City Council
Regular MeetingFresno, CA · April 27, 2023
Minutes
City of Fresno 2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
www.fresno.gov
Meeting Minutes - Final
City Council
President - Tyler Maxwell
Vice President - Annalisa Perea
Councilmembers:
Mike Karbassi, Miguel Angel Arias, Luis Chavez,
Garry Bredefeld, Nelson Esparza
City Manager - Georgeanne A. White
City Attorney - Andrew Janz
City Clerk - Todd Stermer, CMC
Thursday, April 27, 2023 1:30 PM Council Chambers (In
Person and/or Electronic)
Special Meeting
The City Council met in special session in the Council Chamber, City Hall, on the
date and time above written. The special meeting was held concurrently with a
separately noticed regular meeting.
ROLL CALL
The special meeting was called to order at 1:33 p.m.
Present: 7 - Councilmember Nelson Esparza
Council President Tyler Maxwell
Vice President Annalisa Perea
Councilmember Mike Karbassi
Councilmember Miguel Angel Arias
Councilmember Luis Chavez
Councilmember Garry Bredefeld
APPROVE AGENDA
On motion of Vice President Perea, seconded by Councilmember
Chavez, the above agenda was APPROVED. The motion carried by
the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Esparza, Maxwell, Perea, Karbassi, Arias, Chavez and
Bredefeld
ID 23-701 Notice of Special Meeting - Signed
City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 1
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 27, 2023
OPEN SESSION
A. ID 23-702 RESOLUTION - Amending the Better Business Act Providing an Exception
for Affordable Housing, Senior Affordable Housing, and Mixed-Use
Projects Benefitting the Public Health, Safety, and Welfare of the City
The above item was discussed simultaneously with open session item B (ID
23-703) and introduced to the Council by Councilmember Chavez.
Council discussion on these items included: applicability of the current
Better Business Act to the Fancher Creek Town Center Development and
affordable housing projects; the purpose of the proposed Better Business
Act changes to expedite affordable housing projects; why the Act was being
amended; the length of time to complete the report; the need for
clarification as to whether the developer made a personal guarantee or
utilized a performance bond; the Francher Creek project being100%
affordable housing and the ability to adjust the Better Business Act moving
forward; the possibility of utilizing ARPA funding; the projections
established by the Better Business Act; the amount of money the City of
Fresno has already invested in the Fancher Creek project and the amount of
private investment in the project; the requirements found in the development
agreement; how the City can step in to cover the cost which was determined
to be the obligation of the developer; the history of the City covering some
construction costs for projects, but not for connecting city roadways and
utilities, and; the developer's assurance there will be no additional requests
to cover costs for Bakman Water.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Emily
Brandt; Lisa Flores; Westly Harris, and Shar Thompson.
Councilmember Chavez motion to approve item A (ID 23-702) and item B
(ID 23-703) with an amendment to Section 1 of item A as follows: projects
that have a 100% affordable housing component for which the city is
contributing funds from State or Federal allocations to fulfill required health
and safety related conditions of approval shall be exempt upon the adoption
of a finding by the council that the city contribution would benefit the public
health, safety, and welfare.
City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 2
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 27, 2023
RESOLUTION 2023-111 ADOPTED AS AMENDED FOR ITEM A (ID
23-702)
RESOLUTION 2023-112 ADOPTED FOR ITEM B (ID 23-703)
On motion of Councilmember Chavez, seconded by Councilmember
Karbassi, that the above Action Item be ADOPTED AS AMENDED. The
motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Esparza, Maxwell, Perea, Karbassi, Arias, Chavez and
Bredefeld
B. ID 23-703 ***RESOLUTION - Supporting a City Contribution of Funds to, or on Behalf
of, FCTC Senior, LP for the Construction of Water Infrastructure Necessary
to Meet Fire Suppression Requirements, in an Amount Not to Exceed
$2,700,000, Associated with the Fancher Creek Town Center
Development and Affordable Housing Projects therein (Subject to Mayor’s
Veto)
The above item was discussed simultaneously with open session item A (ID
23-7002) and was introduced to the Council by Councilmember Chavez.
Council discussion on these items included: applicability of the current
Better Business Act to the Fancher Creek Town Center Development and
affordable housing projects; the purpose of the proposed Better Business
Act changes to expedite affordable housing projects; why the Act was being
amended; the length of time to complete the report; the need for
clarification as to whether the developer made a personal guarantee or
utilized a performance bond; the Francher Creek project being100%
affordable housing and the ability to adjust the Better Business Act moving
forward; the possibility of utilizing ARPA funding; the projections
established by the Better Business Act; the amount of money the City of
Fresno has already invested in the Fancher Creek project and the amount of
private investment in the project; the requirements found in the development
agreement; how the City can step in to cover the cost which was determined
to be the obligation of the developer; the history of the City covering some
construction costs for projects, but not for connecting city roadways and
utilities, and; the developer's assurance there will be no additional requests
to cover costs for Bakman Water.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Emily
Brandt; Lisa Flores; Westly Harris, and Shar Thompson.
City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 3
City Council Meeting Minutes - Final April 27, 2023
Councilmember Chavez motion to approve item A (ID 23-702) and item B
(ID 23-703) with an amendment to Section 1 of item A as follows: projects
that have a 100% affordable housing component for which the city is
contributing funds from State or Federal allocations to fulfill required health
and safety related conditions of approval shall be exempt upon the adoption
of a finding by the council that the city contribution would benefit the public
health, safety, and welfare.
