee structure to make it up to the board level. This proposal would have our sales sales tax change from the current distribution where because we have the centers, we get a 100% of the revenue to a fifty fifty slip as to where the sale was instituted, that would result in anywhere of a 12 to $15,000,000 loss of sales tax revenue in our general fund. We feel very very strongly that the purpose of the League of California cities is to protect cities and unite cities.

This has been extremely divisive within the League of Cities because there are winners and losers pitted city against city. And frankly, we think we're very very disappointed that it has made it this far. So anyway, the mayor is sitting at the board meeting today doing everything he can to be able to get this issue voted down. So that's why he's not here today. I am on the edge of my seat.

The meeting starts at, I think, 01:00. So I'll keep you all posted if we're still in session. But I asked Santino, who's with the mayor, helping to staff the mayor today, to text me as soon as the vote happens because I'm on the edge of my seat. Not that a league vote can implement this, but I think using the bully pulpit of the League of Cities to promote an issue to the legislature, think is a pretty dangerous situation. So that's that's all I have council members, and I appreciate you allowing me the time today to take

a City look at manager, just for the benefit of the public. This to me is a pathetic power grab. I wanna be very clear for the public. So we have these distribution centers here in Fresno. We bear the burden of those distribution centers. And now someone, let's say in Berkeley or someone else that orders something supplied by our distribution center, they're gonna get half that tax revenue for doing nothing.

Correct. And And it's my understanding that this initiative was originally started by the now retired city manager of Rancho Cucamonga. And apparently Rancho Cucamonga has a lot of brick and mortar, like mall, really great stores, I'm sure. And so it was like, we need to protect the brick and mortar. People are going to order online, first of all, we don't want distribution centers in our city.

But for those of them of due, we want to capture 50% of the revenue. So I think the mayor always uses the example as, right, so Pismo Beach, right, it's called Fresno Beach. Right, how many people do we have going to Pismo and

Right.

And Morro Bay. And we don't go to them and say, hey, we want half of your revenue from all of our people that are there over the summer. We don't go to Disneyland and say, hey, we want the revenue of our people that go to Disneyland. So the idea that one of our economic development drivers that we had in our city that, as you said, we bear the burden that other cities would, after the fact, come in and be able to capture 50% of the revenue, which was never what the plan was, is really, really disappointing and frustrating.

Well, it's a slippery slope. I know Council Member Arias is going speak in a moment. It's a slippery slope and we can play that game too. All those tech companies, we benefit from them. Maybe we'll start saying, hey, you have ads in our community, we're going to start taking revenue from all those Facebook ads and Instagram ads and all that stuff. So if they want to start going down the slippery slope, we're going be very aggressive to protect our tax Council member.

I would simply add council president that of no that city that's proposing this change actually passed an ordinance that doesn't allow distribution centers to open in their city. So they didn't want the traffic impact, the diesel truck impact, or the pollution impact, but they wanna keep the revenue that those distribution centers generate. So it's been a debate. We defeated it twice. I think we'll defeat it a third time.

I did just wanna take a moment, council president. I'm supposed to be at a joint Fresno and Chaffee Zoo and Fresno z z Fresno z z authority meeting today that's happening as we speak. But I just wanna bring it to the manager's attention that today they're discussing the initial design for the zoo entrance, and there is quite a bit of disagreement. The zoo authority, which I would agree with them on, disagrees with the initial drawings and designs that the Fresno Zoo Corporation has submitted for consideration. So we shouldn't anticipate that the mayor will also be involved in that process in the city because it is a very significant phase of Fresno and the zoo in the city park, and that discussion is going lively as we speak.

So I I do appreciate support the fact that the Fresno Zoo Authority has continuously honored their role as called out in the tax measure, and is holding firm on a higher standard of design, and an element that represents the best that we have for a amenity that serves millions of people every year.

Thank you council president. Thank you so much council member. TJ?

Thank you, council president. I just wanted to make the announcement in addition to our social media presence and the information on our website that our warming centers are open this evening some from 7PM to 7AM. They're at Ted C. Wills Community Center, Musqueda Community Center, and Maxey L. Parks Community Center. They're also open tomorrow evening from 7PM to 7AM. There's free fax transportation. We accept animals, and there are cots and blankets available at the sites. Our website is continuously monitored and updated. As the temperature drops below 35 degrees, then those decisions are made in terms of when it's opening.

So if you go to our website, type in the search warming centers, it brings up a three or four day look, and you can see when the centers are open or closed. Thank you.

Thank you so much, TJ. Okay. Moving on again. Thank you to the public for being patient. We are a little bit behind schedule. We still have our consent calendar. We do have a couple of time sensitive items for closed session have to be discussed as well. But we're gonna try and move through this, of course, with allowing time for proper public comment and council member discussion as well. So next is the consent calendar. Do any council members wish to register a no vote, abstention or recusal on any consent items? As a reminder, pulled items will be heard after the consent. We will. But I'm asking the first part of it. Public comments after.

Yep. Council president, I do want to put an item back on the consent calendar. I had my questions answered by assistant city manager. It's item two h will be turned back to the consent calendar.

And just to confirm, city clerk, do we have to reopen the agenda to do that? No.

We can remove that and put that back on the consent Okay.

Great. So two h as in helicopter is put back onto the consent calendar. Okay. Any other council members wishing to have any items removed from the sorry. Any council members which register a no vote, abstention or accuse on any consent items before we take public comment. Okay. There being none, we're going to now take public comment on all consent, including contested consent items as well as closed session items. Any member of the public wants to speak on a consent item, contested consent or closed session, this will be your opportunity. You'll get three minutes. This is not for unscheduled communication.

So if anyone wishes to come forward, please do so. I do have some cards here, but most of them seem to be for an item that's timed or an item that is an unscheduled item. And we will, of course, get to you when the item comes forward or when we get to unscheduled communication. So, again, anyone on consent, contested consent at closed session? And then, Des, I did promise that we'll get to your unscheduled before lunch. Unless you wanna do it now.

Soon. I feel like I'm about to have a heart attack. Y'all need to call somebody. You know, coming here fucking sucks. I have severe anxiety.

And to come battle you guys, I need to talk about the fucking consent, but I'm having anxiety attack right now. So I'm trying to do it in a timely manner and fight this fucking anxiety. On the consent, you guys are sending youth to shelters. Come on. I'm fighting a battle out there right now. We're gonna take money, and we're gonna give it to organizations. And I'm worried about one of them because they're currently in litigation right now for wage theft. What are we gonna do? Wage theft the kids? We have had my own daughter worked at a shelter.

She never got into what she's into right now until that, and I have preached against youth working out the shelters, being around crisis shelters. You guys are going to fail these kids, or is that the point? Because we're all minority anyways, low income, best way to wipe us out is put us in a position where people are gonna be subject to things that the youth shouldn't be around. That's not what my anxiety is for. My anxiety is for everything that's been happening in Fresno these past couple weeks, that I gotta speak on consent.

And I'm really concerned because my own daughter, you guys have seen it, everybody that's watched my page, knows how much I regret asking her to go work there at 18 years old. I regret it because look where she's at now. Look what she's doing now with her life. All the all that happened when she was influenced because of stuff that she's never seen before. This is what you're gonna do to this youth. I don't understand. They better be working in an office somewhere, you know, helping out with paperwork. But if you put these kids and keep on putting them out there on the streets doing outreach, you're subjecting them to a lot more. You have officers in schools and high schools to protect the children. As soon as they graduate, just throw them into the wolves.

Right? Let who cares what they see then? You got officers protecting our high school kids, but you're not protecting them once they graduate. This makes no sense. Please make it make sense.

