Fresno City Council Meeting – March 19, 2026

The Fresno City Council held a combined regular and special meeting on March 19, 2026, beginning at 9:13 AM and continuing into the evening. The council elected new leadership, heard public testimony on numerous items, discussed housing and land-use proposals, and voted on several resolutions. Key actions included the election of Nelson Esparza as Council President and Tyler Maxwell as Vice President, approval of a resolution to begin the process of restoring original street names on Cesar Chavez Boulevard, and unanimous support for a state bill to ban sex offenders from holding public office. The meeting also featured a hearing on the 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report, a presentation on the Fresno Police Department’s military equipment use, and the continuation of two major land-use items to future dates.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of February 26, 2026.
• Adopted Bill B-3 amending the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance regarding vending time limits (subject to mayor’s veto).
• Introduced multiple ordinance amendments related to municipal codes (Chapters 1, 9, 10, 11, 12).
• Approved a $396,000 consultant services agreement with Lighthouse Public Affairs, LLC for lobbying and consulting.
• Approved a lease agreement with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) for 10 years, generating $3,405,385.32 in revenue.
• Approved non-exclusive on-airport rental car concession agreements with Avis, Enterprise, and Hertz for five years, with total anticipated revenue of $24,231,190.
• Approved service facility lease amendments with Avis, Budget, Hertz, and Enterprise at FAT.
• Approved a $42,000 increase to the Animal Balance spay/neuter contract, extending to July 12, 2026.
• Awarded a $2,059,736.92 construction contract to Rakkar Development & Construction for Roeding Park restroom replacement.
• Approved a design-build contract amendment (name change only) for the Parking Automation and Video Surveillance Project.
• Approved a $3,000,000 HOME Investment Partnerships Program agreement for Sarah’s Court II Apartments (120 units, 11 HOME-assisted).
• Approved HOME and HOME-ARP agreements totaling $3,857,000 for the Davu Village project (63 affordable units).
• Accepted the 2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report.
• Approved the renewal of the Fresno Police Department Annual Military Equipment Use Report (vote scheduled for March 26, 2026; presented as informational).
• Approved the Third Amendment to the consultant agreement with Pavletic Consulting LLC ($75,000 increase, total $294,000).
• Approved amendments for landfill remediation and gas collection services (CDM Smith and Tetra Tech).
• Approved water connection amendment for Three Palms Mobile Home Park and appropriation of $629,600.
• Adopted resolutions of intention to annex tracts to Community Facilities Districts No. 11 and 18, setting public hearings for April 23, 2026.
• Authorized a one-year FAX revenue agreement with Fresno Pacific University ($7,000 annually).
• Rejected all proposals for elevator modernization RFQ.
• Awarded a two-year revenue service contract to STX Commodities at no cost to the city.
• Approved reappointment of Jacob Bailey to the Active Transportation Advisory Committee.
• Approved a resolution to conduct a study on the concentration of ownership and corporatization of housing stock (moved from contested consent, passed 7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Desiree Ledesma, Olga Via, Hester Hensley, and others spoke on the Cesar Chavez Boulevard renaming, with mixed views: some supported restoring original names, others urged caution and more time.
• Renee Campos objected to the proposed use of facial recognition technology, calling it voter suppression and a violation of the Brown Act.
• Sam Frank (former FCEA president) urged the council to settle litigation in closed session, warning of mounting interest costs.
• John Schatz (Ari Schultz Construction) appealed the bid award for Trolley Park lighting, arguing the city must hold a hearing before awarding to another bidder.
• Ari spoke on the AB 481 military equipment report, citing non-compliance with state law regarding drone policies and fiscal reporting.
• D Barnes, Sonia Davis, Tasha Jones, and others spoke in support of settling the La-Kebbia Wilson discrimination case, emphasizing accountability for racial discrimination at the city.
• Brian Smith opposed the resolution to ban sex offenders from public office, arguing it infringes on rights.
• John Troeger expressed concerns about AI facial recognition and surveillance.
• Melody Lamp and Brandy requested more transparency and meaningful public engagement on the military equipment report.
• Gabriel Lozano highlighted the need for programming and security in affordable housing to prevent exploitation.
• Pastor Isabel Vela opposed expanding military equipment in FPD, citing nearly 200 misconduct complaints in 2024.
• Dr. Deshunna Monay Ricks thanked the council for deciding to remove Cesar Chavez signs and emphasized child safety.
• Diane Glenn questioned why Cesar Chavez’s name was on Edison High School when local black athletes contributed more.
• Lorna Berto (former UFW member) pleaded for more time before renaming, arguing the legacy of the farmworker movement should not be erased.
• Sarah Pilibos (business owner) demanded a codified process for street name changes that properly notifies affected businesses.
• Paul Jamushian criticized the council for using the farmworker issue as a facade, stating the real issue was changing addresses without community consent.
• Guadalupe Gutierrez Jr. suggested naming the street United Farm Workers Avenue instead of reverting to original names.
• BT Lewis thanked the council for reverting the names and emphasized preserving historical street names important to the Armenian community.
• Marshall Moushigian echoed support for restoring Kings Canyon, Ventura, and California names, citing deep emotional connections for Armenian genocide survivors.

