CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026 at 6:00 PM
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER – 128 SOUTH 5TH STREET, FOWLER, CA 93625
MINUTES
1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER
Mayor Mejia called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.
2. ROLL CALL
PRESENT
Juan Mejia
Amarjeet Gill
Leonard Hammer
Daniel Parra
ABSENT
Karnig Kazarian
City Staff Present: City Manager Reid, City Attorney Santos, Finance Director Banda, Assistant City Planner Czeshinski, Fire Battalion Chief Dominguez, Community & Economic Development Director Flood, Chief Gularte, Fire Unit Chief Hail, City Engineer Park, Assistant City Manager Rocha, City Clerk Vasquez
Councilmember Kazarian arrived at 6:01 P.M.
6. CEREMONIAL PRESENTATIONS
A. Swearing in of Police Officer Luis Vasquez
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Three members of the public spoke.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion made by Parra, Seconded by Gill.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
A. RATIFY Pay Warrants for April 21, 2026
B. APPROVE Minutes of the March 17, 2026 City Council Meeting C. ACCEPT the 2025 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report
10. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Planning
A. CONSIDER the following:
i. The introduction and waiver of the first reading of Ordinance No. 2026-04 by title only, prezoning Assessor's Parcel Number 345-100-05 to the R-1-6 zone district, with an R-3 implementing zone district designation, prezoning the northern half of Assessor's Parcel Number 345-100-04 to the R-1-10 zone district, with an R-1 implementing zone district, and prezoning the southern half of Assessor's Parcel Number 345-100-04 to the R-1-7 zone district, with an R-2 implementing zone district;
ii. Resolution, finding that Planning Project No. 25-44 is consistent with the City's General Plan and General Plan Environmental Impact Report pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183, Approving Tentative Parcel Map No. 2025-45, and Approving Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map No. 6537, as conditioned; and iii. Initiating annexation of Assessor's Parcel Numbers 345-100-05 and 345-100-
04. Staff recommends the City Council introduce and waive the first reading of Ordinance No. 2026-04, open the public hearing, close the public hearing, approve Ordinance No. 2026-04, adopt the Resolution, and initiate the annexation of APN 345-100-05 and 345-100-04.
Continued to May 5, 2026
Motion made by Gill, Seconded by Mejia.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
B. CONSIDER: Adopting Resolution No. 2828, approving Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map No. 6471 and Direct Staff to File a Certificate of Termination of the Williamson Act Contract Upon Completion of the Annexation Process. Staff Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2828.
A representative of the applicant, Bonique Emerson of Precision Civil Engineering, Inc. stated that she was available for any questions.
Councilmember Parra stated that he may have a conflict of interest due to receiving a campaign contribution in excess of $500 from the President of Precision Civil Engineering, Inc. and recused himself from the matter, left the Council Chambers, and did not participate in the vote on the item.
Mayor Mejia made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2828 as amended to include a 20-foot landscape buffer located at the rear of lots 29 through 38.
Seconded by Gill.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian
Councilmember Parra rejoined the meeting at 6:55 P.M.
C. CONSIDER: Adopting Ordinance No. 2026-05 Modifying the Regulations related to Tobacco Retailers, Council waive the First Reading of the Ordinance by title only and Conduct a Public Hearing for Ordinance No. 2026-05. Staff Recommends: Council Waive the First Reading of Ordinance No. 2026-05 Repealing and Replacing Chapter 20 of Title 5 relating to the regulation of Tobacco Retailers by title only; Open the Public Hearing; Close the Public Hearing; and Adopt Ordinance No. 2026-05.
The public hearing opened at 6:56 P.M.
Leila Gholamrezaei-Eha, Health Educator with the Fresno County Tobacco Prevention Program spoke.
Council directed staff to revise the Ordinance and bring the item back on May 19, 2026, for the first reading and public hearing.
Motion made by Kazarian, Seconded by Parra.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
Finance
D. RECEIVE AND FILE the Cash and Investment Report for the Third Quarter ending March 31, 2025; Fourth Quarter ending June 30, 2025; First Quarter ending September 30, 2025; Second Quarter ending December 31, 2025; Third Quarter ending March 31, 2026.
E. CONSIDER: Approval of Resolution No. 2829 the submission of a loan application and securing a loan with the Rural Community Assistance Corporation.
Two members of the public spoke.
Motion made by Parra, Seconded by Gill.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
Public Works
F. Actions pertaining to Tract 6405:
i. CONSIDER: Approval of Resolution No. 2830 to accept the public improvements related to Tract 6405 upon receipt of the maintenance bond required by the subdivision agreement.
ii. CONSIDER: Directing the City Engineer to file the notice of completion and release the bonds associated with Tract 6405.
Motion made by Gill, Seconded by Kazarian.
Voting Yea: Mejia, Gill, Hammer, Kazarian, Parra
11. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Updates were given by Assistant City Manager Rocha, Community & Economic Development Director Flood, City Engineer Park, Chief Gularte, and City Manager Reid.
12. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Updates were given by Councilmember Hammer, Mayor Pro Tem Gill, Councilmember Parra, Councilmember Kazarian, and Mayor Mejia.
13. CLOSED SESSION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
Threat to public facilities; Consultation with City Manager and City Attorney.
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
Exposure to litigation
Number of cases: one
The meeting went into closed session at 8:19 P.M.
14. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION AND REPORT ACTION
The meeting reconvened into open session at 9:14 P.M.
There was no reportable action taken on the two items.
15. ADJOURN
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:14 P.M.