Do not allow any organization to use the youth eighteen to twenty four in any outreach or in any shelter. Seriously, you guys will be subjecting these kids to things that you guys talk about that's out there already. Help protect them. Show us that you're gonna protect our youth, because they're gonna be sitting up there, and I hope they do make it to sit up there. Don't allow them to work inside the shelters, don't allow them to do outreach, and I mean trauma informed care and counseling for this youth because the stuff that you see, I'm dealing with eleven years of the shit that I've seen on the streets, and it's gonna take me a long time to get over this trauma. So I am proof in front of you of what happens when you're constantly dealing with what's out there.

Thank you, Des. Anyone else would like to speak on consent, contested consent, or closed session? This will be your time. You'll have three minutes, and please identify the item on the consent calendar or contested that you're commenting on or closed session.

So I guess I'd like to speak on was it closed session?

Which item?

The one that's gonna be. Is that if you keep doing

schedule items. Is there a particular item you wanna speak on? There now. But Which item, ma'am? Think if you wanna speak on unscheduled communication, we will come to that point where you can speak on anything. But if you're gonna speak at this time, our rules require it to be on consent, contested consent, or closed session, and you'll have to identify the item you wanna speak on.

Okay. So all those items are closed

Mhmm.

Closed. They are we being sued on each and every one of those? Is that what's going on?

Are you guys Is there

a particular item you wanna speak on? You're just going No.

I just noticed there were so many cases in litigation. Is this from, like, errors that were made up here?

Yeah. Just

I did speak.

You you have two

And I'd

like to know yeah. Oh, and I guess whatever's on the calendar, I I'd like to speak when it gets presented just like they do. County just where you like to be like speak. When it's presented so I can have the most info.

All right. Anyone else wishing to speak on consent, contested consent, closed session? Okay. Thank you all again. So we're going to move this back to the council. At this time, is there a motion to approve the balance of the consent calendar? Moved by council member Arias. Is there a second? Second. Second by council member Merving. Any opposition from the council? There being none, the consent calendar balance passes six to zero. Thank you so much. So we do have contested consent. We have two items left on contested consent.

But we also do have it's 11:09AM. We do have a time sensitive item that has to be discussed in closed session before the lunch hour. We're going to break in just a moment to go to closed session, the Ross will be read off by this by the city attorney. It's a little bit of a different day, I apologize. We may come back before lunch, report something out from closed session and resume business. But if we don't come back by noon, we'll return at 01:30 after lunch and continue with the rest of the business for the day. Now, Des, I did promise you before we break for lunch or break out of here, if you want to actually take the time and come early, we'll still have unscheduled. But if you want to speak now or do you want to do it after lunch? Okay. You'll have three minutes, Des.

City hall continues to block community led proclamations while approving the same familiar names year after year. That's not one Fresno. That's selective recognition. You celebrate people but refuse to acknowledge the land that you stand on. You salute and you praise, yet you won't offer a simple land acknowledgment. Inclusion isn't real if it's controlled. Unity isn't real if it's selective. One Fresno should mean all of us, not just the chosen few. Also, you need to update your Brown Act book. I'm not finding the s b seven zero seven, which means that you guys need to start allowing Zoom as of June 1.

It's the law, and you guys are supposed to be working on that. So I just wanna let the community know that it is the law, s b seven zero seven, that you must start doing Zoom as of June 1. So if you can update this because I don't see that in here. Also, the travel lodge, we have Kurbasi, if you can, speak to Phil Sky, I was notified by Fresno Rescue Mission chief operator that they were notified by Phil Sky that they only have to use 12 units over at the Travel Lodge on Blackstone for coordinated entry system and can utilize the rest of them for whatever he wants. This is, wrong information.

They're using Project Homekey and Encampment Resolution Funds, which means they have to use it in the two areas that you guys have chosen. And the the expenditures end on June 30. I'm going to correct, this because Phil Sky told me that they're gonna end compliance with this project on 06/30/2026 because that's when the ERF round two ends. Well, it's not about compliance, Phil, it is about, that's the end when you're supposed to spend the money for round two. You have to forever be compliance, and I don't see a covenant in there.

Where's the covenant? Because we utilize state funds. I just wanna make sure that we're putting this out, that that travel lodge that was turned into, is not just supposed to be for youth shelter, and I'm gonna keep on pushing for that. So if you guys can please act fast, we have a lot of youth that have been sitting in shelters for two years. Also, Clinton Camp, I reached out to all y'all. It's a shame what happened yesterday.

The county one?

It is the city. I was on no. You guys don't understand. They were 10 feet from the city line, 10 feet. And if it didn't rain, I would have them on the city side because I was just gonna take them off the wall. The temple, I called them, I talked to them. It's a shame what the report went out. It really is because that's not what he intended. He said this camp remind him of the refugee camp that he grew up in, and he did not want it destroyed. He only reached out to the media to get your guys' attention and the county's attention, anybody's attention to help the folks, but not everybody got help.

They got a three day motel voucher, so in three days, well, two days now, they'll be right back out there. And there weren't everybody was not taken. There were people that were left behind, and, yes, 18 people did want services and two didn't because those are the ones with the trailers. So not everybody got it. So I hope that they get the reports right. You guys can come out there and see for yourself. Talk to the folks yourself. They will tell you.

Thank you, Des. And I'll talk to Phil. Okay. With that, we are going to break for closed session. At this time, the city attorney will read the closed session roster, and then we will potentially return before lunch. If we're not back by twelve, we'll be back at 01:30.

Thank you. Today in closed session, we have Item 5A, conference labor negotiators, all units listed on the agenda. Item five b, conference with legal counsel, anticipated litigation, Leavitt versus City of Fresno. Item five c, conference with legal counsel, anticipate anticipated litigation, one potential case. Item five d, conference with legal counsel, anticipated litigation, City of Fresno versus Centers of Veterans Group LLC.

Item five e, conference with legal counsel, anticipated litigation, one potential case. Item five f, conference with legal counsel, existing litigation, Kerley versus City of Fresno. Item five g, conference with legal counsel, existing litigation, Tutelian Company Inc. Versus City of Fresno. Item five h, conference with legal counsel, existing litigation, Park Seven LLC versus City of Fresno.

Item five I, conference with legal counsel, existing litigation, Baskerville versus City of Fresno. Item five j, conference with legal counsel, existing litigation, City of Fresno versus The United States Of America. Item five k, conference with legal counsel, anticipated litigation, city of Fresno versus Zhao, Hu Jin, Gujong, Hong. Item five l, public performance evaluation, city clerk. We may have reportable items after closed session.

Thank you, everyone.

Good afternoon, everyone. Council has taken a break for lunch. They will return at 01:30, and they will go straight into closed session when they return. Thank you.

Thank you all. Thank you all for your patience. We did resume 01:30 back into closed session. We didn't finish all of closed session, but we did review the items that were more time sensitive. And city attorney, is there anything to report out of closed session at this time?

There is nothing to report. Thank you, sir. Okay. Moving on. And again, we're out of rough order today. We do we do, of course, have contested consent, and we have the scheduled items. We are gonna go in a very different order because I know people have been waiting. I had a request to hear the 09:20 a. M. Hearing to consider the adoption of the Central Southeast Area Specific Plan and related environmental assessments. I'm going to ask council members, do you want a staff presentation on this at this time? Yes, sir. Do want a presentation?

Yes, I

do. Okay. So we'll start with the staff presentation if we're ready to go, City Manager. No, I have no question. We're going to reverse order. Yes. Sure. Yeah. Thank

you. Yeah.

