Planning Commission / Landmarks Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I'm calling this meeting of the Fulton Planning Commission to order. Today is Wednesday, 05/13/2026. Time is 06:35.

Madam clerk, please call the roll.

Commissioner Fleener? Here. Commissioner Tudor?

Here.

Commissioner Wayne?

Here.

Vice chair Dino?

Here.

Chair Valadez?

Here. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance.

And our heart ready to begin. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and

to the republic for which

it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

We will now take public comments on items not appearing on tonight's agenda but within the commission's jurisdiction. Each speaker has three minutes. Please state your name and city of residence for the record. Do we have any public commenters in in the chambers? Seeing none, do we have any public comments on Zoom?

No Zoom speakers.

Public comment now is closed. Concerning the consent calendar, there's no consent calendar for tonight's meeting. Next is commissioner's communication disclosures regarding tonight's agenda items. Commissioners, do you have any disclosures to report? None? K. Thank you. Well, let's move on to public hearing item number one. It's under public hearings. Request to designate the flight sculpture located at the Fulton Public Library as a local historical landmark. Staff, will you please present?

Thank you, sir. Good evening, honorable chair and commissioners. I'm proud to present to you this item. The proposal is to designate flight as a local historic landmark, which will then be, amended in the Fullerton plan and add to the local register of historic resources. The application is determined to be categorically exempt, per CEQA section fifteen three three one.

Property, well, the property's on the Civic Center, but the, location of flight is between the library and city hall located on the North side of Commonwealth Avenue. Here's a little bit of background. In 1976, the Fullerton Bicentennial Committee formed a nine member subcommittee, the Fullerton Bicentennial Committee for Art in Public Spaces to select an appropriate sculpture that would be permanently displayed in the Civic Center. Bicentennial committee members wanted a major art piece that would remind later generations of the nation's two hundredth anniversary. Subcommittee members selected renowned international artist Aldo Casanova to create Flight, a 5,000 pound steel and zinc sculpture that celebrates space travel.

Casanova, in turn, selected innovative Los Angeles fabricator Jack Brogan, known for his expertise with modern industrial materials to assemble and fashion the sculpture. Still in its original location on the lawn between City Hall and the library, Flight was Fullerton's first major public art project and the city's only physical reminder of the, this 1976 commemorate tongue twister, commemorative celebration. Casanova's working model for flight is on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. FMC chapter 15.48 establishes the process for determining the designation of a local landmark. A flight sculpture qualifies as per the following criteria.

Number three, identification with a person or persons or groups who significantly contributed to the culture and development of the city. Number seven, embodiment of elements of outstanding attention to architecture, design, detail, or craftsmanship. And number nine, a unique location or singular physical characteristic representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood. Staff recommends approval of the request for the attached resolution.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Are we gonna have a presenter or an applicant present?

Mister Ernie Kelsey is here from Fullerton Heritage. I I'm sure he can fill in some more details that I, probably didn't have.

Thank you very much.

Good evening, commissioners. I think you hit a lot on it. I don't really have a presentation today. It's more just to urge you to approve this so we can move it forward. So we're trying to do this to celebrate the two hundred and fiftieth so we can have it done.

We're working with the library board of trustees right now and the city to try to clean up around the area, get the lighting working again, and kinda get it, back in better shape, cleaning some of this the, there's plaques on it, on the actual sculpture, so we're cleaning those right now. And, we're hoping to get it all done by July 4. So we'll have some new signage, two new signs that kind of explain not only that it is a local landmark, but its history. So, again, Aldo Casanova is pretty, world famous. There's books about him in the local history room.

And then, Jack Broden, the fabricator, actually went on to be almost as big, if not bigger, than Aldo. He worked with a lot of, artists. He worked with Gering and worked on these these chairs, these corrugated chairs that are really famous. And so we think it's a good project, and we urge you to approve it, to move it forward to the council. Any questions? It's not a hockey stick. It's not a check mark. It's flight.

Can we questions afterwards after we open it up to public hearing? Or let's open up to the public hearing first, and then we'll have some questions for you, mister Kelsey. Thank you. We will not take public comments on this item from chambers. Do we have any comments public comments on it? Seeing none, do we have any on on Zoom?

No hands raised.

K. Thank you. Commissioners, do you have any questions for mister Kelsey or for staff? I guess I'll start on my left.

One of the things I saw in the, the staff report when I was reviewing this was that, at some point, there was someone proposed moving, flight over by the Fullerton Airport, and then, that that didn't happen. Oh, sweet. Alright. Sorry. The graphics surprised me.

So someone had proposed that, and then it and then it didn't move. And, you know, what whatever the the reasons for that were what they were at the time. It does look like because of the library, remodel that it it just it looks a little bit oddly fit to me, and, not not enough that I would, recommend any kind of an action or any any anything of that nature. But my question is if we do designate this, does that, does that preclude us from moving it or, changing its location in any way, or is it is it just strictly, recognizing the art piece?

It's a local designation, so we can we can undo it if necessary. But, I mean, the original request to move it, was denied based off the cost of moving this the structure and then, that it was placed in the in its location for a reason. So I'm I'm assuming the same reasons for not moving would still apply today. But like I said, it's a local historic designation. It doesn't rise to the state or federal level. So I'm sure we could undo it unless, city attorney has some other information I'm not aware of.

Okay.

That was that was kind of my only question. And that's that's not something I'm I'm actually interested in pursuing or recommending. I just was curious if that came up as a future, thing. Thank you.

Yes. I have a a question just for clarification. I can think of reasons why, and you gave a reason why, we would want to do this, but are there protections that this provides so that a future council or staff can't decide to get rid of it? Or what are the advantage of doing it doing it?

To Chris' point, it can always be undone. A local landmark's a little easier to kinda unwind. If we wanted to do anything, we could probably even move it if we had to and still keep its status because it is an object, So it's, you know, a little easier to move. But I think it's more just to celebrate it. It doesn't give it a lot. It's more like we think this is important. It's the one thing we did for our bicentennial, so let's, you know, do something for our semi quincentennial and, honor it. So it's our really, our first big piece of public art. Yeah. And I agree with you.

It looks really cramped in there. I thought it had been moved, but it it was pointed out it didn't move. It just the building got closer to it. So I think that with what the city and David talked about at the city was, not this David, but David Bishop, about trimming back the plants, you know, cleaning up the pathway a little bit. There's kind of paths that converge there. And I think by just doing that and lighting it better, it's gonna have a a better distinct look. Because it it does have some properties to it. If you go stand under it and move, it's supposed to look like it's flying. So it it does have a lot of, art and concept around it as a piece. So and we haven't done an object, I don't think, since we did the police sign, so this is a little different for us to have something that's not a dwelling.

So and that makes it exciting too.

Yeah. You.

Uh-huh. You know, I wanted to add to that. There are some additional pieces on the Civic Center, campus that are already on the list. So if you remember, there's a stone bench on the corner of, Highland And Commonwealth. You guys know what I'm talking about. It's, like, right over here on the front lawn. So that's that's an item that's on the local list. And then across the street at the ball field, those stone pilasters, those are on the list. And then, obviously, the the Amherich Brothers Building is on the list. So we have existing historic structures or items that are that are here already. So we're just add adding one more to the list.

Yeah.

Commissioner Flanner, do you have any questions?

No. I had a question about the lighting, but I think that got answered. I think especially at night if you drive by because it's such a big structure, having some sort of spotlight on it would really help. Oh. Oh. Okay. So getting all three working would be great. Yeah. Especially because it has such a big magnitude to it, and it's a very, like, strong directional piece. I mean, yeah, it seems like it makes sense to approve it in time for you said it's the the Quarter. Said it is the quarter centennial semi quincentennial celebration. Yes.

Got that. Could be on your desk.

Question. Yeah. Sure. So so on that note, and and I I see mister Grantham here. In terms of our art, maintaining our city art because, obviously, we have a a number of different properties that are, as Chris mentioned on the list.

I'm just wondering, like, how do we main like, what's the city policies when it comes to maintaining our historical designations? Do we have a fund, like, for repainting, maintenance that I mean, I I know that's more of a David question, but, like, just take me through the process because I'm surprised it hasn't come up before. And I understand the reasons why now. I'm I'm just trying to get more of of an idea of the process. Chris or Chris or any David?

I have to I have

to defer to the public works folks

on this.

Well, I mean, David, just in in terms of the designation, like, just how does how does that work in So in practice?

I mean, we don't have specific funding set aside specifically for historic facilities, buildings, art features, anything like that. It just it just gets wrapped into our typical maintenance needs throughout the city. We are very cognizant of our historic pieces, so we do take great pains to make sure we don't mess those up. But as far as specific funding, no. We don't have that.

So, like, specifically to commissioner Flinger's question around, if we're replacing a light, does that go like, or one of the lights that are spotlighting on the on the art piece, does that go into what how we're maintaining the overall civic center kind of

Yeah. It's what's one of the things lights go out. A lot of times, we don't become aware of it until we're notified of it. And when it's like a like a streetlight on a major street, most people don't report it. So it's unfortunate. We don't really have a lot of manpower to go through and check that type of lighting. Obviously, we're checking street lighting as much as possible. With that type of lighting, we don't check very often. So unless it's reported to us, the unfortunate situation is that it could go unknown for quite a while. But once we

fix it, we fix it.

So, like, if there was graffiti on the on the piece after we've designated it, it it'll obviously be removed?

Oh, yeah. Absolutely.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah. Absolutely.

Okay. Well, thank you, David. Okay. I mean and I nothing really other than that. I I was just wondering about the process.

I just have a couple questions. Is there a list of, of the public art that we have in the city of Fulton or on online? Or

Art? Or

That's right.

Okay.

The the local landmark list is in the general plan. So we we have the list of local landmarks, state registered landmarks, and national registered landmarks. So that's, it's one of the exhibits within the general plan. And, as part of this process, we'll be updating that list. We have four additional, entries that we need to update. So we're I'm gonna put them all together in one shot and take those five items to council.

The, the improvements on the grounds, is that gonna expand the space that's near it or just you're gonna be end up just cutting the trim the? Just from the photographs we've seen or looking at it, it's just kind of tough. It seems like it's hidden, so hopefully that that'll improve it. The, do you know if is there gonna be a show or a presentation of some sort?

That's a great question. We talked about this to the library board of trustees about two weeks ago, and I'm gonna go again on the '20 it's, like, the last week on a Thursday. They don't have any money, but I know they have connections to groups that do have a little money. So it's it shouldn't be too big at, you know, just a rededication ceremony. Like and I wouldn't say, like, it would be on the fourth or I'm not sure a 100% what the city is doing even to celebrate, but we asked them to maybe take the lead on that. So, we'll see how that goes. But I know that it sounds like they can find money if they need it. And then Fullerton Heritage has a little money too that we can put towards maybe the signage is what we were thinking. So

wonder if the, the fourth of July bike rave can make a little tour around it, but maybe that's

Right.

Yeah. I mean, that it's just hard to say that until we kinda get moving a little faster. So we haven't ordered the sign yet either. So we're trying to do something different that's not brass and want you know, and stolen, basically. Like, we've had about six plaques stolen now. I don't think I've updated you guys in a bit, but the plaza plaque downtown that commemorates the plaza is gone. And then the plaque that commemorates our centennial, is gone. So, we're gonna try new plaque materials. And then this one, we might do, like, a from up at the Duck Pond that are kind of freestanding, and then they have images on them. So we we're looking at that too.

What kind of materials are you looking at for for blacks in the future?

Aluminum. And then they do another one that's, aluminum with, there's pressed aluminum and then aluminum with images on it. So

Is the individual stealing it realizes there's a difference? Or

You know, that's a good question because once they try to pry it out, they'll realize it's not brass. But so we've been talking about plastic. There's some great plastics now. They try to honor the building still with something that that still looks good and shiny, but the landmark buildings is gone. I mean, they're just kinda all over the place now. They caught somebody in Anaheim, but I don't know who knows if it was our guy or gal. So

Well, the last question that I have is not a serious one, but it's related to to the art. I do remember when I was going to school at Saint Mary's that there was a hockey puck that somebody had placed on there. Yeah.

I think Have you ever

seen a photograph of that?

Did we have it? There is one. Yeah. Okay.

So did you do I

Saint Mary's boys. No. That was a

that was a good guess.

Yes. So we can I can try to find that to you and send it to you?

Oh, that'd be great.

But, yeah, there is a picture

of it. Oh, thank you very much.

Alright. Thank you.

I guess, do we have any more comments? We'll go ahead and, commissioners, do you have any other comments or questions?

I did I did have a brief one, and this may go first more first half and mister Grantham later. When it comes to when mister Kelsey talked about the stealing, like, the stealing of the plaques and and the maintenance. So as a hypothetical, it when the when the plaque goes in for the for this art piece, if we end up voting voting to designate it as her historical landmark, then let's say, a couple months down the road, it ends up getting stolen. Does that mean that at some point, the city, in terms of the maintenance, would have to put the bill for the replacement? I mean

I mean, ultimately, yes. But the the upside is that we have a great relationship and great partnership with both marriages. A lot of times, they step up and notice these things and offer to replace it.

Got it.

It like you said, it's a massive challenge with the old, plaques now. So

Right. Yeah. And I'm not saying the city should necessarily take responsibility to replace, but since we are taking on maintenance in the future and just trying to figure a way hopefully, it doesn't happen, but if it does, I'm trying to figure out what what would what will end up happening. I mean, I'm not against this project. I'm I'm not against this vote at all. I'm just I'm trying to think about the what if pretty much. Yeah.

I mean I mean, with any city owned facility Yeah. Property, I mean, we do our best to maintain it, replace it, and do stuff like that. It's just a question of priorities, available funding, type of materials we need to do, what the damage is. So it's just we'll have to take it. If something happens, we'll just have to address it then.

Alright. Alright. Thank you, Dave. But thank you, mister chair. That was it for me.

Okay. If we're done, if we can have a motion, please.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Madam clerk, can we have the roll, please?

Please call the roll. Planer? Yes. Commissioner Tutor? Yes. Commissioner Wayne? Yes. Vice chair Dino? Yes. Chair Valadez?

Aye. Motion passes. We'll move on to public hearing item number two. Thank you very much, mister Kelsey. So request to consider the five year capital improvement program for fiscal years 2026 to 2031. Staff, can you please present your report?

Alright. Can everybody hear me?

Yeah.

Alright. Good. Good. Good evening, chair, vice chair, and fellow commissioners. My name is Juan Svalo, principal civil engineer, and I'll be presenting an overview of the proposed capital improvement program for fiscal year twenty twenty six twenty twenty seven.

I will I'll walk through each section of the more of a high level similar to what you've seen in the past years, and then I'll be available for any questions at the end. So just something to highlight is your role as part of the CAP, which is to determine whether the overall CAP is consistent with the city's general plan, not necessarily the projects or approval review of individual projects themselves. So next slide. So let's let's start with the quick overview of what the capital improvement project is program is. It's, for short, CAP.