RESOLUTION 2023-111 ADOPTED AS AMENDED FOR ITEM A (ID
23-702)
RESOLUTION 2023-112 ADOPTED FOR ITEM B (ID 23-703)
On motion of Councilmember Chavez, seconded by Councilmember
Karbassi, that the above Action Item be ADOPTED. The motion carried
by the following vote:
Aye: 7 - Esparza, Maxwell, Perea, Karbassi, Arias, Chavez and
Bredefeld
ADJOURNMENT
Council adjourned from special session at 2:38 P.M.
The above minutes were approved by unanimous vote of the City Council during the
May 11, 2023, regular meeting.
City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 4
Agenda
City of Fresno
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
www.fresno.gov
Meeting Agenda - Final
Thursday, April 27, 2023
1:30 PM
Special Meeting
Council Chambers (In Person and/or Electronic)
City Council
President - Tyler Maxwell
Vice President - Annalisa Perea
Councilmembers:
Mike Karbassi, Miguel Angel Arias, Luis Chavez,
Garry Bredefeld, Nelson Esparza
City Manager - Georgeanne A. White
City Attorney - Andrew Janz
City Clerk - Todd Stermer, CMC
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final April 27, 2023
THE FRESNO CITY COUNCIL WELCOMES YOU TO CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER,
LOCATED IN CITY HALL, 2ND FLOOR, 2600 FRESNO STREET, FRESNO,
CALIFORNIA 93721.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION – Public participation during Fresno City Council meetings is
always encouraged and can occur in one of the two following ways:
1) Participate In Person: Council Chambers, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 2600 Fresno Street,
Fresno, CA 93721
a) To speak during a City Council meeting in person: fill out a speaker card
(available in the Council Chamber) and place it in the speaker card collection
basket at the front of the Council Chamber. You may also approach the speaker
podium upon the Council President’s call for public comment.
2) Participate Remotely via Zoom:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bEyFPY5XRIeEVNfYKUqqIg
a) The above link will allow you to register in advance for remote participation in
the meeting via the Zoom platform. After registering, you will receive a
confirmation email containing additional details about joining the meeting.
b) To speak during a City Council meeting while attending remotely: while in the
Zoom application, click on the icon labeled “Participants” at the bottom of the
screen. Then select “RaiseHand” at the bottom of the Participants window. Your
digital hand will now be raised. You will be asked to “unmute” when your name is
called to speak. You will not be visible via video and there will be no opportunity to
share your screen.
All public speakers will have up to 3 minutes to address Council pursuant to Rule No. 10 of
the Rules of Procedure for the City Council of the City of Fresno (available in the City
Clerk’s Office).
SUBMIT DOCUMENTS / WRITTEN COMMENTS - Pursuant to Rule 11 (c) of the Rules of
Procedure, 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. Documents / written
comments related to an agenda item can be submitted by one of the following methods:
1) eComment – eComment allows the public to submit agenda related comments
through a website prior to the meeting. Submitted comments are limited to 1440
characters and will be a part of the official record.
City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 2
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final April 27, 2023
a) Submit an e-Comment by visiting https://fresno.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and
selecting the “eComment” link.
b) e-Comment is available for use upon publication of the agenda and closes 24
hours prior to the meeting start time [pursuant to Rule 11(c)].
c) e-Comment is not permitted for Land use or CEQA items
d) The e-Comment Electronic User Agreement can be viewed at:
https://www.fresno.gov/cityclerk/
2) E-mail – Agenda related documents and comments can be e-mailed to the Office of
the City Clerk at least 24 hours prior to the agenda item being heard, pursuant to Rule
11(c).
a) E-mail the Clerk’s Office at clerk@fresno.gov
b) E-mails should include the agenda date, and the related agenda item number.
VIEWING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS (non-participatory) - For your convenience, there
are several ways to view Fresno City Council meetings live:
1) City of Fresno website: https://fresno.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx (click “In Progress”
to view the live meeting).
2) Community Media Access Collaborative website: https://cmac.tv/
3) YouTube - City of Fresno Council, Boards and Commissions Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3ld83D8QGn1YBDw6aD5dZA/videos
4) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FresnoCA/videos
5) Cable Television: Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T Channel 99
Should any of the five viewing methods listed above experience technical difficulties, the
Council meeting will continue uninterrupted. Council meetings will only be paused to
address verifiable technical difficulties for all users participating via Zoom or in the Council
Chamber.
The City of Fresno’s goal is to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Anyone requiring reasonable ADA accommodations, including sign language interpreters,
or other reasonable accommodations such as language translation, should contact the
office of the City Clerk at (559) 621-7650 or clerk@fresno.gov. To help ensure availability
of these services, you are advised to make your request a minimum of three business days
prior to the scheduled meeting.
City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 3
City Council Meeting Agenda - Final April 27, 2023
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRESNO
DATE: Thursday, April 27, 2023
TIME: 1:30 p.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 for the following purpose:
1:30 P.M. ROLL CALL
APPROVE AGENDA
ID 23-701 Notice of Special Meeting - Signed
Sponsors: Council President Maxwell
OPEN SESSION
A. ID 23-702 RESOLUTION - Amending the Better Business Act Providing
an Exception for Affordable Housing, Senior Affordable
Housing, and Mixed-Use Projects Benefitting the Public
Health, Safety, and Welfare of the City
Sponsors: Councilmember Chavez
B. ID 23-703 ***RESOLUTION - Supporting a City Contribution of Funds
to, or on Behalf of, FCTC Senior, LP for the Construction of
Water Infrastructure Necessary to Meet Fire Suppression
Requirements, in an Amount Not to Exceed $2,700,000,
Associated with the Fancher Creek Town Center
Development and Affordable Housing Projects therein
(Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Sponsors: Councilmember Chavez
Members of the public shall have an opportunity to address the City Council
concerning this matter.
ADJOURNMENT
City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 4
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