On my mic. Thank you. And I will click the clicker. Alrighty. Is it on? Let's see. Great. Good afternoon, council president, members of the council. I'm Sofia Pagalatis with the planning and development department, and I'm here to present the Central Southeast specific plan and related environmental assessment for your consideration this afternoon. We'll get the slides up here in just a minute.

Alrighty. It's not showing up above Bernard. There we go. The Central Southeast specific plan, the plan area encompasses 2,067 acres and is located between Downtown Fresno and Sunnyside, a 100% within city limits. As such, the plan represents an opportunity for infill growth, development, and revitalization of an established community.

The

plan overlaps with the 1971 Butler Willow specific plan and the 1992 Roosevelt community plan. Both were considered in this planning process. The recommendations in the Butler Willow specific plan intended to regulate the now vacant IRS facility and surroundings have either been implemented or are outdated. Most of the Roosevelt community plan is now outdated, however, some recommendations are still relevant and were carried forward in the Central Southeast specific plan. The staff recommendation includes repeal of these two plans.

Here's a more detailed view of the plan area bounded on the North by Belmont, the West by 4th, the South by Church, and on the East by Peach Avenue. The plan area includes familiar community institutions such as the Fresno Fairgrounds, the Mosqueda Center, and Fresno Pacific University, as well as several schools and parks. The area has a population of about thirty one thousand and nine thousand five hundred homes. Whoops. There I go with my happy finger.

Community engagement was really important for this planning process. It was extensive. A 15 member steering committee made up of neighborhood residents, business owners, and community organizations met throughout the process and helped to synthesize community input and inform the staff and consultant on planning issues. In addition to the steering committee meetings, the public outreach included stakeholder meetings, workshops, surveys, mailings, and networking reaching an estimated 1,000 participants between 2018 and 2021. As the planning process progressed, it became clear that the community had big ideas for several geographic focus areas.

These eight areas include revitalized sites, more connected corridors, and additional housing supply. The Cesar Chavez corridor, is number one on the map, could connect a revitalized UMC hospital site, number two, mixed use infill on the Asian village shopping area, which is number three. The Orange Avenue Main Street idea is on the west, number five, converting Orange Avenue to a mixed use walkable Main Street with potential retail and community center uses at Butler And Maple Avenues, which is number four, and the vacant IRS site on the eastern end, number six. These could contribute to a revitalized Butler Avenue corridor. Further south along the California alignment, there are several vacant parcels that represent opportunities for more housing and these are the yellow sites that you see at number seven on the map.

And finally, the Business Park Employment District area applies to parcels shown here in number eight in light blue, which right now is a PG and E substation. Land use changes are proposed to implement some of these big ideas and we'll discuss those in just a moment. In 2020, the guiding principles, big ideas, and proposed land use map were initiated by the city council through resolution twenty twenty dash one forty seven, enabling the completion of the specific plan and the commencement of the CEQA process. Once initiated, the plan itself was drafted with the help of Ramey and Associates and a team of sub consultants. Public outreach and engagement continued right into the COVID nineteen pandemic at which point the interaction moved to an online format.

The specific plan chapters address key topics and will provide highlights of the top two, land use and parks. The top land use goals of the specific plan call for activating key corridors and providing more housing. Goal l u one calls for continued transformation of the Cesar Chavez Corridor into a walkable and lively place. LU two calls for a series of neighborhood supporting hubs along Butler. LU three calls for the gradual transformation of Orange Avenue into a neighborhood scaled Main Street, and l u nine calls for increasing the housing supply to accommodate households of all sizes and income levels.

Here are the proposed land use changes in the specific plan. Of the total 2,067 acres of plan area, a 119 acres or less than 6% are proposed for change. All of the changes except numbers four, eight, and ten add housing capacity. Land use change four would add an opportunity for a commercial use to activate the street along Butler and changes eight and ten are proposed to align with the existing uses on the ground today. The specific plan identifies more parkland as a top priority and since the initial engagement, the Southeast Fresno Sports Complex is now under construction.

This 49 acre park will provide access within walking distance to the southeast portion of the plan area. And that brings us to the environmental assessment. The assessment prepared for the specific plan was a mitigated negative declaration. It was recirculated to remove the reliance on the general plan PEIR. The public comment period was December 19 to January 19 and six comment letters were received timely.

These were mainly communications from partner agencies confirming project level requirements. One was also from the Sunnyside Property Owners Association expressing concern about scenic corridor preservation. A comment letter from FID was received after the deadline and has been provided for your information. According to First Carbon Solutions, who is the environmental consultant, and by the way, they're they're on Zoom now if we need them, none of the comment letters have raised issues that require further environmental analysis. The airport land use commission reviewed the plan in 2023 and found consistent with the airport land use compatibility plan by a seven zero vote, and the council district five project review committee voted to recommend approval of the plan on June 12.

As you know, we need to make several findings when we bring before you land use changes. The Housing Crisis Act whoops. I'm skipping ahead. Sorry about that. The Fresno Municipal Code requires consistency with general plan goals and policies and the development code.

This specific plan meets that requirement. In addition, housing element findings require maintenance of our regional housing needs allocation commitments and this project also meets those requirements. As a matter of fact, the proposed land use changes on the three housing element sites within the project add 489 dwelling units of capacity to the lower income category, reduce moderate income category by four units, and reduce above market capacity by 218 units. The housing crisis act prohibits any loss of housing capacity in comparison to 2018 zoning. The proposed specific plan results in a capacity gain of at least 2,938 dwelling units, therefore it's in compliance with SB three thirty.

The city is now also required through a b six eighty six to affirmatively further fair housing because the specific plan proposes goals and strategies for improving access to transportation, housing at various income levels, parks, and economic opportunities, it is consistent with the obligations to affirmatively further fair housing. In October 2025, a mailing was sent to all property all owners of property with proposed land use changes, informing them of the change and requesting a response if they were opposed to the change. The city received communications from owners of five properties proposed for change prior to planning commission. These are shown on the map in front of you and described in exhibit s of your staff report. All of these requests are seeking to keep the land use designation they currently have under the general plan rather than the specific plan proposed land use.

And what you see there are the actual land uses proposed in the specific plan and we're identifying which property owners we heard from. All proposed changes have been evaluated according to two criteria, one is impacts to housing capacity and two is whether the change would be within the scope of the environmental document. All of these changes are found to be within the scope of the environmental document and they do not cause housing capacity issues. As a reminder, any legally established business on property that is rezoned would maintain legal nonconforming status as long as it was legally established. After planning commission, staff received an additional land use change request for a portion of the parcel on the Northeast Corner Of Maple And Butler, and that is the dark brown parcel along the Butler alignment that you see basically in the center of the plan area.

This is depicted in your staff report in exhibit t, and it's called out as land use change request g. The existing site is vacant. It's currently planned and zoned community commercial. The plan proposes to redesignate a portion to residential urban neighborhood. The property owner has asked to redesignate to corridor center mixed use.

Since this is not reverting back to a general plan land use, additional environmental review would be required, and this site would also need to be evaluated by the planning commission. We're also asking for a minor technical change to pages forty one and forty two of the plan, the land use table to remove the density limit on NMX and CMX zone districts consistent with our development code and the mixed use text amendment that occurred in 2022. The planning commission reviewed the land use change requests a through f, all but the last one, and recommended approval contingent on the proposed changes within this being within the scope of the environmental document. One comment letter was also received in support of the plan. Planning Commission's recommendation did also include incorporation of the requested technical change.

That brings us to staff recommendations which are listed in your staff report. They are to recommend approval of the environmental document, the plan amendment which would repeal the Roosevelt community plan and the Butler Willow specific plan, a plan amendment to adopt the Central Southeast area specific plan and accompanying planned land use map, to amend the general plan land use map for consistency, and finally, to rezone a 119 acres of property within the Central Southeast area specific plan to be consistent with the land use changes. And that concludes our presentation this afternoon.

