Summary

Fresno City Council (Mar 19, 2026) — Minutes: agenda changes, leadership election, consent approvals, housing study adopted

FresnoMar 19, 20263 min read

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Council approved an amended agenda (including a separately noticed special meeting to consider removing “Cesar Chavez Boulevard” signs, subject to mayoral veto), elected Nelson Esparza as Council President and Tyler Maxwell as Vice President, adopted multiple consent items (including an ordinance amending sidewalk vending rules and several airport, parks, utilities, and housing actions), adopted a resolution to study concentration of housing ownership (subject to mayoral veto), withdrew a resolution on facial recognition technology, tabled two major land‑use items, and conducted closed‑session labor and litigation briefings.

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Rakkar Development Economic Development

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City Council

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LaborTransportationBudget & TaxPublic SafetyCommerceElectionsEnvironmentalHousingUtilities

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Key decisions

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Added a separately noticed special meeting (ID 26-376) to begin the process to remove the “Cesar Chavez Boulevard” street signs; item listed as subject to mayoral veto.
Elected Council President Nelson Esparza and Vice President Tyler Maxwell (ID 26-362).
Approved the Consent Calendar, including adoption of Ordinance 2026-4 amending the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance (Bill B-3) (ID 26-283) and multiple airport, parks, utilities, and housing agreements (e.g., TSA lease, rental car concessions, Roeding Park restroom contract, HOME program agreements).
Adopted Resolution 2026-40 to conduct a study on the concentration of ownership and corporatization of the City’s housing stock (ID 26-347) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto); amended language to direct report to City Attorney.
Councilmember Richardson’s motion to withdraw the Resolution in Support of Criminal Facial Recognition Technology at City Hall (ID 26-323) was approved; the resolution was withdrawn.
Tabled the Central Southeast Area Specific Plan and related rezone and environmental items (ID 26-266) to June 18, 2026.
Tabled Plan Amendment and Rezone Application No. P23-03006 (ID 26-297) for the Southwest Fresno/Southwest area (Council District 3); motion to table carried unanimously.
Adopted Resolution 2026-41 supporting State Assembly Bill 2753 to ban sex offenders from holding public office (ID 26-324).
Presented the Fresno Police Department Annual Military Equipment Use Report item (ID 26-308) but moved it to General Administration for future Council approval and scheduled a public meeting on March 25, 2026.
Held closed-session conferences on labor negotiations with multiple employee organizations and discussed numerous existing and anticipated litigation matters and a real property negotiation; no open-session announcements were made for those items.

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