A multiyear planning, document that identifies major infrastructure projects, across the city. It serves as a citywide road map for maintaining and improving infrastructure that supports Fullerton's long term goals. Public works engineering leads the coordination effort working with various departments and divisions to develop list of proposed projects for the upcoming fiscal year. The CIP includes projects from public works engineering, which includes streets, sewer, storm drains, traffic, water signals, also encompasses public works maintenance with facility improvements and also park park and trail improvements from parks and rec. So any project that is over 25 is can qualify as a CIP project.

Department submit requests all the time, which based on need and funding, available, we'll add it as a CAP or not. Next slide. So before the CAP reaches the planning commission, it is reviewed in detail by NREC, the city's infrastructure and natural resources advisory committee. So NREC reviews, in each section in detail, analyzes funded sources, and discusses priorities. So they met in two sessions, March and April, and have provided an anonymous support, for the proposed CIP 2026, 2027.

Like I mentioned earlier, real role is different, you know, under the California and government code planning commission's task is is to confirm that the CIP is consistent with the Fullerton general plan, not necessarily to approve or deny individual projects. Each project in the CAP references at least one applicable general plan policy, to assist with that determination. Next slide. So let's start with our first, section of the CAP, which is our street improvement program. So we are proposing a series of arterial and residential street projects, including slurry seals, projects upcoming, coming year.

So you could break it up into three arterials, residentials, and for main maintenance, which is our slurry seal. So starting with our arterials, you know, we are targeting seven arterial projects. I'm not gonna go into details on each one. But just to highlight a few of them, one is State College Boulevard between Yorba Linda to the city limits. This is a previous project that's been going on for multiple years, but we're getting to the point where we're gonna, I mean, to start construction, and we're supplementing a little bit more money for it to account for for additional costs or, you know, inflation and all that good stuff.

Another project is not to I forgot to mention State College actually was a it's a grant funded project, so we received money for both construction and design phase. Harbor Complete Streets is another grant funded project, where we're we're putting money aside, for our local match, where we're gearing up we're gearing up in design right now. Hopefully, we could start, construction sometime later next fiscal year. Another two grant funded projects, are Euclid Street and Yorba Linda. Both these are applications that we applied for, last, late last year where we applied for both design and construction facing, but, unfortunately, we only got for the design phase.

So this is only for design. So we got some ground funds, but we also have to have local matches, attributed to them. Other arterials is Malvern Avenue, which is somewhat of led by utilities and sewer and water. And then we do have one project, which is if there's cost savings throughout the years that we hopefully, we can get get it in with the next, with the the with the cost savings. So those are those kinda summarizes the arterial streets.

We're also proposing four residential area projects. The four residential area projects, three of them are actually following recent water main work. So right now, one of the challenges that we're having is to upkeep with our water main replacement and doing the street work conjunctions because of funding levels. So we're having to come back and repave the roads a year or two after. So three of the three of those residential areas are following water main replacements, and one of them is actually a grant, that we are applying for, a community development block grant.

As I mentioned earlier, slurry seal is another part of our street improvement. You know, that's continues to be still a key strategy to try to maintain our good condition roadways. Obviously, it's a it's a lot less expensive to slurry seal and protect those streets versus trying to do a full removal and reconstruction or even a grinding overlay. We're also proposing our typical annual curb and gutter sidewalk repair projects, which is addressing citywide sidewalk uplift deteriorated curb and gutter, just, citywide. And lastly, our pavement management plan update.

Next slide. So moving on to our next section, which is sewer. Our sewer system still continues to be in relatively good condition. Most of our work focuses on targeted repairs, you know, spot repairs, lining of pipelines, and replacing old components like old brick manholes that we needed to upgrade to, composite concrete man manholes. For the next upcoming year, just to highlight a few of the areas that we might be tar that that we're hoping to target is Euclid Malvern siphon replacement.

So this this was a project where we budgeted previous years for design. Now we're hoping that we could get into the construction phase this upcoming fiscal year, so we're trying to put money aside so that we could build it. Gregory Avenue is another project where, we have, it's a joint project with the water main. But within this area, there's also an area where there's two water where there's two sewer mains. And so the intent is to abandon one consolidate, basically.

Abandon one, upsize, and connect the sewer laterals back to it. And as mentioned, smaller repairs point repairs as needed. Next, we have our storm drain, which we continue to address repairs across our system. A lot of our storm drain pipes run through private properties, so something that probably made sense many decades ago. Now we're having to deal with them.

So it presents some challenges. Right? So because of that, lining and rehabbing is a priority since these impacts are on residents are are a lot less than trying to remove and replace a pipe between two houses. Right? So we try to line and try to salvage as much as we can in with those stone drains.

Next slide. Next, we have water improvements. So this continues to be one of our largest and most important categories. I think for this upcoming year and based on available budget, we are planning on continuing our water main replacement program. I know it's, with with the available funding that's there for next year, we're approximately trying to target at least two miles of water main, as part of that program.

You're not aware, a lot of our water mains are built probably in the 1950, sixties out of cast iron. So, obviously, those pipes have reached their life. And now, you know, and with fuller tense corrosive soil that we typically run into, you know, it doesn't help the situation, which leads to leaks and water main breaks. So this is this is a we're trying to continue on and upkeep with our water main replacement. In addition to our water main replacement, we got much other items, which is well in reservoir rehabs.

We got we have to deal with PFAS management and treatment upgrades, system improvements needed to maintain pressure and reliability throughout the whole system. For traffic, we're proposing to keep on our annual safety enhancements, through various locations, you know, identify as either high incidents or school impact zones. So this concludes from various improvements on pet buttons, warning signs, land markings, you name it. Single upgrades and timing upgrades. We do have several corridor synchronization projects throughout the city, some of our major corridors that connect to multiple cities.

Not necessarily led by Fullerton all the time, but led by other agencies as well since it travels across and usually this across various cities. So, the major intersections that we're doing some of these traffic, synchronization corridors is state state college, Bass And Cherry Road, Placentia Avenue, Euclid, and Yorba Linda. So so we're still continuing also to work with streetlights. You know, we've, I think last year, we started exploring a little bit more with solar lighting. We we were successful, I would think, in one of the projects where we were able to implement solar lighting when when we couldn't get an SCE transformer equipment.

It's outdated. So we're looking more and more into solar lighting and seeing we could utilize that technology. The airport, no change from last year. They're not proposing any projects right now, for the next fiscal year. Next slide.

Maintenance, section. So this covers repair projects, throughout city facilities that go on be beyond just routine maintenance. So majority of these projects are larger efforts that, they're they're not covered in house and may more than likely require a contractor support. So these these include, you know, annual facility maintenance such as major plumbing repairs, HVAC equipment replacements, major flooring replacements, electrical panel upgrades, just to name a few of some of the stuff we we we either have to do major repairs or replacements. We have an ongoing annual roofing project where we were either installing new roofs or we're we're doing major repairs to roofs as well.

If you think about it, I think city has about 31 buildings or 30 something odd buildings. So imagine owning and maintaining 30 something buildings. Lifespan of a roof, probably, what, thirty years or so. So we're having to at least repair one roof a year. Right?

We have annual citywide ADA, improvements. So, typically, we we help the city upgrade accessibility features in parking lots, buildings, and other facilities. While we do ADA work included in other projects like in streets, we we address, you know, curb ramps and ADA ramps, with those projects. This helps expand those improvements, to some of our facilities as well. I think, so each year, we work with different departments where we we get we get requests, for some some of this work, and we prioritize them based on urgency and available funding, because needs change throughout the year.

You know, the list serves as a working flexible plan. So next slide. Our final section is, parts and recs facility improvement project. So this is an ongoing annual, project that allows us to replace and renovate park and trail amenities, that are damaged beyond repair. These are on scheduled urgent needs.

