Fresno Tower District Committee Meeting Tackles Vacant Building Pilot Program and Priorities on July 1, 2026

On July 1, 2026, the Fresno Tower District committee met to handle routine approvals and focus on implementation of the Tower District Specific Plan. Chair Johnson presided; Vice Chair Booker and Commissioners Burton and Katan were present, while Commissioners Conley and Kitch were absent. No development-project reviews were held. The main discussion centered on the Tower District Vacant Building Pilot Program, which expires in December 2026, along with code enforcement, urban forestry, and outreach to city departments.

Consent Calendar / Routine Approvals

• The agenda was approved unanimously by motion and second, with no objections.
• The May 21, 2026 meeting minutes were approved unanimously. A clarification was added that the Watermelon Express recommendation under item B was to move the dispensing machine back from the street toward the store at Storage Town Market, near the existing water dispenser.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Steve Wolburn (transcribed in the source as Wilbur), a Tower District resident, expressed support for the original intent of the Tower District Vacant Building Pilot Program but said the program is not working. He described his proposal for a nonprofit commercial commissary kitchen and worker-owned food cooperative at 861 Fern Avenue near Maroa, saying he signed a letter of intent in November, obtained 501(c)(3) status, and worked unpaid to monitor the property while it continued to deteriorate. He said the pilot program was sponsored by Councilmembers Arias and Perea and argued that Section 2.2's nuisance-certification exception lets owners avoid the 120-day rehabilitation requirement: if the city attorney certifies a building is not a nuisance under Fresno Municipal Code Section 10-618, owners can stay in compliance by keeping weeds trimmed and entrances boarded. His public records request produced 150 pages; according to his account, none of the nine registered properties has been rehabilitated, and the only assessed fine was $1,000 in January for weeds and trash, not vacancy. He also noted the ordinance requires registration at a cost of $272. He recommended deleting the fourth bullet, the nuisance-certification exception, and requiring rehabilitation, a rehabilitation permit, or a completed process. He reported that the building lost power, water, and gas, had been boarded up, and that Strummer's operator Jason Pesteresi had used one unit as a green room until a break-in.

Discussion Items

• City College infill study: A commissioner reported serving as a design-review juror for a City College class that modeled infill on a corner lot near the locks. The student concepts varied from basic to impressive and often did not follow the Tower District design guidelines; the instructor may bring students to a future meeting to share the work.
• Neighborhood safety and enforcement: A commissioner described confronting a tagger in broad daylight and being threatened with a bat; police were still looking for the suspect despite clear video and a Facebook identification. The committee also discussed coordinating with the Police Department and county on homelessness, graffiti, and vacant-property issues.
• Implementation matrix and priorities: Members reviewed an ad hoc list tied to the Specific Plan implementation matrix, noted the matrix has a 25-year shelf life, and agreed to identify one or two near-term priorities. They added a long-standing proposal for strategic industry markers and design features. The vacant building pilot program was treated as the top priority because of its December 2026 expiration. Members discussed the need to understand code enforcement capacity, complaint-based processes, and the potential for daytime workshops with the City Attorney and Code Enforcement. A commissioner who serves as district liaison said he would begin outreach the next morning.
• Urban forest and other priorities: Commissioners highlighted the urban forest as a major asset, including the arborist in Public Works, an existing but unseen urban forest study, free-tree programs through Tree Fresno, and a positive Caltrans response on freeway planting. A commissioner said fire-department volunteers reported roughly three or four freeway embankment fire calls a day. Members also discussed ADU standard plans, vacant houses, bike lanes, alley activations, and the vacant Historic Preservation Officer position, which affects Mills Act and preservation work.
• Commissary kitchen proposal (item 8, schedule communications): Steve Wolburn shared details of the proposed project: two full certified commercial kitchens for food entrepreneurs, public-facing showcases and classes, and a possible worker-owned cooperative in the former Cafe Midi space. He said it would not be a food-truck commissary and noted TDBA is exploring moving the farmers market to Fern. Committee members reacted positively and encouraged coordination with TDBA.

Key Outcomes

• The agenda and May 21, 2026 minutes were approved unanimously.
• The vacant building pilot program became the committee's top immediate priority. The district liaison will contact the Code Enforcement and City Attorney's offices to arrange a workshop, obtain status information on the nine properties, and explore whether the ordinance should be amended before the program expires.
• Members agreed to develop a formal priority list from the implementation matrix and to discuss possible subcommittees or daytime meetings at a future meeting.
• Urban forestry follow-up was supported: engage the Public Works arborist and Tree Fresno, and continue pursuing Caltrans planting contacts.
• No formal votes were taken on substantive priorities; direction was by consensus.
• The next meeting is scheduled for July 16, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the same location.