REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: JENNIFER CLARK, AICP, Director Planning and Development Department BY: ASHLEY ATKINSON, AICP, Assistant Director Planning and Development Department SUBJECT ..Title RESOLUTION - Dissolving the Tower District Design Review Committee ..Body RECOMMENDATION The Department of Planning and Development recommends that City Council authorize the adoption Resolution No. 2026-81, dissolving the Tower District Design Review Committee. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Tower District Design Review Committee was established by City Council in 1991 to administer the newly-adopted Tower District Specific Plan (the Plan). In 2021, City Council established the Tower District Specific Plan Implementation Committee to guide an update of the Plan, and its subsequent implementation. The Tower District Specific Plan Update was adopted on November 20, 2025. Through this action, the Design Review Committee's roles and responsibilities will be transferred to the Implementation Committee going forward. BACKGROUND On March 26, 1991, by Ordinance Number 91-26, the City Council adopted the Tower District Specific Plan. On December 10, 1991, by Resolution, the City Council established the Tower District Design Review Committee to administer the Tower District Specific Plan Guidelines and other design-related items contained within the Tower District Specific Plan; evaluate building, sign, demolition, and development entitlement applications pursuant to the Tower District Specific Plan Guidelines; and to make recommendations to the Planning and Development Director for application of the Tower District Specific Plan Guidelines. After approximately 20 years, members of the Tower District community expressed a desire to update the 1991 Specific Plan and to evaluate and revise objectives and policies to encourage consistent and compatible development of future residential and commercial uses. On May 27, 2021, through Resolution Number 2021-147, City Council established the Tower District Implementation Committee to facilitate community involvement and participation in an update and subsequent implementation of the Tower District Specific Plan and an associated update of the Tower District Specific Plan Guidelines. On November 20, 2025, City Council adopted the updated Tower District Specific Plan and the Tower District Specific Plan Standards and Guidelines. At this time both the Tower District Design Review Committee and the Tower District Implementation Committee continue to exist, although the Design Review Committee consistently struggles to meet quorum at regularly scheduled meetings. It was the intent of City Council Resolution Number 2021-147 establishing the Implementation Committee that this committee would take on the sole role of implementing the Plan once the update was adopted. With this resolution, all duties and responsibilities formerly assigned to the Tower District Design Review Committee will be carried out by the Tower District Specific Plan Implementation Committee going forward. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS This is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 and is therefore exempt from the CEQA requirements. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference is not implicated because this item does not involve public contracting or bidding with the City of Fresno. FISCAL IMPACT There is no impact to the General Fund. Attachment: Resolution Dissolving Tower District Design Review Committee