Documented by Ramiro Merino
Here’s what you need to know
- Commissioners shared that the Fresno Arts Council is accepting applications for people to be part of the review committee for the Cultural Arts Plan.
- The commission voted to table the public hearing to establish the San Joaquin River Conservancy Parkway Committee to get more information.
Follow-up questions
- How does the commission share information about the creation of the San Joaquin River Conservancy Parkway Committee so the public knows they can comment during the hearing?
Notes
Chair Kimberly McCoy called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m. Commissioners Harman Singh and Mona Nyandoro Cummings were absent at the start of the meeting . McCoy led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Actions/discussions/public comment
- The commission voted to approve the meeting agenda as well as the minutes from Jan. 22. Commissioners Jon Dohlin and Jose Leon Barraza abstained from voting since they were not present for the previous meeting.
- Commissioner Laura Ward provided an update on the Cultural Arts Plan Subcommittee. Ward said, “Members of the public are requesting printed copies of the Cultural Arts Plan. There is an open call to review the applications. We are hoping to get a diverse group of panelists. The Arts Council has conducted one general grant workshop. Another general grant workshop will be held at the Woodward Library.”
- There was no update on the Parks Master Plan.
- Member reports and comments
- Baraza said he was “very pleased to run into two rangers. One had the blue uniform and the other had the green/khaki uniform. I see them more frequently. I am happy to see progress in the area.”
- Dohlin had no report or comments.
- Ward had no report or comments.
- Commissioner Kelly Kucharski said “If there is interest in engaging with the national park, I can connect you with them.”
- Commissioner Cristina Soto said she was not part of any committee “but if there is a need, please let me know. There was concern from the public that the notifications were not sent out in a timely manner.”
- Commissioner Scott Miller had no report or comments.
- The city administration had no reports or comments.
- PARCS Director Aaron Aguirre said “The four centers had a great meeting. We did note that the public did not receive flyers about the meeting in a timely manner so we will make sure that they receive it in a timely manner for the next meeting. I want to thank my team for their hard work and all the hours they put in the outreach events. We dropped the youth fee from $0-$300 to $0-$150, which was approved by the City Council last week.”
- McCoy said, “I want to give a shout-out to the Parks Department for all of the time spent doing outreach. Kudos to you all.”
- Unscheduled communication
- Resident Lisa Flores said, “I am queen of the dog park. We will be having our first meetup on Wednesday. We would like to see anyone with a small or big dog. Thank you to staff and water guys for making sure the water fountain is on. Did you know the last meeting of the senior meeting is at the same time as the Tower plan? The pool needs to be closer to the parking lot. For someone like me who can’t walk far, it is useless. Why is the pool not an indoor pool like our doctors want?”
- Public hearing: Measure P, Parks Master Plan and Cultural Arts Plan, and annual PARCS Department budget and Capital Improvement Plans
- Lisa Flores said, “I would like to see where are the additional funds for the dog park of puppy love at Roeding Park? We get direct sunlight and it is hard for us. In this coming year’s budget, we would like to see an awning or something to give us shade.”
- Barraza said, “We are generating a lot of interest outside of Fresno. As you know, the funds are to be used for the residents of Fresno. I heard some organizations are being contacted by organizations outside of the city.”
- City staff said that the Fresno Arts Council has a website that has a FAQ page that explains eligibility. The applications will then be vetted.
- Public hearing: San Joaquin River Conservancy Parkway Committee
- Sarah Parkes, assistant executive director of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, said “Our organization was disappointed to see that all the funds had not been used. In a workshop presented earlier this year, the city had reported they had expended only $103,000 out of the $1.6 million available. There is no mechanism to share funds with parkway organizations. We ask that the word ‘conservation’ be removed when referring to us, as it can add confusion.”
- McCoy said, “This is new to me. We need to review it first before having a discussion. I vote to table this until the next meeting.”
- Barraza asked if he could visit the site and become acquainted with the organization. “I live in southeast Fresno and am not familiar with this site. It is somewhat confusing to have the state agency and to have this trust. As a commissioner, I would like to do this.”
- Chair McCoy asked if there were any other commissioners who are not familiar with the organization.
- Cummings said she supported voting to have the subcommittee tonight.
- McCoy said she would like to give everyone time and the public to review the proposed subcommittee.
- Commissioner Barraza asked who proposed the subcommittee? Chair McCoy asked if it matters? Barraza said it does, to which McCoy said she was asked by Barraza and another commissioner in an email. “I would feel comfortable to see what this subcommittee will be doing. That’s all,” said Barraza.
- PARCS Director Aguirre said experts on this will be at the next meeting.
- Kucharski said “having a map for the next meeting will be helpful because the conservancy owns land on either side of the river. I don’t know if the PARCS department has access to this?”
- McCoy made a motion to table the item. It was seconded by Barraza.
- The motion to table the hearing to establish the San Joaquin River Conservancy Parkway Committee was tabled for the next meeting.
- With no further discussion, McCoy adjourned the meeting at 6:11 p.m.
Conversation highlight
- “I would like to see where are the additional funds for the dog park of puppy love at Roeding Park? We get direct sunlight and it is hard for us. In this coming year’s budget, we would like to see an awning or something to give us shade,” said Lisa Flores, Fresno resident.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
