Even with a pending $20 million budget shortfall, the Fresno City Council voted 5-0 to give City Attorney Andrew Janz a double-digit pay hike on Thursday.

Janz received an 11.8% raise to $285,000, with the contract backdated to Jan. 1, 2025.

City Council President Mike Karbassi said Janz earned the raise based on his work the past year.

“I think it’s just well deserved,” Karbassi said.

Karbassi said Janz has taken more tasks under his belt, including wage theft prosecutions, new anti-homelessness regulations, and smoke shop enforcement.

“Like any other private sector business, we look to make sure our people are paid appropriately based on the competition. And he’s making far less than comparable top-ten cities,” Karbassi said.

Karbassi said the city can afford the raise, because of fines from illegal cannabis grows brought in by Janz and unspent money from the prior budget.

Janz offered a brief statement.

“I’m very appreciative of the council’s ongoing support,”Janz said.

He would not answer if he would explore other options without the raise.

As for future raises, Karbassi said that would be “very difficult” given the city’s financial outlook.

Annalisa Perea, Mike Karbassi, Miguel Arias, Nick Richardson and Nelson Esparza voted yes during the consent agenda, without any discussion. Tyler Maxwell was absent. The council is down to six members after Luis Chavez won election to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors.

Janz is the latest at City Hall to receive a raise in the last six months. Several in the Dyer Administration got pay bumps between 3% and 7%.

At a budget update on Feb. 13, City Manager Georgeanne White told the council the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget “right now as of today, has nothing for salary increases.”

White received a 3.3% raise as of Jan. 31.

Related Story: Fresno City Manager, Top Staff Get Raises Despite $20M Shortfall

City Council Notes

It was one of the quickest morning public sessions on record for the council. The first part of the meeting lasted just an hour. A highly contentious item — regulations for city smoke shops — was tabled until March 13 at the request of the City Attorney’s Office. And, no one spoke during public comment, a rarity. Usually, business takes at least three hours until the noon break.

Councilmember Tyler Maxwell missed the meeting. His office offered no explanation for his absence. Karbassi said Maxwell had an excused absence.

The city council approved 5-0 on the consent calendar, without discussion, awarding a $14.3 million contract to Soltek Pacific Construction Company of San Diego for Fire Station 12. The new station at 3315 W. Ashlan Ave. will replace the current Fire Station 12 at 2874 W. Acacia Ave.

Pastor Kevin Foster of Lifebridge Community Church offered the invocation. Just two years ago, the city council rejected approving funds for an affordable housing project by his church.

New Fire Station Locator Map

Karbassi on Granite Park

Next Tuesday, Fresno County Superior Court Judge Robert Whalen will decide if the city’s eviction lawsuit against the operator of the Granite Park sports complex continues, or is dismissed.

The Central Valley Community Sports Foundation led by Fresno businessman Terance Frazier is asking for a demurrer — a legal defense arguing that the lawsuit is technically defective.

“Putting personalities aside and politics aside, this is really a simple matter of what’s best for the public. And it is a public park space. And it’s really important that no matter who operates it, it’s done in a way that follows the agreement. And the agreement is set in stone. It’s black and white. And I think it’s pretty clear when you look at the facts that the agreement has not been followed, and it’s best for a court to decide that at this point,” Karbassi said.

Related Story: Fresno Wants Frazier Out of Granite Park. He’s Fighting Back.