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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.