Wednesday marked the first meeting for the Commission on Family Affordability and Childcare Access.
The group of 11 is made up of city council members and the heads of local organizations supporting families.
Commissioners plan to look at barriers for families seeking affordable and reliable child care, in order to develop recommendations for the city.
Here in Fresno, leaders say many families are paying more than $2,000 a month for care.
"We know that child care is something that families of all income brackets struggle with," says Fresno City Council Vice President Tyler Maxwell. "I think we tend to think of low-income families, but it's middle-income and working-class families that struggle every day with affording child care. I mean, $2,000 a month is just something that most families, regardless of your income bracket, aren't able to afford."
City leaders say federal funding cuts to the state are also causing budget shortfalls for care.
The commission says it plans to present its first recommendations to the Fresno City Council by January 2027.