2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
www.fresno.gov
City of Fresno
Meeting Minutes
City Council
President - Mike Karbassi
Vice President - Miguel Angel Arias
Councilmembers:
Annalisa Perea, Tyler Maxwell, Brandon Vang,
Nick Richardson, Nelson Esparza
City Manager - Georgeanne A. White
City Attorney - Andrew Janz
City Clerk - Todd Stermer, MMC
9:00 AM Council ChambersThursday, June 5, 2025
Budget Hearings - Continued from June 4, 2025.
The City Council met for resumed budget hearing in the Council Chamber, City Hall, on June 5, 2025 at 9:00 A.M.
9:22 A.M. ROLL CALL
Council member Vang joined the meeting at 1:36 P.M.
Council President Mike Karbassi
Vice President Miguel Angel Arias
Councilmember Annalisa Perea
Councilmember Tyler Maxwell
Councilmember Brandon Vang
Councilmember Nick Richardson
Councilmember Nelson Esparza
Present: 7 -
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Councilmember Esparza led the pledge of allegiance.
APPROVE AGENDA
The agenda for the budget hearing was approved at the start of the meeting on June 2, 2025.
On motion of Vice President Arias, seconded by Councilmember Perea, that the above be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
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Aye: Karbassi, Arias, Perea, Maxwell, Vang, Richardson and Esparza
7 -
Z Thursday, June 5, 2025 - 9:00 A.M.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Jovana Morales, Rosa DeLeon, Damaris Sid, and Sam Frank.
ID 25-722 Office of the City Clerk / Copy Center
City Clerk Stermer presented the Office of the City Clerk / Copy Center budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
ID 25-723 City Attorney’s Office
City Attorney Janz presented the Office of the City Attorneys Office budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
ID 25-724 General City Purpose
Assistant City Manager Quinto presented the General City Purpose Department budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
ID 25-725 Office of Mayor & City Manager
Assistant City Manager Quinto presented the Office of Mayor & City Manager budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
ID 25-726 City Council Offices
Assistant City Manager Quinto presented the City Council Offices budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
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June 5, 2025City Council Meeting Minutes
Council Motions Made June 5, 2025
Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#16) for $20,000 for the Tenant Relocation Program. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (City Attorney)
Vice President Arias motioned (#17) to allocate up to half a million dollars for the Eviction Protection Program contingent that it is needed and that the money is available. Councilmember Esparza seconded the motion. (City Attorney)
Council President Karbassi motioned (#18) to add $500,000 for the City Attorney Office to fund the creation of an in-house prosecution and litigation team. As part of this motion will be to add to the Position Authorization Resolution four new positions but details to be determined. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (City Attorney)
Council President Karbassi motioned (#19) Motion to add $120,000 to the City Attorney's Office to create a municipal transparency and election integrity unit. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (City Attorney) Councilmember Richardson motioned to transfer $52,087 from the City Council budget to the General Fund to share in the sacrifice with other city departments participating in attrition. The motion died for lack of a second.
Council President Karbassi motioned to transfer $52,087 from the District 6 Council Office budget to the General Fund to match the percentage of attrition contributed by the Fire Department. The motion died for lack of a second.
Councilmember Richardson motioned (#20) to transfer $27,087 from District 6 Budget to the General Fund. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (City Council)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#21)for $350,000 for the Black Wellness and Prosperity Center. Vice President Arias seconded the motion.
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Councilmember Perea motioned (#22) to allocate a to be determined amount to complete the first phase of construction of Quigley Park. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (PARCS)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#23) to set aside an amount yet to be determined to complete concrete repair in the neighborhood of West, Griffith, Tielman, and Dakota. Council President Karbassi Councilmember seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#24) to set aside a yet to be determined amount for road repaving in the neighborhood of Tielman, Clinton, Fruit, and University. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Public Works) Councilmember Perea motioned (#25) to set aside a yet to be determined amount for street repaving and concrete repair in Garland, Palm, Shields, and Jeanne. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Public Works) Councilmember Perea motioned (#26) Set aside a yet to be determined amount to complete concrete repair for the neighborhood of McKinley, Blackstone, Olive and Van Ness. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#27) to set aside a yet to be determined amount to complete concrete and paving in the neighborhood of Hughes, Holt, West, and Emerson for phases one through three, Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#28) to set aside a yet to be determined amount to complete the road repaving on Santa Fe Ave from West to Carruth Avenues. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Public Works) Councilmember Perea motioned (#29) to complete concrete repair for the neighborhood of Shields, Van Ness, Clinton, and Palm. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#30) to set aside $50,000 for building repairs at the Sequoia Brewery building. Vice President Arias seconded the City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 4
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motion. (General Services)
Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#31) for a $50,000 incentive fund for the new vet for the Animal Center. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Animal Center)
Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#32) for $25,000 for a District 4 Art Program. Councilmember Esparza seconded the motion. (City Council) Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#33) $50,000 for the Valley Caregiver Resource Center. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion.
Councilmember Maxwell motioned (#34) $50,000 for a youth sports scholarship program. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion. (PARCS)
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#35) for $100,000 for the creation of Fresno's Second Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District. Vice President Arias seconded the motion.
