Fresno councilmembers seek $62,000 contract expansion for outreach

Two Fresno city councilmembers asked to boost a consultant’s contract by $62,000, bringing the total to $110,000, to expand outreach to Hmong businesses and handle negotiations tied to the city-owned Riverside Golf Course. The request, made Jan. 13, set a vote for the City Council meeting on Thursday.

The consultant is Blong Xiong, a former Fresno councilmember who signed a $48,000, one-year contract in July 2025 to provide outreach services. That original agreement called for helping Hmong businesses access city resources, assisting Hmong farmers with public programs, developing an urban garden within city boundaries, weekly meetings with Councilmember Miguel Arias and monthly reports to the city.

Councilmember Mike Karbassi framed the expansion as a step to broaden municipal programming and to secure better terms in talks with the course operator, Course Co. "We need to expand programming," Karbassi said. He said the amended scope would include negotiation work representing council interests in the future of Riverside Golf Course in his district. "Given his history with the city and his standing within Southeast Asian communities, particularly the Hmong community, that’s something we can’t replicate," Karbassi added.

Because the amended contract would exceed $100,000, council approval in public is required. The original $48,000 agreement did not go before the full council. The procedural shift raises questions about transparency for some residents, while supporters say the higher threshold gives the public a chance to weigh in.

Local implications are practical. For Hmong-owned small businesses and farmers in Fresno County, the expanded outreach could increase access to city programs, administrative assistance and partnerships tied to urban agriculture. For neighbors near Riverside Golf Course, council-led negotiations may determine whether the site continues under its current operator, changes management, or sees new community-focused uses that could affect open space, jobs and municipal revenue.

The funding decision also lands amid broader council discussions about staffing and pay and comes as candidates file for upcoming local elections. Those budget choices matter to residents because they shape where city dollars go and who negotiates on behalf of neighborhoods.

The takeaway? If you care about neighborhood green space, small business supports or how city contracts are awarded, show up or follow the Thursday council meeting and ask questions. Our two cents? Push for clarity on what expanded outreach will deliver and how negotiation outcomes will be measured so city dollars translate into tangible benefits for Fresno County families.