Special council meeting on Tuesday, May 13, at 5 PM: two agenda items will be discussed, a budget workshop and a charter city discussion.

The City Council is set to convene a budget workshop on the proposed operating budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. This special meeting, which is customary for such financial discussions, will take place at 5:00 PM—noticeably earlier than the usual start time of 5:30 PM.

The Fullerton City Council is set to revisit a highly contentious topic: the pursuit of charter status for the city. This issue, which first emerged in a meeting on March 4, has since sparked confusion and concern among residents. The upcoming session on May 13 is intended to review a staff report and any developments regarding the proposal; however, critics are raising significant concerns about the timing of such discussions, particularly at the end of a special meeting, fearing it may limit public engagement on the matter.

During the previous meeting, the charter status proposal faced considerable scrutiny and opposition from community members. Critics argue that the rationale behind pursuing charter status remains unclear. Mayor Fred Jung has suggested that the initiative is aimed at resisting perceived state overreach, citing a state expenditure of $50 million intended to “Trump-proof” itself—an assertion that does not apply to Fullerton or its legal status.

Key questions persist: Why is the council majority pursuing this change at this time, and what implications could it have for residents?

Charter cities include Anaheim, Irvine, and Santa Ana. Other charter cities in Orange County include Buena Park, Cypress, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Placentia, and Seal Beach. 

If the council opts to move forward, it has the necessary three votes to pass the proposal. Implementation is projected to take between 12 to 18 months, after which a public vote would be required. However, with concerns regarding the council’s intentions, many residents are left apprehensive about the potential impact of this significant change on their city’s governance.

The details can be found at:www.cityoffullerton.com/agendas

Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting to voice their opinions. It is important to document all voices and questions. City Hall is located at 303 West Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, and can be attended in person, via Zoom, or by phone. Your voice is powerful, but its true strength emerges only when it is heard.