During a recent city council meeting, community members expressed significant concerns regarding transparency and access to information related to local developments, particularly in District 3. Diane Bennett Smith, a West Fresno resident and member of a local advocacy group, criticized the city for limiting public access to important documents that previously were readily available. She emphasized that the lack of transparency is alienating community members, particularly the elderly, who may not have access to digital resources.

Smith argued that decisions made in one district impact the entire community, and she called for equal access to information for residents, similar to what is provided to planning commission members. She described the current situation as a systematic effort by city staff to keep the community uninformed, stating, \"The wicked shall never prosper, and that's why the city will never prosper.\"

In response to these concerns, representatives from a local business expressed their commitment to remaining in the area and highlighted the importance of community engagement. They acknowledged the city's efforts to ensure developments meet code requirements but raised concerns about the financial implications of these regulations, particularly regarding infrastructure costs.

The meeting concluded without a resolution to the issues raised, leaving community members and business representatives seeking better communication and collaboration with city officials to address their concerns.