Fresno City Council Regular Meeting - August 13, 2026

The Fresno City Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, August 13, 2026, beginning at 9:06 AM in the Council Chambers. Council President Nelson Esparza presided with six members present (Councilmember Mike Karbassi absent). The agenda was approved as amended after several items were removed or tabled. The meeting included ceremonial presentations, approval of the consent calendar, discussion of three contested consent items, a closed session, and unscheduled public communication. The council adjourned from closed session at 3:11 PM.

Ceremonial Presentations

• Proclamation of "Rhyen Simon Valdez Day" – Presented by Vice President Maxwell and Councilmember Richardson. Family and friends spoke in honor of Ryan Valdez, a U.S. Army veteran and Fresno State graduate who passed away on May 14, 2026. Fresno State presented his posthumous diploma.
• Proclamation "Celebrating Broadway Parque and South Tower Community Land Trust" – Presented by Councilmember Arias, recognizing the first anniversary of Broadway Parque and the fourth anniversary of the South Tower Community Land Trust. The park was built with Measure P funds and represents the first green space in the South Tower District in over 30 years.

Consent Calendar

• Approved on consent (vote 5-0, Arias absent):
  • Minutes for June 8, 2026 special and July 30, 2026 regular meetings.
  • Ordinance 2026-23: Adoption of B-22 amending the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance.
  • Second Amendment to Ground Lease with SkyWest Airlines at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (potential revenue $8,369,791.60 plus CPI adjustments).
  • Contract change order with Harris Development ($0 with 47 additional days) for security fence improvements at pump stations.
  • Cedar Avenue at Shields Avenue and Fountain Way Intersection Enhancements: adopted Resolution 2026-181 appropriating $850,700 and awarded $945,221 contract to Avison Construction.
  • Third Amendment to Consultant Agreement with Provost & Pritchard ($76,243) for River West Eaton Trail Extension design (total $1,755,134).
  • Change Order No. 1 with Avison Construction for Blackstone Smart Mobility Project ($951,860 increase; total not to exceed $5,960,857).
  • First Amendment with Willdan Financial Services ($134,098 increase, total $384,098).
  • Services Agreement with Fresno/Clovis Convention and Visitors Bureau for Tourism Business Improvement District management.
  • Master Tax-Exempt Equipment Lease Purchase Agreement with Bank of America Public Capital Corp (five-year term; Resolution 2026-193 adopted).
  • Ordinance 2026-24: Adoption of B-23 adopting 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone Map.
  • Lease with Anoush Chamlian Trust for office space at 621 Santa Fe Avenue ($305,505 annually plus CAM charges).
  • First Amendment to Consultant Agreement with Stantec Consulting ($100,000 increase, total $201,750; term extended to December 31, 2030).
  • Introduction of B-25 amending Electric Vehicle Charging and Hydrogen Fueling Station review process.
  • First Amendment to Service Agreement with Poverello House (no additional funds) for ERF-3 outreach.
  • First Amendment to Copper River Transfer Agreement extending Sewer Equivalent Dwelling Units eligibility to additional 109 acres.
  • Resolution 2026-194: Summary vacation of street easement on Mono Street.
  • Resolution 2026-195: Dedicating city-owned property for street purposes at California Avenue and Fresno Street.
  • Professional Engineering Services agreement with Provost & Pritchard ($112,922.22) for ADA-compliant bus stop design.
  • Service contract with Alta Planning & Design ($399,931) for transit design guidelines for FAX network.
  • Rejection of all bids for FAX Administration Building parking lot shade structure; staff directed to rebid.
  • Third Amendment with PCubed Associates ($161,400, total $854,000) for FAX Maintenance Facility HVAC improvements.
  • Reappointment of Christina Garza and appointment of Carla Tweed to the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board.

Public Comments & Testimony

Public Comment on Consent, Contested Consent, and Closed Session Items:

• Elijah Devila (volunteer, Valle Project/Tobacco-Free Coalition) – Supported the Tobacco Retailer's License (TRL), urged ending flavored tobacco sales and restricting proximity to youth places.
• Bill Bunnell (APCA board member) – Requested delay to discuss amendments; suggested minimum margin pricing and noted similarity to neighborhood market act.
• Daniel Gonzalez (co-chair, Fresno County Tobacco Free Coalition) – Supported TRL with amendments: limiting density, prohibiting new retailers within 1,000 feet of youth-oriented areas, ending flavored tobacco sales with no exemptions, and mandatory annual inspections.
• Andy Chukara (APCA) – Requested delay to allow stakeholder input; noted insufficient time to review ordinance.
• Balwinder Singh (APCA chapter president) – Supported 90% of ordinance but asked for stakeholder engagement; requested delay.
• Baolia Xiong (District 1 resident, Tobacco Free Coalition) – Supported TRL as sustainable enforcement mechanism.
• Jasmine Bunvestro (American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network) – Supported TRL and urged comprehensive provisions including strong fees, penalties, flavor ban, and inspections.
• Sukhbir Bhandal – Opposed new fees; urged enforcement of existing regulations.
• Krista (vendor) – Raised concerns about vague language in sidewalk vending ordinance regarding services.
• David Rios (volunteer, Valle Project) – Supported TRL, asked for restrictions on flavored tobacco, proximity, and discounts.
• Joseph Rodriguez (Zoom) – Criticized number of closed session litigation items and council attendance at previous day's special meeting.
• Bryan Lam (California Fuels and Convenience Alliance) – Requested delay to collect stakeholder input; warned distancing restrictions could shift sales to illicit market.
• Julio Lopez (Youth Leadership Institute) – Supported TRL with coalition recommendations.
• Lisa Flores (Zoom) – Supported strict tobacco restrictions (1000 ft proximity too short); also commented on closed session litigation costs and council attendance.

Unscheduled Communication (after closed session):

• Krista Randa – Spoke against Flock cameras, requested community meeting on safety.
• Renee Campus (Zoom) – Comment cut off after racial slurs.
• Brandi Nuse-Villegas (Zoom) – Expressed disappointment about lack of quorum at previous day's special meeting on Measure C; requested consistent timing for public comment.
• Lisa Flores (Zoom) – Asked about transparency on lawsuit payouts (referencing $15.5 million judgment and $40,000 interest) and litigation expense reimbursement from county; criticized council attendance.

Discussion Items

Contested Consent Items:

• 2-H (ID 26-1040) – Measure C Extension Annual Allocation: Councilmember Richardson moved to contested consent for discussion. Staff explained annual apportionment for fiscal year 2026-2027. Approved 4-0 (Perea, Arias absent; Karbassi absent).
• 2-M (ID 26-998) – Lease with Loperena Antenna Sites: Councilmember Richardson moved to contested consent to discuss communication capabilities. CIO Brian Horn explained the site is critical for public safety radio coverage across Fresno. Lease approved 5-0 (Perea, Karbassi absent).
• 2-Z (ID 26-1048) – Tobacco Retailer's License Ordinance (B-24): Extensive discussion led by Councilmember Richardson who proposed amendments: transferability of licenses with violation history; delineation between administrative/code violations and sales violations; exemption for businesses with CUPs; addition of sensitive location distance language in application process. City Attorney advised that material changes would require reintroduction and a third reading. Councilmember Arias raised concerns about transferability and enforcement history. Councilmember Perea supported tabling for further collaboration. After debate, a motion to table to the next regular meeting (August 27, 2026) passed 6-0 (Karbassi absent).

Other Items:

• Item 2-P (Salary Resolution for personal security expenses) tabled by Councilmember Arias.
• Item 3-A (South SEDA Economic Analysis workshop) moved to September 3, 2026 by staff.
• Several closed session items moved to August 27, 2026.

Councilmember Reports:

• Councilmember Arias: Deadline for Fiestas Patrias vendor registration is August 14.
• Councilmember Vang: Completed second annual backpack giveaways at Jackson Elementary and Sequoia Middle School; thanked partners.
• Councilmember Richardson: Grand opening of UCP+ at Maple and Nees; expanded services for individuals with varying abilities.
• Council President Esparza: Final "Beat the Heat" event at Romain Park had over 1,000 attendees; reminded public of new 20 mph school zone speed limits; invited community to cleanup at Holmes Playground; provided update on Measure C—Fresno County Clerk lacks documents for November 2026 ballot, two lawsuits pending, only city's backstop tax measure currently on ballot.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved 5-0 (Arias absent).
• Measure C annual allocation (2-H) approved 4-0 (Perea, Arias absent; Karbassi absent).
• Loperena Antenna Site lease (2-M) approved 5-0 (Perea, Karbassi absent).
• Tobacco Retailer's License (2-Z) tabled to August 27, 2026 meeting by a 6-0 vote.
• Closed session: Discussed labor negotiations, five existing litigation cases, and two anticipated litigation cases. Reported out: Council voted 6-0 to initiate litigation against an unnamed defendant (Item 5-F).
• Next regular meeting: August 27, 2026 at 9:00 AM.

Note: The meeting took place on August 13, 2026; Councilmember Karbassi was absent; Councilmember Arias was absent for the vote on the consent calendar but present for other votes.