Download/View File - Fullerton Observer

Page 4 FULLERTON OBSERVER CITY NEWS
CITY COUNCIL NOTES
The Fullerton City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5pm
(closed session) and 6:30pm (public session). Contact council at 714-738-6311 or council@ci.fullerton.ca.us.
Upcoming Agenda info and Streaming Video are available at
www.cityoffullerton.com. Meetings are broadcast live on Cable Channel 3 and rebroadcast
at 3pm and at 6pm the following Wed.& Sun., and at 5pm Mon.
City Hall is located at 303 W. Commonwealth, Fullerton.
Feb. 1st Council Meeting
Mayor Jones was absent, so Mayor
Protem Bankhead took charge of the meeting
which started off with a presentation by
Development Director Al Zelinka on a
$100,000 grant received by the city from
Southern California Association of
Governments (SCAG) which will be used
towards a web-based Smart Growth 2030
tool. A request for proposals will go out and
a consultant will be selected in April. The
city used a similar grant for the 3-D model
of town available on the website.
Public Comments
Pensions: Barry Levinson, who recently
ran for a seat on the council, spoke about
the need for public sector employees to pay
their fair share of retirement benefits and
for the retirement age to be increased. He
said the unfunded pension liability of
Fullerton of almost $127 million for safety
employees only needed to be reined in. He
suggested that council should get bids for
privatizing city services as a way to let
unions know the city is serious in upcoming
labor negotiations. Mayor Protem
Bankhead cut his microphone off as he was
beyond his three minute limit. The two,
who have had personality clashes in the
past, stared at each other. The mic went
back on and Levinson finished his sentence
and sat down.
Flashing Left Hand Turns: Dottie
Pentleton and Irene Shaw Broden asked
council to get rid of the flashing yellow left
hand turn signals, which are confusing and
dangerous, before someone gets hurt.
Outdoor Dining: Jian Monte Cristo
owner of Les Amis at 128 Wilshire in the
back parking lot asked council to please
allow the outdoor dining item to come up
for a vote. She has been waiting since
November to install an outdoor covered
patio at her location for her customers.
(The issue is on the Feb. 15 agenda)
Community Center: Roberta Reed said
she does not see a need for the new community
center it was fine the way it was.
She said redevelopment funds could be
ended at anytime and stop projects in the
middle of construction. (Actually funding
that has been committed is safe).
Internet Restrictions: A resident living
near CSUF said he was trying to get internet
set up in his apartment and there seems
to be a restriction of certain companies in
certain parts of town and he wanted to
know why. (If you found out call the paper
at 714-525-6402)
Council Business
Consent Agenda: Item #6 was removed
by Councilmember Quirk-Silva. The item
was about a CALGRIP state grant. Silva
asked Police Chief Sellers how the money
would be used. He said it would be used for
a gang prevention program for 8 to 13year-olds
to teach leadership skills. The
money will fund three case workers and be
administered by the Parks & Rec Dept. All
items passed 4-0.
Resident Only Parking Permits: Item
#9 brought neighbors from streets around
Fullerton College and CSUF to the podium.
All were in favor of the permits to keep
students from parking in the neighborhoods.
They suggested the city talk with the
college and university to come up with a
plan. “Student parking should be the college’s
problem not our problem.” Trash
including “adult” party invitations, noise,
rude students, no where for residents to
park on their own street, danger to neighborhood
kids, concerns about crime with
so many strangers coming and going while
most neighbors are at work, and other
problems were cited. Councilmember Pat
McKinley, who opposed the permits at the
start of the meeting, said his mind had been
changed by the end. The item passed 4-0
Budget Review: Director of
Administrative Services Julia James said
that sales and property tax revenues are up
signaling an improving economy. There is
$115 million in city and redevelopment
funds invested with an average yield of .75.
“We cut $10 million out of the General
Fund last year.” She said things are looking
better but we will be experiencing structural
deficits coming up.
She said two cost
$700,000
lost to city
over
acquiescing
to special
interest
pressure.
recovery measures discussed
at the time of
budget cuts last year, the
Fire Inspection Fee
Increases and the downtown
paid parking
study, have been put on
hold. Quirk-Silva asked
for an explanation of
why those measures
weren’t implemented.
Fire Chief Knabe said that the fee increases
met with extreme opposition from the public
so the dept. is taking another look at
them. On further questioning it was
revealed the “public” opposition came from
the Building Industry and Apartment
Owners Associations. Quirk-Silva said “we
asked everyone to make painful cuts and be
part of the solution, that includes the BIA
and Apartment Owners Association. We
can’t just cut city workers and programs.
There is $700,000 in revenue to be gained
by the fee increase. I don’t want to take it
off the table.”
The paid parking area study was delayed
after it was discovered that the public had
to be involved in the process. Workshops
will take place in the spring.
Affordable Apartments: State and
Federal law requires cities to create a certain
percentage of affordable housing in various
categories. Redevelopment manager
Charles Kovack said that the city must
begin to focus on creating rental housing
for extremely low/very low/ and low
income households. He described the proposed
review board which would score
prospective projects using categories
including location within a redevelopment
area; close to transportation; integrated onsite
uses - such as after-school programs;
use of green building practices and materials;
and positive impact on the city. The
affordable rental project request opened to
developers on Jan. 14. The selected project
will be presented to council in late March
or early April. City Attorney Jones said that
if redevelopment is eliminated by the state
the city is still responsible for fulfilling its
share of affordable housing. Manager
Kovack said that we are looking at funds we
currently have - not future funds. Approved
3-1 (Whitaker, no)
Downtown Core & Corridor: Planning
Manager Heather Allen told about a 17member
evaluation team which will recommend
a developer for the $1 million grant
the city received for a project to spruce up
areas along Harbor from downtown to the
91 Freeway. Applications are available
online at www.cityoffullerton.com on the
clerks page. Deadline Feb. 15.
FEB. 15TH AGENDA
•Outdoor Dining & Encroachments
•Resolution to Apply for OCTA Funds
•Public Hearing: FTC Cost Recovery
•Formation of Housing Authority
•Closed Sessions: PD litigation
MID FEBRUARY 2011
Esther Kim’s Prize-Winning Peace Poster
Parks Jr. High 8th grade student
Esther (Hyo Jin) Kim was selected as a
merit award winner in the 23rd Annual
Lions International Peace Poster
Contest.
Her award-winning poster was selected
from the artwork of 350,000 children
from 65 countries. The posters were
judged at the club, district and multiple
district levels before reaching the international
level.
Esther’s poster was chosen from
among 120 top posters to win one of 23
global merit awards. The judging was
based on creativity, originality and portrayal
of the theme, “Vision of Peace.”
She will receive a $500 cash prize along
with a certificate of merit.
The Fullerton Host Lions Club sponsored
the entry. Each year the club
invites area youth ages 11 to 13 to submit
posters with the theme of Peace.
Esther previously won a $200 award at
the local level, before going on to win at
the District and State levels, and now the
International level.