Notetaking by Trong Yang

Here’s what you need to know

  • The Fresno Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission met on Oct. 17 and reviewed the PARCS Department fiscal year 2023 budget of $55 million and the development of the Cultural Arts Plan. The Nov. 21 meeting will be the commissioners last opportunity this year to make recommendations for the 2024 budget. 
  • The commissioners approved making parking free for Fresno residents at regional parks on National Parks Day.
  • Community member Lisa Flores made a comment about the possible addition of two parking structures at Roeding Park to accommodate the expansion of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. “This was never brought up at the very beginning when they decided to do their expansion,” she said.

Follow-up questions

  • If there are additional funds from the 2023 budget, would that money be used on something else or would it go to the 2024 budget?

Notes

  • Kimberly McCoy (Chair) – Present via Zoom
  • Jon Dohlin (Vice Chair) – Present via Zoom
  • Maiyer Vang (Commissioner) – Absent
    • Present at 5:43 p.m.
  • Dr. Francine Oputa (Commissioner) – Present via Zoom
  • Scott Miller (Commissioner) – Absent
  • Mona Nyandoro Cummings (Commissioner) – Present via Zoom
  • Harman Singh (Commissioner) – Absent
  • Jose Leon Barraza (Commissioner) – Present via Zoom
  • Sarah Parkes (Commissioner) – Present in the chambers
  • Streaming started at 5:25 p.m.
  • Meeting call to order at 5:33 p.m.
  • Pledge of Allegiance by Chair McCoy
  • Motion to approve agenda, seconded by all present 6-0 passes
  • Approved minutes from Sept. 19 meeting
    • Motion to approve the minutes by Commissioner Parkes and Commissioner Barraza
  • Member Reports and Comments
    • Commissioner Barraza
      • Requests conversation about the scope of the projects, especially the portion that pertains to the areas funded by Measure P resources
      • Thanks staff for community involvement in meetings
  • City Administration and PARCS Staff Reports and Comments
    • TJ Miller has nothing to report
    • Aaron A. Aguirre expressed appreciation for Chair McCoy’s praise for the staff’s hard work regarding the October activities for the youth
  • Unscheduled Communication
    • Lisa Flores
      • City council meeting on Thursday; workshop on the masterplan of Chaffee Zoo
      • The council is planning to build two parking structures, three stories high allegedly in the middle of the park
      • “This was never brought up at the very beginning when they decided to do their expansion,” said Flores.
    • Cory Wyse
      • Comments in regards to funding for new parks 
      • Suggests that there is an “undeveloped plot of land” in the corner of P Street and Ventura, Downtown Fresno
    • Brandi Nuse-Villegas
      • Recommend for the budget to expand Fresno State’s Art Program
  • WORKSHOP ID 22-1607: Parks, After School, Recreation & Community Services (PARCS) Department and Public Works Department Budget Preparation for Fiscal Year 2024; presentation by Aaron A. Aguirre
    • FY 2023= PARCS $55,452,300; Public Works $6,321,300; Public Utilities $1,190,000; Finance $54,600; Total Appropriation $63,018,200***
    • Measure P Highest-Need Neighborhood Funding
      • 1. Improve and Maintaining Existing: Total FY23 Revenues $26,838,200; Ordinance $13,419,100; FY23 Highest-Need Neighborhood Funding $13,635,132
      • 2. New Parks and Facilities: Total FY23 Revenues $12,544,000; Ordinance $6,272,000; FY23 Highest-Need Neighborhood Funding $6,272,050
    • Measure P Expenditure Category 1: Highest-Need Neighborhood Funding
      • Total FY23 HNN Requirement Met: $13,635,132
    • Measure P Expenditure Category 2: New Parks and Facilities
      • Budget: $6,271,980
      • Need: $6,272,050
      • Highest Need Requirement Met: 100%
    • Measure P Expenditure Category 3: Youth/Senior Recreational Programs
      • Budget: $2,479,600
      • Need: $2,661,550
      • Requirement Met: 107%
    • FY24 Budget Considerations
      • Funding for Highest-Needs Parks: Roeding, Romain, Frank H. Ball, Mary Ella Brown, Dickey Park, Holmes
      • Funding on Non-Highest Needs Neighborhoods: Vinland, Einstein, Quigley, Logan, El Dorado
      • Funding projects at following parks: Riverbottom, Granny’s Basin, Orchid, Rotary West, Fink-White, Rotary East, Cary, Al Radka, Pilibos