Thank you so much, Sofia, for the thorough presentation. Next portion of the hearing will be public comment. I do have some cards here. This is an opportunity for anyone here to speak on this item. We'll have three minutes to address the council before we bring it back to council for discussion. So if you wanna come forward, I do have Dirk will have you go first, but I do have some cards from folks too. So Dirk, you'll have three minutes.

Thank you. Thank you so much. Dirk Push on. My business address is 923 Van S here in Fresno. Are planning

Dirk, can you move the mic a little bit? Apologize. More Better? Towards There

you go.

Better. Sorry.

Thank you. There we go.

Again, Dirk Pushel, 923 Van S here in Fresno. I'm here this afternoon on behalf of the Gandulia LaPopo family, who own approximately 9.5 acres generally at the Northwest corner of Floridora and Chestnut. They've been participating over the past five years with your staff, have attended multiple meetings. The advisory committee recommended that their property be their density be increased by one land use category to urban neighborhood, as did your planning commission. We ask that you do so.

The 16 to 30 units is more incompatible with the market that we believe is going to be necessary at that density for these properties to develop. We thank you for your consideration.

Thank you, sir. Mister Brazza, you'll have three minutes, sir. And then followed by Debbie McCann. And if anyone wants to fill out a card, please do. This is the time on the 09:20AM hearing. You have three minutes, sir.

Thank you. Thank you, mister president, members of the council. Jose Ambaraza. I'm a Fresno Southeast Fresno resident, and I am also a board member of the Southeast Fresno Community Economic Development Association. I'd like to thank your counsel for placing this item on the agenda.

It's very important. It has been delayed for a long time, something like five years since it had been started. So it's been around for a while. I also wanna thank mayor Jerry Dyer because he looked into this and helped us expedite it. And I'm glad we're here trying to adopt this very important plan that is it's going to improve the picture of what's happening in Southeast Fresno.

There's land use matters being addressed. Things like mixed use that is very beneficial for certain parts of the district. I also want to point out that, overall, the plan does a good job. A problem that we still have is a lot of poverty. And if you don't address the problem of poverty, if you don't improve the buying power of residents, it's gonna be keep be a lot more difficult to attract small businesses to the area.

So it's pretty basic. And and and but I think this is a good start. But I want to speak about something that's very noticeable that that I hope your counsel takes some interest in. The abandoned buildings. We have the UMC with broken windows, blight all around it.

The Hanoians market with homeless in front of the building. The I'm missing the the the IRS building with very tall grass, like, enforcement doesn't exist for them. If we, as small I mean, as residents, have a lot of grass in front of our yard, we get code enforcement that start bugging us. We should do the same for with the property owners of those buildings that are abandoned and that are vacant. Then and they're also I was very surprised to see how many places exist that don't have sidewalks.

And that should be a high priority for the safety of our children as they walk to school. It's also unfortunate I noticed that some of the studies that were being incorporated were completed in 2015. That's more a little bit more than ten years. So, that has taken a lot longer than it should to to adopt those, and and we should start already noticing some improvements. Now, in conclusion, I just wanna say that this plan means nothing if there's no real commitment to make Southeast Fresno a higher priority for funding of some of the projects that are being identified.

The project does a very good job with a lot of good ideas. But good ideas that don't get implemented mean nothing. So thank you, mister president, for permitting, addressing your counsel.

Right. Thank you, sir. Next, we do have Debbie McCann.

I just speak into this? Thank you. Hi. I'm Debbie McCann and I'm here for the Sunnyside Property Homeowners Association or Property Owners Association. And normally Sue attends. She's here today but only because we were so late. Wasn't gonna be able to be available earlier this morning. But I prepared something which is that first of all I'd like to thank whoever it is who organized all this. The plan is actually wonderful that you put together the Southeast plan, and the problem that we have, we only have a couple of little things that were, details that we're worried about. One is the size of the property that is excluded from this plan is quite large.

And if you if we drop if it's been recommended that you drop the that we drop the Roosevelt plan and also that the specific the Butler Willow specific plan be dropped. And that the problem is is that both of those plans support one of the things that our neighborhood is most concerned about which is the historic trees on Butler that are a 120 years old. Some of them are maybe older than that, but it's their that's a huge issue for us that we want to keep those protected, and those are protected actually by the community plan, and we are concerned only that if you delete those two plans, we'll be left without a tool to take care of replacing trees as they they got knocked down or they got hurt. And that's the only complaint that we had. Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, miss McKenna. Again, this is for the 09:20AM hearing today. Is there anybody else wishing to provide public comment? Yes. Please do come forward. I believe we have one person here. You can come forward first, and then we'll follow you right after. Sorry. She was coming pretty fast, so we're gonna let her go first. If you could just state your name, and then go ahead and provide your comments.

Good good afternoon, council president, council members. Monique Emerson with Precision Civil Engineering. So I'm here to speak on behalf of the property owner of the property located on the Northeast Corner Of Maple And Butler Avenues. There was a request made to the city staff to change 6.6 acres of this property to CMX. And I just wanted to clarify that this land use was request was made in June 2024 to staff.

And at that time, the city indicated that $62,000 would be required in order to amend the environmental document. So that fee was paid in September 2024. So by all accounts, the city, you know, they indicated a fee was due. The fee was paid. And that was with the understanding that this change would be incorporated into the CEQA analysis and into to the plan.

And the CEQA analysis at that time was being redone because of the the issues with the PEIR. So it was good timing at that time. And it wasn't until the CEQA document was recently posted for public review that it was discovered that this property was not included in the analysis. And we haven't, staff hasn't really provided a good reason as to why the property was not included in the analysis. So we request that that the decision on the plan be continued until this property can be incorporated into the CEQA analysis and into the plan. Thank you.

Thank you so much for your time. Yes. Come on forward, ma'am.

Good afternoon. Sue Williams. I live out in the Sunnyside area, and I want to thank you all for listening to us today, and especially mister Vang for opening up discussions to listen to our concerns. It's rare that you get an opportunity to discuss something with somebody that can make a difference and we really appreciate that. We have The problem we have is we generally are supportive of this plan But like Deb said, we are fearful that the plans that replace it will be repealed.

And those plans are the ones that are in protection for the area around Sunnyside. Notably the trees, but also the traffic calming device at Peach And Butler, which is a safety precaution for our area. And we feel that the environmental document didn't adequately address the trees because the trees on one side of Peach on the historic register, the trees on the other side of the Peach are not, but they're on the at the same standard trees. So hopefully by retaining the documents that protect those trees and protect the area that is not included in this plan, which goes all the way to temperance, it will address those things until a new plan can be developed. So thank you. I appreciate your listening.

Thank you so much. Again, anyone wishing to come forward that hasn't spoken today on the 09:20AM hearing, this is your last opportunity to do that.

So with all these changes, does that mean that they have to go back and do something in our in our capacity?

Anyone else wishing to speak on the 09:20AM hearing? Okay. So I'm gonna close the public comment portion of the hearing and bring it back to the council. I do have council member being punched up before we go there. Before any council members get anything on the record, because this is a public hearing and that will be considered in any proceedings, I wanna ask a question of the city attorney as to form. City attorney, have you received any legal notices or correspondence threatening to take legal action against the council if you move forward today?

Related to this item, yes, and I forward it to the council.

Okay. I only ask that question because this just happened and we don't have a closed session agendized item to discuss the risk, legal risk or the veracity of the claims being made. Anyone can sue for anything. But in recent years, especially with SADA, this chamber was packed, people threatening to sue us. I think for me to move forward, and this is not about the merits of the plan, I think the public is pretty clear how they feel.

