Outgoing Mayor Nicolas Dunlap accepts recognition from Andrew Gregson from the North Orange County Chamber of Commerce

Andrew Gregson from the North Orange County Chamber of Commerce stated, “Happy New Year to everyone, and thank you for allowing us to speak today. Congratulations to Councilmember Valencia, and a job well done to Mayor Jung and Mayor Pro Tem Shana Charles. We would like to formally present a plaque and certificate to former Mayor Dunlap in recognition of his outstanding service to the city over the past year. We sincerely thank him on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce and all its members.”

Public comments

During the City Council meeting on January 7, 2025, residents of Fullerton voiced a range of public safety concerns that underline ongoing issues in the community.

• Robert Loudon lives in Brea and often drives on Imperial Highway at Palm, where safety concerns exist. Several trees were cut down at the intersection near the Fullerton Industrial Park, leaving stumps that pose a tripping hazard. Additionally, a tree has had a partially torn limb hanging for three weeks, causing debris to block the westbound lane of Imperial Highway and forcing cars to swerve into another lane. The tree also obstructs the sidewalk, making it difficult for pedestrians and cyclists.

Moreover, there was an incident where a person attempted suicide by crashing into a solid wall, damaging part of the sound wall. Caltrans repaired the wall and left behind three signs, two of which I placed on either side of the debris for safety. His microphone was shut off while he was still speaking.

• John S. Mall said I’m a disabled American veteran, and I’m looking out for my veterans who are in wheelchairs and on sidewalks that are not properly being taken care of on Imperial and Palm. Three sections of the sidewalk do not have enough room for two people to be on at the same time when you have kids or adults riding their bicycles there. One of my veterans ends up having to get out of the way and being in a wheelchair that’s going to cause problems. And if he gets hurt, you’ll have another nasty lawsuit. Thank you for allowing me to address this.

• Huang Ho stated, “I’m currently a student at Fullerton College. Tonight, I’m speaking on behalf of the grassroots citizen group Safe Work on Wilshire, and I would like to reaffirm our position regarding the upcoming council meetings later this month.

“We firmly believe that the continued and expanded existence of The Walking Wilshire benefits the City of Fullerton and its residents. With the backing of the City Council members, we have demonstrated our commitment with data that shows the advantages of maintaining a permanent, fully pedestrianized area on Wilshire.

“I understand that I may sound repetitive, and you may not enjoy hearing my message. However, I urge you to listen to the people of Fullerton and those who have come out to support this initiative. Please consider their voices when you cast your votes for the City Council.

Thank you very much for your time. I will yield the rest of my time.”

• Todd Harrison asked, “What do I say about non-calendared items?” Like Curtis Gamble, I have a brief list to share.

1. Walk on Wilshire. We shouldn’t let a few narrow commercial interests hinder what most residents and many businesses truly need. It’s vital to provide certainty for the non-automotive aspects of life in Fullerton, often called urbanization, which aims to bring vibrancy back to our city. A long-term commitment will encourage merchants to invest and create more parklets and similar initiatives.
2. Non-automotive infrastructure. We need to focus on bike lanes and sidewalks to support non-drivers. The need for these improvements is evident. While we may not have millions, we can invest thousands effectively, especially alongside scheduled road repairs.
3. Fullerton Council Roadshows. While I haven’t yet attended a Saturday event, I see great value in bringing government closer to the community. Many are pleased with this opportunity, but I wonder why there’s no clear information about the next outing on the Fullerton City website. I spent 10 minutes searching without success. Can someone address this tonight? It would be helpful for those who can’t attend the meetings.

• Jensen Hallstrom raised concerns about recent weed abatement at Gilman Park, a beautiful natural area in East Fullerton featuring a quarter-mile stretch of a perennial stream. In the October Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, it was reported that the OC Conservation Corps conducted herbicide spraying along the creek. This has negatively impacted native plants, including willow trees, toyons, and some oak trees.

Hallstrom requested a review of weed abatement practices and management of native plants along Fullerton’s waterways. He also highlighted Bastanchury Park as a potential focus for the upcoming Capital Improvement Project (CIP), emphasizing opportunities for better watershed management, stormwater capture, and ecological enhancement. He encouraged the council to consider a comprehensive hydrology report, as previous plans did not adequately address these important environmental aspects. His microphone was shut off while he was still speaking.

• Carime said, “Once again, Fred Jung, I’m here to express my concerns after watching the video from the last meeting. I was disappointed by some of your comments. Although I couldn’t attend the meeting in person, I watched it later and was saddened to see that there was no Mayoral representation for District 5 again. Some of you seem to think punishing the entire district is acceptable due to personal differences, which I find embarrassing.

“As a council member, you represent our city and serve as role models for families in our community. I would be embarrassed if my family saw me acting in such a self-centered manner, especially you, Fred Jung. Your actions demonstrate a kind of behavior I would not want to emulate.

“Furthermore, I am disappointed in you, Jamie Valencia. I am unfamiliar with your work in our community, and my only information is that you credited Mr. Jung as your mentor. Prioritizing personal relationships over doing what is right doesn’t seem like a good start for your journey as a council member.

“I advise everyone watching to look at what candidates have done, not just what they plan to do when campaigning. One council member left, and during the eight years I’ve been involved, I never saw him participate in any hands-on events. It’s not just about speaking; it’s about doing.

“Dunlap, don’t you like sports? I would like for you to give Fred Jung some advice. He’s a ball hog, and that’s not sportsmanship. Fred Jung, you come up in my conversations with family and friends often because you’re the kind of person I use as an example of how not to behave. You seem to only care about what you want rather than what is right.

“When my kids were little, I taught them how to take turns, and I don’t think you understand that principle. That’s very disappointing.”

• Curtis Gamble shared his recommendations for District 4 and began with a heartfelt message: “Happy New Year to everyone in 2025, and rest in peace to those who lost their lives in the Fullerton airplane crash. I hope those who were injured recoJanuary 6ly.”

1. In the January 6, 2025 edition of the Observer, there was a query about the HOPE Center. I want the HOPE Center to provide a public update on their activities and progress. Additionally, I’d like to know why the center closes at 5 PM and is not open on weekends and who manages it. What happened to the former director, Kellee Fritzle? A significant amount of funding has been allocated to the HOPE Center. Has it been effective? Sharon Kennedy raised this concern in the Fullerton Observer.
2. On January 3, 2025, I spoke with George at the HOPE Center. He confirmed that the Fullerton Police Department is responsible for issuing one- or two-day hotel vouchers, not the HOPE Center. It is at the police department’s discretion to determine which homeless individuals, if any, receive these vouchers. This is disappointing and not the assistance we hoped for. I believe Eric Levitt and Dan Van Dale have given up, which is the outcome.
3. I served my country from 1985 to 1988 and as a bus driver for OCTA from 1988 to 2003, totaling about 14 years of service. In November 2024, OCTA partnered with OC Healthcare to promote mental health initiatives using OC buses. As of November 11, 2024, OCTA employs at least 67 veterans who served in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Overall, I’m pleased with the board’s new members, and I look forward to collaborating with all of you. However, as I mentioned earlier, we adhere to established protocols in the military. We don’t simply make up new rules. Zahra should be the Mayor. The microphone was cut off after the speaker’s three minutes were up.

• Reverend Tonya mentioned that I’m no longer part of District 5, or am I? I’m not sure. Right now, I find myself homeless, as you might say. I used to prefer calling it living outside. You can always change the language to describe people as those without fixed abodes.

“My landlord locked me out of my house while I went to the liquor store to buy cigarettes, leaving my dog inside. I couldn’t get my dog out for three days. I suffer from a mental illness; I have bipolar disorder, among other conditions. This situation has been incredibly challenging, to say the least, especially since I was locked out without even socks or a bra, and my dog was trapped inside. When I finally retrieved my dog after three days, it was just the two of us out there. It gets quite cold at night.

“I believe we need a cold shelter. Additionally, I wanted to mention that there used to be a porta potty near the dumpsters at the train station or the bus depot. I think this was part of the lawsuit that Curtis Gamble won. I didn’t have a chance to look into the details; I apologize for not being prepared. I barely managed to sleep. I finally got a bed for the first time last night, and I’m thankful to Lutheran Social Services for providing me with a hotel voucher.

“On Saturday, before noon, I went to the church that feeds homeless people and offers showers. While I was there, I was attacked by a man. I was attacked four times by different men before noon. I wonder how women can sleep, eat, or maintain their sanity when men are constantly on the prowl. If a woman is alone, these men seem to circle, waiting for a moment when she’s not paying attention to do whatever they plan to do.

