Wednesday, February 16, 2022
1:00 PM
City of Fresno
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
www.fresno.gov
In Person and/or Electronic
City Council
President - Nelson Esparza
Vice President - Tyler Maxwell
Councilmembers:
Esmeralda Z. Soria, Mike Karbassi, Miguel Angel Arias, Luis Chavez, Garry Bredefeld
City Manager - Georgeanne A. White
City Attorney - Douglas T. Sloan
City Clerk - Todd Stermer, CMC
Meeting Minutes - Final
Special Meeting
February 16, 2022City Council Meeting Minutes - Final
The City Council for the City of Fresno convened in special session on February 16, 2022 at 1:00 P.M.
This special meeting was heard by Council concurrently with another, separately noticed, special meeting for the same date and time.
ROLL CALL
Council President Esparza called the meeting to order at 1:06 P.M.
Council President Nelson Esparza
Vice President Tyler Maxwell
Councilmember Esmeralda Z. Soria
Councilmember Mike Karbassi
Councilmember Miguel Angel Arias
Councilmember Luis Chavez
Councilmember Garry Bredefeld
Present: 7 -
APPROVE AGENDA
AGENDA APPROVED
On motion of Vice President Maxwell, seconded by Councilmember Karbassi, the agenda was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Esparza, Maxwell, Soria, Karbassi, Arias, Chavez and Bredefeld
7 -
ID 22-141 Notice of Special Meeting - Signed
OPEN SESSION
Project Manager Ruiz gave Council an overview of the application and permit process.
City Manager White informed Council the administration would not proceed with additional awards until it has met with the Cannabis Subcommittee to bring forward an amended ordinance for Council approval.
Councilmember Arias asked about the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) process and asked after this round of appeals will the administration be starting over. City Manager White responded.
City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 2
February 16, 2022City Council Meeting Minutes - Final
ID 22-137 HEARING - Consideration of an appeal of the City Manager’s decision to approve retail Commercial Cannabis Business Permit No. C-20-3, for property located at 4248 W Ashlan Avenue (Council District 1).
The above hearing was called to order at 1:55 P.M.
The above item introduced to Council by Owner an co-CEO of Authentic 559 Jon Avidor, President of Shryne Group Tak Sato, Board Member Raquel Oriole, Director of Community Engagement Frank Sanchez, and Applicant Matt Garza.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council and spoke in support of the above item: Manny Perales, Eric Henkel, Nichole Rice, Daniel Brannick, Luis. The following member of the public spoke in opposition of the above item: Damian Martin.
Councilmember Soria discussed the following: community outreach in the District 1; lack of opposition from the community; community benefit agreement; the three scholarships with the Fresno City College, social equity; security of the facility; and the timeline of obtaining a Conditional Use Permit (CUP).
City Attorney Sloan stated, for the record, that the applicant continued to meet the qualifications set by the City Manager and City Council despite one of the owners having left the business.
Councilmember Karbassi stated, for the record, Council was not allowed to request the applicants donate to certain groups to be approved.
APPROVED
On motion of Councilmember Soria, seconded by Council President Esparza, the above Action Item was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Esparza, Maxwell, Soria, Karbassi, Arias, Chavez and Bredefeld
7 -
ID 22-138 HEARING - Consideration of an appeal of the City Manager’s decision to approve retail Commercial Cannabis Business Permit No. CSE-20-68, for City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 3
February 16, 2022City Council Meeting Minutes - Final
property located at 1142 F Street (Council District 3).
The above hearing was called to order at 2:23 P.M.
The above item introduced to Council by co-owners of High-Speed Healing Renatta Carter-Ford and Tryone Carter.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council and spoke in support of the above item: Barbara Wilson, Granville Runderson, Kehinde Solwazi, Morgan Doizaki, Waxy the Duke, and Derrick McElroy.
Councilmember Arias discussed the following with the applicant: a lack of letters of support or opposition from the surrounding neighborhoods or business; future residential housing projects in the area including the Monarch project; the design and security of the facility; and the unintended impacts of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Councilmember Bredefeld commented on Councilmember Arias' concern regarding the lack of letter of support. He also confirmed with City Manager White that the applicant had satisfied all the requirements and stated he supported the application moving forward.
Councilmember Bredefeld motioned to approve the application as presented. Councilmember Karbassi seconded the motion but made clear he intended to vote against approval.
FAILED
Councilmember Bredefeld motioned to approve the above item and received a seconded by Councilmember Karbassi . The motion FAILED by the following vote:
Aye: Bredefeld1 -
No: Esparza, Maxwell, Karbassi and Arias4 -
Absent: Soria and Chavez2 -
ID 22-140 HEARING - Consideration of an appeal of the City Manager’s decision to approve retail Commercial Cannabis Business Permit No. CSE-20-23, for property located at 505-507 Fulton Street (Council District 3).
City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 4
February 16, 2022City Council Meeting Minutes - Final
The above hearing was called to order at 2:55 P.M.
The above item was introduced to Council by Beyond Rooted Isaac Fonseca and Nathan Perez.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council in support of the above item: Gil Molina, Robert Pena, Jason Renbato, Marilyn Castro, Fred Martinez, Roman Gonzales, and Lorrie Rodriguez.
Councilmember Arias discussed the following: letters of support from residents and businesses surrounding the facility; safety plan for the facility; the Conditional Use Permit (CUP); improving area outside the fence line; and he requested to remove the "needles for joints" program.
APPROVED
On motion of Councilmember Arias, seconded by Vice President Maxwell, the above Action Item was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Esparza, Maxwell, Arias and Chavez4 -
Absent: Soria, Karbassi and Bredefeld3 -
ADJOURNMENT
The special meeting adjourned at 3:17 P.M.
City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 5