So items that can't wait for, like, a full on capital, project, but still requirely require timely attention, to keep our park safe and usable. So this is where this project comes into play. I know it's not a lot of money that's going towards this project, and that's due to funding availability is here is this project is basically largely tied to park dwelling fees, which fluctuate from year to year, and that's based on development activity. So some years, we see a lot of development activity, so we get more funding. Other years, we some we see less.

Some of the projects that could go that that happened with this this specific CAP project is, you know, playground and safety surface replacements, upgrades to the public parks, trail repairs, and improvements. Next slide. So what you see on your screen is a it's a chart that shows a breakdown of the CAP funding sources for the next fiscal year. So most of the CAP is funded through restricted sources. So meaning that we can only be used for specific infrastructure purposes.

So for example, park dwelling funds can only be used for park and trail improvements, while street funds such as, let's say, SB one can only be your used for towards streets. So these restricted funds are not interchangeable and cannot be used and swapped between project types. So for the next year, as of today, the the breakdown is approximately 22,300,000 of restricted funds is, which makes up about 77, point 5% of the total budget. Then you got another half 1,000,000 from, general fund support, plus another 500, sorry, 500,000 plus another 500,000 from a settlement, representing 3.5% of the budget and then about 5,500,000 in various grants, which we've applied for and we've been, successful in attaining, which that comes out to roughly 19%, the total CIB. So if you compare if you wanna make a comparison to last year's to this year's, there there were certain fun there are certain funding sources that increased while others decreased.

Overall, the budget dollar amount did drop. Last year, it was closer to 32,000,000. Now we're closer to, like, 29,000,000. Next slide. So tonight's recommend recommended action is for planning commission to adopt the resolution finding that the five year CIP is consistent with the Fullerton general plan.

This is a required step under the government code section shown on the screen and the resolution. Once approved, the city the CIP will move forward as part of the overall city's budget, for council consideration. With that, concludes my presentation, and I'll be happy to answer any questions.

Thank you very much. We'll have some questions for you in a little bit. We'll just open it up to, public comments. On item number two, if we have any from chambers.

I am looking at the overall plan and, would like see a category for maybe bicycle trails and sidewalks. So a lot of sidewalks get damaged from overgrown trees, and seems like the trees should just be removed once the sidewalk start instead of repairing those sidewalks over and over. In the long run, it would help save money. And the trees, when they get too big, they cost money to trim the trees, excessively big trees. So there's a lot of places where there's sidewalk damage, and it interferes with bicycle travel.

I'm happy to see the improvements on the lighting. Feel like there's been some safety issues, real concerns. I watch people cross major intersections, and I can't whether I'm driving or I'm walking, I can't even see them because the, the new lighting is, solar lighting is just with in combination with the halogen headlights and the dimmer street lights that are supposed to be, energy efficient. It's just not cutting it for safety. Noticed other cities like La Habra have really bright lights at their intersection, so wonder if maybe they had some issues with safety there.

Parks, I'd like to see, maybe some of the trail maintenance. I don't know about the city parks. Look pretty good, but, we have a volunteer group that just, helps maintain you know, like, there's a trailhead right up there in Valencia Mesa that's just always got tumbleweeds and stuff, but I bet you there'll be a you could get a little group together of volunteers that can just help, beautify the trails. It just just some simple trimming. A lot of those, trails like on the Fullerton Loop, there's you could still see the damage from the winter overgrown trees and branches.

It wouldn't take too much to you know, wouldn't take really money and stuff. It just take a, maybe, like, a little trail group. So, those are my ideas. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Good evening, chair and commissioners. My name is Curtis Gamble, activist for the homeless, the veterans, the Cal State Fullerton students, the OCTA bus drivers, and our low income community. And my recommendations for the five year capital improvement program, I like basically what I heard. I think it's good. I'd just like to add a couple of things that I feel kinda strongly about, in the city throughout the city.

Number one is, restrooms, public, in public parks and downtown. The city of Fullerton seems to have a very big problem. Let's take, for example, Downtown Fullerton. You have still a lot of people coming downtown, whether it be on the bus or it'd be for shopping or it'd be for entertainment. And there's no, public facilities accommodating this.

It's almost as though it doesn't exist. So we're hiding from something. It's something that we don't understand about mother nature. It tells us to go to the restroom, to be clean, wash our hands, also to be a good influence on our kids by showing them before we eat, we wash our hands, even before we make it to the restaurants. But we just have a real problem with that, and I would like to see us address that issue, public restrooms, and any public spaces.

Number two, OCTA slash OC, bus benches benches downtown and throughout the city. We have another big problem. We don't seem to understand our transportation, public transportation. We for example, I I'll use downtown again. The Cal State Fullerton students, catching the 26 bus, the 47, almost any of the of the buses.

They're standing and standing and standing and waiting for for transportation. If you're gonna do public transportation or even have it in your city, you need to go all the way. You need to accommodate them. You need to have the bus benches there so they can sit down. We have disabled people. We have different people with just just can't stand for fifteen, twenty, thirty minutes. We're making a very, very simple thing very difficult, and I don't know why we're punishing these people. I I know it has something to do with homeless, but you we've done a lot for the homeless. We opened up 15 shelters, and so we can't really use that as an excuse anymore. We just need to, you know, really get busy on that part.

That's because that's really that's really bad. Then I had three cleaners throughout throughout the city. Can I just finish? One second. Please. Just cleanness throughout the city. Just making sure that our trash cans and everything are are empty, you know, in the in this throughout in the city, in the parks. Just making sure that we stay as clean as possible, you know, cutting the grass and making sure, like, when I'm when I'm driving through well, riding through. The neighbors, even looking at their yards and stuff, it's not good. Even I I watched the post office. The grass grew this tall just recently. Right there in the middle of town. So, anyway, just if we could do better overall on all those things, that would be better. Thank you very much for your time.

Thank you, mister Campbell. Are there any comments, on Zoom or from Zoom?

No hands raised.

Thank you. From staff, would you wanna respond to any of the questions or comments from chambers?

Yeah. For the first gentleman related to the CAPs in regards to trees uplifting sidewalks. So part of the CAP, that's part of the annual sidewalk and curb and gutter project where citywide, we get requests, you know, from residents all the time of, like, hey. Tidal walks uplifted. A lot of times, it is a tree that's causing it because of the roots.

So we're not in the business to cut trees. So we do have a city arborist who checks out the trees and determines whether or not the tree, if the root is cut, becomes a hazard because it could end up dying and falling over. So as part of our assessment of the annual project, we assess whether or not the tree can be salvaged, and we could address the sidewalk while addressing the sidewalk, uplift during the field as well, during the sidewalk, reconstruction. And during construction, arbors gets called out again, and to determine the roots and the the the network of the roots. And if everything's okay, then this tree tree is salvaged.

If for whatever reason, the city arbors thinks that, hey. This tree isn't gonna make it based on the damage that's gonna be caused by repairing the sidewalk, then at that point, you know, the tree is cut, and then it is replaced. Obviously, it's not something we want, but a lot of times, it it if that's the case, you know, tree gets cut. In regards to the question on intersection lighting and traffic signal lighting, That is part of our, traffic section, which takes care of, you know, updating lighting in the intersection to eliminate make it safer for crossings. So those two are not necessarily a like, they are part of the CAP projects.

Thank

you. I guess we'll open up to the commissioners. I have a tendency starting on my left. Commissioner Wayne, do you have any questions? No?

