Fresno City Council Regular Meeting and Special Meeting Summary – June 4, 2026

The Fresno City Council met in regular session on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers at Fresno City Hall. Roll call was at 9:09 AM per the minutes, with all seven councilmembers present. The agenda was approved as amended after one item was removed, one closed-session item was moved to June 18, and five items were moved to the contested consent calendar. The council heard ceremonial proclamations, reports, public testimony, and contested items, then recessed to closed session. It reconvened in open session around 3:25 PM, held a separately noticed special meeting at 3:30 PM, and adjourned at 4:57 PM.

Ceremonial Presentations

• Councilmember Karbassi presented the Central High School Swim and Dive Team Day proclamation, recognizing the team's undefeated 2026 North Yosemite League championship and 26 league-final medals.
• Councilmember Vang presented a proclamation for John F. Kennedy 7th Grade CVAL Champions – Boys Volleyball, recognizing an 18–0 season and two tournament championships.
• Councilmember Perea presented a Pride Month proclamation declaring June 2026 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Fresno; it was signed by all seven councilmembers.

Councilmember and Manager Reports

• Councilmembers reported on Movies in the Park events, a community-driven design meeting for a new one-acre park at Veterans Boulevard and Barstow Avenue, Roeding Park shelter repairs, a Kings Canyon/Ventura street renaming meeting with business owners, the opening of PetSmart at Ventura Creek Shopping Center, District 6 FitFest, and the police K-9 kennel opening.
• City Manager White said the Mayor was attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Consent Calendar

The consent calendar was adopted 7-0 on a motion by Councilmember Arias, seconded by Councilmember Perea. Items included:

• Approval of the May 21, 2026 regular meeting minutes.
• Fourth amendment to the airport parking lot management agreement with SP Plus LLC, including $191,850 per year with 3% annual increases and $80,000 for eight digital exit displays.
• Parking Garage 8 repair change order no. 2 with Ashron Construction in the amount of $441,195.98 and an additional 26 working days, plus a $52,500 Brooks-Ransom Associates consultant amendment.
• Construction awards for wastewater, water well, and complete streets projects, including Dawson-Mauldin LLC ($3,135,000 and $1,653,460), Strategic Mechanical Inc. ($833,658), W. M. Lyles Co. ($2,538,800), and Avison Construction Inc. ($2,718,109 for McKinley and Blythe Complete Streets), and rejection of all bids for the Shaw Avenue Roadway Improvements project.
• Landscape maintenance requirements contract with BrightView Landscape Services, Inc. not to exceed $285,000 per year plus CPI.
• Fresno Water Tower lease to Downtown Development Group, LLC (Frida Café) for three years with two one-year options, starting at $9,252 and totaling $49,120.12 over five years.
• Cooperative purchase agreement with AMS.net, LLC for technology equipment not to exceed $975,596.40.
• Fifth amendment to Position Authorization Resolution No. 2025-178 adding 10 unfunded Firefighter Trainee positions (Resolution 2026-121).
• Marjaree Mason Center amendment for 12 emergency shelter beds and motel vouchers, funded by HHAP, not to exceed $240,000.
• Ventura Family Apartments affordable housing agreements, including a $5,000,000 Local Housing Trust Fund agreement, a 55-year ground lease with two 10-year extensions, and related agreements with Corporation for Better Housing and 3720 E. Ventura Ave., L.P.
• Resolution 2026-122 designating 1844 S Cherry Avenue to the Local Register of Historic Resources; approved 6-1, with only Councilmember Richardson voting no.
• Resolution 2026-123 approving HUD Substantial Amendment 2019-09 to reprogram $1,017,841.96 in CDBG-CV funds.
• Resolution 2026-124 authorizing the Encampment Resolution Fund round 5 application and a MOU with the County of Fresno.
• Elevate Community Services amendments: Valley Inn emergency shelter operations for 106 beds not to exceed $600,000, and a $0 lease for the Ambassador Inn for one year.
• Poverello House amendments transferring 30 ERF-3 emergency shelter beds from Clarion Pointe to Village of Hope with a remaining budget of $590,797.02, plus 20 ERF-2-funded beds not to exceed $250,000.
• Resolution 2026-125 approving IPS Group, Inc. as sole source OEM for parking meter equipment with annual spending not to exceed $1,366,000.
• Resolution 2026-126 approving the final map of Tract No. 6312.
• Revenue agreement with State Center Community College District subsidizing FAX transit fares up to $120,000 annually.
• Item 2-V (Chinatown Fresno Foundation CDBG amendment) was removed from the agenda with no return by Councilmember Arias and was not considered.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mary Padilla, a District 2 resident, appeared at 10:00 AM for the scheduled hearing on 'Who is the King of the Nation' and offered religious-themed remarks; no council action was taken.
• Public comment was also received on consent, contested consent, and closed-session items.
• Elliott Balch (Downtown Fresno Partnership), Jamar Woodward, Joseph Solento, and Michael Cruz (Tioga Sequoia Brewing Company) supported the entertainment zone proposal, describing it as a one-year pilot that would benefit established downtown businesses.
• Lori Garcia, Krista Aranda, Jonathan Kelly, and Alfred Aldrete opposed the entertainment zone proposal, citing DUI risks, public safety, violence at recent events, the need to center local artists, and concerns about alcohol-related harms. Garcia also cited a Fresno State study showing central California DUI fatality rates nearly double the state rate.
• Henry Canty, who said he was homeless and 70 years old, asked the council for help with housing and shelter.
• A speaker listed in the minutes as Brandi N. spoke in support of continued shelter and housing funding, emphasizing dignity, code enforcement, and safe shelter locations.
• Joseph Rodriguez raised concerns about the costs and liability for small businesses if entertainment zone events result in incidents.

