2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
www.fresno.gov
City of Fresno
Meeting Minutes
City Council
Council President - Nelson Esparza
Vice President - Tyler Maxwell
Councilmembers:
Annalisa Perea, Mike Karbassi, Miguel Angel Arias,
Brandon Vang,
Nick Richardson
City Manager - Georgeanne A. White
City Attorney - Andrew Janz
Interim City Clerk - Amy K. Aller
Thursday, June 11, 2026 9:00 AM Council Chambers
Budget Hearings - Continued from June 10, 2026
The City Council met for budget hearings in the Council Chamber, City Hall, on June 11, 2026, at 9:00 A.M.
9:17 A.M. ROLL CALL
Councilmember Richardson joined the meeting at 9:18 A.M.
Council President Nelson Esparza
Councilmember Annalisa Perea
Councilmember Mike Karbassi
Councilmember Miguel Angel Arias
Councilmember Brandon Vang
Councilmember Nick Richardson
Present: 6 -
Absent: 1 - Vice President Tyler Maxwell
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Councilmember Richardson led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVE AGENDA
On motion of Councilmember Arias, seconded by Councilmember Perea, the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Perea, Karbassi, Arias, Vang, Richardson, Esparza
Absent: 1 - Maxwell
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City Council Meeting Minutes June 11, 2026
On motion of Councilmember Arias to reconsider the AGENDA, seconded by Councilmember Richardson, the ACTION was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Perea, Karbassi, Arias, Vang, Richardson, Esparza
Absent: 1 - Maxwell
On motion of Councilmember Karbassi, seconded by Councilmember Perea, the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Esparza, Perea, Karbassi, Arias, Vang and Richardson
Absent: 1 - Maxwell
Thursday, June 11, 2026 - 9:00 A.M.
Council President Esparza announced the budget hearing procedures.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Alicia, Bob McCloskey, Arieana, Sharrah Thompson, Enrique Little, Brandi N., Alfred Aldrete, Joanne Morales, and Mars.
JOINT MEETING OF THE FRESNO REVITALIZATION CORPORATION AND CITY
OF FRESNO IN ITS CAPACITY AS HOUSING SUCCESSOR TO THE
REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
ID 26-752 Receive Annual Report and Approve FY 26/27 Program Income Budget for the City of Fresno in its capacity as Housing Successor to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno
Redevelopment Administrator Murphey presented the Redevelopment Agency budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, no members of the public addressed Council.
FRESNO REVITALIZATION CORPORATION VOTE: On motion of Member Dyer, seconded by Member Esparza, the above item was adopted. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Perea, Karbassi, Arias, Vang, Richardson, Esparza, Dyer
Absent: 1 - Maxwell
On motion of Councilmember Arias, seconded by Councilmember City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 2
City Council Meeting Minutes June 11, 2026
Richardson, that the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Esparza, Perea, Karbassi, Arias, Vang and Richardson
Absent: 1 - Maxwell
ID 26-688 Convention Center/Stadium
Assistant City Manager Quinto, and Convention Center Executive Director Mark Solis presented the Convention Center / Stadium Department budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, no members of the public addressed Council:.
ID 26-690 City Clerk’s Office
City Clerk Aller presented the Office of the City Clerk / Copy Center budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, no members of the public addressed Council.
ID 26-691 City Attorney’s Office
City Attorney Janz presented the Office of the City Attorneys Office budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Giovanni Morales.
ID 26-692 General City Purpose Department
Assistant Director Chinevere presented the General City Purpose Department budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, no members of the public addressed Council.
ID 26-693 Office of the Mayor & City Manager
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Assistant City Manager Quinto presented the Office of Mayor & City Manager budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, no members of the public addressed Council.
ID 26-694 City Council
Assistant City Manager Quinto presented the City Council Offices budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Nikki Real.
ID 26-689 Airports Department
Interim Director Partida presented the Airports Department budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Nikki Real.
