Documented by Anthony Corda
Here’s what you need to know
- Measure P funds will be used to maintain and improve several Fresno parks for fiscal year 2024.
- Public comment was limited to two minutes as opposed to the standard three due to a “packed house,” according to Commissioner McCoy.
Follow-up questions
- Why is pickleball so popular?
- Why is there no Measure P funding for Granite Park?
- Were any other parks excluded from Measure P funding? Why?
Notes
- Meeting started late.
- Someone announced that there is no quorum. They said that they would wait five more minutes and if nothing came about by then, the meeting would be canceled.
- Meeting called to order at 5:44
- Chair Kimberly McCoy (Present)
- VIce Chair Jon Dohlin (Present)
- Commissioner – Scott Miller (Present)
- Commissioner – Mona Nyandoro Cummings (Absent)
- Commissioner – Harman Singh (Present)
- Commissioner – Jose Leon Barraza (Absent)
- Commissioner – Kelly Kucharski (Absent)
- Commissioner – Laura Ward (Present)
- Commissioner – Vacant Seat
- Pledge of Allegiance
- No proposed changes to the agenda.
- McCoy moved to approve the agenda, agenda approved by all present.
- McCoy moving on to approval of minutes. No changes to minutes from Sept. 25. Singh and Ward approved the item.
- McCoy moved onto Subcommittee Reports. Ward requested that 200 copies be printed.
- Parks Master Plan Subcommittee met with city staff and went through Chapter 6 of the master plan, and will regroup in two weeks for the next steps per Dohlin.
- McCoy commended all of the Halloween activities taking place on social media for the Parks Department.
- McCoy moved onto city administration reports or comments.
- There were none.
- Park staff member Aaron Aguirre highlighted a ribbon-cutting for a dog park that was relocated to the east side of Roeding Park. Solar lighting and waste receptacles were added. The improvements were funded fully by Measure P. There will be a meeting on Oct. 24 for Al Radka Park as it pertains to their dog park. Open to the community.
Actions/Discussions/Public comment
- ID 23-1512– Action – pertaining to the PARCS Department fiscal year 2025 budget as it pertains to the Capital Project Portfolio. Make recommendations to the City Council for adoption of expenditures.
- Summer Rooks – Capital Projects Administrator presenting with Joseph Bortalii – Thrilled to provide an update on project progression and portfolio growth.
- She thanked the PARCS operation and maintenance team as well as others.
- All projects presented are funded by Measure P.
- 85 projects are Measure P funded.
- 12 projects completed.
- Rooks presented and explained how projects come to fruition.
- Joseph Bortali, capital project administrator, first spoke of projects that are in planning.
- Dakota/Barton – New development funded through design.
- Hinton – Landscape Improvements funded through construction.
- JSK/Regional Sports Complex – Field cricket conversion funded through construction.
- Logan Park – Multi-stripe courts funded by construction
- Multiple Parks Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District dual-use basins funded through design.
- Pinedale – Community center improvements funded through construction.
- Quigley Park – Rehabilitation funded through design. Will include splash pads among other amenities
- Roeding – Restroom upgrades and irrigation upgrades funded through construction and design respectfully.
- Estimated projects
- Dickey Park rehabilitation funded by design.
- Lafayette – Court resurfacing funded by construction.
- Logan Park — Bleacher upgrades funded by construction.
- Maxie L. Parks – South parcel improvements funded by design.
- Mosqueda – Pool fence improvements funded through construction.
- Romain – Learner Pool Improvement funded through construction
- Storyland – Site Improvements funded by construction.
- Design
- Al Radka – New small dog park
- Shaded seating, new features for dogs.
- Broadway/Elizabeth — New park – construction
- Fink White – Restroom rehabilitation – construction
- Replacement of stalls. Overall revamp.
- Holmes – Restroom replacement – construction
- Manchester – Splash pad – design
- Maxie L Parks – HVAC installation – design
- Milburn Overlook – rehabilitation – construction
- Will remove existing parking lot and create a safe overlook of the San Joaquin River. ADA-designated parking stall. Path Travel improvements. Shaded seating areas and binoculars to look down at the river.
- Al Radka – New small dog park
- Paul “Cap” Caprioglio Center – South building rehabilitation – construction
- Will include a congregate meal hall.
- Rotary East – Picnic area – design
- Senior Activity Center – New community center – construction
- Approximately 30,000 square feet.
- Roreding/Rotary East – Pickleball courts – construction
- Three Courts for pickleball and striping
- Vinland – Pickleball and futsal court – construction
- Woodward Park — Pickleball courts – design
- San Pablo — Rehabilitation project – design
- To complete design for rehabilitation of San Pablo park to have additional amenities.
- Ted C. Wills – Green space improvement – design
- Will include large open green space, dog park and shaded seating.
- Bigby-Villa/Cal Tupman/Cary/Lafayette/Logan/Maxie L. Parks/ NIelsen/Orchid/Romain/Rotary East/ Sunnyside — Play area improvements – Design
- Shade for play structures and ADA compliance.
- Frank H. Ball/Mary Ella Brown Maxie L. Parks/Sunset – West Fresno Community Center Rehabilitation (outreach and design) – design
- Will begin winter/spring 2024.
- Preconstruction
- Belcher – Pedestrian access – construction
- California tupman – Perimeter wall – construction
- Cary – Petanque shade and bleacher improvement – construction
- Dickey Youth Center — Security improvements – construction
- Holmes – Roof repair – construction
- Due to water damage.
- Lafayette – Restroom Rehabilitation – construction
- Will include ADA improvement along with a full rehabilitation
- Orchid/Roeding – Court resurfacing – construction
- Resurfacing 11 tennis courts
- Roeding/Woodward – Play structure replacements – construction
- Roeding;s play structure will be replaced completely
- Woodward’s will be repaired.
- Veteran’s Memorial – Facility Improvements – construction
- Improvements on dressing rooms, HVAC, accessibility.
- Willow/Balck – Play structure replacement – construction
- Previous play structure was damaged by fire.
- Construction
- Al Radka — Irrigation upgrades – construction
- Making improvements to ensure proper watering of property.
- Fink White – Splash pad – construction
- Einstein/Holmes/Jaswant Sing/Khalra/Kaiser/Koligian/Mosqueda/Romain/Selma Layne/Ted C Wills/ Veteran’s Memorial – Parking lot slurry/seal – construction
- Lafayette/Robinson/Sunnyside/Cal Tupman/Logan – Accessible picnic areas – construction
- Pilobos – Turf rehabilitation and irritation upgrade – construction
- Al Radka — Irrigation upgrades – construction
- Completed
- Granny’s – Security and pathway lighting
- Jaswant Singh Khalra — Play Structure Replacement
- Ribbon-cutting last month.
- Mosqueda – Accessible door upgrades
- Paul “Cap” Caprioglio – Community Center north building rehabilitation
- Quigley — HVAC improvements
- Roeding – Dog park relocation
- Ribbon-cutting took place Oct. 16.
- Science mobile — Improvements
- Sunset – Community Center roof repairs
- Vinland – Court resurfacing and restroom upgrades.
- Mosqueda/Ted C Wills and Regional sports complex – HVAC improvements
- Meeting schedule for the remainder of the year
- November 2023 – Commission provides first set of budget recommendations to City Council for PARCS Department’s fiscal year 2025 budget
- McCoy offered an opportunity for public comment.
- No public comment.
- McCoy asked the commission if they had any questions.
- No questions from the commission
- McCoy inquired about Veteran’s Memorial being considered a park. Bartali confirmed it is an asset in their inventory.
- Singh asked about the mobile science unit. What do they do and where are they? Bartali confirmed it is outside of Highway City. It’s a bus that can take science activities to the public, schools and communities.
- Aaron Aguirre confirmed that the mobile science unit was down but is now up and running. Offered to share schedule and frequency with the committee.
- Ward mentioned that a lot of the projects seem like maintenance. She said it seems as if it should just be ongoing park maintenance.
- Aguirre said some of the repairs are beyond what their staff can do so then it becomes part of the capital budget.
- McCoy inquired about public comment from online.
- No comment.
- ID 23-1440 – Action – Pertaining to the Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Grant Guidelines
- Fresno Arts Council – Lilia Gonzales-Chavez, executive director, spoke.
- She said that the plan is in need of additional revisions.
- One concern of the commission was the percentage of the budget and how it would be allocated. The funds were divided 50-50 approximately.
- Set aside 10% of the dedicated 50% of each category for emerging organizations
- Created three categories for funding.
- Raised the cap for operating grants to $300,000.
- Changed key questions in the project specific grants so that it would speak specifically to projects.
- Increased word count for all questions to 750, which was a previous concern brought forth by the commission.
- Separated the two grant types.
- Considered, as a committee, the pros and cons of having just one application so people would have to choose between operating support and project support. Small arts organizations presented the concern.
- Emphasized the importance for small arts organizations to apply for both areas.
- Listened to concerns from community members related to individual artists.
- Because the way the ordinance is written, individual artists cannot apply without a fiscal sponsor.
- Included that without a fiscal sponsor, individual artists could apply under the special projects category.
- “Moving forward, we’ll also be looking at other opportunities for individual artists, whether it’s residencies, at-large organizations or fellowships,” Chavez said. She then opened the floor to questions.
- No further questions.
- McCoy opened the forum for public comment.
- Thomas Ellis — “You know the minutes say three minutes,”
- McCoy – “Yeah but we had a house full so I just wanted to make sure everyone had a chance to speak, so that’s why I limited it to two minutes.”
- Ellis – “I’m not going to take two minutes.”
- Ellis is a professor of theater arts at Fresno State University.
- Wanted to support the tentative plan for funding for small emerging organizations. Specifically those involving people of color.
- Explained that he is here in Fresno because Fresno State University wanted to hire someone to teach, perform and present African-American theater. From 1914 to 1973, the department produced over 300 plays and none of them featured people of color, he said.
- From 1973 to 1991, only one Black play was produced. No Latino plays, no Asian plays.
- Applauded the commission’s consideration for ensuring diverse and emerging organizations are funded.
- “This is taxpayer money. People of color buy stuff. They buy used cars. They buy appliances. They buy clothing because they need that. It’s not disposable income, it’s taxable income and they deserve a piece of this pie.” Ellis said.
- McCoy inquired about speakers online.
- No speakers online.
- No further public comment.
- McCoy inquired about a motion to oppose.
- Ward made a motion to recommend guidelines be moved to the City Council for adoption.
- Dohlin seconded.
- All in favor.
- None opposed.
- Item passed.
- McCoy closed public comment.
- ID 23-1441 – Receive public input on allocations related to Measure P, updates to the Parks Master Plan and Cultural Arts Plan and annual PARCS Department budget and capital improvement plans.
- McCoy opened the floor for public comment.
- No public comment.
- No speakers online.
- McCoy asked if any members of the commission had questions or comments regarding the item.
- None.
- McCoy opened the floor for public comment.
- McCoy adjourned the meeting at 6:44 p.m. in honor of Dr. Francine Oputa.
- “I would like to adjourn the meeting in one of our commissioner’s memory. Dr. Francine Oputa, you are greatly missed.”
Conversation highlight
- “I just want to applaud your consideration in making sure that diverse and emerging organizations are funded. This is, as you know, taxpayer money. People of color buy stuff. They buy used cars. They buy appliances. They buy clothing because they need that. It’s not disposable income, it’s taxable income and they deserve a piece of this pie,” Thomas Ellis, Fresno State University professor, said.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
