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Council approves transparency hub and creates ad hoc policy review committee

Fresno City Council · January 29, 2026
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Summary

Council created an ad hoc policy-review committee to examine ordinances and policies and approved amendments to the Transparency Act directing the clerk to create a single online hub consolidating public contracts, disclosures and filings; staff were asked to provide an initial plan and links within 30 days.

The Fresno City Council voted unanimously Jan. 29 to create an ad hoc policy-review committee and to approve amendments to the city’s Transparency Act that direct the city to consolidate public documents in a single, searchable online location.

Council President Carvassi proposed the ad hoc committee as a temporary, publicly noticed body to review policies such as the transparency ordinance and the San Joaquin River/Bluffs protection initiative. Members emphasized Brown Act compliance and agreed committee work will be disclosed in council meetings; the committee’s recommendations will remain advisory and any changes to ordinances must come to the full council for adoption.

Councilmember Miguel Arias introduced the Transparency Act amendments. The packet clarifies that contract thresholds (the $100,000 benchmark) should include pass-through amounts and defines ‘year’ as fiscal year to align contracting authority with the budget cycle. Arias also proposed establishing a single online hub for contracts, campaign filings and financial disclosures so members of the public can find documents in one place.

City Clerk staff said they could assemble a single page with links to existing documents within 30 days and will work with Information Services and the City Manager on a longer-term searchable portal; the City Manager cautioned that a fully searchable database will take more time and recommended a staged approach. The council directed the City Clerk to take the lead on creating the consolidated page and report back with a plan and timeline; the measure passed 7-0.

The action responds to concerns raised by council members and members of the public about timely access to contract and campaign information and aims to reduce the burden of public records requests by improving proactive disclosure.