Council Motions Made June 11, 2026
Councilmember Arias motioned (#21) to add $50,000 to the City Clerk's budget. Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (City Clerk)
Councilmember Karbassi motioned (#22) to allocate $150,000 to the City Attorney's Office for outside legal services and any other needs. Funding source to be determined. Seconded by Councilmember Vang. (City Attorney)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#23) to increase Eviction Protection Program to $2,000,000. Seconded by Councilmember Arias. (City Attorney) Councilmember Perea motioned (#24) for an amount yet to be determined to execute the completion of the smoke shop wind down. Seconded by Councilmember Arias. (City Attorney)
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Councilmember Arias motioned (#25) to allocate $200,000 for ADA-accessible restroom improvements at Water Tower and the Garage 9, Unit A leased space. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (General Services)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#26) to allocate $200,000 for the repainting and repairing of the Tower Theater Marquee. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (General city Purpose)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#27) to allocate $320,000 from Measure "P" Category 1 for netting for the cricket fields at JSK Park. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (PARCS)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#28) to allocate $657,000 from Measure "P", Category 1, for the Fink White Park Tot Lot Project. Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (PARCS)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#29) to allocate $2,100,000 from Measure "P", Category 1, for the construction of the Ted C. Wills Park improvements.
Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (PARCS)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#30) to allocate up to $2,000,000 for the acquisition of a new park at Addams Elementary Neighborhood. Seconded by Councilmember Karbassi. (PARCS)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#31) to allocate $50,000 to the Planning Department to continue the publication of legal notices with the Fresno Bee.
Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Planning & Development) Councilmember Arias motioned (#32) to allocate $250,000 to the South Tower Community Land Trust for the Casa y Cuidado Collaborative for Housing at the Fulton facility. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (General City Purpose)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#33) to allocate an undetermined amount (amount pending) for the replacement of 126 picnic tables at Roeding Park from Measure "P", Category 1. Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (PARCS)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#34) to allocate $200,000 for tree City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 5
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restoration at Roeding Park from Measure "P". Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (PARCS)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#35) to allocate $250,000 to the Special Events fund for City-sponsored events. Seconded by Councilmember Karbassi. (Mayor & CMO)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#36) to allocate $60,000 to Families in Action, with the funding source to be determined, to continue supporting their program operations related to after-school community programming, youth leadership and development, senior resources, philanthropy, and community services. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (PARCS) Councilmember Vang motioned (#37) to allocate $60,000 to A Hopeful Encounter, with the funding source to be determined, to continue supporting their program operations related to senior mental health, philanthropy, community service, youth empowerment, recreational arts, and cultural preservation specifically relating to the Southeast Asian community in the City of Fresno. Seconded by Councilmember Arias. (General City Purpose) Councilmember Vang motioned (#38) to allocate $90,000 to FIRM, with the funding source to be determined, to provide support for their existing community gardens located at five sites: Kings Canyon and 10th Street; Fresno and Ashlan; Fresno and Weldon; Olive and Willow; and Cedar and Woodward. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (PARCS) Councilmember Vang motioned (#39) to allocate $70,000 for financial support to businesses affected by the renaming of Kings Canyon, Ventura, and California Avenues, with the funding source to be determined. Noting that the councilmember’s office will contribute $10,000 from its operating budget, and thanking Districts 2 and 6 for their contributions of $10,000 each, resulting in a total financial support package of $100,000 for businesses along the renamed Kings Canyon, Ventura, and California corridors, if approved. Seconded by Councilmember Richardson. (Public Works)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#40) to set aside $100,000 to do public art in the Tower District. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (General City Purpose)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#41) $400,000 to finish concrete repair in City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 6
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the Palm-Clinton-Harrison-Shields. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Public Works)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#42) an amount to be determined to redo the sidewalks in the Tower District along Olive and Wishon avenues.
Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Public Works)
Councilmember Richardson motioned (#43) $65,000 from a source to be identified, likely general fund, to fund a part time OCA position for the Middle East and North Africa who can responsibly lower the temperature, speak intelligently about some of the concerns there, and represent that part of the community here. Councilmember Perea (Mayor & CMO)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#44) $200,000 for Casita Feliz to provide healthcare services. Seconded by Councilmember Karbassi. (General City Purpose)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#45) $120,000 to assist with the re-opening of the EOC’s LGBTQ center. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (General City Purpose)
Councilmember Perea motioned (#46) to set aside for $30,000 to partner with the County to open a library in the Tower. Seconded by Councilmember Richardson. (Capital Projects)
Councilmember Karbassi motioned (#47) $750,000 from the capital reserve or the reserve fund for riverside golf course toward the expansion.
Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (PARCS)
Councilmember Karbassi motioned (#48) to allocate $25,000 as a set aside to work with the County to find a site possibly for design or those expenses to have another library in West Fresno. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Capital Projects)
Councilmember Karbassi motioned to amended motion (#5) to allocate $25,000 for the Sweet Potato Program at the West Fresno. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (PARCS)
Council President Esparza motioned (#49) for $263,000 to fill a funding gap for the repaving of Cedar Avenue from SR-180 to Tulare. Seconded by Councilmember Arias. (Public Works)
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Council President Esparza motioned (#50) for $150,000 dedicated to providing school traffic safety improvements surrounding District 7 schools.
