Tower District Specific Plan Implementation Committee

City of Fresno Tower Theater 815 E Olive Ave., Fresno, CA 93728 Meeting Minutes - Final Tuesday, June 20, 2023 5:30 PM Regular Meeting In Person and/or Electronic Tower Theater Lounge Tower District Specific Plan Implementation Committee Chairperson - Christopher Johnson Vice Chair - Michael Birdsong Board Member - Annie Lokrantz Board Member - Janay Conley Board Member - Myra Coble Board Member - James Kitch Tower District Specific Plan Meeting Minutes - Final June 20, 2023 Implementation Committee THE COMMITTEE WELCOMES YOU TO THE TOWER THEATER, LOCATED AT 815 E OLIVE AVENUE, FRESNO, CA 93728 The meeting can also be viewed live at 5:30 P.M. on Comcast Channel 96 and AT&T channel 99. Pursuant to the Executive Order, and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in the Committee meeting, please contact the City Clerk’s Office, 559-621-7650 within 48 hours of the meeting. PUBLIC COMMENT: The following options are available for members of the public who want to address Tower District Specific Plan Implementation Committee: 1. You are invited to a Zoom webinar. a) Register in advance for this webinar: https://fresno-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_taAP1qgNRGGeXj2cB5mzQQ 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. c) Those addressing the Committee must state their name for the record. OR 2. Join by phone: 1-669-900-9128 Webinar ID: 914 6492 2057 a) Those addressing the Committee must state their name and address for the record. 3. Email: LongRangePlanning@fresno.gov a) Attendees 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. Include your name, and address for the record, at the top of the body of your City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 2 Tower District Specific Plan Meeting Minutes - Final June 20, 2023 Implementation Committee email. b) Emails will be a maximum of 450 words. c) All comments received will be distributed to the Tower District Specific Plan Implementation Committee prior and during the meeting and will be a part of the official record. d) Notwithstanding subsection c) above, unless otherwise required by law to be accepted by the City at or prior to a Tower District Specific Plan Implementation Committee meeting, no documents shall be accepted for review unless they are submitted to Long Range Planning at least 24 hours prior to the commencement of the meeting at which the associated agenda item is to 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. Pursuant to the Executive Order, and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in the Committee meeting, please contact the Planning Division, 559-621-8277 within 48 hours of the meeting. City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 3 Tower District Specific Plan Meeting Minutes - Final June 20, 2023 Implementation Committee I. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Also present were Planning staff Casey Lauderdale, Yamilex Nava, Veronica Martinez, Sophia Pagoulatos, Matthew Woodward, Preston Her, Kara Hammerschmidt, and Maya Mubarak. Present 5 - Chairperson Christopher Johnson, Vice Chair Michael Birdsong, Board Member Annie Lokrantz, Board Member Myra Coble, and Board Member James Kitch Absent 1 - Board Member Janay Conley II. APPROVE AGENDA On motion of Vice Chair Birdsong, seconded by Board Member Lokrantz,the AGENDA was APPROVED. The motion carried unanimously. Aye: 5 - Chairperson Johnson, Vice Chair Birdsong, Board Member Lokrantz, Board Member Coble and Board Member Kitch Absent: 1 - Board Member Conley III. APPROVE MEETING MINUTES III-A ID 23-1016 May 16, 2023 Tower District Specific Implementation Committee Meeting Minutes On motion of Board Member Lokrantz, seconded by Vice Chair Birdsong, that the above Action Item be APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 5 - Chairperson Johnson, Vice Chair Birdsong, Board Member Lokrantz, Board Member Coble and Board Member Kitch Absent: 1 - Board Member Conley IV. COUNCIL DISTRICT UPDATES N/A V. STAFF UPDATES Staff member Casey Lauderdale, reported an update on the Scope Amendment, which includes: Entertainment District, Design Standards, Housing Capacity Analysis, and Consolidated Plan document. City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 4 Tower District Specific Plan Meeting Minutes - Final June 20, 2023 Implementation Committee Lauderdale mentioned a Health and Equity meeting later in the process and will weave throughout all the topic areas. Coble asked for the difference between design guidelines and design standards and Staff explained. Members of the public asked about the Entertainment District and the Capacity Analysis and Staff addressed their concerns. VI-A ID 23-1019 Report on Outreach & Engagement Activities Lauderdale reported on outreach activities, survey, and workshop. VI. NEW MATTERS Staff lead an ice breaker activity titled "What is your Tower District Hidden Gem?" VI-B ID 23-1017 June 24, 2023 Community Workshop Lauderdale reported on the community workshop event scheduled on June 24, 2023 at Let's Roll to discuss circulation & mobility, public space, land use & development, historic preservation, and vision. VI-C ID 23-1023 Discussion on Implementation Committee Roles Chairperson Johnson shared concerns that the Council District Project Review Committees do not give sufficient attention to the Tower District Specific Plan. He cited bike lanes and the patio of an Indian restaurant as examples. Birdsong stated he is open to attending the District 1 and District 3 meetings and Lokrantz added concern that District 7 is being left out. Coble pointed out that there are members of their committee that reside in District 7 and that the Mayor has an open appointment. Coble mentioned a couple committee members reside in District 7 and the Mayor still has an appointment open. City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 5 Tower District Specific Plan Meeting Minutes - Final June 20, 2023 Implementation Committee Lauderdale that the intention was for the Implementation Committee to review projects after the Specific Plan is adopted. Chief of Staff Gabriela Olea mentioned that she could share District 3 agendas with the Implementation Committee. Member of the public reiterated concerns about effectiveness of committees and the fact that they are advisory only and emphasized monitoring the Planning Commission agendas that the Plan Area is fragmented currently. Member of the public asked for clarification of geographic coverage of District 1 and District 3 committees. Staff confirmed that they follow Council boundaries and go beyond Tower boundaries. Coble asked if the Implementation Committee can be notified when items in the TDSP are on the District 1 and District 3 agendas and staff member stated they would check. Chairperson Johnson called for a subcommittee of 3 to address this further: Chris, Jim and Myra volunteered. Member of the public stated that the City’s 5-year CIP can be checked to know what’s coming down the pipeline. Member of the public noted the usefulness of waiting for Phase 2 to jump into plan implementation to follow the plan adoption. Birdsong requested more information about the workshop format. Staff confirmed there would be facilitators at each station and arranged to accommodate different desires for input. Member of the public asked how the input from workshops gets included along with the surveys. Staff responded that both would be considered separately and recorded. VII. UNSCHEDULED ORAL COMMUNICATIONS City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 6 Tower District Specific Plan Meeting Minutes - Final June 20, 2023 Implementation Committee Birdsong reported on comments he has seen on facebook: 1) Plan should have a policy calling for educating real estate agents about the historic nature of the area and the design guidelines. 2) Designate the entire district as a historic resources. 3) Coordination with those who own vacant lots for the purpose of using them for parking, green spaces, and dog parks. Member of the public suggested Staff examine the historical community of LA and that there are individuals who are interested in developing a skate park. VIII. NEXT STEPS & CLOSING Staff asked for assistance at workshops and for consideration of a new venue for meetings. Chairperson Johnson, asked for matrix on venues as a refresh. Staff member Martinez thanked everyone for helping on outreach. Motion to adjourn: A. Lokrantz moved and J. Kitch seconded a motion to adjourn at 6:48 p.m. Unanimously approved. City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 7