“In my case, the only thing that happened to me was that they urinated on my sleeping bag and my belongings. It’s heartbreaking out there. Please provide us with porta potties so the community can avoid complaints about people relieving themselves in public areas like elevators or parking structures. We really need those facilities.

• Zee said, “Good evening, everyone. Congratulations to all on your positions. Happy New Year to all, and my condolences to the father and daughter who tragically lost their lives in an accident this week. I want to take a moment to thank all our first responders for their excellent job during that event.

“I am here tonight to advocate for the installation of sidewalks from 1800 to 2000 W Page Ave. I believe that all our elected officials would agree that providing sidewalks for children walking to school is a higher priority than any paint for a bicycle trail or the bicycle lane that needs to be implemented. After all, our children are our future.

“I am also advocating for an economic development plan for this city, with 5-year, 10-year, and 15-year goals to widen our tax base in Fullerton without raising the sales tax.

“To the lady who spoke eloquently about District 5, I want to clarify that this is not a criticism but simply a fact: if the two doctors had voted differently in the first round of voting, Dr. Charles would have represented District 5 as a mayoral representative. However, the results are that District 1 has had mayoral representation for three out of the last four years.

“To Miss Jamie Valencia, I have a simple question: What were your goals in running for this position? What did you hope to achieve as a City Council member? Upon picking up my mail after being out of state, I found it full of negative ads I’ve never seen in the 47 years I’ve lived here. I am unclear about what you stand for in District 4.

“I know the police and fire departments supported you, but if you ever hold Thursday meetings like the great Dr. Charles does, I would love to attend and have a face-to-face discussion about why you ran and your plans for the future.”

• Kurt Johnson mentioned that a while back, there was a grant for a safety committee, and he was curious whether that information would become public. Some city officials indicated that it would not be a public committee, but they would share the findings with the other committees so that everyone could understand the outcomes.

He expressed concern about various safety issues and desired to participate in the safety committee, particularly regarding improvements like better lighting in crosswalks.

Johnson inquired whether the city is conducting any investments or investigations related to community development. He also questioned what pilots are required to do and whether the recent accidents might be attributed to negligence, expressing uncertainty about when more information will be released.

Johnson commented on the mayoral race. He noted that in the past when there was a rotation system, there was no district representation since the City Council was elected at large. Currently, all City Council members represent the districts from which they were elected; in a sense, all five members act as mayors. He believes that whoever is chosen to lead a committee should be able to do so effectively, just as a president ensures everything runs smoothly. He does not understand the contention surrounding the mayoral rotation, as all members represent their respective districts.

• Mrs. Harrison stated, “I also believe the mayorship was stolen from District 5. A significant issue is at hand: a wind warning is in effect, and temperatures are expected to drop to -13 degrees Celsius, about 8 degrees Fahrenheit. We have a homeless population out there who will be exposed to the cold, and lives are at risk. I urge the council to ask the police to assist these unhoused individuals and provide them with the necessary help so they can stay warm and survive, preventing further deaths. They truly need assistance.”

Regarding consent calendar item #3, there are only 10 seats available in the back. How many signs can fit there? Restricting us to only 10 seats and 10 signs could violate our First Amendment rights and freedom to express ourselves. I don’t believe we should only be confined to the back row, especially since I have counted and confirmed there are only 10 seats. Additionally, I am not pleased with how the microphone was cut off during other people’s speeches. Curtis made some valid points, and although he went over time, I would have willingly given him my time to speak.

• A call-in speaker, Jose Trinidad Castaneda, congratulated Council Member Valencia on her impressive victory and Mayor Fred Young on his reelection. He then addressed the importance of focusing on mental health services in Fullerton.

Recently, Castaneda had to search for a family member experiencing a severe mental health crisis and sought services that the county was supposed to provide to all residents. He noted that, despite programs like Mind OC and the Well Be Well OC campus, there are currently no adequate mental health services available in North Orange County for families like his.

Castaneda commended the efforts of the HOPE Center, the Fullerton Police Department, social workers, and affiliated partners in supporting the city’s residents. However, he emphasized the need for the city to enhance its mental health services and align them with the offerings at the county and state levels. This alignment could maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of local government mental health service delivery.

Citing the National Union of Healthcare Workers, there is a significant shortage of mental health services across every employer in Orange County and the Southern California region. Therefore, he urged the council to consider improving the city’s access to mental health services. This discussion is crucial to ensure that all families and individuals are adequately covered, as mental health issues are expected to become increasingly complex and pervasive in the coming years.