Andrew Janz
City Attorney

Andrew Janz was appointed City Attorney in December 2022 and oversees an office of 28 attorneys and 130 support staff including code enforcement employees.

Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Andrew served at the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office where he was a Deputy District Attorney.  While there, Andrew prosecuted various types of cases including violent crimes and sexual assaults.  Before becoming a prosecutor, Andrew clerked for District Court Judge Carolyn Ellsworth in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Andrew attended Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles where he obtained his juris doctor degree.  During law school, Andrew served on Law Review and was a summer associate at Merleker and Mielke an international law firm in Berlin, Germany.  He is also a graduate of California State University, Stanislaus where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.  During graduate school, Andrew was selected to attend former CIA Director Leon Panetta’s Institute of Public Policy in Monterrey, California.

Andrew is married to Heather Walker Janz who is a marriage and family therapist.  The two have a daughter, Wilhelmina Janz.  Andrew enjoys cooking Thai food for friends and family and watching English Premier League soccer.

Erica M. Camarena
Chief Assistant City Attorney

Erica manages the Code Enforcement division of the City Attorney’s Office. She supervises the managers of Code Enforcement, Rental Housing, and the Neighborhood Revitalization Team. She also oversees the Code Enforcement legal team, focusing on achieving compliance through agreements with property owners, administrative action, and court actions, including injunctions and petitions for receivership.

Erica earned her B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Fresno before graduating from San Joaquin College of Law.  Erica’s experience developed while clerking for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.  Her interest evolved into the area of entertainment contracts and Native-American Indian law while clerking in the legal department of Table Mountain Casino.  Formerly an Associate with the law firm of Weakley, Arendt & McGuire, Erica defended various municipalities in wrongful death and personal injury actions.

In addition to being active in civic and professional organizations, Erica has developed training materials and presented an MCLE course on issues having large impacts on litigation.  She works with the law school in hosting forums for prospective students; teaches Sunday School at church, enjoys traveling with her family, and is currently fostering children.

Raj Singh Badhesha
Chief Assistant City Attorney

Raj joined the City Attorney’s Office in 2012 and serves as Assistant with the Transactions Unit.  Raj’s primary practice areas include planning and land use, real estate, inter-agency contracting, municipal finance, elections law, and a broad range of related matters.  Raj is a graduate of Hastings College of the Law and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno.  Raj is a member of the Fresno County Bar Association, has served on the Fresno State Alumni Association Board of Directors, and is an alumnus of Leadership Fresno.  Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Raj worked in the private sector as an associate with Baker, Manock & Jensen PC.

A native of Fresno, Raj spends his free time traveling, hanging out with family and friends, and traveling to hang out with family and friends.

Tina R. Griffin
Chief Assistant City Attorney

Tina R. Griffin is the Chief Assistant City Attorney assigned to the Litigation Unit.  She has served the Fresno City Attorney’s Office since 2006, specializing in employment litigation, personnel, and labor relations.  Prior to joining the City Attorney’s Office, Ms. Griffin practiced law in the private sector handling employment discrimination/civil rights litigation, employment defense litigation, and insurance defense litigation, for local (William J. Smith & Associates and Cooper & Hoppe), statewide (Lozano Smith), and national (Littler Mendelson) law firms.  Ms. Griffin graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resource Management from California State University, Fresno.  Ms. Griffin enjoys reading and traveling.  She and her husband keep quite busy with their three very active children: twins (boy and girl) and daughter, in sports (football, track, and basketball) and other activities.

Christina Roberson
Assistant City Attorney

Christina oversees the Code Enforcement division of the City Attorney’s Office, and supervises the legal team assigned to Code Enforcement. Christina pursues compliance through agreements with property owners, administrative action, and court actions, including injunctions and petitions for receivership.

Prior to joining the City, Christina was an associate at a firm specializing in criminal defense. Christina previously served as the President of Fresno County Women Lawyers and has taught as an Adjunct Professor at San Joaquin College of Law. Christina graduated from San Joaquin College of Law with high honors, after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Talia Kolluri-Barbick
Assistant City Attorney

Talia has served the Fresno City Attorney’s Office since 2011 and specializes in land use, planning, the California Environmental Quality Act, and related municipal matters. Prior to joining the City, she was a prosecutor for the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office and practiced insurance defense litigation in the private sector. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School, after earning a B.A. in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

She and her husband enjoy hiking, traveling, and are actively involved in the Fresno arts community.

