The Fullerton City Council, after hearing public comments, decided to make changes to the following commissions and committees at the January 7 city council meeting.

The Investment Advisory Committee will now have five direct members instead of five at-large members.
The council unanimously approved the recommendation.

The Transportation and Circulation Commission currently meets every month, but staff recommended changing to every other month and reducing membership from five direct and two at large to five direct members only.
The council unanimously approved the recommendation.

Active Transportation Committee (ATC) and staff recommended changing meetings from monthly to quarterly.
The proposal passed with a vote of 4 to 0, with Zahra opposing.

Parks and Recreation Commission continued until the second meeting in February.
The item was ultimately continued until the second meeting in February.

Planning Commission’s proposed meeting schedule and the addition of two at-large members.
Zahra opposed the change, arguing for maintaining consistency in reducing numbers.
Ultimately, the motion to keep the commission at five members passed with a vote of 3 to 2, with Jung and Valencia opposing it.

Charles brought up concerns regarding the Infrastructure and Natural Resources Commission (INRC), noting that there are currently two vacant at-large appointments affecting quorum numbers. She suggested reducing the INRC’s at-large members from four to two and keeping five direct members to streamline the committee.
The proposal passed with a 4 to 1 vote, with Zahra opposing it.

public comment

Karen Lloreda highlighted that this action had the potential for diminished community representation and increased council control.

Helen Higgins emphasized the importance of municipal commissions in facilitating public participation and questioned the motivations behind the proposed changes.

Diane Vena urged rejection of the proposals, arguing that they would hinder public involvement and undermine clarity and transparency.

Karen Yinling called for reconsidering the agenda, suggesting that the proposals prioritize staff convenience over community service, and stressed the need for input from all stakeholders.

Joseph, a resident in the 5th District, expressed concern about reducing the Parks and Recreation Commission, fearing a loss of diverse perspectives.

Anjali criticized the harm to transparency and public engagement that may result from fewer meetings.

Andrew Galusha and Vince Buck, members of the Active Transportation Committee, voiced opposition to the reorganization, arguing it could restrict public input and hinder the committee’s effectiveness.

Nan expresses frustration over the frequent cancellations of the Active Transportation Committee meetings. Given the upcoming capital improvement projects related to transportation, road resurfacing, and parks, she questions the logic behind reducing the frequency of these meetings and the number of members involved.

Other individuals, like Jensen Hallstrom and Maureen Milton, expressed disappointment over changes to meeting frequencies and a lack of transparency in decision-making.

Overall, many community members advocate for increased participation and caution against changes limiting public voice in city governance.