DATE: June 2, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Hollis Magill, Director of Human Resources
Douglas T. Sloan, County Counsel
SUBJECT: Amendment of the Fresno County Ordinance Code Related to the Civil Service Commission
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Conduct first hearing on an Ordinance to amend Chapter 2.60 - Civil Service Commission, adding subsection 2.60.050, related to appointing legal counsel; waive the reading of the Ordinance in its entirety; and set a second hearing for June 16, 2026;
2. Designate County Counsel to prepare a fair and adequate summary of the proposed Ordinance; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to post and publish the required summary in accordance with Government Code, Section 25124(b)(1).
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost (NCC) associated with the recommended actions. The recommended actions pertain to legal counsel related to the Civil Service Commission (Commission). Approval of the recommended actions allows the Commission to appoint its own legal counsel with the approval of a majority of the Board of Supervisors (Board). Approval of the recommended actions also would allow the Board of Supervisors to remove the Commission’s legal counsel at any time by a four-fifths vote of all the members. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If the recommended actions are not approved by your Board, Chapter 2.60 of the Ordinance Code would be unchanged, and the Commission would continue to select their own Counsel without Board approval or oversight.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is NCC associated with the recommended actions.
DISCUSSION:
The Board adopted Ordinance 2.60 to establish the Commission and provide its operational guidelines, as required by Fresno County’s Charter. The Ordinance did not identify requirements for the Commission appointing its legal counsel.
The Commission is made up of five members appointed by the Board. The term of office of members of the Commission coincide with the terms of the members of the Board who they were appointed by.
The Commission’s responsibilities include determining employee representation units; calling for and declaring results of representation elections; certifying and de-certifying employee organizations; hearing and deciding appeals regarding assignment of new classifications to representation units; hearing and adjudicating complaints of unfair employee relations practices; hearing disciplinary grievances; hearing appeals to employment selection and job classification matters; and supporting the County Affirmative Action Program.
Currently, there is no codified process for selection of legal counsel to the Commission. Approval of the recommended actions will allow the Commission to appoint its own legal counsel with the approval of a majority of the Board. Approval of the recommended actions also would allow the Board of Supervisors to remove the Commission’s legal counsel at any time by a four-fifths vote of all the members.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
Fresno County Charter Section 44
Fresno County Ordinance Code Section 2.60
Fresno County Ordinance Code Section 3.08.010
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
Ordinance
Ordinance Redline
On file with Clerk - Summary of Ordinance
CAO ANALYST:
Sevag Tateosian