HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-25 PRAC MinutesParks, Recreation and Arts Commission
Minutes
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
5:30 PM
Call to Order — City Clerk Spence called the meeting to order at 5.33 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance — The Pledge of Allegiance was conducted
3. Roll Call
Commissioner Jon Dohlin — Present
Commissioner Maiyer Vang — Present
Commissioner Dr. Francine Oputa — Present
Commissioner Kimberly McCoy — Present
Commissioner Scott Miller — Present
Commissioner — Mona Cummings — Present
Commissioner — Harman Singh — Present
Commissioner — Jose Leon Barraza — Present
Commissioner — Sarah Parkes — Present
4. Introductions
Commission Members — Mayor Dyer
The Mayor introduced each Commissioner and read portions of their
Biography. The Mayor thanked the Commissioner for serving on this
very important commission. This commission will transform the City of Fresno,
and the parks, trails and biking in Fresno.
City Staff — Mayor Dyer introduced City Manager Esqueda
City Manager Esqueda introduce TJ Miller currently Parks Director and Aaron
Aguirre, Assistant Parks Director. The Parks Department will be providing
information on Park facilities, data, operations, programs and services. He
announced that TJ Miller has accepted the position of Director of Personnel and
will be moving to Personnel soon. In the meantime, there will be a nationwide
search for a new Parks Director. The City Manager also introduced Yvonne Diaz
and John Gibbs from the Public Works Department. Yvonne and John will the
project delivery team providing facility maintenance and anything else to expand
growth and develop park facilities. Public Works will be managing that process
for the Commission.
5. Opening Remarks — Mayor Dyer
Mayor Dyer gave opening remarks about the commission. The Mayor is honored
to have such a diverse and enthusiastic group to sit on this commission to make
a difference in the City of Fresno.
Introduction of the Interim Chairperson — Mayor
Mayor Dyer appointed Jon Dohlin as the Interim Chair of the Commission. Chair
Dohlin said he was honored to be on the Commission and interim Chair.
6. Member Comments — Interim Chair Dohlin
Interim Chair Dohlin called for member comments but there were none.
7. Legal Overview — City Attorney
Measure P Overview and Role of the Commission. Raj Badhesha, Assistant City
Attorney discussed Measure P and talked about the mission as a Commission.
He discussed sales tax and getting public input through hearings throughout the
City. He also stated that the Commission would make recommendations to the
City Council.
Attorney Badhesha stated there is a 3/8% tax that is anticipated to go into effect
on July 1, 2021. The ordinance creates a Clean and Safe Parks account. It is
estimated that the annual taxes will amount to $37M. These funds will go into
the account created and the funds will be used for very specific purposes, which
are laid out in the Measure P ordinance. The categories include:
46% Improving and maintaining safe, clean neighborhood parks
and playgrounds
21.5% New neighborhood parks, senior and youth recreation facilities
8.5% Youth and senior recreation programs; after school programs; and
job training for youth and veterans
12% Expanded access to arts and culture
11.25% Safe walking and biking trails, street beautification and litter
Removal; and the San Joaquin River parkway
The above items total 99.25%. The additional 0.75% can be added to any
of the above categories
Brown Act — City Attorney Sloan provided the Commission an overview of
the Brown Act.
Ethics - City Attorney Sloan discussed Ethics, Form 700, Gifts and Conflict of
interest.
Rules of Procedure — Motions. City Attorney Sloan discussed rules and
procedures for the Commission meetings. There was also discussion regarding
motions and if there are multiple motions, they are to be dealt with in the order
received. When the meetings are being conducted via Zoom, there will be roll
call votes for the sake of the public.
8. Nomination of Officers — Interim Chairperson
Administer the Oath of Office — City Clerk Spence administered the oath of office
to all of the Commissioners.
Call for nominations for Chair — Clerk Spence called for nominations for the
Chair. There was a motion made by Commissioner Miller to nominate Jon Dohlin
as Chair. Commissioner Parkes seconded the motion. Interim Chair
Dohlin expressed how honored he is to serve, however he has the least amount
of time as a citizen of Fresno and if someone else wants to serve as Chair, he
would be happy to serve as Vice Chair.
After discussion, Commissioner Barraza nominated Commissioner McCoy to be
Chair of the Commission. Commissioner Cummings seconded the motion.