Yes. I I have a couple of questions. I'm not opposed to anything here. I just have some questions, about some things that were still hanging open when I was on the NREC committee, and I'm just wondering whether those are still hanging open. One was, one of the one of the bad streets in needing maintenance streets was Orangethorpe, and I'm wondering I didn't see that on the list. Has that work been done or is that still hanging out there to do? And another area that I know has been bad, and I saw in the presentation, there was a study plan for it, and that was the Yorba Linda Boulevard just east of the 57 Freeway.

For your first question on Orange Thorp, do you know what section of Orange Thorp? I know that there's been recent work within the last two years or three.

It's been.

You had, between Harbor and Lemon that got reconstructed, as you keep moving easterly. Part of a private development, actually, The Goodman development, they they were conditioned to pay from Acacia to State College. And then within the last year or so, from State College to Placentia, that was also done. And so there's there's been a few segments along Orange Sorb on that side of town that have been completed. Okay. And so if there's a specific section that you're referring to, then maybe we could take a closer look. But I it's

Yeah. Well, that that answers my question sufficiently. I I know that it's a work in progress. Yeah. I know how much, well, it's probably more, but I I know how expensive it is to fix even a small section. So I can see it being done in sections, but I just wanted to understand whether we're making progress on it. Sounds like we are.

The the worst parts are done.

Okay. Good. Good. And then what about the the the study? It looks like it's planned possibly to at least come out with a design for the little part of Yorba Linda Boulevard that's east of the 57. I know it's it's like driving it's like mister Toadswell ride on that on that street.

Is that So, part of the grant, that we applied for, along Yorba Linda starts by, I would say, very close to State College all the way to the eastern limits. Okay. So it would cover that, but just keep in mind that what's budgeted for next year is only for design.

Okay.

So we we we secured grant funds for the design phase of it, which pretty it puts us in a good position to apply for a construction grant following the completion of it. So it's in the works per se, not necessarily that you're gonna see physical work out there within the next fiscal year, but at least it'll be on paper.

Right? Okay. And I just have a question on the wells. I know that we have you know, we we dealt with PFAS and then the measures for PFAS changed, and then we had some more remediation to do. How how are we doing on our remediation of the PFAS?

It's still a work in progress. I know that some wells are currently being worked on, so we'll have more wells up and serving, hopefully, within the next year, which is gonna help us basically reduce the amount of water that we're buying. So we're it's it's still an ongoing thing. PFAS is is is not going away. So yeah.

K. Thank you. Yeah.

Commissioner Flainer?

Does public works also include, like, waste receptacles and things like that? I know that's what Kurt was mentioning when it came to, like, parks and stuff. Is that also part of it or no? Like, when you include, like, local spaces like parks and such.

We could definitely take a look into it. He's he's saying yes.

Okay. Okay. That's good.

So so we do look into the receptacles. Right? For instance, in downtown. Right?

Oh, perfect. Yeah. That's that's something I've been really, really wanting to see change for the last few years is every time I walk in downtown, it's littered with trash. And people don't clean up after their dogs. And I'm noticing it's because there's lack of trash receptacles along a lot of the major streets.

And especially, like, close to the bars, the people who wait in line will throw, like, cigarettes and and empty, like, cups down or any trash. And then the owners don't go and clean those areas. And I feel like a lot of that could be cleaned up if we just had any sort of trash. But also, like I said, you know, it becomes like things like pet waste and stuff like that. We, like, don't provide any sort of things for people to, like, clean up after the pet, which they should already. But it's just kind of as disgusting walking around downtown, like, especially on, like, a a Sunday morning or a Monday morning.

Noted. I know it's, it's unfortunate. I would say that people don't take care of their city or they're visiting. Right? You wanna pick up after yourselves. As far as the trash receptacles, you know, we are, working on several downtown, parking lots where we're trying to add additional bins, and that's also tied to the solid waste requirements. But, hopefully, you know, it could accommodate the amount of trash. Right?

What about, like, besides parking lots, like, on sidewalks? Because I'll I'll notice people will leave a place like Somi Somi, for example. Mhmm. And they'll take their ice cream, and they'll walk around downtown. And then they'll, like, get to the end of the street. And commonly, every day I walk to work, and at the end of the street, almost every morning, there's people's ice cream cups right there because they've walked all that way. And there's nowhere for them to throw it, and it's sticky, and they'll just leave it there. And I see this, like, there's a pattern all over downtown, you know. Or, like, even walking along there, there'll be there's trees right there Mhmm. That are, like, little saplings, but there's no, like, grass or anything beneath them.

It's just dirt. So then I feel like that kind of encourages people to throw their trash in those little dirt pockets. Or I feel like maybe if there were some plants there or something people would be like discouraged from you know, adding more litter to some of these spaces.

It it's something we could look at and see if we could put additional bins who would probably help out the situation. I know, if I'm not mistaken, I think there's designated crews within our maintenance department division that Yeah. Maintain the downtown.

Wasn't sure if that was ever something that, like, if there's somebody on payroll that is paid to come by and clean these spaces, or if it's just like the trash kind of just ends up in the street and then eventually like the street sweeper like gets it or something?

No. It's it's I believe there's city crews that go around and pick up the trash.

Oh, there are? Okay. That's good to know. That's my only question.

So to to I'm confused with Flinders question. Was any of that taken into account the RFP for the trash haulers in terms of increased services, different services that the city might need? Would any of the bidders actually put that into put did any of the bidders actually put try additional trash services or receptacle pickup into their or do you know if they if any of them put it into their beds?

I'm not aware of

any, David. Are you?

I know there was discussions of whether that, having basically outsourcing to the trash company as to whether they could go through the parks and empty the trash. I don't know whether it made it into the final RFP. I know it was something that was considered. I just don't know if it was actually put out there. I think it was mainly for the parks, probably not necessarily for downtown. But, we we to your point, we have a lot of issue with the trash enclosures. Right. I I remember. Don't necessarily treat our trash enclosures very well. So we spend a lot of time with our trash enclosures, which decreases our ability to go up and down harbor, with those trash cans.

But to your point, we could probably look at maybe relocating or adding a few where there's hotspots.

Did they ever approve the trash enclosure by the oh my gosh. The the one off of it it came up during it came up when we were the one in the middle of all the rest the one in the middle of all the restaurants, so it was, like, too small or that it was shared.

So we've over the last few years, we've added and reconstructed trash enclosures. Right. We have a project to reconstruct the trash enclosures and expand the trash enclosures on the two parking lots East of Harbor, either side of Amherst.

Got it. In regard to Acacia Park, I I know father Michael from Saint Julian has the a couple times that I was I've spoken with him over the last couple of years has mentioned that because there's no bathroom at Acacia Park that a lot of the homeless tend to want tend to use Saint Julian as as an alternative. Mhmm. And then I know in conjunction, they were wondering if the city was gonna even out the sidewalk outside the outside the church because I think they wanted to do improvements, but they were waiting for the city to act specifically on the sidewalk improvements because it was either the city or the school district that was right right on Acacia, right right along their fence. I believe that sidewalk was uneven, but I don't know if that was something you had taken care of since then.

Not in front of Saint Juliana's. If if it's on our list, so to speak, as part of our annual project, you know, we take our it's more of a chronological order for funding. As far as restrooms, Acacia is a neighborhood park. So we the whole concept behind the neighborhood park is a neighborhood, so you don't necessarily need, restrooms there. I understand there's pros and cons, obviously.

Acacia at one time did have portables. They were burnt. So and, also, the at we have a lot of vandalism in our park restroom. So we are not especially neighborhood parks, a point of it being a neighborhood, we are not really looking to install restrooms in our neighborhood parks.

But the ones that we the ones that we do have, are we do we close how how how how does that how does that work?

