[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6514407,"mediaKeyId","5030926-2017e7a18ca2b2c259d8d9e45744c1b6","parentId",5030926,"title","Council advances housing text amendment but removes ministerial approval provision after close debate","audioSeconds",5747,"startMs",4553000,"endMs",10300000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5030926-2017e7a18ca2b2c259d8d9e45744c1b6&start=4553&end=10300","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5030926-2017e7a18ca2b2c259d8d9e45744c1b6/thumbnail_4553000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6514407/Fresno-City/Fresno-County/California/Council-advances-housing-text-amendment-but-removes-ministerial-approval-provision-after-close-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514407-4739bfd48b4f60447e6adef4fc199fb1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202892&Signature=cNbKk7FYw2ZLgEuSMwgKyyNgYxdMGBmjX9TAqMB1-UTP93maGDli28V-3ulKdiBm01ttMyWDx7m2mhtNFs3trjObtscurXulJOk9fpc-g0FOHJophIC0FgEuOWWVqmybgHjQouKMsPZ8oryLr4-6jy1-IZuG1c2RLr4g8i7TMelVALi~Eoi8ZAK1hDDrRLDrclp5h8GxQhD-CnCx5OsAvu6JjzjQoRPV3yY7vZGGXO3DqC6BeE2vo4tUvSQmiTtiyeSdWkFP9SiZU9A1BU44ARyz2mQigYbEmeWzhbUNetnou3bs5xI4h1NRrnkQKeAKToE8oAhOZWzP26IjIxmRrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Fresno Council, Boards, and Commissions","date","2025-06-20T07:21:10Z","article","Fresno City Council on June 19 moved forward on a broad land-use text amendment (P24-00794) intended to ease conversions of office and vacant parcels to residential uses and to add other pro-housing measures, but the council removed the item's proposed expansion of ministerial approvals after extensive public comment and a split vote.

The afternoon hearing drew large public turnout: speakers from homeowners'associations, long-term residents of neighborhoods such as Sierra Sky Park and West Herndon, and planning and economic development groups all addressed the council. Residents warned that a blanket, citywide ministerial approval would curtail public notice and local input and could allow large increases in density and height near long-established neighborhoods. Business and development advocates, including Fresno County Economic Development Corporation and Invest Fresno, said the amendment would reduce permitting delays and help reposition vacant office buildings to meet housing demand.

Planning and legal details discussed on the record included: the proposed 500-foot buffer that would exempt parcels within 500 feet of a school from the ministerial path; the city's current 15-day appeal period for project approvals; and staff estimates of conversion capacity in high- and highest-resource areas (the transcript records roughly 1,770 units in highest-resource conversion capacity plus 250 units in high-resource conversion capacity, for about 2,020 units of conversion capacity, with an additional roughly 1,578 units needed to meet adopted housing-element targets).

Council Member Esparza moved to approve the text amendment but to remove all ministerial-approval components; Council Member Richardson seconded the motion, with the caveat that the 500-foot school buffer remain. After extended discussion the motion passed on a 4-3 roll call: Council Members Vang, Richardson, Esparza and Council President Carabassi voted yes; Council Members Perea, Maxwell and Vice President Arias voted no. City staff and the city attorney cautioned that the change constitutes a material alteration of the ordinance as introduced, meaning the altered ordinance will need to return to the council and likely to the planning commission before final adoption.

One council member noted the mayor has been supportive of actions that would ensure units on paper for the city's housing element; staff clarified ministerial approval is not required to achieve the housing-element capacity but would be a streamlining tool. The city attorney reminded the council that no ordinance can be adopted on the day of its introduction if it is materially altered; the council's vote therefore advances a version of the amendment that will be reintroduced for subsequent hearings.

What happens next: City staff said they will work with the council and the planning department to refine the text amendment and return it for further hearings. If adopted as amended at a subsequent hearing it would change how certain office and vacant parcels are processed; the mayor will have the normal 10-day veto window once the ordinance reaches his desk.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fresno City Council Meeting 6/19/25","oneSentenceSummary","Fresno City Council advanced a citywide text amendment (P24-00794) on June 19 but removed the proposed expansion of ministerial approvals after extensive public comment and a 4-3 vote.","taxTitle","Fresno City, Fresno County, California","taxId",3699,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514412,"Council renews Advanced Peace grant oversight; members press for continuity of program staff",452,4045000,4497000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5030926-2017e7a18ca2b2c259d8d9e45744c1b6&start=4045&end=4497","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5030926-2017e7a18ca2b2c259d8d9e45744c1b6/thumbnail_4045000.jpg","/articles/6514412/Fresno-City/Fresno-County/California/Council-renews-Advanced-Peace-grant-oversight-members-press-for-continuity-of-program-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514412-1657991d70e5b7bd2743f3df50a3bdd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202892&Signature=f67kje2fsCJvzH-OIwO343iHeqsyGKDR3Wwcer2KJM~JH~YoxdJHAsvDMmqOD9JJui3sH~z8jEI4McLcq8v1G4X67ywkhIDTxiieJdPqjwIPyodJbooyXWVl7GbPovyfFtviWy6U-8h-ANZ5oAw0fjEnkR2WXkTh8eb-nE6Zp8mOep7egT1qHjLu7oWZal~s4ogqLdIH8D6snYk2huthJDWAvb21l6k~t1kgowCB0mxOG8Y59EeHC01oyiZJ3V23DoenvLr-2QHxRUErzbqAZ~VlitRCGjX5Gk0jYVsuOJ--oKrPZzZN9ZCmja9sXPv4EO0x2SUadzGB1TJqJcsuZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fresno City Council on June 19 approved a grant arrangement to continue funding the violence-intervention program known as Advanced Peace, which the council funds through the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission (EOC) as the fiscal agent.

