Fresno City Council Meeting: April 23, 2026 - Street Name Reversion and Vision Zero
Fresno City Council Regular Meeting - April 23, 2026
The Fresno City Council met on Thursday, April 23, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM, with roll call at 9:10 AM. Councilmember Nick Richardson attended remotely due to military assignment. The meeting included four ceremonial proclamations, multiple councilmember and mayor reports, five scheduled hearings (four Community Facilities District annexations and a street name change), a consent calendar with 27 items, a contested consent calendar, a workshop on the Vision Zero Action Plan, unscheduled public comment, and a closed session. Key outcomes included unanimous approval of all four CFD annexations, approval of the street name reversion of Cesar Chavez Boulevard to its original names, and discussion of the Vision Zero plan with a target adoption date of May 21, 2026.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of April 9, 2026 regular meeting.
- Approved First Amendment to Consultant Services Agreement with Deol Data Corporation for an additional $817,000 (total not to exceed $1,651,400) for airport security system integration.
- Awarded a $5,213,388 construction contract to Floyd Johnston Construction Co., Inc. for Leaky Acres Groundwater Recharge Facility Improvement Project; also approved a $71,000 increase to the consultant services agreement with Provost & Pritchard (revised total $481,512).
- Approved First Amendment to Requirements Contract with West Valley Construction Company for polyethylene water service replacements, increasing annual contract by $1,200,000 (revised total $2,853,770).
- Awarded a $718,681 construction contract to DCL Technology, Inc. for fiber optic connection from the Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility to City Hall Data Center.
- Awarded a $1,159,574 construction contract to Cal Valley Construction Inc. for the Grantland Water Main Extension between Shaw & Gettysburg.
- Awarded a $1,193,060 construction contract to Walsh Montgomery Construction, Inc. for the First Street between Shields and Princeton Water Main Replacement.
- Adopted Resolution 2026-68 acknowledging a report from the Fresno Fire Department on state-mandated occupancy inspections (with a correction to effective date from 2029 to 2019).
- Adopted Resolution 2026-69 adding ten permanent full-time positions in the Airports Department, four in Public Utilities Water Division, and two permanent plus ten unfunded positions in Transportation/FAX, effective May 4, 2026.
- Adopted Resolution 2026-70 and 2026-71 authorizing acceptance of $9,756,900 from the sixth round of Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention (HHAP) program for interim housing.
- Adopted Resolution 2026-72 making a technical amendment to Local Housing Trust Fund guidelines to clarify Multifamily New Construction remains eligible.
- Approved three Memoranda of Understanding for sustainable transportation infrastructure amenities at The Roos @ Fulton Forum, West Creek Village, and 3374 East Shields.
- Approved First Amendment with Akel Engineering Group for hydraulic modeling services ($60,000 increase, revised total $180,000).
- Approved Third Amendment with Akel Engineering Group for Sanitary Sewer Master Plan ($100,000 increase, revised total $837,492, term extended to December 31, 2026).
- Adopted Resolution 2026-73 approving reimbursement of $1,165,392.08 for Fresno Unified School District Alternative Educational Campus and Administrative Building improvements.
- Adopted Resolution 2026-74 declaring an urgent necessity for emergency repair of a sewer trunk main at East Jensen Avenue and South East Avenue, authorizing non-competitive bidding.
- Adopted Resolution 2026-75 setting a public hearing for May 21, 2026, for Annexation No. 74 to Community Facilities District No. 9 (Assessor's Parcel No. 427-171-25).
- Adopted Resolution 2026-76 setting a public hearing for May 21, 2026, for Annexation No. 73 to Community Facilities District No. 9 (Assessor's Parcel No. 479-050-20).
- Adopted Resolution 2026-77 approving summary vacation of a portion of a sewer easement on East Shaw Avenue.
- Adopted Resolution 2026-78 approving Final Map of Tract No. 6376.
- Adopted Resolution 2026-79 appropriating $3,711,500 for Public Works operating programs and capital improvement projects.
- Adopted Resolution 2026-80 authorizing submission of a $1,418,716 funding request to the Low Carbon Transit Operations Program.
- Item 2-M (historic survey of Chinatown with Stantec Consulting Services) was tabled to May 7, 2026.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ashley Owens (Dawson Molly Construction) spoke during consent calendar public comment, objecting to the award of the Leaky Acres project to another contractor, stating they were the low bidder but were bypassed due to a missing signature on the bid. She requested the council not award the contract until their appeal process was resolved. Staff clarified that the bid was rejected per city ordinance because it lacked a required signature, and the appeal process was concluded. The consent calendar was approved without delay.
