Fresno City Council Budget Hearings - Day 4: June 11, 2026

The Fresno City Council continued its FY2026-27 budget hearings on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. The meeting covered the Convention Center/Stadium, City Clerk, City Attorney, General City Purpose, Office of the Mayor & City Manager, City Council, and Airports departments. Extensive public comment addressed police spending, homelessness, the eviction protection program, and the HEART team. Councilmembers made numerous budget motions throughout the day, to be voted on at the June 16 budget session.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Alicia R. criticized the budget process as inaccessible and non-transparent, citing Brown Act violations and a $15 million discrimination suit. She questioned police data verifiability and called for third-party accountability.
• Bob McCloskey stated there are 6,315 unhoused individuals according to city data, and that over 1,700 people have been cited/arrested under the no-camping ordinance. He said the mayor admitted the ordinance has had no impact on reducing homelessness. He supported increased funding for the eviction protection program and rent control.
• Ariana requested public disclosure of the organized retail theft grant terms and questioned investments in child care and third spaces for youth. She cited a study showing Advanced Peace reduced gun-related assaults by 49% and noted funding cuts shifted the program to reactive work.
• Shara Thompson (Tenants Together, Fresno Tenants Union) urged expansion of the eviction protection program to include affirmative representation and oversight. She reported an attorney quit on a tenant during trial.
• Enrique Little alleged misconduct by HEART team officers, including throwing belongings into a garbage truck and using abusive language toward homeless individuals.
• Brandy supported increased EPP funding and questioned the claim that only 3% of homeless accept services, stating that shelter is often unavailable and that refusal is the exception.
• Alfred Aldretti (Fresno Resistance) opposed the Flock camera contract, citing privacy risks and warrantless data sharing. He noted other cities are ending such contracts.
• Giovanna Morales (Leadership Council) requested continued and additional funding for the eviction protection program, with updated guidelines.
• Mars advocated for reallocating a small portion of the police budget to research-based preventative strategies and social programs, such as Advanced Peace.

Convention Center & Stadium

• Presentation: Assistant City Manager Ruthie Quinto introduced the new convention center operator, Venue Works, and noted the FY27 budget reflects a modest improvement in the general fund contribution. The parking garage revenue now stays with the parking fund. Mark Solis, the new executive director, highlighted an all-inclusive pricing model, aggressive marketing, and new events including the return of the Fresno Falcons (five-year agreement), Broadway Across America multi-year extension, and a new scoreboard.
• Discussion: Councilmembers inquired about competitive pricing, cultural events, parking coordination, deferred maintenance (fire panel, HVAC, Valdez kitchen hood), the debt service payoff schedule (April 2027 and 2029), and the stadium's ADA accessibility. Councilmember Richardson pressed for adult changing tables. Councilmember Arias requested a market comparison of costs at Chukchansi Park, Selland Arena, and Save Mart Center.
• Motions: Councilmember Karbassi made motions for ADA restroom improvements at Water Tower ($200,000), repainting the Tower Theater marquee ($200,000), cricket field netting ($320,000), and other projects. Councilmember Perea moved $200,000 for public art in Tower District and sidewalk improvements.

City Clerk's Office

• Councilmember Arias moved $50,000 to support new City Clerk Amy Aller's priorities. Motion seconded and placed in the hopper.

City Attorney's Office

• Presentation: City Attorney Andrew Janz noted the proposed budget is $33.7 million, up $2 million mainly due to personnel costs. The office has 17 vacancies, mostly in code enforcement. The eviction protection program (EPP) had 389 intakes in FY26. Code enforcement issued $17 million in cannabis citations but collected only $59,000. The office receives about 10 legal assignments per day. Public Records Act requests rose from 2,600 (2021) to 7,500 (2025).
• Discussion: Councilmember Karbassi moved $150,000 for outside legal services. Councilmember Perea moved to increase EPP funding to $2 million and to set aside an amount to be determined for smoke shop enforcement. Councilmember Karbassi asked about using attrition savings to fund those items. Councilmember Richardson requested data on outside counsel performance and success rates.
• Motions: Councilmember Karbassi: $150,000 for outside legal services. Councilmember Perea: $2 million for EPP; placeholder for smoke shop enforcement.

General City Purpose Department

• Presentation: The budget increases primarily due to retirement and self-insurance funds. Retirement Administrator Robert Theller answered questions about his salary ($279,000) and total compensation (approximately $325,000). Councilmember Karbassi questioned Theller about his decision to rescind retirement and whether he could be bought out.
• No motions made on this department.

Office of the Mayor & City Manager

• Presentation: The budget decreased by 5% per the reduction exercise. The Office of Community Affairs (OCA) has five part-time liaisons funded at 0.8 FTE each, total compensation $329,867. The Office of Independent Review remains vacant; an outside firm is reviewing OIS cases.
• Discussion: Councilmember Richardson successfully moved $65,000 to fund a new OCA position representing the Middle East and North Africa community. He noted the city's diversity and need for representation.

City Council Department

• Presentation: The budget is flat at $1.608 million, with a contingency for election year (districts 1,3,5,7). Infrastructure funds of $300,000 per councilmember remain in Public Works. Combined carryover of $2.1 million in infrastructure accounts.
• Discussion: Councilmember Richardson asked about the $300 or less in miscellaneous expenditures for some districts versus over $200,000 for others; staff explained it holds unplanned funds.
• No motions made on this department.

Airports Department

• Presentation: Interim Director of Aviation Francisco Partida presented a $137.8 million budget ($38.8 million operating, $98.9 million capital/debt service). The FAT Forward terminal expansion is the largest capital project in airport history. Runway reconstruction ($36.4 million) and air traffic control tower replacement are major upcoming projects. Passenger growth has plateaued at 2.97% increase (2024-2025). The airport is funding additional CBP officers to extend FIS hours and requesting $150,000 for marketing.
• Discussion: Councilmember Richardson asked about firefighting staffing; the airport currently meets FAA requirements with two-person crews per shift, supplemented by the 144th Fighter Wing and Station 10. Councilmember Vang advocated for a direct flight to Minneapolis-St. Paul to serve the Hmong community. Councilmember Karbassi praised improved management and curb appeal at Chandler Airport.
• No specific budget motions made for Airports.

Key Outcomes

• Consent items: The RDA successor agency annual report and program income budget were approved (6-0) after two votes.
• Budget motions placed in hopper (to be voted June 16): Numerous motions totaling millions of dollars across departments, including:
  • $50,000 for City Clerk's office
  • $150,000 for City Attorney outside legal services
  • $2 million for Eviction Protection Program
  • Placeholder for smoke shop enforcement
  • $65,000 for new OCA position (Middle East/North Africa)
  • Various infrastructure, parks, and community project allocations (e.g., $600,000 for Clinton Avenue paving, $250,000 for South Tower Community Land Trust, $200,000 for Fresno Ice Rink/Holiday events, $50,000 for Grizzlies audit, and many more)
  • Motions to allow City Attorney to retain attrition savings for EPP and smoke shop enforcement
  • Councilmember Esparza placed placeholder motions for road diets, property acquisition at Radio Park, and numerous studies.
• Next steps: Council will reconvene Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 9:00 AM to vote on all budget motions. Final budget adoption is scheduled for June 23, 2026.