But I don't feel comfortable moving forward without legally considering the legal risk here. And then I don't want to say anything on the record without knowing the legal analysis that could jeopardize that. That's just my take on it. I like to see how my colleagues feel. But I would strongly urge that we entertain a motion I'm going to make to table this item, now that we've had public comment, to a later time when we can have a proper legal analysis and not want something done at the last minute.

Council President, I have a question for legal counsel.

Thank you. There's a motion and a second, but of course council member Arias.

Legal counsel, is there any pending litigation on this matter? No. Is there any active litigation on this matter? No. Is it the intent of the city to bring back this matter connected to an Elm rezone? What?

I don't think I'm qualified to answer that question.

Can I have the city client director?

Which item is that?

Alm Rezone.

Good afternoon. Jennifer Clark, the director of planning and development. So there the only item that has been agendized for today is the consideration of the Central Southeast specific plan.

If this item were to come back, director, would you bring it back in combination with another item unrelated?

I I can't speak to that.

Well, who would who would put on the agenda? Wouldn't it be your department that put on the agenda?

So it was it was tabled by the city council by actually council member Perea. I believe it was August or September.

I need to look at this specific something not agendaized. It's not agendaized. On. Hold on. This is not agendaized. Hold on. Hold on a second. My concern is specifically about the legal issues with this particular item, not connected to anything else.

But that's not my question, council president. My question to city planning director is simple. When you bring this item back, if this motion passes, would you bring this back connect it with an unrelated item, specifically the Almiry Zone? Because you control that. You're the one that places items I on the

don't think that we take into, you know, take into consider it. Like, we bring forward this item was ready to go, we brought this item forward. If this motion passed and we have a closed session next week. You know, we've got a meeting a week from now, and we put this back on the agenda for next week. If the Elm rezone is ready next week to go on the agenda, then it could possibly go on the agenda next week.

So I'm not trying to pair our items. I'm really concerned because my motion has nothing to do with Elm, which is an old item. Here, about the legal. I don't want to connect the two. Right. That's my concern.

But your motion was for legal reasons, right? You wanted to give

Specific to this Right. So Okay.

So I guess what I'll say is we have another meeting next week where there's time to put on a closed session if this is what the council wants. And if you guys wanted to continue it till we would bring it back next week in anticipation of you having a discussion closed week.

The other question though is we just got this letter that we saw. I'm not an attorney. It looks complicated to me. Is a week enough time, or do we have to wait till the seventeenth?

To be honest with you, I've been doing other things today. I have not even looked at the the merits of it. I couldn't possibly tell you how long it would take for me to go through

it with my I don't want to get into public conversation on the merits of an email that we we just received that none of us have been even able to read. So that's not the the the basis of my question.

But there are noticing requirements Right. Why I'm asking today.

But I've been here seven years, and we have never delayed an item based on an email that we're getting while we're in the So I wanna be thoughtful.

Secondly That's not true. That's not true.

Secondly, I I have the board council president. I have one question for the city planner. Where's the bell? City director, How many housing units would this item generate if it was approved today?

I I think we we analyzed a little over 2,900. It could be more.

Okay. Thank you.

Yep. And and I wanna get into policy. That's one of my concerns too that we're under reporting those numbers, but I don't wanna get into that. That's the thing. Before we get anything on the record, I think we should find out what the legal risk actually is. So my motion still stands. Any council member Vang, think you're punched up.

Yes. Thank you very much, Council President Karabasi. City attorney, the information that you received this morning, what time did you received it?

Council member, it came in at 09:33AM.

As I recall, that was about the time that we commenced, today's meeting. Correct?

That is correct.

Okay. How many pages are attached to that letter?

None. It's an email. Okay. It's just an email? One paragraph email, essentially.

One paragraph, and you have time to read that one paragraph?

I have had time to read the paragraph, but I haven't had time to discuss with my legal team, the implications of that one paragraph.

And how did you disseminate that paragraph to other council members?

I sent it in an email to the council at approximately 01:55PM.

So it took you five hours to do that? You received it at 09:30 something and 01:00, you forwarded to all council members?

Yes. Okay.

And so we're at, 02:39? That's correct. When do we come back to, closed session?

I'll have to refer to the clerk.

I believe it's about 01:30.

This afternoon's closed session, it began at 01:39 p. M.

Okay. I have not had that opportunity to review any documents while I was in closed session post 01:30 today. And so I'm not privy to any letters or any communications from the senior attorney's office to my office. I'm ready to move forward with this item here as, members of the public have stated. This plan has been in, I believe, on record for the last six years.

About two years ago, it was tabled again. Director Clark, since the last time this item came before this body, has there been any material changes to the Central Southeast Area Specific Plan? And I believe it was two years ago when it was tabled.

Yeah. Thank you, council member. So the the main changes have been the Cesar Chavez Boulevard was re renamed. Right? So there were significant administrative changes that needed to be completed in the plan. And because of tabling, the environmental analysis had to be revised because time had passed and the we could no longer rely on the PEIR, so the analysis, the environmental analysis had to be revised, and that was completed and published on 12/19/2025.

And so today's Central Southeast Aerospace Specific Plan along with the CEQA is up to

date? Correct.

Okay. Another question, director. The information that was provided to us by miss Emerson regarding the property Northeast of Maple And Butler. Could you allude to any any information as to the fees that were collected for that the property and as to what that fees came from and the manners of

that fee? Just real quick, that's a good question. I want to be clear. It's not related to the motion, but it is related to the item. Should we focus on the motion or can that be answered right now? We're discussing the item, but there's a motion to postpone because of legal reasons. So if it's fine, we'll discuss it. But part of the reason is holding off is so we don't say anything that chooses in the foot prior to having a legal analysis. That's all.

Council President, I think it's fine because it

will inform Good enough.

Those of you who gonna be voting on the side.

Got it.

Okay. Thank you. Good enough.

So council member, there was a request to add a, an additional parcel and to change land use from the plant from the plan that was presented to planning commission. It would need to be considered as a separate item, not inclusive of, this action unless the council decided to recommend that this change be considered, then it would need to go back and be reviewed by planning commission as well as additional CEQA. It could be amended. So the original, request was to amend the specific plan after it was adopted with an addendum to the CEQA. So until the plan was, prepared and the CEQA was created, so again published on December 19, then the work for the amendment and addendum.

It could absolutely be heard if it was ready at the same council meeting to amend the plan at the same day that you adopt it with an addendum, or as I said, it could be the council could say, yes, we wanna make that amendment, send it back to planning commission, do the additional CEQA, and come back to council as one item. So those are really the two ways to do that. Yes, but it was always requested as a separate track, it wasn't a part of, and so I will say that it was always intended as a separate application, So it was not part of the land use requests that we received.

Thank you for

now. Yep.

Council

president, I I have some comments before

I'm sorry. I have Council Member Richardson punched up.

Of course.

And then Council Member Prea and then on a couple more people too. Yes, Sorry. You're good? Council Member Prea.

Thank you Council President. Planning Director just to follow-up on your previous statement. The application for I think what Ms. Emerson was speaking about was submitted was it back in 2024 And was it the request at that time to be included as part of this plan adoption? I don't know who can answer that.

So I can. It was included in a separate application for another item that is not being heard today.

Okay. And I appreciate the residents that came forward with some concerns about what how approving this plan would impact the replacement of two existing plans. Are there any policies in this plan that addresses the preservation of the historical trees on Butler?

There are and if you would allow me I would like Sofia to answer those.

Yes please. Thank you.