Clerk Spence called for the vote for the first motion (nomination for Jon Dohlin), a
roll call vote was taken and the motion failed on a vote of 2-6-1. Commissioners
Miller and Parkes voted yes; Commissioners Vang, Oputa, McCoy, Cummings,
Singh, Barraza voted no, and Interim Chair Dohlin abstained.
Clerk Spence call for the vote for the second motion (nomination for Kimberly
McCoy). A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed on an 8-0-1 vote with
Commissioner McCoy abstaining.
9. Elect Vice Chairperson — Chair McCoy
Chair McCoy called for a nomination of a Vice Chairperson. Commissioner
Oputa made the motion to nominate Commissioner Dohlin. Chair McCoy
seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken and the motion passed on a 9-0
vote.
10. Approval of the Agenda — Chair McCoy
Chair McCoy called for a motion to approve the agenda. Commissioner Oputa
made a motion to approve the agenda. Commissioner Miller seconded the
motion. The motion passed on a 9-0 vote.
11. Determination of the Member's Terms of Office by Drawing Lots — City Clerk
Before drawing lots, City Attorney Sloan provided the Commission with an
overview of drawing lots. The City Charter states when a new body is created
there will be staggering terms. Some Commissioners will have longer terms,
some will have shorter terms. Commissioners can be reappointed and there are
no term limits. Drawing lots is the process of determining who gets the one-year
term, two-year term, etc.
Clerk Spence went over the procedure that she would use to draw lots. She has
an envelope with the names of all the Commissioners in it. She will pull two
names for the term expiring July 1, 2022, then two names with terms expiring
July 1, 2023, then two names with terms expiring July 1, 2024, and then draw
three names with terms expiring July 1, 2025. The lots were drawn and the
results are:
Term Expiring:
Commissioners:
July 1, 2022
Kimberly McCoy
July 1, 2022
Sarah Parkes
July 1, 2023
Jon Dohlin
July 1, 2023
Jose Leon Barraza
July 1, 2024
Mona Cummings
July 1, 2024
Harman Singh
July 1, 2025
Maiyer Vang
July 1, 2025
Dr. Francine Oputa
July 1, 2025
Scott Miller
12. Establish a meeting schedule — Chair McCoy
After discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Oputa to meet on the 1st
and 3rd Wednesdays at 5.30 p.m. Some of the Commissioners had conflicts on
Wednesdays so Commissioner Oputa amended her motion to meet on the 1st
and 3rd Mondays of the month at 5:30 p.m.; the amendment was accepted by the
second of the motion. There was a roll call vote that passed on a 9-0 vote.
13. Bylaw — discuss and/or approve — Chair McCoy
After discussion, by consensus the Commissioners decided to continue the by-
laws to the next meeting.
14. Discussion regarding working groups or subcommittees — Chair McCoy
Attorney Sloan reminded the Commissioners that subcommittees and
workgroups cannot have more than four Commissioners. After discussion, by
consensus the Commissioners agreed that there was no need to select any
working groups or subcommittees at this point. They will be open to do so in the
future if the need arises.
15. Public Comment — Chair McCoy
When Chair McCoy called for requests from the public to speak, the following
members of the public spoke: Lilia Gonzalez Chavez, and Don Shelton.
Prior to adjourning the meeting Attorney Sloan responded to a question from one of the
Commissioners regarding how to get an item on the agenda and what was the
timeframe to post and distribute the agenda. Attorney Sloan stated that the Chair and
the City Clerk will work together to compile the agenda. If Commissioners has an item
to add to the agenda, send it to the Chair and copy the City Clerk. The agenda must be
posted by Friday at 5:30 p.m. in order to meet on a Monday at 5.30 p.m. The Brown Act
states that the agenda needs to be posted 72 hours in advance of the meeting.
Commissioner Parkes asked about the format of future meetings. City Manager
Esqueda explained the tentative schedule is to reopen City Hall on July 5, 2021. Vice
Chair Dohlin asked if meeting in Parks throughout the City is allowed. City Attorney
Sloan stated as long as the agenda has the address of the meeting that is allowed. City
Manager Esqueda mentioned that additional time might
Adjourned at 6:47 p.m.