Seconded by Councilmember Karbassi. (Public Works)
Council President Esparza motioned (#51) for $50,000 from the District 7 portion of the Public Works infrastructure funds to be moved to the District 7 Council operating budget. Seconded by Councilmember Arias. (City Council) Council President Esparza motioned (#52) for $600,000 for new paving and ADA curb ramps on Clinton Avenue from Fresno to First. Seconded by Councilmember Karbassi. (Public Works)
Council President Esparza motioned (#53) to carryover $100,000 for the creation of either a second EIFD or expansion of the current one. Seconded by Councilmember Arias. (General City Purpose)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#54) to allocate $250,000 to the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation for the Downtown Ice Rink, Fiestas Patrias, and Posada events. Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (General City Purpose)
Councilmember Arias motioned (#55) to approve $50,000 to fund the external independent audit of the Fresno Grizzlies' operator agreement.Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Stadium) Councilmember Arias motioned (#56) to allow CAO to keep their attrition positions for the purpose of funding the EPP request and the implementation ordinance. Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (City Attorney) Councilmember Vang motioned (#57) to add shade structures to the following playground structures at Mosqueda, Sunnyside, and Pilibos Park.
Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (PARCS)
Councilmember Vang motioned (#58) placeholder for the costs of adding additional amenities to pocket parks/neighborhood parks. i.e., soccer posts, benches, trash cans, ex: APN 31644157T, located on E. California and E.
Atchinson Street. Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (PARCS) Councilmember Vang motioned (#59) the costs to install and operate cameras for mail theft. Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (Police) City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 8
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Councilmember Vang motioned (#60) placeholder for the costs to add red-light cameras on 8th St, Butler, Lowe and Orange on the corner of Cesar Chavez and 10th, and on 5th street between Montecito and Butler for speeding. Seconded by Councilmember Perea. (Police)
Councilmember Vang motioned (#61) placeholder for adding a left turn on E.
Kings Canyon and S. Winery. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Public Works)
Councilmember Vang motioned (#62) placeholder for adding a right turn on Clovis Ave and E. California Ave. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Public Works)
Councilmember Vang motioned (#63) placeholder for the repaving of Sunnyside Ave. to Fowler Ave. and Belmont Ave. to Illinois Ave. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Public Works)
Councilmember Vang motioned (#64) placeholder for the concrete repair of sidewalks around S. Peach, E. Lowe, and S. Villa boundary (Ayer Area).
Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Public Works)
Councilmember Vang motioned (#65) placeholder for the street repavement within newly 9-week concrete repair (Alta Orange Butler to Sixth). Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Public Works)
Councilmember Vang motioned (#66) placeholder for the repaving of S.
Chestnut from Church to Butler. Seconded by Council President Esparza. (Public Works)
Council President Esparza motioned (#67) to fill the funding gap for the property acquisition of the SW corner of First and Clinton for purposes of expanding Radio Park (awaiting amount in RFI). Seconded by Councilmember Arias. (PARCS)
Council Requests for Information Made June 11, 2026
Councilmember Richardson requested grants received by the Police Department as listed in the 2027 line item detail. (Police) Councilmember Arias requested plan to maintain parking garage by the Convention Center. (Planning & Development)
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Councilmember Arias requested list of preferred food and non-food vendors at the stadium. (Stadium)
Councilmember Arias requested expiration date of City of Fresno agreement with MLB. (Stadium)
Councilmember Arias requested Convention Center, stadium cost of concert at Chukchansi Park, Selland Arena, and Save Mart Center.
Councilmember Arias requested stadium landscaping cost. (Stadium) Councilmember Vang requested intakes by district for the E.P.P. Program in FY26. (City Attorney)
Councilmember Richardson requested an update on negotiations with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. (Convention Center) Councilmember Arias requested report delay in Office of Independent Review. (Mayor & CMO)
Councilmember Arias requested Council carryover reconciliation. (Public Works)
Councilmember Vang requested cost to repave Butler Avenue, from S.
Hazelwood Avenue to S. Chance Avenue. (Public Works)
Councilmember Karbassi requested outline of the personnel expenditure increase in the Retirement Office. (Retirement)
ADJOURNMENT
City Council recessed the June 11, 2026, Budget Hearings at 3:33 P.M. to be resumed Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 9:00 A.M.
The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the City Council during the September 17, 2026 regular meeting.
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