We have to make repairs. We have to make them as bulletproof as possible. Some of them become unusable for a time. Sometimes families don't wanna go in them.

Yeah. I remember that. Yeah. Wasn't that the case with Independence Park, I think, at one at one point?

Independence Park, actually, they are damaged, so they cannot be used from the exterior. But we're working on a project right now that will hopefully retrofit those and make those actually usable during the day or when there are events for that type of

And then final question. When it comes to the projects that are 25,000 and under, is is it my understanding is that you work under the priority list, or you just add them all in depending on how much is left in the budget?

I mean, technically, and this is from a long, long, long time ago, if it's $25,000 and over, it's supposed to be a CIP project. But let's be honest, any project nowadays is $25,000 or more. So it's not really a CAP necessarily. It's just make sure we follow the the required purchasing and bidding protocol.

So for example, if a traffic study is not part of the the what you've already been budgeted for. For example, x project decides that they need to have a traffic study or something comes up where the community says, oh, by the way, we we like to see traffic study done on x intersection.

Mhmm.

Then how does that fit into how you determine how to pay for it and or yeah.

We have our department operating budgets. So if the request comes in and we're able to and if it qualifies to to fall under our operating budget, then we'll try to fit it in within our yearly operating budget.

Got it. Okay. Sorry for all the questions.

But Alright.

It's been a while.

That's what we're here for.

Thank you, David.

Thank you for your your efforts. It seems like it it's overwhelming.

It's A

lot. Yes.

I I have some general questions on on the all these different programs. I think one is I think you've typically they bring it up often. How do you prioritize the different programs that you your face, especially, like, how you rank them between, like, urgency, deadlines, condition, and geography? If you can kind of address that, please?

Is there a specific section or just in general of the whole thing? I mean, you you you mentioned a few, you know, deadlines. You know, obviously, with once budget's approved on our end, you know, when we have targeted projects that we wanna complete, there's certain projects that need to get done in certain times. Right? So good example would be streets.

Right? We we we try our best to try to pave during the hot, and during the summer weather, not during the, wet season. That means that we have to complete designs during the winter and fall so that we're putting projects out to bid, you know, by, you know, early spring spring so that they could you know, we can start at late spring through the summer, to get those streets done where where weather conditions are better, same with storm drains, right, and utility work. Sometimes we have deadlines towards grants, right, where we have to meet certain deadlines to submit certain things, and complete projects. So we we definitely try to juggle a lot of the, prioritizations.

In addition, some of the funds that we receive need to get spent by a certain amount of time. So we have our maintenance of efforts with, with Measure m two funds, where we need to spend those funds within x amount of time. And same with, you know, SP one where we wanna make sure that we're using the funds within the same fiscal year. I know sometimes it ends up being that, it does spill over into the next fiscal year for whatever reason, but, we try our best to meet those deadlines. So it it it is you know, we have a team, where we we try to work with the different crews and different teams and divisions to try to meet, and complete these projects on time and, obviously, on budget.

And Just just to add to that. So, for example, our sewer system, we have monthly meetings to talk with our maintenance guys to see where they're having issues, what their priorities are. Also, looking at our master plan to see what we can we can implement, what is recommended to be a priority project, combining that with our maintenance projects. So the same thing for streets. Parks and rec, we work with we meet on a monthly basis, but parks and rec commission, as you know, has a lot of say in what is priority for those projects.

And the streets, as Juan mentioned before, you know, going through INRAC and council, we prioritize, following our utility, which is our water and sewer projects, pave those, but we also wanna be as equitable as we can throughout the city. But we so we can't ignore our arterials, and we can't ignore story steels. So we try to we spread the money out across those three areas and then try to spread it out throughout the city so we're as equitable as possible because a lot of our water main projects are in the North, so we can't focus solely on the North. We have to really be strategic, which is one of the reasons why some of the projects get delayed.

So when you say, like, the geographic equity, is it just simply money? Is it simply projects? How how would you I mean, I know that that's gonna come up with your your question.

We I mean, from a street's perspective, we have what I what have I called for you is a hit list. There are streets that we would like to do sooner rather than later in other so we we have this big plan, so to speak, of areas. So when we're budgeting, when we're forecasting, when we're looking, we're looking to see where we've been, where streets are that we want to do, and then we try to figure out where we where we should go to be as equitable throughout the years. And then we gotta fit it in with the budget. So it's a it's bit of moving things around to figure out where to go.

This is which causes a lot of frustration for the residents. Right? Why haven't you done my street yet? And sometimes it's interesting discussions within Iraq and the council. But we I think we've proved when we show our maps that we've tried to be as accurate as we can throughout the city, not focusing on one area or over another.

Do you have any projects currently in the five year, CIP that, that are invited but are considered, like, high risk or, like I I I'd imagine everybody is gonna say roads are high risk for them. But

We don't I mean, if if there's a high risk, we consider that an emergency, and we're jumping on it. Right? So we're not planning it. I wouldn't say that we have anything that's a high risk on emergency. We have a lot of, you know, preferred urgent because a lot of our streets are not in great shape. So, if we had more money, we'd be addressing more more of these items, you know, as quickly as we could.

My last general question, and I have two specific ones. But, does, does City Fulton have a strategy for publicizing all of this? Because it's It seems seems like your general resident doesn't realize

It it's

the job you guys do to improve the quality of life in the city and how many things that are involved. Expensive it is.

You're actually right. It's very hard. I mean, we've had comments over the years of criticism, so to speak, of that wasn't the right way to communicate with the public. My response is, what is the right way to communicate with the public nowadays? No one reads a paper. Some people read a paper. Some people Instagram. Some people are this and that. I think the biggest challenge we have is the people who are responsive to anything we put out are very frustrated and understandably so in a lot of cases. So they're not necessarily willing to look beyond their frustrations.

And and the the times that we've able been able to talk one on one with people and, we've had meet group meetings out with residents, When they're willing to listen to us, we can get a point across and their level of they go from I've always told people, if you're angry, I will get you down or frustrated, but I'm not gonna make you happy because I just don't I'm not able to do that at this time. So I think a lot of people when they're willing to listen to us, take it in, for lack of a better term, get educated, they usually just get down to frustrated. But then they they their eyes are their minds are a little open. The problem is having there's people have their lives and then not interested in coming to meetings. We've scheduled meetings.

You get three or four people. How we address the masses is very difficult because a lot of people are not that interested, or if they are, they don't believe what we're saying. The best times I've had to get my point across is one on one or community meetings with the residents. They're the best. I would love to do more of that, but it's very difficult because, again, if we schedule it here, people most people don't wanna take out from their evenings to come drive down here.

If we can have it in a community, that's great, but I need to rely on the community to instigate that meeting and and get the community together. So it's it's kind of a vicious circle. I wanna get it out there. I need the community to be receptive to get out there. We're happy to go out there, but we just you know, it's it's not working.

So so as a really brief kudos to that, the city recently finished the streetlight replacement project on on the East Side. Mhmm. And how it was communicated to us. I mean, knew it was coming because I was sitting on in rack. But through the mail and what we and what the city did in in that in for that particular project.

Obviously, it's been more than five years or more to completion. But how the city kind of engaged the residents because I mean we knew that it was coming. We did the city did a little a little bit of a highlight. Citi came out, council member Charles, Steven, the whole staff. Like, I liked how they how that was done.

So Yeah. So I would say it's a lot easier to get people to come when something's new and shiny. Yeah. It's a lot harder it's a lot harder when you don't have good news to tell them. Yeah. That that's where it makes it more difficult. Yeah.

But thank you for that. Yeah. That actually did help. My neighbors, at least.

