Here’s what you need to know:
- The motion for Public Convenience or Necessity (PCN) request for a Type 21 Off-Sale General Alcohol License for DB Kerman Inc., Inc., located at 14859 W. Whitesbridge Rd, failed. Mayor Yep recused.
- Meanwhile, the Council directs staff to craft a policy regarding alcohol permits and seeks input from the public.
- Council, by motion (5-0), adopted a resolution approving participation in the Fresno County Multi-Jurisdictional Housing Element Update and Cost-Sharing Arrangement.
- Josefina Alvarez accepted the position of Interim Finance Director.
The Scene
According to its website, the City Council serves as the policy-making board of the City. The Kerman City Council has five members, including the Mayor. The City elects its mayor for a two-year term and Council Members for four-year terms.
The City Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at the Kerman City Hall, 850 S. Madera Ave. The meeting is accessible through Zoom.
Officials Present:
- Mayor Gary Yep
- Council Member Bill Nijjer
- Council Member Jennifer Coleman
- Council Member Kevin Nehring
- Mayor Pro Tem Ismael Herrera
Others Present:
- City Clerk Marci Reyes
- City Attorney Hilda Cantu-Montoy
- Community Development Director Jesus Orozco
- Paul Brar
- Akayla Cheema
- John Jansons
- Ismael Herrera
- Mary Rodriguez
- Michelle Zaragoza
- Ariana Mendoza
- Gloria Gutierrez
- Fresno County Chief of Staff Marc Benjamin
- Hilda Suna Perez
- Emily Lopez
- Director of Central Valley Programs from Youth Leadership Institute Cynthia Rocha
Discussions/Actions
The Council (5-0) unanimously approved the items as follows:
A. Council approved the minutes of March 23, 2022.
B. Council approved payroll as presented.
C. Council approved warrants and electronic bank transfers as presented. (Under Government Code 37208)
D. Council accepts the monthly investment report as presented.
E. Council by motion adopted a resolution reauthorizing remote teleconference public meetings by the City Council and all boards, commissions, and standing committees of the City under Assembly Bill 361.
F. Council by motion adopted the resolution approving the implementation of an Employee Retention and Appreciation Program under Mid-Year Budget allocation.
Department Reports include the following:
A. The Council considers the Request for Public Convenience or Necessity (PCN) for a Type 21 Off-Sale General Alcohol License for DB Kerman Inc., Inc., located at 14859 W. Whitesbridge Rd. (JRO). Mayor Yep recused.
Census Tract 40.01, which stretches Kearney to Belmont, is over-concentrated on alcohol licenses.
The convenience store is under development in the southeast corner of Kline and Whitesbridge Road.
The Census Tract has six off-sale alcohol licenses within the City limits, while the seventh license is north of Belmont.
In the second request for PCN, the applicant DB Kerman Inc applied ABC. However, an expiration regarding the sale and transfer of the original request occurred,
The City of Kerman comprises four census tracts that caused the shift in ABC licensing.
The project began as a phase 2 of the previous project, “CVS Project” or “Kerman Shopping Center Project,” which started in the early 2000s.
A county ratio of 1 license per every 1,123 residents is allowed, resulting in a maximum of 2 off-sale Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) licenses and (7) off-sale ABC licenses.
Off-sales poses concerns of public nuisances, vagrancy, and loitering which will result in a
material detrimental impact on City services, resulting in a potential increase in calls for
service.
The city will not have enforcement or revocation privileges over the alcohol sales once the public convenience and necessity are approved, placing an additional burden on the City’s ability to address deterrent activity.
City Attorney Hilda Cantu-Montoya clarified that the City has no legal requirement for alcohol licenses, yet any business that sells alcohol must obtain the state ABC license.
Paul Brar states that alcohol will be a small proportion of their goods and promises to establish monitoring systems.
Hilda Suna Perez shared that Kerman has 18 “active” alcohol licenses. The City has 16,116 residents. The 2022 California ABC Act recommends one for every 2,500 residents.
Kerman Middle School student Emily Lopez said that businesses must be “responsible” for making the city safe.
Director of Central Valley Programs from Youth Leadership Institute Cynthia Rocha pointed out that the high saturation of alcohol licenses in the City and its impact on the youth is concerning.
The motion for Public Convenience or Necessity (PCN) request for a Type 21 Off-Sale General Alcohol License for DB Kerman Inc., Inc., located at 14859 W. Whitesbridge Rd, failed.
The Council directs staff to craft a policy regarding alcohol permits and seeks input from the public.
B. Council, by motion (5-0), adopted a resolution approving participation in the Fresno County Multi-Jurisdictional Housing Element Update and Cost-Sharing Arrangement.
C. Council, by motion (5-0), adopted a resolution approving a services agreement with the Regents of the University of California relating to the Statewide Animal Assistance Program.
In the 2021 budget, the Governor placed a 50,000 one-time general fund. UC Davis Animal Hospital is using the fund to give local jurisdictions grants.
The grant given to the City is $5000 to be spent on rescuing abandoned and injured animals.
Josefina Alvarez agreed to the position of Interim Finance Director.
The closed session consists of:
A. Under Government Code Section 54956.8
Conference with Real Property Negotiator APN: 023-204-14SU & 16SU
City Negotiator: City Manager, John Jansons
Negotiation Parties: S&K Moran Family LLP
Under Negotiation: Price and Terms
The Council adjourned at 9:00 pm. The next Council meeting will be on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at 6:00 pm through Zoom.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at Documenters-admin@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.