Fresno City Council Budget Hearings – June 9, 2026

The Fresno City Council continued its fiscal year 2026-2027 budget hearings on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, starting at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. Six departments presented their proposed budgets: Capital Projects, Fresno Animal Center, Public Works, Economic Development, Planning & Development, and Personnel Services. The council heard public testimony, held extensive discussions, and passed several motions to reallocate funds, particularly for animal spay/neuter services and a land use text amendment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Budget (Morning): Kyle Kirkland (Kirkland Foundation) spoke on the Animal Center budget, noting a $9.6 million budget with $7.7 million for salaries and only $380,000 for veterinary expenses. He urged the council to fund nonprofit rescues that are more cost-effective, citing his own organization spent $500,000 on vet services for 4,000-5,000 animals.
• Animal Center (Dedicated public comment): Multiple speakers advocated for increased spay/neuter funding:
  • Brandi Sherman (Fresno TNR) reported her group spays/neuters about 200 cats per week and urged a $500,000 investment that could be matched by Dogwood Animal Rescue.
  • Kris Thompson supported the $500,000 commitment to unlock the Dogwood match, turning it into $1 million.
  • Mel Garcia (Mel’s Mutts) said her organization (69 dogs, one person) receives requests from the shelter but gets no funding.
  • Laree Holt (Paw Squad 559) asked the council to honor prior commitments and create a dedicated spay/neuter line item.
• Public Works:
  • Nataly Escobedo Garcia (Leadership Counsel) requested safer routes to schools, including sidewalks on North Marks Avenue and North Hughes Avenue, and a crosswalk on McKinley/Hughes.
  • Mariela Fernandez de Vallejo asked for drainage improvements, street lighting, sidewalks, and speed bumps in District 5 (Monte Way, Montecito, Lowell, Liberty).
  • Margarita (via Zara Marine) requested street lights between 1st & Cedar and Ventura & Butler, and alley fences/locks.
  • Zara Marine (Power California Action) urged a 3% rent cap and increased eviction protection funding (though not specific to Public Works).
• Planning & Development:
  • Zara Marine (again) thanked the department and requested longer-term shelter and transitional housing, warming centers, and water stations.
  • Giovanna Morales (Leadership Counsel) asked about first-time homebuyer program funding and offered to host info sessions on mobile home replacement.
• Personnel Services:
  • Ariana requested a breakdown of funded vs. vacant positions by department; staff directed her to a recent vacancy report.

Discussion Items

Capital Projects Department (Director Anbiah)

• Proposed FY27 budget of $139.7 million (0.2% reduction from FY26). No change in 140 positions (21 vacancies, 13 engineering).
• Staffing challenges: difficult to hire engineers due to competition; offered retention tools not yet used.
• Key projects: 72 of 86 current construction projects expected to be completed in FY27; $100 million GoBiz grant anticipated as last piece; water/sewer replacements in downtown; new 911 call center (37 phone operators, 12 radio dispatchers); Fresno Sports Complex Phase I; MLK Park delayed due to PG&E undergrounding issues; Fire Station 12 near completion.
• Discussion on vehicle replacement threshold (100,000 miles/10 years standard) vs. running vehicles into ground due to budget constraints.
• Councilmember Arias asked about rehab vs. replacement of sewer lines; staff to provide breakdown.
• Councilmember Perea expressed concern about staff fatigue and suggested more outsourcing.

Fresno Animal Center Department (Director Torres)

• Proposed FY27 budget: $9.6 million ($7.05 million personnel, $1.6 million non-personnel). No new positions; 78.4 positions funded.
• 2025 statistics: 9,854 live intakes (9,612 cats/dogs); 30,000 calls; 2,563 dog licenses; 3,354 adoptions; 722 returns to owner; 2,327 transfers to partners; 6,854 sterilizations (including off-site); 6,591 microchips.
• Euthanasia rate about 27%, partly due to sick/injured animals.
• Challenges: only one full-time veterinarian (budgeted for two); $100,000 budgeted for per diem vets; $350,000 for spay/neuter (with $225,000 for outside contracting, $125,000 from county).
• Managed intake (appointment-based since January) has reduced complaints but still high intake.
• Mobile spay/neuter unit expected July 2026.
• Councilmember Maxwell motioned to move $225,000 from unfilled veterinary position to grant programming for nonprofits.
• Councilmember Perea motioned to set aside $750,000 for spay/neuter assuming $300,000 from Dogwood match.
• Councilmember Arias asked about property threshold for homeless individuals; staff to provide memo; also discussed enforcement of leash laws and breeding violations (50 citations issued).
• Councilmember Vang asked about cost of temporary path at Jensen & Fowler; staff to estimate.