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#36) to provide $30,000 to fill the funding gap for the Belmont and Blackstone corridor PBIDs. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (Economic Development)
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#37) to fund the construction of a left turn phasing signal at the Van Ness and Clinton Avenue intersection pending estimate. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#38) for $830,000 to fill the gap on the Radio Park renovation project. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (PARCS)
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#39) for park benches and beautification at APN: 5743102X located at La Verne and Weldon Aves pending an estimate. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (PARCS) City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 5
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Councilmember Esparza motioned (#40) for installation of speed radar signs, repainted school cross walks and high visibility stop signs at district 7 elementary and middle schools. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#41) for $170,000 for median island beautification including irrigation, tree planting, and concrete work on Chestnut Ave that is between Olive Ave and Cesar Chavez Blvd. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#42) for $100,000 for median island beautification including irrigation, tree planting, and concrete work on First Street that is between Olive Ave and Cesar Chavez Blvd. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#43) for $200,000 to be added for the industrial large office development impact fee elimination or reduction. The iDIFER program. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion.
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#44) to fund design costs for a new play structure and bathroom renovations at Carozza Park. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion. (PARCS)
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#45) for $50,000 from the District 7 portion of the Public Works infrastructure to be moved to the District 7 council operating budget. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Councilmember Esparza motioned (#46) to amend the salary resolution (SAR) for Service Aids to $18.00 to $23.50. Council President Karbassi seconded the motion. (Personnel Services)
Vice President Arias motioned (#47) to allocate an additional $50,000 specifically for new alley gate installations. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Vice President Arias motioned (#48) to allocate $100,000 for new City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 6
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speedbump installations. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Vice President Arias motioned (#49) to allocate $200,000 to complete the conversion of the historic light posts to LED and repair the globes in the downtown triangle. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Vice President Arias motioned (#50) to allocate $819,000 for the median installation along Olive Ave from Palm to Roosevelt. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Vice President Arias motioned (#51) to allocate $151,200 for the replacement of 126 benches at Roeding Park from the Measure "P" Category 1 fund 2711. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (PARCS)
Vice President Arias motioned (#52) to reappropriate carryover funds from Measure "P" from Veteran's Memorial, Fink White, and Basin design plans to the construction phase and improvements at Ted C. Wills.
Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (PARCS)
Vice President Arias motioned (#53) to allocate up to one million dollars for tree installation, replacement, and maintenance at City parks.
Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (PARCS)
Vice President Arias motioned (#54) to carry $181,000 of unspent project funds from FY25 to FY26 for the convention center. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Convention Center)
Vice President Arias motioned (#55) to allocate $400,000 from Mobile Food Vendor Program to be administered by the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Finance) Vice President Arias motioned (#56) to allocate a million dollars in HOME funds that are unallocated for mobile homes preservation fund and program.
Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Planning & Development) City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 7
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Vice President Arias motioned (#57) to allocate $50,000 from Public Works infrastructure budget to District 3's budget. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (Public Works)
Council President Karbassi motioned (#58) to take $50,000 in the District 2 portion of internship program funds, and move that towards funding the new in-house prosecution and litigation unit in the City Attorney's Office. Vice President Arias seconded the motion. (City Council)
Council President Karbassi motioned (#59) for $50,000 to the Fresno Resiliency Center to support the Compassion Center including the CalAIM Program. Vice President Arias seconded the motion.
Council President Karbassi motioned (#60) for $400,000 in Measure P funds to support the Fresno City and County historical society to operate museums, including those located in the fairgrounds. Councilmember Perea seconded the motion. (PARCS)
Council Requests for Information Made June 5, 2025
Council President Karbassi requested why is $1 million allocated in the Mayor’s proposed budget for a residential infill program? What has been our return on investment? (Public Works)
Vice President Arias requested total cost of the three additional positions for Retirement. (General City Purpose)
Councilmember Maxwell requested a memo on which landlords and which agencies have not paid the Tenant Relocation Program. (City Attorney) Council President Karbassi requested information on the feasibility of a dedicated bus lane along Shaw Avenue in the City of Fresno.(FAX) Council President Karbassi requested information on ridership for the Herndon Crosstown route and the annual costs. Include similar data for other routes along the Herndon corridor. (FAX)
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Council President Karbassi requested information on the process of referring property crime cases for prosecution to the District Attorney’s Office and what happens when the referred cases are returned as “declined to prosecute”. What are the most common reasons such cases are not prosecuted. Do you have statistics showing how many cases have been declined and returned to Police Department over the last five years? Does the ORT grant require tracking of these cases? (Police) Vice President Arias requested as part of the Responsible Neighborhood Market Act how many establishments have been inspected? Are inspections done? (City Attorney)
Vice President Arias requested the proposed budget, how many weekdays, evenings, weekends, and special events are we expecting to be able to execute mobile food vendor enforcement (after hours). (City Attorney) Councilmember Esparza requested analysis of what it would take to open the warming centers on a more consistent basis once temperature reaches 40 degrees. (Mayor & CMO)
Council President Karbassi requested information regarding developer impact fees. General background information. Information on the balances of each impact fee account. How funds are distributed. Are there rules regarding how much can be distributed annually? What happens to funds not distributed, if they are rolled over, how can they be distributed later?(Public Works)
ADJOURNMENT
City Council recessed the June 5, 2025, Budget Hearings at 4:48 P.M. to be resumed Wednesday, June 6, 2025, at 9:00 A.M.
The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the City Council during the June 26, 2025, regular meeting.
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