City of Fresno City Council Regular Meeting - April 9, 2026

The Fresno City Council met in regular session on April 9, 2026, in Council Chambers at Fresno City Hall. Roll call was taken at 9:08 a.m. with six members present and Vice President Tyler Maxwell absent. The Council approved the agenda as amended, presented three proclamations, received reports, held a TEFRA public hearing, approved the consent and contested consent calendars, received a workshop on the Active Transportation Plan update, heard unscheduled public comment, and then met in closed session. The meeting adjourned from closed session at 2:21 p.m.

Ceremonial Presentations

• Councilmember Vang presented a proclamation honoring the Sunnyside High School Theater and Drama Department. Eight students performed Jane Eyre, the musical at Lincoln Center in New York City, and the Council proclaimed April 9, 2026 as Sunnyside H.S. Theater and Drama Department Day in Fresno.
• Council President Esparza and Mayor Dyer presented a proclamation declaring April 9, 2026 as Marcus P. Johnson Day. Marcus P. Johnson was honored for more than 50 years in education, including service as a teacher and superintendent, his leadership in Sanger Unified and Compact Fresno, and his motto every child, every day, whatever it takes.
• Councilmember Arias presented a proclamation for American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month, declaring April 2026 in Fresno. Arias rejected narratives that portray the Muslim community as an enemy and noted recent tragic loss of life in Gaza, Palestine, and Iran. Representatives from CAIR spoke in support of the proclamation, emphasizing that Muslim values align with American values and that hate has no place in the community.

Reports and Comments

• Councilmember Arias reported finishing neighborhood meetings and raised concerns that many ABC conditional use permit holders, including gas stations, liquor stores, and convenience stores, have resumed displaying exterior alcohol and tobacco advertising in violation of their permits. He asked the City Attorney to remind permit holders and distributors, including Valley Wide, of Fresno's stricter rules.
• Councilmember Vang reported park cleanup after Easter, reminded residents about District 5 town halls, and listed Great American Cleanup sites for April 18.
• Councilmember Richardson announced the Phase Two groundbreaking of Avalon Commons in Northeast Fresno, thanked District 6 staff for inspecting a shelter, and reported an increase in illegal campaign signs on city property and public works easements.
• Council President Esparza reported on the Fresno Grizzlies opening day and reminded the public about the Great American Cleanup. He also noted several Council birthdays.
• Mayor Dyer announced the April 18 Great American Cleanup with about 20 locations and a goal of 2,500 volunteers. He reported more than $7 million in improvements to Chukchansi Park over the past five years, opened Avalon Commons Phase Two with 45 additional affordable units for a combined total of 105 units, and toured Diablo Canyon, which produces nearly 10 percent of California's electricity.
• City Manager White thanked the Finance Department for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report being accepted with no findings for the second consecutive year.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On the TEFRA hearing, Dez Martinez opposed the proposed bond financing, citing unresolved concerns about an earlier housing project, alleged discrimination against Black residents, and perceived conflicts involving the city manager, mayor, and developer. Bruce Kinabrew expressed support for the Council and city leadership, saying it is not wrong to work with friends in the community and that accusations of improper motives are wrong-headed.
• On consent, contested consent, and closed session items, Nikki Real asked the Council to consider lowering Community Media Access Collaborative's rent because streaming has reduced its funding and CMAC provides valuable public services.
• During unscheduled communication, Hester Hensley criticized spending on a Southwest Fresno bike trail she said is overgrown, questioned a proposed roundabout, and urged Council members to vote independently rather than go along to get along.
• Dez Martinez said a recent shelter visit was coordinated in advance and therefore not truly unannounced; she urged unannounced visits, private conversations with residents, and canal safety barriers. She also raised concerns about food storage and costs for seniors, disabled residents, veterans, and low-income families.

Scheduled Hearing: TEFRA Public Hearing (ID 26-419)

• The Council held a Tax Equity and Financial Responsibility Act public hearing to consider authorizing the California Municipal Finance Authority to issue exempt facility bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $16,000,000 for the benefit of FCTC Family II, LP (or an affiliate). The financing would support a 120-unit multifamily rental housing project, including one manager's unit.
• Staff and Council clarified that the bond is not an obligation of the City of Fresno and does not involve City general fund money; the hearing is required for federal tax credit eligibility. The hearing was called to order at 9:56 a.m. and public comment closed at 10:05 a.m.
• Motion by Councilmember Vang, seconded by Councilmember Karbassi. Resolution 2026-48 was adopted 6-0.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes for the March 19, 2026 regular and special meetings and the March 26, 2026 regular meeting.
• Approved Runway 11L-29R Reconstruction actions at Fresno Yosemite International Airport, including a $7,500,000 appropriation, a $98,888,888 construction contract with DeSilva Gates Construction-Vanguard, a $1,164,070 geotechnical testing agreement with Krazan, and a $4,391,389 construction management agreement with Kimley Horn, all contingent on FAA funding (Resolution 2026-49).
• Approved a $2,392,831 second amendment with AECOM for the Blackstone Avenue and McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation Project, bringing the total contract to $10,061,878.23.
• Approved the sale of two City-owned parcels totaling 0.18 acres to MDS Properties LTD for $175,000, with a $5,250 seller credit, for net proceeds of $169,750 (Resolution 2026-50).
• Approved the CMAC lease and service agreement for office space at 1555 Van Ness Avenue. The two-year lease with three one-year options starts at $366,306 in year one and totals $1,954,650 over five years; the media services agreement is not-to-exceed $250,000 per year (Resolution 2026-51).
• Approved a no-cost fourth amendment with Hinton Community Center extending the grant term to April 12, 2027.
• Approved second amendments extending on-call plan check, back check, and inspection agreements with Interwest Consulting Group and BPR Consulting Group to June 30, 2027.
• Approved the 2024 National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative MOU with the Fresno County Probation Department James Rowland Crime Victim Assistance Center for a full-time victim witness advocate totaling $217,569 over two years.
• Approved acceptance of $203,142 in state grant funding for the Police Department Domestic Violence Unit, an appropriation of $54,700, and a not-to-exceed $142,872 MOU with Marjaree Mason Center (Resolutions 2026-52 and 2026-53).
• Approved a requirements contract for bulk sodium hypochlorite with Pur Water LLC at up to $2,210,340 per year, and a Ferguson Waterworks contract for tapping sleeves and valves totaling up to $3,474,638.25 over five years.
• Approved a $72,200 first amendment with Provost & Pritchard for the Northwest Fresno Recharge Basin, for a total not-to-exceed $147,200.
• Adopted a resolution of intention to annex territory to Community Facilities District No. 9 and set a public hearing for May 7, 2026 at 9:10 a.m. (Resolution 2026-54).
• Adopted Resolution of Intent No. 1162-D to vacate two right-of-way portions near Tuolumne/Fulton and Tuolumne/Van Ness, and set a public hearing for May 7, 2026 at 9:15 a.m.
• The Consent Calendar was approved 6-0.