      • Funding projects currently in progress: South Tower/Broadway and Elizabeth, Van Ness Triangle Park, The Link @ Blackstone, Citywide Senior Center, Bulldog & Sixth
    • Additional considerations for Volleyball Courts, Highway City (Design $100,00; Monument Sign $30,000), Soft Fall Repair (Inspiration $85,000; Todd Beamer $60,000), Field Hockey, Cricket Field, Woodward Park
    • Public Works Department Highlights
      • Trail maintenance crew has been improving trail conditions since February 2022
      • Midtown Trail – now open to the public along Clovis Avenue, nearing completion on Shields Avenue, starting construction near Blackstone Avenue
      • Southwest Fresno Trails – scheduled for bidding & award of construction contract in May 2023
      • River West / Eaton Trail Extension – starting design phase (Fall 2022 – December 2023)
      • $1.2 million for major street beautification projects in FY23
        • Tree replacements, irrigation repairs and medians among major street corridors
      • Ongoing operation & maintenance of trails made possible through Measure P revenues
  • Hearing ID 22-1611: To provide an update on the development of the Cultural Arts Plan (PARCS) presented by Jennifer Soliz
    • Upcoming community meetings
      • 4 in-person, 1 youth-oriented in-person, 2 virtual
    • Outreach efforts include online/in-person surveys, Facebook and Instagram, over 700 emails to PARCS distribution list/community partners, flyers, door to door canvassing, advertising (buses, Fresno Bee, radio, etc.)
    • Outreach efforts made available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Punjabi
  • Hearing ID 22-1600: To review and make recommendation to the mayor and city council on fees related to the Tower Theater
    • FY23 Tower Theater Master Fee Schedule
      • Tower Theater Rates
      • Arts, Park, Entertainment, Sports Fee (APES)
      • Overtime
      • Bond/Insurance Requirements
      • Exhibition Rates
      • Reservation Deposits
    • Art, Park, Entertainment, Sports fee that has been approved for city venues
      • $3 per ticket (or attendee)
    • Motion to recommend the Tower Theater as presented, second by Commissioner Vang, 7-0 passes
  • Hearing ID 22-1594: 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 (PARCS)
    • Alan McCuen
      • Represents the Fresno area Pickleball organization
      • Expresses his excitement for the funding and designing phases for the pickleball courts
  • Commissioner Vang raised hand (zoom)
    • “I want to make a motion to make a day free of charge for all regional parks entrance for all citizens of Fresno,” said Vang.
    • Second to motion by Chair McCoy
    • Passes 6-0; Vice Chair Dohlin absent
  • Motion for allocating funding for football and soccer programs, courts and facilities; motion by Chair McCoy, second by Commissioner Barraza
    • Passes 6-0
  • Motion for $50,000 for a plant and grant for the Youth program focused on Civic Education; motion by Commissioner Cummings, second by Commissioner Oputa
    • Passes 6-0
  • November 21 will be the last time for this year to make any recommendations for the FY24 budget

Actions/Discussions/Public comment

  • Approved minutes from Sept. 19 meeting, and special meeting minutes of Oct. 3
  • Approved the agenda for this meeting
  • Motion to recommend the Tower Theater as presented, second by Commissioner Vang, 7-0 passes
  • Motion for National Park Day to have free parking for Fresno residents; motion by Commissioner Vang, second by Chair McCoy, 6-0 passes
  • Motion for allocating funding for football and soccer programs, courts and facilities; motion by Chair McCoy, second by Commissioner Barraza, 6-0 passes
  • Motion for $50,000 for a plant and grant for the Youth program focused on Civic Education; motion by Commissioner Cummings, second by Commissioner Oputa; 6-0 passes
  • Meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m.

Conversation highlight

  • “Thank you for making those changes because we do have a lot of families who cannot afford to go to the movie and so we do a movie night and it’s free of cost, and I’m looking forward to more opportunities with the Tower Theater,” said Commissioner Vang.
  • “Staff is working hard providing plenty of activities for our youth and I appreciate the kudos to the staff that’s out there working hard, so thank you,” said Aaron A. Aguirre. 

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

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