Fresno City Council fails to act on transportation tax measure after special meeting lacks quorum

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A special Fresno City Council meeting called to remove the city's transportation tax measure from the November ballot ended without action Wednesday after not enough council members attended to establish a quorum.

The transportation tax measure was intended to fill the gap left by Measure C. Councilmember Miguel Arias called for the special meeting ahead of a 5 p.m. deadline Wednesday.

Residents waited about two hours for the meeting to begin before learning no action would be taken.

"You called a meeting, we showed up," attendees chanted during the meeting.

Another resident said, "They are failing to represent us."

Ariana Martinez Lott, a Fresno resident, criticized elected officials for not attending.

"What we often see is that when elected officials, when they're campaigning, they're always showing up and they're asking us to support them. Then when they're asked to do their jobs, they play political games this way," Martinez Lott said.

Council members Miguel Arias, Brandon Vang and Nick Richardson were present and waiting for another member to arrive. As the deadline approached, it became clear a quorum would not be reached.

"We will not be holding a special Fresno City Council meeting today," Vice President Vang announced.

Following the meeting, Arias spoke with Action News after the decision.

"Our intention was never to have two local taxes for residents in the city of Fresno," Arias said.

Wednesday's special meeting follows action taken Tuesday by the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, which voted to sue the state after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1923 into law last week.

In July, Fresno city leaders approved a new General Fund sales tax intended to replace revenue associated with Measure C, which is set to expire in June of next year. The city later withdrew that proposal after state lawmakers approved the legislation.

However, after city leaders learned the county's measure had not officially been filed by last Friday's deadline, the city submitted its own transportation tax measure as a backup.

Arias said he plans to oppose the city's measure.

"I'll be very crystal clear, I intend to vote no on the city's tax measure and to advocate and campaign against the city's tax measure," Arias said.

The Better Roads Safe Streets campaign said it expects its measure to appear on the November ballot. With the deadline now passed, the city's transportation tax measure is also set to go before voters.

"Families are having to decide between putting food on the table and paying for rent; it's not fair for voters," she said.

Councilmember Annalisa Perea also criticized the timing of the special meeting. In a statement, she said:

"I am disappointed that 4 of my colleagues called for a last-minute special meeting considering that this meeting could have been called for late last week. It clearly demonstrates a knee-jerk, sloppy maneuver that could negatively affect the very residents that they represent. This last-minute move impacted preset, existing travel schedules. I consulted with our City Clerk to place me on Zoom so that I could debate this reckless move with my colleagues; however, the timing of this rushed public meeting did not allow us to meet legal noticing requirements that would have afforded me the opportunity to participate by Zoom. They owe the residents an apology,"

Councilmember Mike Karbassi said he was unable to participate in the meeting because of a serious family medical emergency. Action News also reached out to Councilmembers Nelson Esparza and Tyler Maxwell, but they have not yet responded.

City Attorney Andrew Janz said in a statement:

"Unfortunately, as of this afternoon, we have confirmed that the County Clerk is still not in possession of all materials necessary to officially place "Better Roads, Safe Streets" on the November ballot," said City Attorney Andrew Janz. "It is also my understanding that the County has filed a lawsuit against County Clerk James Kus to prevent him from placing the "Better Roads, Safe Streets" item on the November ballot. Given the totality of the circumstances and the lingering uncertainty, it makes sense that the Mayor and Council had a backup plan they are now using as a last and final resort."

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