Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Fresno Council Chambers Reopened to Public, Mayor Says
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
October 5, 2021

Share

Mayor Jerry Dyer tells GV Wire that the Fresno City Council chambers, closed since Aug. 19, are now open.

“We actually changed the policy yesterday,” Dyer said on Tuesday. “So it’s important, you know, we looked at what the (COVID-19)  numbers are. They’re coming down.”

Last week, GV Wire reported that the ACLU was skeptical about the legality of closing the chambers to the public while elected officials met in person. The civil liberties organization said it was contemplating a lawsuit to open the chambers.

State open meeting laws require that the public be allowed to attend if the government body is meeting in person.

Mask Mandate in Place

“We do want to have access, but we also want to be careful with the health concerns.”Mayor Jerry Dyer

Dyer said with the reopening, all visitors will have to wear a mask.

“We do want to have access, but we also want to be careful with the health concerns. Trying to achieve that balance is very delicate at times. But I do believe in openness and transparency, and so we want to have people back into council chambers,” Dyer said.

Capacity will be limited to 50%. Remote participation by Zoom will still take place, with links found on meeting agendas.

Full rules are listed in a new emergency order, released Monday.

The first city meeting with the public allowed to attend will be the planning commission meeting Wednesday night at 6 p.m.

Rules Changed Several Times

Since the pandemic, the policy has changed several times when it came to opening chambers. Meetings went all virtual, using Zoom technology. Chambers eventually reopened to the public, only to be shut again.

When Gov. Gavin Newsom issued statewide emergency orders, aspects of the Brown Act — the state’s open meeting law — changed.

For example, the orders allowed local governments to conduct meetings via technology such as phone calls or Zoom.

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to 200 Years to Life for Double Homicide

DON'T MISS

River Park Farmers Market Nears Milestone: 7 Million Customers

DON'T MISS

Senate Passes Six-Month Funding Bill Hours Before Shutdown Deadline

DON'T MISS

Fresno County’s First Fentanyl Murder Trial Begins as Defense Challenges Overdose Evidence

DON'T MISS

Trump Pledges to ‘Expel Rogue Actors’ in Political Speech at Justice Department

DON'T MISS

Meet Tulare County’s New Health Officer: Dr. Asma Tariq

DON'T MISS

CA Regulator Mulls State Farm’s Request for 22% Home Insurance Hike

DON'T MISS

Fresno Council President Says It’s Not Worth Investigating ‘Rumors’ of Chavez Wrongdoing

DON'T MISS

Don’t Listen to Critics. SJ River Conservancy Is Doing Its Job

DON'T MISS

CA Borrows $3.4B to Cover Medi-Cal Budget Gap. Is Immigrant Coverage at Risk?

UP NEXT

River Park Farmers Market Nears Milestone: 7 Million Customers

UP NEXT

Senate Passes Six-Month Funding Bill Hours Before Shutdown Deadline

UP NEXT

Fresno County’s First Fentanyl Murder Trial Begins as Defense Challenges Overdose Evidence

UP NEXT

Trump Pledges to ‘Expel Rogue Actors’ in Political Speech at Justice Department

UP NEXT

Meet Tulare County’s New Health Officer: Dr. Asma Tariq

UP NEXT

CA Regulator Mulls State Farm’s Request for 22% Home Insurance Hike

UP NEXT

Fresno Council President Says It’s Not Worth Investigating ‘Rumors’ of Chavez Wrongdoing

UP NEXT

Don’t Listen to Critics. SJ River Conservancy Is Doing Its Job

UP NEXT

CA Borrows $3.4B to Cover Medi-Cal Budget Gap. Is Immigrant Coverage at Risk?

UP NEXT

Trump Administration’s Attacks on Higher Education Threaten US Global Dominance in Science

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Fresno County’s First Fentanyl Murder Trial Begins as Defense Challenges Overdose Evidence

13 hours ago

Trump Pledges to ‘Expel Rogue Actors’ in Political Speech at Justice Department

14 hours ago

Meet Tulare County’s New Health Officer: Dr. Asma Tariq

14 hours ago

CA Regulator Mulls State Farm’s Request for 22% Home Insurance Hike

14 hours ago

Fresno Council President Says It’s Not Worth Investigating ‘Rumors’ of Chavez Wrongdoing

15 hours ago

Don’t Listen to Critics. SJ River Conservancy Is Doing Its Job

17 hours ago

CA Borrows $3.4B to Cover Medi-Cal Budget Gap. Is Immigrant Coverage at Risk?

17 hours ago

Trump Administration’s Attacks on Higher Education Threaten US Global Dominance in Science

18 hours ago

Tulare Police Arrest Eight in Gang Suppression Operation

18 hours ago

Feds Drop Gun Charge Against Capitol Rioter Benjamin Martin

19 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to 200 Years to Life for Double Homicide

A 28-year-old Fresno man was sentenced Friday to 200 years to life in state prison for a 2021 double murder, the Fresno County District Atto...

12 hours ago

12 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to 200 Years to Life for Double Homicide

The River Park Farmers Market in Fresno is set to welcome its seven-millionth customer while expanding its community impact through food assistance programs, small business support, and a new educational cooking series. (River Park Farmers Market)
12 hours ago

River Park Farmers Market Nears Milestone: 7 Million Customers

12 hours ago

Senate Passes Six-Month Funding Bill Hours Before Shutdown Deadline

Cassidy Gonzalez (pictured), 24, faces Fresno County’s first fentanyl-related homicide trial, with prosecutors linking her to Jade Dreith’s, 41, fatal overdose and the defense questioning the evidence. (Fresno County Sheriff's Office)
13 hours ago

Fresno County’s First Fentanyl Murder Trial Begins as Defense Challenges Overdose Evidence

14 hours ago

Trump Pledges to ‘Expel Rogue Actors’ in Political Speech at Justice Department

14 hours ago

Meet Tulare County’s New Health Officer: Dr. Asma Tariq

14 hours ago

CA Regulator Mulls State Farm’s Request for 22% Home Insurance Hike

15 hours ago

Fresno Council President Says It’s Not Worth Investigating ‘Rumors’ of Chavez Wrongdoing

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend