City Attorney / Andrew Janz

Andrew Janz Closeup

The City Attorney’s Office represents and advises the Mayor, City Council, City boards and commissions, and City officials and departments in legal matters pertaining to their office and City operations, which include municipal utilities, airports, and public transportation systems.

The City Attorney’s Office prepares legal opinions, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other documents requested by the Council and City organizations; implements the legal aspects of policies and programs established by the City; handles criminal prosecution as part of the Office’s code enforcement responsibilities; serves as counsel for the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency; defends the City in civil litigation; and monitors cases assigned to contract legal counsel.

The City Attorney’s Office includes code enforcement, covering rental housing inspections, substandard housing, public nuisance and blight, vacant buildings, illegal dumping, tire dumping, conditional use permit and zoning violations, dangerous buildings, weed abatement, and the Neighborhood Revitalization Team.

Public Records

The California Public Records Act (CPRA) is California state law that gives the public the right to inspect and copy most records retained by governmental agencies in the course of business. The CPRA regulates the public’s access to the records and contains limited statutory circumstances when records need not be disclosed.

The City department where the records are located is responsible for responding to requests for public records as the custodian of records. The City Attorney’s Office is frequently consulted to assist City staff in responses to requests.

Cannabis Issues

In response to numerous questions regarding when the City will accept and issue licenses for cannabis businesses in Fresno, here is a brief summary of our status.

On December 13, 2018, Fresno City Council adopted the Cannabis Retail Business and Commercial Cannabis Business Ordinance, which sets out the permitting framework and regulatory requirements for Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis businesses to eventually operate within the City for commercial activities such as cultivation, manufacturing, and distribution.  Read the ordinance.  This ordinance may be further refined by the City Council over the next several months.

Although the Cannabis Business License Tax has been approved and the Cannabis Retail Business and Commercial Cannabis Business Ordinance has been adopted, the City can not issue any Commercial Cannabis Business Permits to begin operating legally until the remaining components are completed. In addition, the City is establishing the application processes for licenses to be issued by the City.  Applicants who are issued licenses by the City will also need to complete the Conditional Use Permit process before they open.  And go through the standard planning and building permit process for any tenant improvements they may be constructing.

This web page will be updated on a regular basis to reflect these milestones as they are achieved.

Management Team

Management Team for the City Attorney

Policies

Resolutions adopted by the City Council

Code Enforcement

Enforcing the City’s Minimum Housing Code

EPP

Eviction Protection Program defends tenants renting

Smoke-Free Housing

Protect residents from second or third-hand smoke exposure

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