Have you seen any cities who you've been impressed of? Like, they they do a good a way of communicating to to the residents?

Nothing that jumps out. And to be honest, that is not my wheelhouse. But I I think it's something the city is aware of, and we're trying to figure out the best way to communicate. But, again, I think it's it's it's unfortunate because no matter what we try and do, there's always the naysayers, and they speak typically louder than the people who are like, thumbs up. They don't usually respond.

So it's a little difficult to know how if the if the message is getting out or not. And, again, to explain this is takes time and long. No one's gonna sit there and read this long dissertation. So I think short posts on Instagram or just flyers notifying, I think, is is helpful, but I don't think it necessarily helps get the education out there. We need more meetings. And my point, it's it's difficult to do that.

Strategies with social media. I know you've said Instagram, but, do have you anybody on staff that does that at all?

Or So

in city hall?

Yeah. The city manager's office kind of does that. We also have, some staff members who do a good job over in our yard. I stay out of it, feeling useless with that stuff. So we we do put things out there. We try to be as positive as we possibly can with everything. Also, obviously, notifying people when, accidents happen, issues are happening, but we try to be as positive we can to show that we are doing things. We are responsive to what's going on. But, again, people are frustrated, so we can never do enough.

It just seems like it's a critical role of this publicity, especially if there's a possibility of trying to pass a a tax manager.

So Absolutely correct. And, you know, if the council make it when the council makes a decision on which way to go, that's gonna be a much bigger conversation. And I know in Interact, we've we've had conversations over the years of what's the best way to communicate. And there's never been this is the way to do it. There's so many different ways you can do it, and we just gotta we just gotta figure it out.

Question about this topic? I I just also am interested in this. Having having been on two committees and seeing the struggles with communication and have you ever considered something like a monthly newsletter that maybe goes to people's emails or something like that?

So the city manager has a biweekly or at least least monthly newsletter that covers all the divisions and just highlights things that we've done, what we're doing, how much work that we do. For example, the building department will indicate how many permits they've issued for year to date or for that month. Water division will will have a lot of stats that they can do. CIP will will highlight projects that we've just finished. Library will highlight all the things they're doing. That's available on the website. I'm not sure if it gets emailed out to anybody, But I think part of the problem is do people go to websites that much anymore for information?

I I don't. Don't think they do, frankly. And So

I'm sure it goes out on Instagram

Yeah. I mean

anything for us.

I'm thinking, you know, push versus pull. People don't go out to the website very much from what I hear. That's why I'm thinking if there is a way to tell people that if you give us your email address I don't know if it's possible. Yeah. Or how much work it would take, but and that way they could get a a newsletter saying this is what we've done. This is what we have coming up in the next, you know, month. These are things

we're on Facebook. I'm sure it's on Instagram. And, again, those have to be very short posts. So I think it's bit of a challenge to get everything out. Okay.

My last questions are really specific. Just interested in finding out what the siphon replacement is.

So sewer lines and unless you wanna take it. Take over your meeting. So sewer lines, storm drain lines typically flow by gravity, but you get obstructions such as a massive drainage channel of the county. You have to go down and under it. So you go down then back up again. That's the siphon. So it's basically a drop between two points. It drops down, and then when the water just gets pushed through.

This is by force?

Mhmm. It's the force.

And then concerning the ADA improvements, the city, I I actually saw a sidewalk being I can't remember where, but so it's not a 100% done throughout the city yet.

Oh, no. Oh. Oh, no. Oh, no. It will never be a 100% done, the sidewalk and the in ADA because it's just like streets. They sidewalks have a life. Sidewalk gets damaged, either trees, people drop things. You know, it's it's completely an ongoing annual never ending indefinite one of the items that we have to maintain.

So, like, just the sidewalks around homes, those ramps are you still have areas in the city of Fulton around homes that is need maybe a ramp on

the corner? So curb ramps, yeah, definitely. There's many, many probably hundreds, if not thousands of curb ramps that are needed, to be either installed or upgraded.

Well, thank you very much. Commissioners, do you have any other questions for staff? No? Seeing no further questions, the public hearing is is now closed on this item. We will now deliberate. Any any further comments since I

have no objections to this. I just had questions because I wanted

to know.

Ditto. Excellent. Do we have a motion?

So moved.

Seconded. Madam clerk, call the roll, please.

Commissioner Fleener? Yes. Commissioner Tudor? Yes. Commissioner Wayne?

Aye.

Vice chair Dino? Aye. Chair Valadez?

Aye. The motion passes. We'll now move to commission and staff communications. Commissioners, any anything to report? None?

Sort sort of just I I don't know that it's completely relevant to planning, but just something I've been working on with the city. There there's around the city, there's places where private members have improved or beautified or planted or something like that on on on city property. It's kind of come up more recently on the the Hilshire Trail. There's a native garden there that's beautiful and fun, and and it's a great place to hang out. And things like that kind of spotted up around the city, and there's kind of a a push pull on that as far as, hey.

It's city property and you're encroaching versus, well, yeah, but it was sitting there and kinda falling apart and someone made it nice. So what's the problem? So I've I've been trying to come up with a solution between both sides of that party and have some kind of a some kind of thing where the the people that do wanna improve their communities can do so without without having, you know, threats come in, and we're gonna bulldoze your stuff and and and things of that nature. But, also, the city would still have some say as far as, like, you're you're not gonna you're not gonna put something unsafe that's gonna get someone hurt, and then we're gonna be liable for it. We can't have that.

So I met with city manager today to to kinda propose some solutions, and I I think that was hopefully beneficial, and he was kinda receptive to the possibility. So I I I don't know if there's, like, a land use part of it that would come in into play with planning or this is something more with parks and rec or what, but just something I'm working on, and I think it'd be really good for the community. So if anyone is supportive of that, then I would appreciate your support.

I think that sounds great. I mean, like, even you look at Fullerton, the amount of people that in their own yards wanna put community resources, like free libraries. My in my neighborhood, somebody has, you know, free seasonal fruit sometimes depending on the time of the year and, like, you know, Fullerton's also big on artwork and things like that. And I'm it's kinda silly to say that any of this might be oppose risk to public safety in any way, but I know that's maybe what people online might try to say, to make any sort of negative comment.

But, you

know, I'd also like to see that through that there's more opportunities to volunteer, for city beautification because right now there isn't any organized place. There's more so just like, Instagram pages where people are able to comment on how they feel about some of these spaces, but not so much an organized place to participate.

I have a couple things. So I would love to see us on a future agenda, Chris, maybe discuss alternative forms of housing, not just ADAs, but also the I know there was a recent discussion on converting church property and something that came up in city of Anaheim literally across the freeway was that former hotel six became an an affordable housing development. And I know we have a couple hotels that are kind of questionable, and maybe that could be an an opportunity for us to make some more inroads into our housing element. So maybe a couple words from community development on that. The future meeting might be might be a good thing because we we do have we do have couple we do have other housing opportunities that people aren't necessarily, not just the full the full developments, but even if we converted the hotel on Commonwealth.

Not not sure if they're open to it, but I think there's definitely other opportunities that we that the city could could possibly explore. Yeah. Because I was I've been looking at that Motel six for a while, and I was just like, what are they gonna do with that? And then now it's was it a 100 or 200? Families can now use that former hotel, and that's literally right across the freeway.

And to get your point, I think I I wanted to highlight what, Love Fullerton because there were, I believe, a little under 3,000 volunteers during. I know our chair led a project. So there are opportunities. And my 2¢ is if you're have the time and inclination, please support any of our 14 nonprofits, especially Women's Girls Club because we have our an event coming up. And the information on that event is publicly available. But that's what I got. Thank you.

