Fresno Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission Jan. 22, 2024 meeting

Documented by Ramiro Merino

Here’s what you need to know

• Regarding Measure P, the Fresno Arts Council will offer two more grant writing workshops before the March 2024 deadline. 
• There are two upcoming community meetings regarding pickleball court designs, which will be held at Vinland Park and Roeding Park.  
• City staff shared their outreach efforts regarding the West Fresno Community Center Planning Project. 

Follow-up questions

• What is the commission’s plan to promote applications for Measure P grants?

Notes 

Actions/discussions/public comment

• Chair Kimberly McCoy called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m. 
• During roll call, Commissioners Laura Ward, Mona Nyandoro Cummings, Harman Singh and Jon Dohlin were all present at the start of the meeting. Commissioners Scott Miller, Jose Leon Barrza and Kelly Kucharski were absent at the start of the meeting. 
• McKoy led the Pledge of Allegiance.
• Commissioners voted to approve the meeting agenda and meeting minutes from Dec. 18. 
• Ward provided an update for the Cultural Arts Plan Subcommittee. Ward said that the  Measure P application went live on Dec. 31, 2023, and will close on March 25. The application is available on the Fresno Arts Council website. She also said there was a grant-writing workshop by Fresno City College in partnership with the Fresno Arts Council. The meeting was recorded and can be viewed on the CMAC Youtube channel. 
• “There will be two similar workshops on Feb. 18 and March 9,” she said. “There is also a call open for those interested in reviewing applications.”
• Cummings provided an update for the Parks Master Plan. Cummings said, “We were sent a link to the executive summary. We will be meeting next Monday as a subcommittee, and we will report back at the next meeting.”
• McKoy introduced Christina Soto, the newest commissioner to join the group. Soto is a member of the community and lives in west Fresno. “I helped campaign for Measure P. I am a parent of four children who attend Computech from UC Merced. They are all involved in sports. I’m excited to be connected to the community and help bring the vision of Measure P as it was intended to serve the community.” 
• Member reports and comments
  • Commissioner Baraza was absent. 
  • Kucharski had no report. 
  • Miller had no report. 
  • Singh had no report. 
  • Assistant City Manager T.J. Miller told Soto, “We are confident your skills will lend itself to the group.” 
  • PARCS Director Aaron Aguirre said there would be a community meeting on the Vinland Park Futsal and Pickleball Courts final design on Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. at the park, located at 4965 East Gettysburg Ave.  Another community meeting for the Roeding Park Pickleball and Multiuse Courts final design is set for Feb. 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Muir Elementary School, 410 East Dennett Ave., he said. Futsal is a football-based sport played on a hard court, mostly inside.
  • “And lastly, the Valentine’s Senior Dance will be on Saturday, Feb. 17 from 1 to 4 pm. at the Pinedale Center,” he added.
• There were no members of the public in attendance, so there were no comments on the presentation..  
• Program Manager Sarah Gaytan gave a presentation on the West Fresno Community Center Plan. Gaytan said, “We have been hard at work within our department and consultants. We want to equip our commissioners with helpful information regarding the West Fresno Community Centers Planning Project. We have a community meeting on Jan. 30 to go over the project. In the binder, there is the form (called) Resident WFC CC Planning Project Inquiry. This is for commissioners to fill out should they get asked a question they do not have the answer to. The binder also includes the outreach resources we will be using, information on funding and background of the project, and history of the various projects.”
  • Kucharski asked if organizations pay to use the community buildings. Aguirre  answered that there is a policy for community organizations to pay to use the city-owned buildings. 
  • Ward asked how these sites were determined. Gaytan said they were identified based on the definition of the highest-needs communities. 
  • Miller thanked the staff for putting the binder together. 
  • Singh said when they go out to the community and speak with people, it might be hard to think outside of the frame of mind that they are used to. He asked if examples can be provided. Gaytan said the binder is a resource for internal staff including the commissioners and will share the feedback to the consultants to include in the Jan. 30 community meeting. 
  • McKoy asked if other community buildings will be focused on as well. Aguirre said only the four buildings per the highest-needs communities definition would be included. Aguirre said they have plans to revisit the definition by December 2024. 
• Public hearing
  • Lisa Flores said “My big concern is no matter what you fund Measure P, there needs to be a mechanism for tracking. There needs to be a follow-through for any items not completed for the project. We are still getting complaints about the water not working at the puppy park and I am not getting any feedback. It’s been four months and it’s embarrassing. I just want to make sure you all have a checklist and make sure you complete your projects. You have to meet people where they are at.” 
•  With no further discussion, McKoy adjourned the meeting at 6:13 p.m. 

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.