Public Works Department (Director Mozier)

• Proposed FY27 budget: $98.98 million operating, $367.5 million capital (mostly grant-funded).
• Key operational items: new milling machine ($?); 11 replacement vehicles ($822,900); $1.3 million contractual increases; $100,000 for school zone signage to reduce speed to 20 mph when students present.
• Capital projects: Blackstone/McKinley grade separation ($140 million); Pave More Now ($46.8 million); Measure C capital ($63 million).
• Discussion on road diets (criteria: traffic volumes <10,000 vehicles/day ideal); Council President Esparza requested cost estimate for Olive Avenue (1st to Cedar) road diet.
• Council President Esparza requested a memo listing 70 miles of repaved streets, and memo on annual utility cost increases for streetlights/traffic signals.
• Councilmember Arias requested memo on process/cost for converting Wilson Island neighborhood to gated community.
• Councilmember Vang requested reimbursement for businesses on Kings Canyon/Ventura/California due to name reversion.
• Discussion on residential infill program: $1.8 million total (carryover + new million), with $2.9 million in approved waivers/off-site reimbursements.

Economic Development Department (Director Long)

• Proposed FY27 budget: $1.83 million (decrease of $1.2 million due to end of PGE grant and PBID studies). 8 positions, one analyst left unfilled to meet attrition.
• Key activities: $400,000 PBID feasibility studies for Belmont and Blackstone (in progress); 58 restaurants received energy efficiency grants; 199 business graduates, 17 new startups; outreach to 100 mid-size businesses with 10+ employees via new visitation program.
• Partnership with Fresno County EDC for trade shows and recruitment.
• Councilmember Richardson encouraged proactive policy advising.

Planning & Development Department (Director Clark)

• Proposed FY27 budget includes $7 million general fund support; 70% from grants. No new positions; 7.5% attrition assumed.
• Key items: North Fulton parking garage completion (165,000 for operations Jan-Jun 2027); parking meter parts ($86,600); pay-on-foot kiosks; ESRI software for detention basin assessment; building code software.
• Mobile home repair/replacement program expanded to include replacement (up to $100,000 or 60% of replacement value).
• National Opioid Settlement funds set aside for shelter operations as HAP funds phase out.
• Councilmember Perea motioned $205,000 for a neighborhood-serving ministerial text amendment.
• Discussion on parking division: revenues increased to $8.45 million projected (from $7.5 million in FY25); deficit shrinking to $1.6 million; master fee schedule update planned.
• Councilmember Richardson asked about relationship with animal center for shelter pets; Director Skye confirmed referrals for spay/neuter and microchipping at shelters.
• 2027 Point-in-Time homeless count scheduled for January; staff will coordinate with council offices.

Personnel Services Department (Director Malhi)

• Proposed budget: $6.2 million general fund, $93 million in internal service funds (including risk). 7.5% attrition; one position to be fully funded (senior HR risk analyst for training).
• Workers’ compensation reserve increased to $9 million (previously $0) based on projected claims.
• Youth Job Corps and Navigator grants continuing.
• New recruiting platform (NeoGov) implemented; reports increased applicants.

Key Outcomes

• Motion 10 (Maxwell/Arias): Direct $225,000 from the second unfilled veterinary position to grant programming for nonprofit animal rescue organizations. Passed.
• Motion 11 (Perea/Richardson): Set aside $750,000 for spay/neuter services, assuming $300,000 will come from a match by Dogwood Animal Rescue Project (subject to final calculation). Passed.
• Motion 12 (Perea/Maxwell): Set aside $205,000 to complete the Neighborhood-Serving Ministerial Text Amendment, expanding by-right uses for neighborhood-serving commercial uses. Passed.
• Requests for Information (RFIs): Multiple memos and cost estimates requested by councilmembers, including:
  • Heat map of animal pickups/citations (Maxwell).
  • Cost of temporary path at Jensen & Fowler (Vang).
  • List of streets repaved under 70-mile overlay program (Esparza).
  • Cost estimate for Olive Ave road diet (Esparza).
  • Annual utility cost increases for street infrastructure (Esparza).
  • Process/cost to convert Wilson Island to gated community (Arias).
  • ADU approval/construction stats and processing times (Perea).
  • Rehab vs. new sewer line percentages (Arias).
  • Updated residential infill program status (Esparza).
  • Pedestrian safety solutions at Olive & 9th (Esparza).
  • Feasibility of life-sized chess board at a park (Karbassi).
  • Threshold for claiming animal as property (Arias).
• The council recessed at 4:26 PM and will resume on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at 9:00 AM for Fire, Police, DPU, and FAX departments.