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Home My WebLink About2025-09-15 PRAC Minutes2600 Fresno Street Fresno, CA 93721 www.fresno.gov City of Fresno Meeting Minutes Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission Chair - Kimberly McCoy Vice Chair - Laura Ward Commissioner - Jose Leon Barraza Commissioner - Rose Caglia Commissioner - Jon Dohlin Commissioner - Mckay A. Duran Commissioner - Kelly Kucharski Commissioner - Scott Miller Commissioner - Vincent L. Trillo 5:30 PM Council Chambers (In Person and/or Electronic) https://www.fresno.gov/pra c-meeting/ Monday, September 15, 2025 Regular Meeting The Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission (PRAC) met in regular session in the Council Chamber at Fresno City Hall on the date and time above written. 1. Call to Order Chair McCoy called the meeting to order at 5:33 P.M. 2. 5:33 P.M. Roll Call On motion of Commissioner Dohlin, seconded by Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Kucharski's absence was EXCUSED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 8 - Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Barraza, Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, Commissioner Miller, and Commissioner Trillo. Absent: 1 - Commissioner Kucharski City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 1 September 15, 2025Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission Meeting Minutes Chair Kimberly McCoy, Vice Chair Laura E. Ward, Commissioner Jose Barraza, Commissioner Rose Caglia, Commissioner Jon Dohlin, Commissioner Mckay A. Duran, Commissioner Scott Miller, and Commissioner Vincent L. Trillo Present 8 - Commissioner Kelly KucharskiAbsent1 - 3. Pledge of Allegiance Chair McCoy led the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. Approve Agenda On motion of Commissioner Trillo, seconded by Commissioner Miller, the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye:Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Barraza, Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Trillo 8 - Absent:Commissioner Kucharski1 - 5. Approval of Minutes 5.-A.ID 25-1180 Approval of the regular meeting minutes of August 18, 2025. On motion of Commissioner Duran, seconded by Commissioner Dohlin, that the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye:Chair McCoy, Vice Chair Ward, Commissioner Barraza, Commissioner Caglia, Commissioner Dohlin, Commissioner Duran, Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Trillo 8 - Absent:Commissioner Kucharski1 - 6. Discussion: Subcommittee Reports 6-A. Cultural Arts Grant Fund Subcommittee Vice Chair Ward reported. The Culture Arts Subcommittee met earlier in the month. Minutes from that meeting were included in the current agenda. The subcommittee made initial recommendations for award allocations, and City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 2 September 15, 2025Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission Meeting Minutes applicants were notified of those recommendations on September 5. 2025. The appeal window remained open through the evening of this meeting, and the subcommittee is scheduled to meet tomorrow to review any submitted appeals. The subcommittee also discussed process improvements for next year’s grant review cycle. It was recommended that all participants in the grant review process complete implicit bias training, a suggestion made by an applicant and modeled after the California Arts Council’s practices. Additionally, the subcommittee is seeking community feedback on further improvements to ensure a fair and transparent process. Both the Arts Council and subcommittee members expressed a strong commitment to continuously strengthening the process. ID 25-1250 Cultural Arts Subcommittee Meeting Minutes September 3, 2025. 7. Members Reports and Comments COMMISSIONER BARRAZA REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Expresses appreciation to staff for organizing a successful soccer event held at the Mosqueda Center. Noted the high quality of the event and the sport, emphasizing soccer’s growing popularity and demand within the community. Noted regularly receiving community feedback, both positive and critical. COMMISSIONER CAGLIA REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Expresses appreciation for the event organized by Dr. Lilia Chavez at the park, highlighting the impressive and well-coordinated display of the drawn on columns, and commended the quality of the work and expresses high regard for her efforts. Shared having listened to a segment on KMJ titled “Legacies and Legends”, which discussed the origins of baseball in Fresno and noted the important role parks played in supporting the sport’s development. COMMISSIONER DOHLIN REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Acknowledged the inherent challenges of the Cultural Arts Grant process and notes that it is unlikely to satisfy everyone completely. Commended the significant time, effort, thoughtful consideration, and good faith demonstrated by the Fresno Arts Council, subcommittee members, and the broader arts community. Emphasized that the current process reflects progress from the previous year and continues to improve due to the dedication of those involved. City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 3 September 15, 2025Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission Meeting Minutes CHAIR MCCOY REPORTS AND COMMENTS. Announced an upcoming Community Mural Refresh event honoring the 93706 zip code. Encouraged residents, community leaders, and local organizations to participate in repainting and revitalizing California’s largest street mural as a tribute to the community’s spirit, resilience, and creativity. The event is scheduled for Saturday, September 27, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the corner of Cesar Chavez and Klette Avenue, across from Madison High School. It is hosted by Faith in the Valley, Fresno City Council District 3, Councilmember Miguel Arias’s office, Southwest Power Team, and the Fresno Housing Authority. 