Thank you, council member Perea. There is a policy on page one eighty three of the plan that does address protection of scenic corridors. It is it is a general policy, but it is there. And also, I would mention that our general plan also calls out scenic corridors, and it does call out Butler East Of Peach, not West Of Peach.

So with that with that is that strong enough to say we cannot remove any of these historical trees unless they pose a direct safety hazard to the public?

Plan policy is somewhat general in nature, so the the council may may wish to consider, you know, making that language a bit stronger. There could be some options there. But there is a policy that in general that covers it on page 183 of the plan.

Okay.

I would like to see something a little bit stronger. Is that a change that we could make from the dais without having to kick it back for further analysis?

The question is whether if we included stronger language about historical preservation.

Of trees.

Yeah.

So council member, that's a really good question. I you know, I the council certainly has the ability to make revisions that would strengthen a policy. And in you know, if it is nominal in nature just to strengthen the policy, I don't see that that would need to be recirculated to planning commission or to have additional CEQA.

Okay. Yeah. Because in Tower District we have very strong policies that are specific to important elements to us when it comes to the preservation of our historical resources. And so I just want to be sure that we are being intentional with strengthening these preservation policies because I know how important these trees are If to the

you were to add a policy or to remove a policy, more than likely that would need to be recirculated to Planning Commission. But if you were to revise policy e 1.5 regarding planting of additional trees and preserving existing or potential scenic corridors, you could certainly make an addition or a modification to that policy it was minor in nature, but it created that strengthening that you were desiring that wouldn't require recirculation.

Okay. I would like to do that, whether that's today or in the future. I would like to see, and perhaps you can propose some language. I want to make sure that that is clear as to what exactly the intent of what we're trying to achieve with that. And then, Sofia, I don't know if you would know the answer to this, but there was a public comment about a concern with a large area being excluded from this specific plan boundary. Are you familiar with what they're alluding to?

I'm I'm going to take a guess, and that is and and perhaps we should verify with the commenter, but I believe what was being stated there was that the plan calls the adoption of the plan as now structured calls for the repeal of the Roosevelt Community Plan. And this plan, the Central Southeast Specific Plan, is a only a small portion of that Roosevelt Community Plan. So there's nothing missing or from the Central Southeast Pacific Plan area, but I think that was meant to be a comparison that repealing the Roosevelt Community Plan extends beyond the boundaries of this specific plan. Understood. Okay. Yes.

You know, I'm I'm supportive of this plan, generally speaking. I'm I'm done with questions, Sofia, thank you. I definitely want to be a part of the council that pushes this plan forward and that approves this plan that I personally feel is long overdue as was a number of our other plans. You know there is a motion to table, and if that motion is passed, I would like to spend a little bit more time with the residents. Just kind of learning different, specifically what about traffic calming, you know, can we do to, can we update to strengthen the integrity of those policies within this new plan.

I have not read the two plans that potentially will be replaced. And so I would like to see if there's anything else that potentially we are losing out on by replacing them with this new plan. I have not taken a look at whatever email came forward today in regards to a potential threat of litigation. And so I would like to take a look at that and see if there is anything. And I don't know what property that is attached to.

But I would like a little bit more time to mull that over. And if there was an application that was submitted back in 2024, and again I don't know if the request was for it to be included as part of this plan update or not, but I would like to see everything brought together in a wholesome approach. And so while I am supportive of this plan, and I do want to see it over the finish line. I think there's still a few different gray areas for me to where I would like just a little bit more time to make sure that we get it right on this this go around, especially because it does mean that we are replacing two other community plans. Thank you.

Thank you council member. I have council member Arias followed by council member Vang.

Thank you, council president. City planning director, you referenced that the item that the speaker was referring to, which is related to the email that we received, was related to a different project. What project is that?

I I can say that the letter council member indicates it's the Elm Avenue project, and I just wouldn't wanna go beyond

That's fine. Beyond that. I I just wanted confirmations for the public. So, you know, miss Brunette Harris is in the audience today. And for years, she's been constantly advocating and reminding us of promises that we made to West Fresno and how we have engaged in some business practices outside

of

the public transparency view of the folks that it impacts. And I continuously try to do better than previous members of this body, and ask that if we're going to make decisions about things that impact somebody's neighborhood, we should tell the neighborhood about it. This, what we're about to do today, smells really bad because it is really bad. Earlier this morning, we received a notice here that a member of this body wanted to remove this item from the agenda. Ultimately, this body said, let's keep it on the agenda because it's been in development for six years.

Residents have been asking for this. Then magically, we get an email in the afternoon saying, if you don't keep this item on the agenda, we may litigate you. Then nobody wants to say, what's that about? Under this umbrella of we haven't read it, we haven't analyzed it, and let's only discuss this issue because it's the only issue on the agenda. But we just received confirmation that really the other issue that they're trying to move is a rezone of 50 acres in West Fresno.

By delaying this item today, we allow this city to rezone 50 residential acres in West Fresno to heavy industrial use in the light of day by completely being blatant. And and this is one of those moments where I apologize to the administration and to the city manager, the city planner, the city attorney because they are being put in this predicament where there's a clearly behind the scenes coordinated effort to engage in this act while telling them they can't say anything publicly because it might expose us to more litigation. This is dirty and I could only tie it to folks who are actively trying to fundraise from industrial developers for political reasons on why this is taking place this way. We would never do this to North Fresno ever And we are trying to sneak in a rezone of 50 acres that are currently for residential construction to heavy industrial by holding up this project that has been worked on for years. And so to my colleagues, I wanna be very clear.

I'm gonna be very public and very transparent about what's taking place and what's being attempted today, because we should not operate that way as

a body. So I was the council member just referenced. I'm gonna make some comments before council member Vang speaks. I did request earlier for this item to be removed from the agenda because like council member Paraja, I have legitimate policy concerns. I think I can get there on this item, but this is a dense land use item. It's not my district. It's something I'm not familiar with. But the planning commission vote wasn't that long ago. We need more time. We're not here to rubber stamp anything.

Land use is within our purview as a council. So some of us need time to consider the history of this item, to meet with staff and ask tough questions. So I did remove that request because I felt that, well, let's hear the discussion. I don't wanna take away the public's chance to speak. What really concerns me is some members of this council after seven years just don't understand when you don't get your way, it doesn't give you the right to make baseless accusations without any facts to support that, and which can cause serious reputational harm to others. I'm the council president. I will not stand for it. Put up or shut up. Stop making baseless accusations. I take my oath in this job very, very seriously.

No matter if it happens in North Fresno or South Fresno, it's the city of Fresno. It impacts all of us, and we have a responsibility as council members to review this item. Now there is a question of whether or not we are going to have legal issues moving forward. We just had a major land use item come forward with SADA, and this room was packed and people made all kinds of accusations. This council didn't just move forward and approve that item, we sent it back to staff asking a lot of questions based on public input.

I see waiting a little bit of time to have a proper closed session so we can discuss this item and know what we're doing before we do it. So we don't waste millions of taxpayer dollars or thousands or whatever it is in a lawsuit is not unreasonable. But I will not stand for accusations without any merit or evidence meant to harm any council members reputation. I don't give a damn who it comes from. It's inappropriate, and you owe an apology to this council, sir. Councilman Mervain, you have the floor.

Your campaign manager is a lobbyist for the 50 acres in West Fresno that wants to be rezoned. Let's put up or shut up.

Let's put shut up. Up Let's talk about consulting We'll next look at yours too, sir.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Again, there is two parts to the City Of Fresno. There is a south and a north part. I am ready to move forward with this item. I'm ready to vote for this item with some modifications. Again, it appears that Southeast Fresno and Southwest Fresno is being screwed over and over again. I live in the city for a very long time. My education started with McLean High School. I came back to the city to reinvest in this community, in particularly Southeast Fresno.

