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Kingsburg council adopts MOU with Fresno County to respond to unregulated infectious materials
Summary
The council approved a memorandum of understanding with Fresno County that lets city code enforcement request public-health operational support for discovered infectious-materials facilities and introduced an ordinance to add the county ordinance by reference to the Kingsburg Municipal Code.
The Kingsburg City Council voted to approve a memorandum of understanding with Fresno County that would let city code enforcement request operational support from the Fresno County Department of Public Health if an unregulated infectious-materials facility is discovered inside city limits. The council also waived first reading and introduced an ordinance adding Fresno County’s infectious materials ordinance by reference to the Kingsburg Municipal Code.
Building Official AJ O'Connell told the council the MOU responds to a gap in state and federal oversight exposed after an incident in Reedley. "Existing state and federal laws do not provide adequate oversight for these biolabs thus leaving local leaders to develop solutions and standards for their operation," he said, describing Fresno County's ordinance and the county's offer to provide operational management when needed.
Under the agreement presented to the council, Kingsburg code enforcement staff would continue to work to abate any public-nuisance condition, while Fresno County public-health professionals would provide operational management and mitigation of any public-health threats when called in. City staff recommended adoption of Resolution 2025-526 approving the MOU and introduction of Ordinance 2025-03, which would add Chapter 8.28 to Title 8 of the Kingsburg Municipal Code.
Council members passed the resolution by voice vote and then voted to waive first reading and introduce the ordinance; no opposition was recorded on the council's voice votes. City staff said the Fresno County Department of Public Health would respond when requested and that the city would remain responsible for nuisance abatement in partnership with county public-health personnel.
The council noted the hope that the MOU will never be needed but said having an operational agreement provides a clearer response path if an incident arises. Assistant director Joe Prado of the Fresno County Department of Public Health was in the meeting to answer questions, staff said.