Contested Consent Calendar

• 2-E (ID 26-390) Trolley Park Lighting and Shade Structure Project: Councilmember Perea pulled the item for discussion of the timeline. Staff said rejecting all bids would allow re-advertising, bid opening on April 23, and a possible award on May 7, with substantial completion in December 2026. Council directed the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department to pursue temporary stop-gap options for warmer months. The motion passed 6-0.
• 2-H (ID 26-409) Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission/Advance Peace: Council approved a third amendment extending the grant to October 31, 2026, expanding the participant age range, and increasing the grant by $250,000 for a total not-to-exceed $625,000. The City Manager indicated the Mayor plans to include Advance Peace funding in the proposed budget. The motion passed 6-0.
• 2-I (ID 26-251) Elevate Community Services/Parkway Inn emergency shelter: Council approved a first amendment for continued operation of 62 emergency shelter beds, with a term from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, at an amount not-to-exceed $1,550,000 under HHAP. Councilmembers discussed an unannounced shelter inspection and future plans for converting the site to permanent housing. Staff said an active conversion plan is being pursued and any proposal would come before the Council. The motion passed 6-0.

Workshop: Active Transportation Plan Update (ID 26-175)

• Staff and consultants from TJKM presented the Active Transportation Plan update, the first update since the 2017 ATP. The project began in winter 2024 and included more than 2,000 public participants, three steering advisory committee meetings, and 303 mapping tool comments. The most frequently cited concern corridors were Herndon Avenue, Shaw Avenue, and Blackstone Avenue.
• The presentation reported that 50 percent of analyzed collisions occurred during dark conditions, supporting lighting and visibility improvements. Since the 2017 plan, the existing bicycle facility network grew by almost 34 percent, about 166 miles. The updated plan proposes 22 miles of class II buffered bike lanes and 70 miles of class IV separated bikeways, plus sidewalk and shared-use path expansion. Priority lists include 82 miles of high-priority bikeways and 62 miles of high-priority sidewalk network. Estimated implementation costs are about $334 million for the bicycle network and $552 million for the pedestrian network.
• The plan includes a Safe Routes to School toolbox, 14 to 15 safety education brochures in English and Spanish, a traffic garden program, and 30 percent conceptual designs for First Street, Clinton Avenue, and a Downtown Loop.
• Councilmembers asked about road diets, county coordination, speed management tools, accessible pedestrian signals, equestrian trail designations, and equity in facility design. Staff said the city has about 140 accessible pedestrian signal intersections, roughly 30 percent, with more being installed around schools, hospitals, and government facilities. Staff also said the Blackstone/McKinley grade separation project is being designed with a raised separated bike path consistent with the Southern Blackstone Smart Mobility Plan.
• No vote was taken; the item was a workshop. Staff expects to return for plan adoption on May 7, 2026. Council President Esparza said he would schedule the forthcoming Vision Zero action plan workshop on a less crowded agenda.

Closed Session

• City Attorney Janz announced closed session items: conference with labor negotiators for city employee organizations, conference with legal counsel regarding existing litigation in ACLU of Southern California v. City of Fresno, and conference with legal counsel regarding one anticipated litigation case.
• The Council withdrew to closed session at 11:32 a.m. There were no reportable actions from closed session.

Key Outcomes

• All open-session votes were 6-0, with Vice President Maxwell absent.
• Agenda approved as amended; three consent items (2-E, 2-H, and 2-I) were moved to the contested consent calendar.
• Resolution 2026-48 adopted for the TEFRA financing plan.
• Resolutions 2026-49 through 2026-54 and Resolution 1162-D adopted on the consent calendar.
• Rejected all bids for the Trolley Park project and directed staff to develop temporary shade and lighting stop-gap measures while the project is rebid.
• Approved Advance Peace and Parkway Inn/Elevate agreement amendments and directed staff to address future Advance Peace funding in the budget process.
• Directed the City Attorney to send reminders to ABC conditional use permit holders and distributors about exterior alcohol and tobacco advertising restrictions, and to send letters to candidates about illegal campaign sign placement.
• Active Transportation Plan update presented for Council input; adoption is scheduled for May 7, 2026. Vision Zero action plan will be scheduled for a future workshop.