And yet, here at city hall, I believed when the mayor says we are one Fresno, and today demonstrates that we are not one Fresno. Since my time here on the Dice on April 10, we have passed specific plans elsewhere, and there was no mention of any legal issues ten days before or ten minutes before the discussion of those plans. And so when people tells me, it is fair. It is fair. Every time the city gets accusations of legal threats and we fold, nothing will be done here at city hall.

The staff has done their due diligence. They're ready to move forward. I'm ready to move forward. This plan started six years ago. Six years ago. And the changes to this plan is, what, 119 acres out of thousands of acres. Very small in terms of percentage compared to the other plans that were passed during my tenure here. This is minuscule, minor. Stop playing politics here on the dais. Represent the people who elected you to this position, not the next position you're seeking.

We are here at city council. Seven of us represent 550,000 people, and I'm going to represent the people in District 5. And I'm gonna fight for them, advocate for them. And I said, let's discuss this agenda item. And if we need to, make modifications to promotions to change.

We have heard directly from people who live in District 5, people who live in Southeast Fresno, who they want and how they want this item to be changed or to be modified. Let's listen to those people. And I do strongly agree with my colleagues from Southwest Fresno. Again, at the end of the day, the Southern Side, the Southeast Side, Southwest Side of the city of Fresno is being left behind far too long. So let's start playing catch up together as one city.

And that is my message to the people here in the city of Fresno, and it's a message to the people in Southeast Fresno. Thank you.

Council Member Raya.

Thank you Council President. I just want to note that I'm a little embarrassed by those that are politicizing this agenda item. You know, we just recently voted to delay SADA. Because most everyone up here wanted more time to mull it over. And we are about to approve another big plan, which I've stated I'm very supportive of. I think asking for a little bit more time to make sure we get it right. Because there are several concerns that were raised today that I'm hearing about for the first time. I don't think that's politics. I think that's good planning. So I'm not asking to deny this project.

I'm just asking for a little bit more time. I want to make sure we get it right. And I want to make sure my policy concerns are addressed. Thank you.

Thank you, council member. Council member Arias.

Thank you, council president. I I don't object with council member Praia's notion of more time. If the question is simply to have a conversation in closed session and bring this back for a vote, I'm fine with more time if people need time to read it. What I'm not fine with is attaching this to a separate item from across the city and not allowing staff to actually say that on the record as that being truth.

But that is not my motion. That is not on the agenda, and you completely just made that up and brought it out here and put a lot of drama out here for no reason. That's going come back

to Council president, council president, simply commit to not bringing this item the same day that you have the reason, and I'll support

didn't put this item on the agenda. You act like I have total control.

This is an

Can we get that

commitment can we get that commitment from the city planner and the city manager that they will not bring those two items the same day? If if that's in a case, then I'm supportive of it.

In a month? Where's the time for that?

Well, I can tell you I mean, we can bring this item back whenever you want us to bring it back. Right? Obviously, it's ready to go if you guys I don't know how much time you need. So whenever I do want to know because it's tabled. So I do want to make sure that we're clear on when you would want us to bring it back. Because otherwise, it's just going to hang out in limbo. So for those of you that need more time, it'd be good to know how much more time. As far as Elm, I don't know enough about I think Jennifer can answer where that is in the planning process, if we're allowed to I don't know.

Attorney Maybe to answer your question, city attorney city manager. For those of us trying to do our jobs, we just need enough time to hear this in closed session to understand how we can give you instruction on how to proceed. Okay. We haven't had the closed session. So I can't tell you when to put it back on the agenda. We need the closed session, which will happen at the earliest opportunity next week. There is no legal mechanism for us to hear this today in closed session.

Okay.

I mean

I I would simply know that any item, unless it is continued to a date and time certain, would require noticing, whether it is this item or any other night item. So if, as the as the city manager said, if you told us when and we announced it here today, it would be x date at x time, then we would not need to re notice because it would be continued rather than tabled. But if it is tabled to no date and time certain, then it would need to be re noticed. That's and that just that takes time.

Well, was my hesitation. If we hear this next week and we discover in closed session, oh my gosh, we're exposed because of x y and z, to hear it the same day waste all that time and money. That's why I'm

The date and time doesn't matter.

It's just Oh, it. It.

So just consider it again. Date and time that's certain, whether it's next week or next month, that doesn't

That's that's not the relevant

my hesitation. Doesn't Can I

ask you one question for clarity council president? So I I just wanna make sure I understand. The option is to continue the item to a date certain, and that wouldn't require re noticing. Or to continue it indefinitely, and then that would require re noticing when we actually hear the item. Correct? Correct. The problem is So what's your preference?

Speaking for myself, I don't know how this council is going to decide to proceed Okay. Without having that closed session meeting.

So it's fair to say that's continued without a certain date, so it would require renoticing?

Possibly. Yes. If that's what the decision It would. That's what's

being said. Yes. That's the period I was looking for.

Another option, you could absolutely do that, and we could renotice it. And that's just that's just time and a little bit of money, but not much. Or you could continue it to, I don't know, two weeks or Well, it's

next week or March 17 of the next two

hundred Okay. So March 17. And then if you still need more time at that point, then you can continue it again to a date and time certain without having to re notice. That's an option I just throw out there for you. It's totally within your hands.

Yep. Unreasonable. Council president, would you be comfortable going to the city attorney and asking him how long he thinks his legal team would need to give us good legal advice? Because I I think that's the majority of homework that No.

I I totally get that. But as he said earlier, I mean, he's been out here working. It's not much time to actually look at the item. We don't know. I mean, no matter what, we're gonna hear this next week. It'll be on closed session. He'll give us some update. But then we're gonna have to go back there and see, is there enough time? I don't think that day I'm guessing that day won't be enough time. Do you wanna do it on the seventeenth? And then city attorney?

The nineteenth, I think.

I'm sorry. The nineteenth.

I'm sorry, council president. I missed the tail end of that.

Wanna go ahead

and What we're suggesting is in order to, avoid the time and expense of having to re notice if it's just tabled, that we continue this item to the March 19 meeting to a time certain. And if at that point in time, additional time is still needed, there could be another continuance not requiring re noticing again.

I I agree with that. Was there something more to that? Okay.

Did I answer your question, council member? Okay. Mine didn't have a certain date in mind because I didn't know what was the result of the closed session gonna be. I was assuming we'd come back the seventeenth or later. I didn't think it'd be next week. I don't know.

For certainty. What what's your intention?

Could we have the clerk read the read the motion?

Yes. The motion at this time is to table the item with no further date that was made by council president and seconded by mister Maxwell.

I guess I figured that would give us the flexibility as a council to discuss this in closed session from a legal standpoint, decide we're moving forward, renotice, give the public another opportunity to speak at another hearing. That's, I guess, where I'm coming from.

I understand your intention, but just as I understand the rules, if that motion, as stated, passes, it would require renoticing.

Yes. That's and that's correct. Right? Okay.

Okay. That's what I wanted know.

Okay. So any more discussion? Oh, yeah. City manager and then I have Nelson

Esparza. I'm sorry. I was just gonna offer up that suggestion.

Council member Esparza and then council member Bang.

Yeah. Thanks, council presidents. This is why I tell everyone to to I know to tune in on Thursday to the greatest show in Fresno. You never know what's gonna happen up here. I'm, you know, a little disheartened that the sort of politicization of of the item, I didn't know it was gonna be such a hot topic. But I am also simultaneously encouraged. I think, you know, just kinda listening to everybody. I think there's the support there here to to pass this item. I'm not sure about today, but I'm encouraged that the support is there. You know, this is something that's important to me, it's important to the residents that I I represent.

