Commissioners Present:  Adrian Meza, Angela Lindstrom, Oscar Valadez, Erik When, Jozef Maldonado, and Douglas McKendry

DEPARTMENT UPDATES-April Recap

An RFP for Clark Park Sports Complex has been submitted to the county as the City wants to take over its operations.  The Fullerton Tennis Center offered 954 classes in April and hosted several junior tournaments; new windscreens are coming. Renovation of the Chapman Park restroom is complete, and upgrades are on the way for Valencia and Emery Parks.  Fullerton Community Center programs will include Hunt Camp, a low-cost summer camp experience for children in districts 4 and 5, a special Kid’s Night Out in May, and the popular summer Camp Hillcrest, which is already 70% sold out.  The Farmer’s Market is open again, and upcoming special events include LA Fleet Week, when the Navy comes into port and personnel will complete service projects onshore in Fullerton and other cities. A Senior Prom night, Fourth of July celebration, a Taylor Swift: Fullerton Era event, Health Fair, and Dog Races are also planned, and the city spray pools will reopen soon.

CONSENT CALENDAR

A memorial bench was accepted and approved by the Commission.

PARTNER GROUP STATUS 

The Fullerton City Football Club (FCFC), a recreational youth soccer league, has petitioned for partner group status with the City of Fullerton.  The current recreational partner league, Fullerton Rangers, was found to have several violations during a recent audit. As a result, their priority 1 status was revoked until corrections in their organizational structure could be made. Staff explained that a meeting had been held with the Rangers’ leadership to outline the necessary re-structuring to comply with the City’s rules and that so far, no response has been received. FCFC, on the other hand, is committed to upholding the City’s rules and regulations. They are ready to resubmit a new application for recreational league consideration. In the meantime, the Fullerton Rangers continue to sponsor their competitive Signature leagues as usual.

Since, at present, there is no recreational partner league for the sport of soccer,  FCFC requests consideration for this status. FCFC was founded in 2024 and offers both Recreational and Select divisions. They request the use of fields at Bastanchury and Fullerton Sports Complex.  One existing rule for applicants is submitting partner league applications a year before planned use.  FCFC is asking that this rule be waived so that their recreational programming can begin sooner and fill in the existing gap. Commissioner Lindstrom wondered what the reason is for the one-year-in-advance deadline. Staff said it has been necessary to prevent conflicts among the multiple groups using the fields. Additionally, in the past, there has been a problem with groups over-requesting field use, and in the future there will be penalties for this practice. 

Here is a link to understand tiers and policy: https://www.cityoffullerton.com/home/showpublisheddocument/2648/637457776786600000

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Raymond Kim, President of FCFC, urged that the application be approved and the one-year requirement be waived to make soccer accessible in the community again.  

Commissioner Wehn asked about pricing levels and stated that the price would be lower than the prior organization’s fees and that the all-volunteer organization would do fundraising to make costs even lower.  Commissioner Lindstrom asked how the group is being marketed.  

Kim stated they will use banners, lawn signs, social media, and Instagram. (One benefit partner leagues receive from the City is access to advertising platforms.)  

One public member expressed regret that the Rangers had lost partner status and urged them to rectify problems until the summer.  

Another parent recommended FCFC as a lower-cost and more equitable choice, while an online caller urged approval of the application.

The Commission approved a motion to grant partner league status to FCFC.

Budget and Goals for Parks and Rec

An overview of the Parks and Recreation Department and its mission was given, as several new commissioners are on board. Last year’s operating budget was $10,654,806, and next year’s proposed budget is $12,253,295, allowing for additional events and programs. Goals for 24-25 include seeking, applying for, and managing grants for funding and offering cultural events, language classes, and heritage celebrations that celebrate the diversity of Fullerton’s populations. For example, an international festival celebrating Fullerton’s sister cities in Korea, Japan, Mexico, and Italy will happen in the fall. 

Commissioners wondered if the Park Dwelling Fees, assessed on new construction, are comparable to other cities and urged that staff check to compare. During the COVID years, the fees were changed from being due at the beginning of construction projects to being due at occupancy, which has delayed collection for some time. Vacancies remain in some staff positions, and increased hiring will help.  Future marketing strategies include printing posters in-house, advertising for foot traffic in parks and on trails, freeway billboards, and harbor banners. Membership in Fullerton Collaborative is helping market to non-English speakers in the City.  

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Curt Johnston and Curtis Gamble urge commissioners to find placement sites for Tiny Houses, like those built by Nicolas Junior High students, as cabins or as a form of supportive housing, as there are still 300 homeless people on Fullerton streets.  

Maureen Milton, an advocate for the mobility-challenged, reminds staff to publicize through newspapers and flyers, not only social media, to serve residents who do not have ready access to online resources.