Discussion Items

Contested consent items considered in discussion included:

• Entertainment Zones (2-AA): Planning Director Jennifer Clark explained that Bill B-18 would permit designated entertainment zones during permitted special events only; participating businesses with ABC licenses could allow drinks in special cups within the zone boundary, with wristbands, ID checks, security plans, and insurance. The ordinance establishes three initial downtown boundaries. The council discussed voluntary participation, metrics, and a pilot review. The bill was reintroduced and laid over on a 7-0 vote.
• Pump Station 208-2 contract (2-E): Councilmember Richardson requested discussion of the $1,790,937.60 Alpha1 Engineering contract because the pump station is in Fresno County; staff explained the city water utility serves that county island. Approved 5-0, with Councilmembers Maxwell and Karbassi absent.
• Legal notice publication (2-Z): Staff proposed amending FMC Section 2-603 to allow publication in any newspaper of general circulation instead of naming the Fresno Bee and Business Journal. Councilmember Arias opposed the change, citing the Business Journal's smaller print circulation (1,100 vs. 2,803 on Fridays) and target audience, and argued the savings were not worth reducing public notice. The item was tabled 5-0.
• Police helicopter engine contract (2-BB): Deputy Chief Burke Fair presented the four-year Safran Helicopter Engines USA support-by-the-hour contract renewal, expiring June 6, 2030, at up to $550,000 annually/$2,200,000 total. Approved 5-0.
• Caltrans State Route 99 maintenance agreement (2-DD): Councilmember Karbassi asked about the city's inability to install veterans banners on Veterans Boulevard; Caltrans staff agreed to revisit the issue. The item was tabled to June 18, 2026, by a 7-0 vote.
• Bargaining unit vacancies (3-A): Director Sumeet Malhi presented an average vacancy rate of about 11% for calendar year 2025, noting no bargaining unit exceeded 20% and about one-third of vacancies resulted from promotions. Sam Frank, Business Manager of FCEA, said FCEA was about 15% short-staffed and criticized the impact of intentional vacancy savings on workers and evaluations. No action was taken.
• Aging Board appointment (4-A): Council discussed the Fresno Madera Area Agency on Aging Board appointment. No appointment was made; Councilmember Richardson invited colleagues to submit candidates.

Special Meeting – PRAC Guidelines Ad Hoc Committee

The council convened a separately noticed special meeting at 3:30 PM. It approved the special meeting agenda and adopted a resolution establishing a PRAC Guidelines Ad Hoc Committee. Council President Esparza appointed Councilmembers Arias and Vang and Vice President Maxwell to serve on the committee.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved 7-0, with item 2-R approved 6-1 because Councilmember Richardson voted no.
• Entertainment Zones Bill B-18 reintroduced and laid over 7-0 for further proceedings.
• Alpha1 Engineering contract approved 5-0; Safran helicopter contract approved 5-0.
• Legal notice publication item tabled 5-0; Caltrans maintenance agreement tabled to June 18, 2026, 7-0.
• In closed session, the council approved a settlement in City of Fresno v. The Brackin-Daniels Trust (Fresno Superior Court Case No. 24CECG02988) by a 6-0 vote with Councilmember Karbassi absent. The settlement provides for title to vest in the city upon court approval and payment of $3.5 million plus legally required interest, up to $6,000 in appraisal-cost reimbursement, and deposit of probable compensation. The city has already deposited $2,817,900 with the State Treasurer's Office Condemnation Fund; payment will use Measure C and California Local Partnership Program Formulaic Grant funds.
• In closed session, the council formally appointed Amy Aller as City Clerk effective June 15, 2026, by a 6-0 vote with Councilmember Karbassi abstaining, and directed staff to return with an at-will employment agreement at the June 18, 2026 meeting.
• In closed session, the council voted 4-0 with one abstention to authorize the City Attorney to retain counsel to pursue all legal avenues against the State of California and High-Speed Rail to defend against tax splitting; the yes votes were Councilmembers Vang, Arias, Council President Esparza, and Councilmember Richardson, with Councilmembers Karbassi and Maxwell absent.
• Note: The minutes record the recess to closed session as 11:36 P.M., but the transcript and the 3:25 P.M. reconvening indicate the recess occurred late morning.