I've had several meetings with different constituent groups and resident groups, nonprofit groups about about passing this. And so I'm adamant that we do pass this in the relatively near future if that's not going to happen today. With respect to the email, I have not checked my email either. So I have not read that. I look forward to kind of seeing what's going on.

Even then, not an attorney. So we are gonna rely on on advice, hopefully, in a closed session this following week. So that addresses that part. But I did have a question either for the director or, I guess the the prospective applicant, about the the the rezone that was requested, to CMX. What what is the what did the current plan propose for that particular parcel?

So it's commute so it's a portion community commercial and currently, and the revised plan, because it's it's actually has a building on it today, so the committee had recommended to retain the community commercial in the corner. There is a somewhat vacant parcel not being utilized to its full extent adjacent, which is being proposed as urban neighborhood. That boundary crosses over a single property, so the request would be to take a portion of the urban neighborhood and a portion of the community commercial and make that whole area corridor mixed use.

And does that, does that increase the the amount of housing units that could be built on that?

Yes. Okay. Because of the, as you know, mixed use has no maximum density. However there is a presumed maximum based on-site constraints and the development code requirements. But it it does increase capacity significantly on that property.

So do we know from the applicant if that's their intention to to build housing? Do we know what the sort of intention of that was?

The the property owner I think was looking for a mix of options, So mixed use has a variety of options that can be constructed in mixed use, including retail, other commercial, office, and residential uses. So I think really broadening the the ability of marketing that particular property.

Okay.

And then from a planning perspective, why why was that just not included? Why was that decided against when brought forth?

So it it came it was after the plan had already been developed. And the suggestion was we can't include that in our plan today, but it could be amended. So if the council at the time wanted to amend with a separate application, either at the same day or a separate day, the council could, amend the specific plan area, the general plan designation, the zoning, to allow for an additional use. So that was the recommendation to consider, and so the applicant is pursuing an addendum to the CEQA document that was prepared for the plan.

Does that potentially, you might have, I think I alluded to this earlier, does that potentially delay the passing of this plan in full?

So that action could be taken at any time in the future. It doesn't have to be on the same date. If it was, the applicant wanted it to be on the same date for whatever reason, it could also be heard as an amendment to the plan and an addendum to the CEQA, but it would need to follow the adoption of the item, whether it's the same day or another day.

Okay. So so the adoption would have to come first,

pretty quick.

The adoption of the of the CESS has to come first for that for an amendment to the plan and an addendum to the CEQA to be approved by the council. Yes.

Okay. So after listen I mean, listening to my colleagues, and it looks like we're split on on sort of when to take a a last and final vote on this. If we are going to go down the path of delaying, I'd probably be a little more comfortable with a date certain or just kind of at least a rough timeline, just given the number of residents and groups who have been asking for this for a long time, we don't want to punt this again for another two years. I think if we're going to have a delay, it should be a very short one just to resolve these issues that have come up here recently, whether it's today or this week. I do agree we should address those things, but I I don't want to punt this another two years.

Got to get this done.

That wasn't my intention. If you wanna make a friendly amendment, we could do the nineteenth. Yeah.

The nineteenth, is that the first meeting we have in March?

Okay.

Yeah. It looks like the calendar has a couple of February and March with back to

back meetings in the latter part of the

Okay.

Not our usual, every other

That gives us the chance to have the closed session, give direction to staff based on the information. And if it's nothing, great, we move forward. If it's not, we'll decide then. But the nineteenth, is that

for that? Yes. If I may offer that friendly amendment that we bring it back on a date certain. And at this point, at least we have that on the calendar. It doesn't cost us any additional resources on the noticing. And we have, know, in seven days, we'll know what or maybe sooner if there's some legal analysis provided to us and know what we're dealing with.

09:20 again, because we need the time to.

Sure. Yeah. Same time on this nineteenth. Sure. Any more discussion on this item? I'm sorry, city attorney is punched up, then council member Vang is punched up.

Just want to make it clear, do you want us to put this on closed session next week?

Yes. Okay. Council Member, have the floor. Thank you very much, Council President. I want to reference a statement that was made here on the dais with regards to the Southeast development area.

The official term SADA, I believe, is ten years old. If we trace the history of that, development, it was SAGA and it will be beyond that as well. There has been letters, threatening to sue Sega if we discuss that, if we move forward, and yet, this body has discussed Sega. And so for historical purposes, a lot of, agenda item, has had, letters threatened to sue them, in particular SADA, but yet we have moved forward, and we have discussed SADA. And then we have voted on SADA or at least have a discussion on SEDA.

So I just wanted to put that out there that, yes, every time we receive a letter, we need to look at it. But at the same time, if the city doesn't move forward with the business of the people, then all we do is, you know, we're afraid of litigation. We're afraid of litigation, and we're stalled. And six years, is long enough for the people in Southeast Fresno because time is of the essence. A lack of change is status quo, and we cannot accept that. I cannot accept that. Thank you.

Just wanna state for the record, we have not approved SADA. We took into consideration, and we're it's an ongoing issue. We're asking questions. To expect us now to say approve my plan today. This is the first time I've seen this plan in years if ever. And we're just asking questions. And that's all we're doing. And that's part of the process. To blindly approve it today, I think it'd be fairly irresponsible. But I guess if you want to have it both ways, that's fine.

And council president, if I may, speaking of both ways, this body also denied an apartment complex on Herndon after legal counsel told us that we would be sued and lose and pay fees. And yet the majority voted to deny it. And subsequently, we've had to are exposed to millions of dollars. We lost our state for housing designation, and we have to pay a bunch of legal fees, which you did not hesitate to proceed with, even though we were on the hook liability wise.

Just for the record, was that analysis given to us in closed session that you just shared with the public?

It was in open session.

Okay. Any more discussion? Okay. There's a motion and a second. Any opposition to the motion?

No.

Two opposed, motion passes five to two. This item will come back on the '20 on the nineteenth at 09:20AM. Thank you. And sorry to the public for all the nonsense that just happened. Okay. So getting back to business. We're gonna focus on the 09:15AM hearing item. This is a rezone application P2501778. And council district four council member, would you like a presentation on this item?

I'll say that the applicant has been, you know, diligent about reaching out to me and my staff and explaining this. I don't require one, but any any of my colleagues do. Well,

can we do public comment first and come back to the council? For sure. Okay. At this time, on the hearing, the 09:15AM hearing, if we can have anyone from the public wishing to comment. Again, is on the reason application p twenty five zero one seven seven eight.

Not seeing anybody come up. We're gonna close the public comment portion of the hearing.

I might wanna say something. P 25, but is it on

The 09:15AM hearing item. Do you have comments on this specific item?

Was it pulled? This is a this is

a hearing. So it's not a matter of it being pulled. This is the time we're hearing it. It's a separate legionized item.

I gotta look at which one it is. P25. Okay. Well, if it hasn't something to do with CEQUA, I just like to let say is that when you have a big plan and

Staff, is there any sequel related to this item?

Yeah. There's sequel to everything probably. If you really, like, have a big plan and you try to piecemeal it, Say that or sequel Doesn't apply so. Yes of That's what I like say I guess.

Okay.

So all these six Sequa exemptions you're getting they really don't apply when you really have a larger plan. So you guys might wanna look at that.

Thank you. Anyone else wishing to comment on the 09:15AM hearing? Thank you for your comments. Okay. We're gonna move on to council member I'm sorry. So we did the back to the council. Council member Maxwell, you have the floor, and then council member Arias had a question.