Fresno City Council Special Meeting – February 10, 2026

The Fresno City Council convened a special meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, primarily to enter closed session on three potential litigation items. The posted start time was 10:15 AM; roll call began at 10:30 AM. Six members were initially present, and Councilmember Miguel Angel Arias joined via Zoom at 10:49 AM. After public comment and brief statements, Council went into closed session at 10:49 AM and returned with one reportable action.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved 6–0 on a motion by Councilmember Maxwell, seconded by Councilmember Perea; Councilmember Arias was recorded absent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ashley, a small business owner, artist, and Measure P recipient, said artists and community members were shocked by reported misappropriation of funds by the Fresno Arts Council. She described a pattern of dismissed transparency concerns and called for transparency, accountability, and urgency from the Council.
• Alicia Rodriguez, representing the Labyrinth Art Collective, echoed those concerns and asked the city to prioritize unfunded Measure P grantees and extend deadlines for grantees who already received funds, saying the uncertainty has harmed artists and community organizations.
• Erin Burd, Executive Director of Arts Enrichment for All and a Measure P grant recipient/fiscal agent, said her organization received 90% of its funds but had concerns about completing projects. She requested that grantees and fiscal agents be invited to the table to help solve the funding crisis quickly. (The transcript spells this name as 'Aaron Byrd'; the minutes list 'Erin Burd.')
• Dez Martinez spoke about Falcon Court housing, saying five people were selected for transfer but 45 others were told to find alternatives or return to shelter. She urged the city to move remaining residents into the Blackstone complex, raised concerns about state funds, lease agreements, application criteria, and risks to senior residents on oxygen, and noted a state-funded $10.15 million complex remained empty.
• Nikki Real commented on meeting structure, saying the public should be able to view presentations before commenting so they can engage meaningfully.

Council President Statement

• Council President Karbassi read a statement, which he said were his own comments, recommending that Fresno Unified School District not balance its budget by freezing wages for classified employees. He said classified employees ensure students get to school, have safe schools, and are fed, and that these workers deserve respect and dignity. He also acknowledged his father's 84th birthday and a staff member's birthday.

Closed Session

• City Attorney Janz announced that closed session would cover three items, A, B, and C, each titled 'Conference with Legal Counsel – Potential Litigation' under Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(2), with one potential case each.
• The Council withdrew to closed session at 10:49 AM. Items A and B were discussed with no open-session announcement.

Key Outcomes

• On closed-session item C, the Council voted 5–0, with Councilmembers Karbassi, Arias, Vang, Richardson, and Esparza voting yes and Councilmembers Perea and Maxwell absent. The Council directed the City Attorney to draft a resolution supporting the Health and Welfare Trust so that the contract dispute between Community and Blue Shield is resolved quickly and favorably for City employees, including a retroactive provision, for the next meeting.
• Council President Karbassi said the administration and City Council would issue a joint statement on another item shortly.
• The meeting adjourned at 12:49 PM. The minutes state '12:49 A.M.,' which appears to be a typographical error given the meeting's morning timeline.