Fresno City Council Regular Meeting – September 17, 2026

The Fresno City Council met in regular session on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 2600 Fresno Street. Roll call was taken at 9:11 a.m. with six members present: Council President Nelson Esparza and Councilmembers Annalisa Perea, Mike Karbassi, Miguel Angel Arias, Brandon Vang, and Nick Richardson. Vice President Tyler Maxwell was absent due to a family emergency. The meeting included numerous ceremonial proclamations, public hearings on a right-of-way vacation, the annual CAPER report, a historic property designation, and an appearance by a resident regarding Republic Services. The consent calendar was approved with modifications, and two contested consent items were individually considered. The council recessed into closed session at 11:58 a.m. to discuss labor negotiations, existing and anticipated litigation, and performance evaluations for the City Attorney and City Clerk.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from June 11, June 16, June 23, and September 3, 2026.
• Authorized acceptance of $1,440,788 in Proposition 64 grant funding for the City Attorney’s Office and $6,000,000 for the Police Department.
• Adopted a resolution supporting Proposition 1, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026 (Councilmember Richardson voted no; approved 5-1).
• Approved a $561,370 consultant services agreement with CSDA Design Group for noise abatement at Fresno Yosemite International Airport.
• Approved Amendment No. 17 with ERM-West, Inc. for environmental support services at the airport (not to exceed $1,196,236).
• Named the “Carnegie Library Garage.”
• Awarded a $1,173,537 construction contract to American Paving Co. for the Van Ness Boulevard and Clinton Avenue Traffic Signal Modification Project.
• Adopted the 15th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution, appropriating $3,365,600.
• Approved a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement with State Center Community College District for a Fire Regional Training Center.
• Approved a three-year lease with Signature Flight Support LLC for the Police Department’s Air Support Unit ($54,768 annually).
• Delegated authority to the City Manager for Cycle Two of the Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Grant Program (up to $165,000) – moved to contested consent, then approved.
• Approved a second amendment to the service agreement with Poverello House for mobile shower and restroom operations ($243,000) – moved to contested consent, then approved.
• Various other routine items including street vacations, appointments, grant applications, and contracts.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Neil O’Brien (District 6 resident): Provided detailed testimony regarding Republic Services’ failure to collect waste, billing for fees not in the franchise agreement, and discrepancies between publicly claimed GPS/AI tracking and the actual complaint log. He requested the city serve a 24-hour notice of inspection, direct Republic to stop unauthorized fees and refund past charges, and assess liquidated damages.
• Brandi Nuse-Villegas: Commented on the PY 2025 CAPER, expressing appreciation for continued funding of programs like the Boys and Girls Club and human trafficking prevention, and urged increased investment in rental assistance, permanent housing, and safe parking for people living in vehicles.
• Kelvin Scott, Pastor Monte Mitchell (Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church), and Lisa Flores: Spoke in favor of the historic designation for 207 E San Joaquin Street, noting the church’s 100-year history, community service, and plans to expand kitchen facilities.
• Nikki Real: Expressed support for added accountability in the mobile showers contract and noted concerns about administrative costs versus direct assistance for homeless individuals.
• Lisa Flores: Criticized the timing of agenda publication, requesting earlier release to improve public access, and noted she did not receive the agenda until after the meeting started.
• Unscheduled Communication (various speakers): Glenn Harrington discussed epilepsy awareness and offered free training by the Epilepsy Foundation of Northern California. Joseph Rodriguez, Alfred Aldrete, and Crystal Rocha urged the council to end the flock camera contract, citing privacy concerns and non-compliance with public records requests for audit logs.

Discussion Items

• 9:10 a.m. – Right-of-Way Vacation for Dolores Huerta Park: Heard at 11:23 a.m. No public comments. Councilmember Perea noted this is one of the last steps needed for a planned groundbreaking by the end of 2026. Resolution adopted unanimously (6-0).
• 9:15 a.m. #1 – PY 2025 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER): Heard at 11:24 a.m. Public comment received from Brandi Nuse-Villegas. No council discussion. Approved (5-0; Councilmembers Arias and Maxwell absent).
• 9:20 a.m. – Historic Designation for 207 E San Joaquin Street: Heard at 11:09 a.m. Speakers from Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church testified in support. Councilmember Arias highlighted the church’s 100-year history and its perseverance after being relocated for the construction of State Route 99. Resolution adopted unanimously (6-0).
• 10:00 a.m. – Appearance by Neil O’Brien regarding Republic Services: O’Brien presented evidence of service failures and billing issues. Council took no immediate action but acknowledged the concerns.
• Contested Consent: Item 2-L – Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Grant Program: Councilmember Arias requested and received the names of five grantees that declined award money and confirmation of three contracts exceeding $50,000 requiring City Manager approval. Approved (6-0).
• Contested Consent: Item 2-M – Poverello House Mobile Shower and Restroom Operations: Councilmember Arias inquired about the status of the second mobile shower trailer damaged in a traffic accident. Staff reported it was deemed a total loss; operations will continue with one trailer, and a replacement is expected within 6–12 months. Approved (6-0).

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 2026-211 vacating portions of city-owned right-of-way for Dolores Huerta Park: adopted (6-0).
• PY 2025 CAPER approved and authorized for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (5-0).
• Resolution 2026-212 designating 207 E San Joaquin Street to the Local Register of Historic Resources: adopted (6-0).
• Consent calendar approved as amended (6-0). Annexation No. 75 (CFD No. 9) continued to October 22, 2026, at 9:15 a.m. Items 2-L and 2-M moved to contested consent and approved.
• Item 2-U (appointments to the Fresno Regional Workforce Development Board) tabled.
• Certain agenda items continued by staff: the Central Southeast Area Specific Plan (item ID 26-1054) and the Plan Amendment for approximately 55.31 acres in Southwest Fresno (item ID 26-1055) were continued to October 22, 2026, at 3:55 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., respectively.
• The council recessed into closed session at 11:58 a.m. to discuss labor negotiations, existing litigation (Richard Fitzgerald v. City of Fresno; Tutelian & Company, Inc. v. City of Fresno), anticipated litigation (2 potential cases), and public employee performance evaluations for the City Attorney and City Clerk. No open-session announcements were made following closed session. The meeting adjourned from open session at 3:25 p.m. and from closed session at 5:00 p.m.

Additional Information

• The meeting began with ceremonial proclamations recognizing the Valley Volleyball Academy, Pet of the Quarter (a Chihuahua mix named Selena), California Native American Day, Orange Shirt Day (honoring residential school survivors), Constitution Week, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir of Fresno (25th anniversary), Fresno State Bulldog Marching Band Centennial Celebration, Dolly Parton Day (September 25, 2026), and the Hmong Nurses Association – Fresno Chapter (8th anniversary).
• Councilmember reports included updates on Movies in the Park, Fiestas Patrias, repaving projects, parking enforcement downtown, memorials for a recent aviation accident, and suicide awareness. Mayor Dyer announced that his chief of staff was returning from Sacramento with $100 million in state infrastructure funds, bringing the total for downtown improvements to $250 million. City Manager White reported on a multi-jurisdictional response to the Sierra Sky Park incident and coordinated with Councilmember Arias on parking concerns.