Fresno City Council reconsiders a vote, and this time supports public record transparency

Just over a week ago the Fresno City Council adopted a series of emergency measures in response to the growing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of them were reasonable. One was not. That was the suspension of having to produce information under Public Records Act requests.

The Bee Editorial Board criticized that decision, saying the pandemic was not reason enough to shut down a key transparency function of city government.

To its credit, the council took note of that opinion, and this past week revised the language to say PRA requests will be delayed, but not outright suspended.

Council President Miguel Arias said the city in normal times has five attorneys and two information technology staff working to fulfill PRA requests. But now, with the coronavirus crisis, three of those lawyers have been needed to help craft emergency legislation and address labor issues that have come up.

For that reason, PRA requests will be delayed, but will not get pushed aside. “Instead of the 10-day deadline, it might take 15 or 18 days” for the city to give a requester the initial response, Arias said.

The Public Records Act is well used by Fresnans. Arias said the city gets an average of 10 requests a day. It used to be that only the media made use of the law. But now activists, attorneys representing those who feel aggrieved, and average citizens file requests for public records.

In the March 13-24 period, the city sent 58 PRA responses, extended 32 requests, and had 64 cases open and being processed.

Bringing city decision-making to light is the best antiseptic for the public square, even during a crisis over a virus. The council’s consideration is appreciated, and its follow up is well founded.