Council members who spoke in favor pointed to city officials and law enforcement testimony that the program has reduced shootings and serious violence in parts of Fresno. Patrick Turner, director of training and employment for EOC and administrative director overseeing Advanced Peace at EOC, described the organization's role and told the council he shares elected officials' focus on maintaining the people who do the day-to-day work.

\"The folks who are doing the work ... need to be the focus of remaining in that,\" Council Vice President Arias said during the discussion, urging EOC to keep the same staff who have delivered the program's results amid leadership changes at the fiscal agent.

Turner said Advanced Peace staff have intervened in specific incidents and de-escalated potentially retaliatory shootings, and that the program stopped 105 shootings in the past six months, a figure he offered to illustrate the program's reach. He described the work as complementary to law enforcement and said interventions save police resources by preventing shootings that otherwise require investigation.

There was limited debate on the dais. A motion to approve the grant agreement passed 6-1. The transcript records one opposing vote but does not give a name in the roll call recorded on the public record at the time of the vote.

What happens next: the administrative arrangement will continue under EOC as fiscal agent and city staff said they will monitor provider staffing during EOC's leadership changes; concerned council members said they will return to the council if EOC alters the team delivering Advanced Peace services.","The Fresno City Council approved a grant agreement involving Advanced Peace, administered through the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, after council members said they want the same community-based staff retained to preserve the program''s violence-reduction results; the measure passed 6-1.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6514418,"Fresno council approves shelter service agreements; officials outline timelines, oversight",357,3675000,4032000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5030926-2017e7a18ca2b2c259d8d9e45744c1b6&start=3675&end=4032","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5030926-2017e7a18ca2b2c259d8d9e45744c1b6/thumbnail_3675000.jpg","/articles/6514418/Fresno-City/Fresno-County/California/Fresno-council-approves-shelter-service-agreements-officials-outline-timelines-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6514418-ba5ccb0c8d0b0909a6fc78840dae8864/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202892&Signature=ecVGr4aKkhvvTX6CQMcC3q~Tcui7PqcTvRSTcHNzxBSsq20yh5Q0BHYUlJRCQsM3ETQ1qEgU7QogcnBaui~a2IEr2ZqCo90vXR0PB1uVL9w33Tvncfsn6-YTvd6WJy6W9znNTxOB~DvoWe0ubUS-mYr8mcnGLEG24Z4kbsiwCdM4MApXnGKWyFeNMmAUmSUBZPA-K-7HOOWNjVkPqMW69AjwXIcug8S8wTTeFbhA51AB4Oxz4xuWb1onFKquHCqWIEPBwNwrwdIaP78UDQTzeSYJSflI35PWvUhQBqTyvKXGyQHix2TS60FK8s0DOb52Bc6CF1dyY-yZYusoim6-mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fresno City Council voted June 19 to approve service agreements for temporary homeless shelters that the city plans to operate in the near term, with council members saying oversight and placement rules are built into the contracts.

The agreements, which the council approved unanimously, cover operations at shelters referenced in the staff presentation as Valley Inn, Parkway Inn (also called Victory Village) and Fresno Home. Phil Skice, director of the city's Client Development Department, told the council contractors must place incoming clients through the region's coordinated entry system and that the city has tools to enforce the requirement.

\"Under this agreement ... it references the requirement to participate in the coordinated entry system,\" Skice said. \"The agreement does not allow for wiggle room.\" He added that a breach could be grounds for termination, subject to contract terms that require 30 days' notice for cancellation.

Council members asked for additional details about how long the shelters will operate. Skice said the Valley Inn shelter is scheduled to come offline by Dec. 31, 2025, pending plans to convert the site as part of a Homekey Plus award to permanent supportive housing. Parkway Inn/Victory Village is under a one-year agreement through June 30, 2026, and Fresno Home's contract runs through June 3, 2026. Skice said those are the current plans but that funding dynamics (Homekey Plus, Super NOFA awards and other state funds) could change the timeline.

Several council members raised constituent complaints about operations at the shelters. Skice asked that complaints be routed to him and said the administration investigates every complaint, from code enforcement issues to more serious allegations, and that the city is involved in ensuring compliance.

A motion to approve the agreements was made and seconded on the dais; the council voted 7-0 to adopt the contracts. The council did not provide specific contract text on the record during the hearing; the staff presentation and subsequent follow-up will govern implementation.

What happens next: administration said it will continue to seek state funding awards to convert shelter beds to permanent supportive housing where possible and will follow up with the council on complaints or requests for extension of operations.","The Fresno City Council on June 19 approved service agreements to operate three temporary shelters and described timelines for their planned closure, requirements for contractor participation in the city'wide coordinated entry system, and complaint and termination processes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council advances housing text amendment but removes ministerial approval provision after close debate

Council renews Advanced Peace grant oversight; members press for continuity of program staff

Fresno council approves shelter service agreements; officials outline timelines, oversight