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Date Adopted:
Date Approved:
Effective Date:
City Attorney Approval: HT Resolution No.
RESOLUTION NO. ____________
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING THE SITE OF THE
INAUGURAL NATIONAL FARM WORKERS ASSOCIATION
MEETING LOCATED AT 1405 E CALIFORNIA AVENUE,
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA TO THE LOCAL REGISTER OF
HISTORIC RESOURCES
WHEREAS, 1405 E. C alifornia Avenue was the site of the I naugural Meeting of the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) at the former location of the Edison Social Club; and
WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez was an American labor leader and civil rights activist who, along with Dolores Huerta, founded the NFWA which later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) to become the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union; and
WHEREAS, on September 30, 1962, Cesar Chavez, Gilbert Padilla, and Dolores Huerta gathered about 250 farmworkers in Fresno for the inaugural convention of the NFWA, now the UFW labor union, at the fourth Edison Social Hall at 1405 E. California Street, as indicated by the convention invitations, farmworker delegate credentials, and meeting minutes; and
WHEREAS, though the fourth Edison Social Hall structure is no longer present, as it was demolished in August 1973, this location is eligible for listing on the local register due to the location’s association with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history as well as its association with the lives of persons significant in our past; and
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WHEREAS, the Council wishes to ack nowledge the history associated with the property at 1405 E. California Avenue by designating the site as an historic resource; and WHEREAS, the City of Fresno Historic Preservation Commission (Commission), at a duly noticed public hearing held on August 28, 2023, heard testimony on the subject property and recommended to the Council of the City of Fresno approval of the designation; and
WHEREAS, based on that testimony, and the presentation of facts relating to the criteria for official designation, as set forth in the Fresno Municipal Code, Chapter 12, Article 16, the Commission made the following findings:
That the site at 1405 E. Calif ornia Avenue, Fresno, CA meets the criteria set out in Chapter 12, Article 16, Section 12-1607(a) of the Fresno Municipal Code; and is eligible for listing on Fresno’s Local Register of Historic Resources; and is recommended to the Fresno City Council for adoption as a Local Resource; and WHEREAS, on September 28, 2023, Council held a duly noticed public hearing where it considered the recommendation of the Commission, and considered substantial evidence, including but not limited to, staff presentation, a report prepared by staff addressing the property’s eligibility to the Local Register, a Department of Parks and Recreation Primary Record (DPR 523A) form finding that the property met the Historic Resource eligibility requirements f or criterion (i) and (ii) to Section 12-1607(a)(1) of the Fresno Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, after hearing public testimony, and upon consideration of the recommendation of the Historic Preservation Commission and review of the substantial evidence, the Council desired to take action to designate the site of the Inaugural Meeting
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of the NFWA at 1405 E. California Avenue as a Historic Resource for the sole purpose of providing recognition of important events which occurred at this site.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE I T RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Fresno as follows:
1. Council finds that the above recitals are true and correct.
2. Council finds that the site of the Inaugural Meeting of the NFWA at 1405 E.
California Avenue is eligible for listing under criterion (i) and (ii) of Fresno Municipal Code, Section 12-1607(a)(1) based upon the evidence presented to Council in the staff presentation, staff report, and the DPR 523A form.
3. Council designates the site of the Inaugural Meeting of the NFWA at 1405 E. California Avenue to the Local Register of Historic Resources for the sole purpose of providing recognition of important events which occurred at this site. With this designation, Council does not intend to recognize any current physical feature of the site as historic nor encumber the current or future owner from their use of the property.
4. This resolution shall be effective upon final approval.
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF FRESNO ) ss.
CITY OF FRESNO )
I, TODD STERMER, City Clerk of the City of Fresno, certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Council of the City of Fresno, at a regular meeting held on the day of 2023.
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT :
ABSTAIN :
Mayor Approval: , 2023
Mayor Approval/No Return: , 2023
Mayor Veto: , 2023
Council Override Vote: , 2023
TODD STERMER, CMC
City Clerk
By:
Deputy Date
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ANDREW JANZ
City Attorney
By: __
Heather Thomas D ate
Deputy City Attorney