Travis Stokes
Assistant City Attorney

Travis joined the City Attorney’s Office in 2018 after 15 years of private practice.  Prior to entering public service, he was an equity partner at a local law firm where he focused on general business litigation and employment law defense.  Travis has represented clients in numerous jury and bench trials, as well as in arbitrations and mediations.  He has also litigated cases before administrative agencies such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Labor Commissioner, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Employment Development Department.

Since transferring from the Code Unit to the Litigation Unit at the City Attorney’s Office, Travis has handled various legal matters for the Fresno Police Department as well as Administrative Hearings and criminal prosecution actions enforcing Fresno Municipal Code violations.  Moreover, he has provided legal assistance involving efforts to assist the City’s homeless.  Travis also works with Risk Management in defending civil litigation matters, as well as with Public Works in eminent domain actions.

A true Central Valley native, Travis graduated from Fresno State with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in German Literature, as well as from San Joaquin College of Law.  He is a member of the Fresno County Bar Association, an advisor for the Citizens’ Public Safety Advisory Board, and is an alumnus of both Leadership Fresno and the Fresno Citizens’ Academy.  Travis spends his free time with his wife and children where they enjoy family camping trips, attending sporting events and dance recitals, and traveling as much as possible.

Brandon M. Collet
Supervising Deputy City Attorney

Brandon has served the Fresno City Attorney’s Office since 2013 and specializes in municipal transactions, public contracting, risk management, public agency negotiations, airport operations and is the advisor for the Capital Projects Oversight Board. Prior to joining the City, he practiced business defense litigation in the private sector. He graduated from the San Joaquin College of Law, after earning a B.A. in Economics from California State University, Fresno.

A Fresno native, Brandon spends his free time traveling and hanging out with family and friends.

Jenni DeRuosi
Supervising Deputy City Attorney

Jenni joined the City Attorney’s Office in 2016 in the Labor and Employment Division after practicing labor and employment in the private sector. Jenni consults with departments on disciplinary matters, represents the City is disciplinary appeals, reviews memoranda of understandings, handles grievance responses, handles Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Fair Employment and Housing responses, drafts and reviews personnel policies, advises on leave issues, oversees administrative investigations, trains City supervisors on investigations and due process, provides anti-harassment training to elected officials, and generally advises departments on labor and employment matters. Jenni oversees two Deputy City Attorneys in the CAO’s Labor and Employment Division.

Jenni is an alumnus of U.C. Berkeley (BA, Rhetoric) and San Joaquin College of Law (JD). Jenni enjoys spending time with her family at the beach and at Disneyland, running with her rescue dogs, and rooting on the San Francisco Giants.

Tracy Parvanian
Supervising Deputy City Attorney

Tracy joined the City Attorney’s Office in 2013 and specializes in housing, real estate, and a broad range of related matters.  Prior to joining the City, Tracy practiced insurance defense litigation in the private sector.  Tracy graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Tracy spends her free time with her husband and four children where they enjoy traveling and attending sporting events.

For City of Fresno election questions, please contact the City Attorney at (559) 621-7500

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.

Mission Statement

Office Culture

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Employment Opportunities

The Eviction Protection Program (EPP) defends tenants renting an apartment or house in the City of Fresno from unlawful eviction. If the City determines a tenant is potentially facing unlawful eviction, the tenant may be eligible to receive a City-appointed attorney or legal services to assist in the judicial process at no charge. This program is open to any City of Fresno resident who is facing an unlawful eviction regardless of financial or documented status. Common reasons for unlawful evictions include the inability to pay rent because of income loss from COVID-19, retaliation for reporting code enforcement violations, discrimination, unlawful rent increases, and many more.

More information about the EPP
Spanish Más información sobre el EPP – Español
Hmong  Lus qhia ntxiv txog lub EPP – Hmoob
Punjabi ਈਪੀਪੀ ਬਾਰੇ ਵਧੇਰੇ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ – ਪੰਜਾਬੀ

Frequently Asked Questions About Evictions
Mobile Home Eviction Frequently Asked Questions

If you are behind in your rent because of COVID-19, click here to learn more about the Emergency Rental Assistance Program.