Discussion Items

• Election of Council President and Vice President (9:00 AM): Councilmember Perea nominated Nelson Esparza for President and Tyler Maxwell for Vice President. Councilmember Vang nominated Nick Richardson for Vice President, but the motion was withdrawn. The original motion passed 7-0. Council President Esparza thanked outgoing President Mike Karbassi.
• 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report (9:10 AM): Planning staff presented the report, noting that 4,621 housing units were constructed (12.5% of the 8-year RHNA target), a 23% increase over 2024. 400 affordable units were built, and 50 families received homebuyer assistance. Four community workshops were held. The council received public comment and accepted the report without a vote.
• Fresno Police Department Military Equipment Use Report (3A): Chief presented the report, stating drones were used 293 times in 2025, armored vehicles and less-lethal systems sparingly. No unauthorized uses or complaints were reported. The council held a public hearing; no vote was taken. A community meeting is scheduled for March 25, with a vote on March 26.
• Resolution on Facial Recognition Technology (2AA): Councilmember Richardson presented a revised resolution directing staff to study the feasibility and constitutionality of using facial recognition at City Hall to protect minors. After discussion about potential legal risks and public concerns, the resolution was withdrawn. The council directed the city attorney to research the matter and agendize a closed-session discussion.
• Resolution to Support AB 2753 – Ban Sex Offenders from Public Office (4A): Councilmember Karbassi, Perea, and Richardson sponsored the resolution supporting a state bill to prohibit registered sex offenders from holding elected office. After public comment, the council voted 7-0 to approve.
• Special Meeting – Resolution to Remove Cesar Chavez Boulevard Signs (3:00 PM): Councilmembers Esparza, Perea, and Karbassi introduced a resolution to begin the process of restoring the original street names (Kings Canyon, Ventura, California) to the corridor currently named Cesar Chavez Boulevard. The resolution directs staff to initiate the renaming process, which will include public hearings. After extensive public comment, the council voted 7-0 to approve. Mayor Dyer stated he would sign immediately, and approximately 80% of the old signs are in storage.

Key Outcomes

• Council Leadership: Nelson Esparza elected Council President and Tyler Maxwell elected Vice President (7-0).
• Consent Calendar: Approved with amendments (items 2L, 2W, 2Y moved to contested and later approved).
• Central Southeast Area Specific Plan: Continued to June 18, 2026, at 3:55 PM (4-3 vote).
• Elm Avenue Rezone (Item 26-297): Tabled to a future date after the council received significant community opposition and legal advice.
• Housing Element APR: Accepted by the council for submission to HCD by April 1, 2026.
• Military Equipment Report: Heard; no vote; public meeting on March 25 and final vote on March 26.
• Facial Recognition Study: Resolution withdrawn; city attorney directed to research legality and report back.
• Support for AB 2753: Approved 7-0.
• Cesar Chavez Boulevard Renaming: Resolution passed 7-0 to begin the process of restoring original street names.
• Corporate Housing Study (2CC): Approved 7-0 to study concentration of ownership and potential ordinance amendments.
• Closed Session: The council met in closed session to discuss labor negotiations and several pending litigation cases (Wilson, Torres, Newman, etc.). No public announcements were made.