8. City Administration and PARCS Staff Reports and Comments PARCS DIRECTOR AGUIRRE REPORTS AND COMMENTS. This meeting kicks off the budget series, with meetings scheduled twice a month through September, October, and November. A presentation is provided on the adopted FY 2026 budget to assist the committee. Staff encourages members to make recommendations and offers to meet individually to address any questions or funding concerns outside of scheduled meetings. 9. Unscheduled Communication Upon call, the following members of the public addressed the Commission with unscheduled communication: Ome Lopez, Johannus Reijnders, Christina Soto, Cassandra German, Alicia Rodriguez, Elizabeth Laval, Brandon Weis, Amy Kitchner, Paula Allen, and Kiel Lopez-Schmidt. 10. Workshops 10.-A.ID 25-1223 Workshop - Presenting the Mayor’s Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department Budget for Fiscal Year 2026 (PARCS). The above item was presented to the Commission by PARCS Business Manager Xiong, Beautify Fresno Director Standriff, and Public Works Director Mozier. Commission discussion on this item included: accomplishments or projects completed in the 93706 zip code or Southwest Fresno during FY 2025; frequency and geographic distribution of graffiti cleanup by the Quad Crews; use of funds for trails in Southwest Fresno, including plans for bike lanes or City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 4 September 15, 2025Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission Meeting Minutes trail connections beyond TCC funding; appreciation for the responsiveness of the graffiti team, and for their prompt service; clarification on the allocation of $150,000 to the Fresno Arts Council, and whether the full amount was granted or partially funded in the 2026 budget; current and prior year expenditures, focusing on the general funds’ contribution to the PARCS Department; whether increased volunteer participation affects funding allocations for beautification projects; use of Measure “P” funds for services related to the unhoused population; Beautify Fresno’s disposal costs related to homeless encampment cleanups, including frequency and volume of reports; $250,000 allocation for minor capital projects in collaboration with the San Joaquin River Parkway Trust and the San Joaquin River Conservancy, and updates on monthly coordination meetings; progress of Camp Pashayan, its potential for youth programming and the need for vegetative barriers due to proximity to a shooting range; how budget projects are selected and how the PRAC Commission can support or be involved in the process; and, perceived low impact of PRAC Commission recommendations on the final City Council adopted budget, and requests for data on the value or percentage of adopted recommendations. PRESENTED 11. Discussion Items 12. Hearings 12.-A.ID 25-1181 Hearing - Receive public input on Expanded Access to Arts and Culture Grant Program. The above item was called to order at 7:28 P.M. and there was no presentation to the Commission by. Upon call, the following members of the public addressed the Commission: Christina Soto, Brooke Payton, and Ome Lopez. Public comment closed at 7:35 P.M. Commission discussion on this item included: suggestion for community members to compile and submit written concerns and recommendations to the PRAC Commission for consideration; request for a list of panel members along with their ethnic backgrounds to assess participation diversity; concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the panel selection City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 5 September 15, 2025Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission Meeting Minutes and evaluation process, and a request for clarification on existing checks and balances; importance of transparency and community trust in the Fresno Arts Council’s grant making process; clarification the PRAC Commission follows established guidelines and procedures, which can only be revised at specific points in the funding cycle; openness to public feedback and the importance of timing for implementing suggested changes; request for service delivery data to be broken down by zip code and City Council district to ensure equitable distribution of Measure "P" resources. DISCUSSED 12.-B.ID 25-1182 Hearing - 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. The above item was called to order at 7:45 P.M. and there was no presentation to the Commission by. Upon call, the following members of the public addressed the Commission: Brooke Payton. Public comment closed at 7:47 P.M. There was no Commission discussion on this item included: DISCUSSED 13. Adjournment Chair McCoy adjourned the meeting in Memory of Dr. Francine Oputa, at 7:47 P.M. The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission during the September 29, 2025, regular meeting. City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 6