City Council
Regular MeetingFresno, CA · July 21, 2022
Minutes
City of Fresno
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
www.fresno.gov
Meeting Minutes - Final
Thursday, July 21, 2022
9:00 AM
Special Closed and Open Session
Council Chambers (In Person and/or Electronic)
City Council
President - Nelson Esparza
Vice President - Tyler Maxwell
Councilmembers:
Esmeralda Z. Soria, Mike Karbassi, Miguel Angel Arias, Luis Chavez,
Garry Bredefeld
City Manager - Georgeanne A. White
Interim City Attorney - Rina Gonzales
City Clerk - Todd Stermer, CMC
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final July 21, 2022
The City Council for the City of Fresno convened in special meeting on July 21, 2022,
at 9:00 A.M. concurrently with the regular meeting.
Councilmember Soria was absent during roll call and joined the meeting at 9:30 A.M.
Present: 7 - Council President Nelson Esparza
Vice President Tyler Maxwell
Councilmember Esmeralda Z. Soria
Councilmember Mike Karbassi
Councilmember Miguel Angel Arias
Councilmember Luis Chavez
Councilmember Garry Bredefeld
APPROVE AGENDA
Special Consent Calendar item ID 22-1196 regarding a resolution amending
the Council Communication Policy was moved to the Contested Consent
Calendar by Councilmember Karbassi.
ID 22-1193 Notice of Special Closed Session Meeting - Signed
On motion of Councilmember Chavez, seconded by Councilmember
Arias, the Agenda was APPROVED AS AMENDED. The motion carried
by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Esparza, Maxwell, Karbassi, Arias, Chavez and Bredefeld
Absent: 1 - Soria
CLOSED SESSION
Upon call, there was no public comment for Closed Session items.
During open session, Interim City Attorney Gonzales announced the items
to be discussed in Closed Session.
Council withdrew from Open Session to hear the Special Closed Session
item at 10:13 A.M. to 10:52 A.M.
A. ID 22-1195 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - POTENTIAL LITIGATION,
Government Code Session 54956.9(d)(2); Nelson Esparza v. City of
Fresno
There were no open session announcements following the above closed
session item. Council President Esparza recused himself and was not
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City Council Meeting Minutes - Final July 21, 2022
present for the discussion.
DISCUSSED
CONSENT CALENDAR
CONTESTED CONSENT CALENDAR
A. ID 22-1196 RESOLUTION - Amending the Council Communication Policy
There was no staff presentation on the above item. Councilmember
Karbassi read the following statement into the record:
"I do share the concerns of my colleagues not wanting the City Attorney's
Office weaponized by Councilmembers, which is why I voted, last time, to
put the policy into place for just 90 days - to see how it would pan out in
practice. However, given recent events, I am very hesitant to extend this
policy that can, in anyway, be abused or aide in criminal acts."
RESOLUTION 2022-176 ADOPTED
On motion of Councilmember Arias, seconded by Councilmember
Chavez, that the above Action Item be ADOPTED. The motion carried
by the following vote:
Aye: 6 - Esparza, Maxwell, Soria, Arias, Chavez and Bredefeld
No: 1 - Karbassi
ADJOURNMENT
City Council adjourned the Special meeting at 4:17 P.M.
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Agenda
City of Fresno
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
www.fresno.gov
Meeting Agenda - Final-revised
Thursday, July 21, 2022
9:00 AM
Special Closed and Open Session
Council Chambers (In Person and/or Electronic)
City Council
President - Nelson Esparza
Vice President - Tyler Maxwell
Councilmembers:
Esmeralda Z. Soria, Mike Karbassi, Miguel Angel Arias, Luis Chavez,
Garry Bredefeld
City Manager - Georgeanne A. White
Interim City Attorney - Rina Gonzales
City Clerk - Todd Stermer, CMC
City Council Meeting Agenda - July 21, 2022
Final-revised
PUBLIC ADVISORY:
THE FRESNO CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES YOU TO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS,
LOCATED IN CITY HALL, 2ND FLOOR, 2600 FRESNO STREET, FRESNO,
CALIFORNIA 93721.
You can also participate in the meeting on our City’s website click on the URL
https://fresno.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and click on the “In progress” link under
“video” for the corresponding meeting. The Council meeting can also be viewed live
at 9:00 A.M. on Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T Channel 99.
The City Council Chambers are open for public participation. However, members of
the public are encouraged to participate electronically because of reduced capacity
of seating in the Chambers to allow for social distancing, and masks will be required
for the vaccinated and unvaccinated.
PUBLIC COMMENT: The following options are available for members of the public
who want to address City Council:
1. eComment at https://fresno.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
a) eComments is a tool for citizens to use to make comments on agenda items. It will
be open during the Council meeting and closed at the end of the meeting and will be
a part of the official record. The User Agreement and Procedures document for
eComment can be accessed by the URL https://www.fresno.gov/cityclerk/
b) eComments will be a maximum of 450 words.
OR
2. You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: July 21, 2022, 9:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Topic: July 21, 2022, Special Closed and Open Session Meeting
a) Register in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ffmwjfm_RrKegyR-DZ4oVQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about
joining the webinar.
b) If you do not wish for your name to appear on the screen, then use the drop
down menu and click on “rename” to rename yourself.
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City Council Meeting Agenda - July 21, 2022
Final-revised
c) If you wish to address Council during the public comment portion of the agenda,
click on the icon labeled “Participants” at the bottom center of your PC or Mac
screen. At the bottom of the window on the right side of the screen, click the icon
labeled “RaiseHand”. Your digital hand will now be raised.
d) Those addressing Council must state their name for the record.
e) To facilitate electronic access, no person shall speak until recognized by the
Presiding Officer.
OR
3. Email: to clerk@fresno.gov
a) Residents may also email comments to be read during the meeting. Please include
the agenda date and item number you wish to speak on in the subject line of your
email.
b) Emails will be a maximum of 450 words.
c) All comments received will be distributed to Council prior and during the meeting
and will be a part of the official record.
Pursuant to Rule 11 (c) of the Rules of Procedure for the City Council of the City of
Fresno, no documents shall be accepted for Council review unless submitted to the
City Clerk at least 24 hours prior to the Council Agenda item be heard.
All participants will be on mute until they are called upon at which point they will be
unmuted. To prevent participants from having their video on, we will remove the
option to show their video.
The City of Fresno’s goal is to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, If you
need additional accommodations such as interpreters, sign language signers, or the
services of a translator, please contact the office of the City Clerk at (559) 621-7650
or clerk@fresno.gov. To ensure availability, you are advised to
make your request at least three business days prior to the meeting.
The City of Fresno thanks you in advance for taking all precautions to prevent
spreading COVID19 virus.
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City Council Meeting Agenda - July 21, 2022
Final-revised
NOTICE OF SPECIAL CLOSED AND OPEN SESSION MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF FRESNO
DATE: Thursday, July 21, 2022
TIME: 9:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as it may be heard
LOCATION: City Hall and Electronic Meeting
Please Take Notice the Council of the City of Fresno hereby calls a Special Meeting
of the City Council pursuant to California Government Code section 54956 at the
above stated time and place. The purpose of the special meeting is to meet and
consider the following:
APPROVE AGENDA
ID 22-1193 Notice of Special Closed Session Meeting - Signed
Sponsors: Vice President Maxwell
CLOSED SESSION
A. ID 22-1195 CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - POTENTIAL
LITIGATION, Government Code Session 54956.9(d)(2);
Nelson Esparza v. City of Fresno
CONSENT CALENDAR
A. ID 22-1196 RESOLUTION - Amending the Council Communication Policy
Sponsors: Councilmember Arias
Members of the public shall have an opportunity to address the City Council
concerning this matter
ADJOURNMENT
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