- Tammy Slaughter (seven-month Fresno resident, housing advocate) spoke during unscheduled communication, urging the city to focus on housing stability prevention strategies rather than only responding after homelessness occurs. She shared her experience in eviction court and called for early intervention and coordination between housing and workforce systems.
- Street Name Change Hearing (ID 26-396): Sixteen members of the public addressed the council, with the majority supporting the reversion of Cesar Chavez Boulevard to its original names (California Avenue, Ventura Street, Kings Canyon Road). Key speakers: Hester Hensley asked about timeline; Brunet (Heat for Southwest Fresno) said the community did not ask for the change; Manuel Silva argued for replacing the name with Dolores Huerta Boulevard instead; Clarence Tilmon asked when the change would occur; Aletha Lang supported reversion; Valerie F. Davis (trustee) suggested honoring farm workers on new streets instead; Jackie Grazier (One Community Compact) supported reversion, noting the historical and cultural significance; Nick Kazarian supported reversion; Sarah Pilibos submitted a petition from property owners; Fannie Beard said the change caused confusion; Diane Glenn urged removal of Cesar Chavez's name from Edison High School; Karen Musson highlighted the history of Ventura, California, and Kings Canyon names; Venice Curry supported reversion as restoring community identity; Jose Luis Barazza (Southeast Fresno Economic Development) expressed uncertainty but noted his farm worker background; Nikki Real criticized the lack of due process in the original change; Lisa Flores (via Zoom) argued the name change should happen because of allegations against Cesar Chavez, and criticized the cost to businesses.
Discussion Items
- Community Facilities District Annexations (IDs 26-444, 26-445, 26-436, 26-435): Four separate hearings for annexations to CFD No. 11 and No. 18 were called and closed without public comment or council discussion. Each was approved unanimously (7-0).
- Street Name Change Application (ID 26-396): Planning Manager Trejo presented the request to revert Cesar Chavez Boulevard to California Avenue, Ventura Street, and Kings Canyon Road. The council heard extensive public comment. Councilmembers discussed the legal process, costs, business impact, and timeline. Councilmember Karbassi noted that the original name change followed a public process and that the council listened to the community. Councilmember Perea expressed pride in sponsoring the reversion, noted a new Dolores Huerta Park in West Fresno, and asked for a timeline. Councilmember Richardson (via Zoom) raised concerns about fiscal responsibility and the cost to businesses from a second name change in three years. Councilmember Vang supported reversion but requested data on business impacts and asked staff to separate residential from business addresses among the 1,600 impacted properties. Councilmember Arias said when facts change, minds should change, and supported following the same legal process as before. The motion to approve passed 7-0.
- Contested Consent - North Granville Avenue Safety Improvements (ID 26-437): Councilmember Richardson moved to contested consent to discuss community engagement. He thanked Public Works for holding a neighborhood meeting and asked for confirmation that a turn lane curve would be filed down per resident requests. Staff confirmed. The item was approved 7-0.
- Contested Consent - Riverside Golf Course Lease Amendment (ID 26-503): Councilmembers Arias and Karbassi moved to contested consent. Discussion focused on the collection of APES fees ($1 per round) that had been ambiguous, the potential for capital improvements (enhanced driving range similar to Valley Oaks), and support for the First Tee youth program. Councilmember Karbassi made a motion with conditions: staff to meet with the operator and present options for capital improvements before the next fiscal year's budget, and to explore support for First Tee facilities. The motion passed 7-0.
- Vision Zero Action Plan Workshop (ID 26-442): Presented by Chief Engineering Technician Aguilar. The plan aims for zero fatalities and severe injuries by 2050. Key data: 217 fatal crashes and 629 severe injury crashes (2019-2023); 89% on high injury network (14% of roads); 61% of fatal/severe crashes involve vulnerable road users; 86% at or near intersections. The plan includes policies, systemic treatments, and priority corridors/intersections (Blackstone, Belmont, Fresno Street, Shields, etc.). Councilmember Perea supported revisiting red light cameras and enforcement. Councilmember Arias highlighted potential funding from Measure C. The plan is set for formal adoption on May 21, 2026, to qualify for implementation grants.
Key Outcomes
- CFD Annexations: All four annexations (IDs 26-444, 26-445, 26-436, 26-435) approved unanimously (7-0) with resolutions and ordinances adopted.
