Garry Bredefeld speaks at a Tuesday news conference, joined by (from left) Andrew Janz, Miguel Arias and Nelson Esparza. Photo by Frank Lopez

On Thursday, the Fresno City Council unanimously voted to add the Infectious Disease Lab and Accountability and Transparency ordinance to the city’s municipal code.

Introduced by Councilmembers Garry Bredefeld and Miguel Arias and Council President Nelson Esparza, the ordinance requires infectious disease labs to have all appropriate permits, local, federal and state licensing, and for the public to be notified about lab operationgs.

The ordinance will bring transparency and accountability to local government, said Bredefeld, who added that the public has a right to know when there is toxic and infectious materials in their neighborhood like the illegal lab discovered in Reedley in March.

The ordinance will not apply to existing health labs like United Health Centers clinics or Quest labs, but only infectious disease labs.

Residents’ ability to get health care at local clinics will not be impacted, Arias said.

The ordinance requires any person or entity intending to operate infectious disease labs to get permits through the city planning director, which would then inform the city council within 30 days of receiving a notice of intention.

Any person or entity willfully violating the ordinance may face up to a year in county jail and a $1,000 fine.