If you believe you are facing unlawful eviction, here are the ways to apply for the EPP:

1. Submit the form below
2. Print one of the questionnaires below and mail it to:
   City of Fresno City Attorney’s Office
   Attn: EPP
   2600 Fresno Street, Room 3076
   Fresno, CA 93721
3. Call (559) 621-8400, and say you would like to be screened for the Eviction Protection Program.
4. Come in person to City Hall:
   Code Enforcement
   2600 Fresno Street, Room 3076
   Fresno, CA 93721

Residential Tenant Questionnaire

Tenant Intake Questionnaire – English
Tenant Intake Questionnaire – Spanish
Tenant Intake Questionnaire – Hmong
Tenant Intake Questionnaire – Punjabi

Please answer the following questions to provide initial information to the City Attorney’s Office about a potential eviction you may be facing. This questionnaire is the first step in allowing the City of Fresno to determine whether you may be eligible for potential direct legal representation under the City’s Eviction Protection Program. Completion of this questionnaire does not create an attorney-client relationship, and the City is not representing you in your eviction proceedings.

All information provided by you in this questionnaire is only for the purposes of determining your eligibility to participate in the Eviction Protection Program (“EPP”) only.

City of Fresno Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing

To protect residents from the health hazards of second or third-hand smoke exposure, the Fresno City Council adopted a comprehensive ordinance that includes multi-unit housing. Effective January 1, 2022, smoking will be prohibited in 100% of all multi-unit housing including common interest complex (condos, planned unit developments, and co-ops) units. Residents are still allowed to smoke in their private patios and balconies.

SECTION 10-2002. SMOKING RESTRICTIONS.

(a) Effective January 1, 2022, smoking is prohibited anywhere on the premises of a multi-unit rental property, including units, common areas, and other outdoor areas.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), smoking is permitted in designated smoking areas if they meet the following conditions:

(1) It is an exclusive use outdoor area; or

(2) It is an unenclosed enclosed area at least 20 feet from

(i) Outdoor recreation area such as a tennis court, swimming pool, or picnic area; or

(ii) Outdoor area primarily used by children such as a playground; or

(iii) Doorway, entryway into a unit or common area, ventilation system, window, or air conditioner unit.

(3) Designated smoking areas other than exclusive use outdoor areas must have a clearly marked perimeter, and be identified by conspicuous signs.

(c) No person with legal control over any nonsmoking area of a multi-unit rental property shall permit smoking in the nonsmoking area, except as provided in subsection (b).

(d) No person with legal control over a common area in which smoking is prohibited by this Ordinance or other law shall permit the presence of ashtrays, ashcans, or other receptacles designed for or primarily used for disposal of smoking waste within the area.

[Click Here to view the full ordinance]

Property Owner/Managers Have the Following Obligations:

1. Not allow people to smoke in nonsmoking areas (10-2002(c), 10-2004(d))
2. Posting of “No Smoking” signage in common areas consistent with the signposting requirements of City of Fresno Ordinance No. 2021-045.
3. All potential tenants after January 1, 2022, must be notified about the ordinance at the time of application. See the attached Notification Letter to Tenants.
4. All new leases initiated after January 1, 2022, must include non-smoking provisions. Lease Clause Prohibiting Smoking.
5. All existing tenants must be notified of the new ordinance by providing a copy of the Ordinance Brochure no later than January 1, 2022 and must be offered a voluntary no-smoking lease addendum by property owners/managers. Voluntary Lease Addendum.
6. Disclosure about the ordinance must be included in all condominium sales contracts after January 1, 2022.
7. Provide notice to violating tenants of landlord’s knowledge of the violation and consequences for continued violation (10-2004(e)) [Tenants Courtesy Notice]

Tenant Resources

We encourage members of the public to follow the steps we have outlined below.

Step 1: Prior to reporting to the City of Fresno, it is recommended to first speak with your neighbor to see if the issue can be addressed.

Step 2: If the issue persists, report to your property management and document in writing your communication to management or your landlord.

Step 3: If no action is taken, residents can report smoking within units to the City in the following ways:

• FresGo
• 3-1-1 One-Call-Center
• Or by calling our City Attorney’s Office, Code Enforcement Division at (559) 621-8400

Contact Info for City Enforcement

The City of Fresno has multiple options in which the public can report violations of the Smoke Free Multi-Unit Housing Ordinance. Below are the options available:

• FresGo
• 3-1-1 One-Call-Center
• Or by calling our City Attorney’s Office, Code Enforcement Division at (559) 621-8400