- Street Name Reversion: Resolution 2026-61 adopted (7-0) to revert Cesar Chavez Boulevard to California Avenue, Ventura Street, and Kings Canyon Road. Sign installation on city streets to begin May 1-2, 2026, completed over three weekends. Caltrans freeway signs will take longer and require a separate agreement. No funding was set aside for business reimbursement, but Councilmember Karbassi pledged $10,000 from his operating budget for small business support.
- Riverside Golf Course Lease Amendment: Approved with conditions that staff meet with operator to explore capital improvement options (enhanced driving range) and work on supporting First Tee before budget presentation.
- Vision Zero Action Plan: Presented as a workshop; public comment open until May 2, 2026; formal adoption scheduled for May 21, 2026.
- Closed Session: Discussed labor negotiations (continued to May 7), anticipated litigation (City of Fresno v. Brawley 7 LLC, continued; one potential case continued), existing litigation (City of Fresno v. County of Fresno, continued; HAVEN #20 LLC v. City of Fresno, no announcement), potential litigation (one case not discussed). No reportable actions announced.
Meeting Transcript
All right, good morning. We're gonna adjourn or not adjourn. We're going to convene this meeting at uh 910 a.m. according to the clock at the back, not my watch though. Um clerk, would you please call the roll? Yes, thank you. Councilmember Perea, Councilmember Carbasi. Councilmember Arias. Presented. Vice President Maxwell. Councilmember Vang. Present. President Esparza. Present. Councilmember Richardson. Not present, but here. Councilmember Richardson is joining us on Zoom. With six members being physically present, we have a quorum. Okay, fantastic. Thank you, Clerk. Um next, we are going to have the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. So I will ask everyone to please stand if uh if they can. Our invocation is going to be by Pastor Ron Herms from Butler Church. So welcome Pastor on up. Let's pray together. God, creator of life, light, and the source of all beauty and goodness, who funds the earth with enough resources and opportunities for all people, who delights in the depth and diversity of the cosmos, who celebrates the discoveries and achievements of humanity when they are applied to the benefit of our communities. We pause this morning to give thanks for the gift of living lives of meaning in the world you sustain. God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, remind us here in the bountiful Central Valley that you make the rain fall and the sun to shine on all people, regardless of race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or personal accomplishments. You bless and delight in all people. God of all people of our communities and our families, who grieves over every lost life lost to violence, greed, and corruption, who bears witness to the suffering of every human being and every living thing, who hears the cries of those dispossessed, those forgotten and those discarded by society, who calls out to us in the voices and stories of those marginalized and traumatized. We ask you to inspire the work of our hands and the work of this council with the vision of Isaiah 65. May we seek to organize and build toward a world where traumas no longer steal meaning and joy for any person, where access to affordable health care and a promise of the vitality of life is possible for everyone, where the prospect of building houses and living in them unencumbered is realistic, where the expectation of abundant food resources and nourishment is common, where honest labor is rewarded and equitable employment practices are the norm, where children and families can enjoy a world without the horrors of violence, whether in the domestic settings of Fresno County or the streets of Kyiv, Gaza, Tehran, and Beirut, where your peace reigns over all creation. We ask that every member of this Fresno City Council would see themselves and their families as deeply loved and cared for by you, would see in each other the gifts of collaboration and the challenge of differing perspectives. May they hear and learn from each other for the benefit of all residents of Fresno. That they would model for all Fresnens gracious dialogue and generous accountability, so that we could more perfectly live into the vision of Isaiah 65 for the flourishing of our families, communities, and the wider world. We pray all of this, recalling the example of Jesus Christ, who lived his life for the benefit of others. Amen. Please remain standing. Councilmember Perea, would you please uh lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Or we should stand. One nation, under God, the individual with the liberty and justice for all. Uh, so we're gonna move on to the approval of the agenda, but before we do, uh, city clerk, are there any changes or items removed from the agenda? Yes, thank you. First of all, I wanted to lettendees know that we do have interpreters available for today's meeting. We do have the wordly interpreters who are available for digital interpretation in Spanish and Punjabi. We also have virtual interpreters available in the Hmong language as well as American Sign Language. Today's meeting will be adjourned in memory of Ronnie Young and Vernon Schmidt. With regard to changes to the agenda, item two I, ID 24-415 regarding resolution acknowledging the receipt of a report prepared by the Fresno Fire Department related to the inspection of certain state mandated occupancies. The first sentence of the resolution states whereas California Health and Safety Code section 13146.4 was added in 2018 and became effective on January 1st, 2029. However, it should be corrected to read, whereas California Health and Safety Code section 13146.4 was added in 2018 and became effective on January 1st, 2019.
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