Vice chair, I'd I'd discussing that further concerning affordability, especially with what you're discussing, I really would wanna see if, we can, have a study session on that. I know I've kinda discussed it before, and I don't know if that's, something that we could that all the commissioners would be interested talking about and then what the city can do in addition to housing. And is there, any other larger issues of doing affordability that planning can be involved with? Mister Schaeffer, if we'd wanna do a study session, how would we proceed on that?

It's it's actually, actually outlined in our housing element. We have 104 subtasks of policy actions, and that's actually one of the subtasks is to present alternate housing opportunities. And the ultimate goal is to present it to city council. So it's actually something we have to do. Question is staff timing money. So we're we are gonna do it. I just don't know when. So it's on our list of things to do.

If if I have some ideas concerning the notion the idea of affordability, is is this something that I would send them to you by email, and then you would forward it to the other commissioners? What's what's the process on that?

Well, no. Staff would we would generate a a staff report with recommendations. And then, obviously, it'd be a recommendation of city council to move forward with whatever recommendations you have. So it's actually I don't have the policy action number in front of me, but it it is one of the policy actions.

I'm just wondering, like, I'm trying to come up with a larger idea of what what we talk about affordability. Right? The cost, transportation issues. I know Fulton, it's more of an OCTA, but there there's opportunities with OCTA where they can work with cities. And I know it's also an issue of funding where you're get the money.

Yeah. But even, like, affordability, I would say, trying to locate more grocery stores is something that would help our city. And I know that West Walton is lacking grocery stores on that end. So I guess I wanted to discuss it further, but, so would you recommend if I email it to you and then you would send it to the the commissioners or or just drive to next time or the next meeting, bring it up?

There's a couple ways to do it. One could be it's called a resolution of intent. We would present that to city council. City council would give us a thumbs up or thumbs down to move forward with something. And then, I mean, honestly, we have a whole list of things we gotta do in the housing element. So to go outside that list, what I can do is I can give you the list. I I have it. I can email it to you and show you what we're supposed to be doing. And we have a lot to do, a lot. And so to go to deviate from that list, it's hard to justify it.

So as commissioners, if you wanna distress specific items on that list, would that be something you would recommend then?

Yeah. That would be

I think that'd be a great start. Yeah. Commissioner Wayne, concerning your conversation with, the city manager, so what did he recommend watering? As an as a resident of the city, what would he recommend to do?

What did he recommend?

Concerning the

What about that?

Working on public property.

That that was a kind kind of part of the concern is I I I don't think this was the the I don't think this is the city manager's actions. I I think it was it was elsewhere, but there was very much a go away, be quiet, don't you know, let's stop this kind of thing instead of, hey. That's creative. That's neat, but we also have concerns. How do we come up with a solution?

And so that that's what I specifically had that meeting for was to kinda, you know, redirect. Let's go into a better direction with this. And I I had proposed, like, a foundation that would be, like, a nonprofit, and it would be, I don't know, funded by local businesses or anyone that wanna be involved. And they would request to take some properties, like the the Native Garden on Hilshire Trail would be one of them. And they would essentially take over management of that that section.

There would probably have to be liability that goes along with that. And then a simple review process for what they would allow to happen in that property and what they wouldn't allow. So I I they they couldn't go and build, a giant metal structure that someone's gonna, like, fall and get hurt on, but they could plant, you know, plants that are tasteful and fit in with the the property and that that sort of thing.

Quick update on that. I also am aware that there with the there exists now within the Flushing Collaborative, a Fortune Community Foundation that was started a couple years ago. But it was initially independent. It was leaning towards helping the Fox Theater and a couple of their projects because, obviously, there wasn't a lot of funding to go around and they wanted to approach different nonprofits. The nexus being that a lot of those ideas ended up currently being with the Floating Collaborative.

However, there's still an entity called the Flirting Community Foundation to help address issues of what what you were talking about. So I don't know if you knew that there was an existing foundation or not, but apparently, it's still there. Yeah.

I'm Yeah. I'm open to whatever. I I'm I'm I'm not trying to, be the manager of it. I'm just trying to get get people direct in the in a better voluntary.

No. I'm just gonna

Well, I mean, I'm I'm certainly willing to help.

Right. I'll definitely connect you with the with the people to to talk to you offline. But, yeah, it's definitely open, and it's been around for a couple of years now.

I've been involved in, like, a couple of projects. I don't know I mentioned this before, but I think it's you're right. It's difficult to to find somebody in staff, like I said, to be a champion to these projects. I think that would help a lot, especially at the very beginning instead of having, like, those issues that you have at the Hilton Trail where where it's more, like, animosity, I guess, or that's been bruised.

Well, I mean, at some point, we've we had a skateboard park. You know? So, apparently, we're we're willing to accept some liability and some risk and let, you know, let people be crazy and have fun. So but, you know

The same thing happens with the Fulton Loop as well, right, where the mountain bikers make jumps and things like that, and then the city comes in. And they're they're fun, but, obviously, there's liability. It's a mob there. Yeah. It's interesting how that could be addressed as well. I guess we'll that conversation further. Mister Schafer, is there just any agenda forecast?

Thanks, sir. At this time, we're looking to possibly cancel the May 27 meeting. Currently, don't have any items scheduled, but I will double check and make sure that's the case. But right now, it looks like we're gonna have to cancel that meeting for lack of items. And then the, June 10 meeting, I am shooting to take the, Lower Golden Hill Preservation Zone that particular meeting.

If we don't make it, it'll be the twenty fourth, but, it'll definitely be in June. So that's the big item that we'll be bringing next. And we have some other things that are in the in the shoot, but, you know, depending on getting those things to the finish line, that's to be determined. So at this time, Lower Golden Hill is the only thing on the on the radar right now. And then just an update for city council, the May 19 meeting will be canceled due to lack of quorum. So the next city council meeting will be in June, and that would be June 2. And that is all.

Was there any updates on the what commissioner Wayne had brought up concerning the the school parks. Is that something that we're looking into?

Yeah. Just on on the on the acreage of of property that's we no longer have access to because of a fence.

Yeah. We we had a discussion with the parks and rec department, and there's a lot of back and forth on that. So when we did the open space element, we initially provided the whole list of all the parks and open spaces to Parks and Rec, and they directed us to keep those schools on the list. I'm gonna talk to them again, but it it's still we're we're still working in working it out to to to get a resolution on it. We did take the open space element to the Parks and Rec Commission this past Monday, and they received it very well.

But to your to your comment from the last meeting, we'll double check with Parks and Rec and make sure that the list is accurate and correct.

Lastly, there's no other comments from any other commissioners. Are there any updates for any projects new projects in the city of Fulton?

Man, we have so much stuff coming in. We're working with Dutch Brothers to open a a location, working with Pierre to open location. Oh, wow. There's a O'Reilly Auto Parts store that's coming in. And there's a sports complex, and I can't remember the name that I talked to today that wants to come in.

Yeah. Those are the things off the top of my head right now. But we have we have a lot of stuff that's kind of circulating that we're trying to work through.

Well, that's that's good to hear. How about for housing wise? Any especially with anything with HIAS?

Yes. We we did receive an a HIAS application, but it was deemed incomplete. We're still working with the applicant to refine it. So there's a requirement that we notice the neighbors. But at this time, because the application is incomplete, we're not gonna send out notices, and it's just for informational purposes because it is a buy write project. I am talking to another developer on another site for a potential project. So there's a little bit of traction, but, you know, it's not it doesn't move quickly.

Well, thank you very much. Commissioners, any other questions? Are we okay. If there's no further business, this meeting is adjourned.