Mayor Fred Jung Responded to Public Comments: Before we move on to the council reports, I want to address the question from a member of the public regarding trash holders. Mr. City Manager, do we have someone on staff who manages these issues? Is there a way for the public to document their concerns and contact the public works yard for assistance?

Furthermore, for everyone who attended, I am recording the conditions at the Illumination Foundation. The City Manager and I will be meeting soon with the executive team at Illumination Foundation. I have taken detailed notes on all of your concerns, and we will ensure they are addressed.

Regarding the building, it is our responsibility. Are we accountable for the water filter? I will need to review the specific arrangements between us and their lease. Additionally, it would be helpful to get clarification on the water filter and showers so we can address these concerns in our upcoming meeting.

Lastly, concerning the Buena Park Hotel and Suites, please understand that these issues are beyond the purview of the City of Buena Park. I encourage you to attend their council meeting to discuss these matters. I will also ensure that our city staff communicates this to the staff in Buena Park, as they are a neighboring city.

Council Member Dr. Ahmad Zahra: Pulled item 10 regarding the Solid Waste Service Request for Proposal (RFP) and 14 regarding the Lions Field Turf Replacement Project.

Dr. Zahra: I wanted to discuss maintenance, particularly regarding the parking lots at Santa Fe and Pomona. In general, it is crucial that we stay on top of maintenance because neglect can often lead to injuries and potential lawsuits. Therefore, it is important for us to remain diligent in this area.

I would also like to get an opinion on the curb cut situation at Lemon and Valencia. I know we are implementing some ADA improvements throughout the city, but an update from the staff would be helpful. This could be sent via email, and I can share it with the residents in that area. An assessment regarding potential improvements for the curb cuts, and whether they can be included in the overall ADA compliance program, would be greatly appreciated.

Additionally, I am aware that Baker Street, in front of Woodcrest Park, has received a small amount of new pavement. This is the street I have been inquiring about for quite some time. However, it was only partially paved in the middle, rather than the full width of the street. I would like to understand why this was the case. If I could receive an answer to that via a private email, that would be fine. I just noticed this issue today, which is why I didn’t have time to ask about it earlier by phone.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone who attended the event at UP Park. The installation of the playground was impressive, and it was wonderful to see so many community members present. I appreciate my council colleagues, and I want to acknowledge Council Member Valencia, who volunteered at the event. Unfortunately, I couldn’t help due to back pain; I had been cleaning up another park earlier in the week. Nonetheless, it was great to see the community come together and witness the park finally starting to come to life. I look forward to the full opening later this year.

With that, I wish everyone a happy National Hispanic Heritage Month. Thank you very much!

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shana Charles: I would like to begin by wishing everyone a Happy Hispanic Heritage Month, which started yesterday and runs through October 15. I also want to thank all the public commenters. My colleagues have addressed many of the issues raised, but I want to reiterate my concern regarding our community’s communication methods.

Last year, I spoke with our previous city manager about how we could provide residents of the Illumination Foundation with a more consistent way to share their comments, express concerns, or report complaints. While I truly appreciate your presence at council meetings, which occur only once or twice a month, I believe we can create a more regular method for residents to connect with us, especially when issues arise between meetings. At that time, I was informed that residents could simply email or call the city manager, but I believe we can do better. My goal is to establish a more effective communication process.

I also want to acknowledge that our Housing Development Department has been proactive in following up, as directed by council members at a previous meeting, and I look forward to hearing updates from that discussion.

I’m excited to announce that I am organizing my first forum, following the example of my fellow council members who often host such events. I am particularly concerned about mental health issues and how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) impacts the mental health of our community, especially among those who are targeted by their actions. My graduate student intern is assisting me in planning this event, which will take place on October 16 at 5:30 PM at the Fullerton Community Center. I will provide more details and reminders as the date approaches.

I want to address a commenter who raised the issue of accessing psychiatric medications. This is a problem that affects the entire healthcare system. In the short term, the best step you can take is to obtain medical coverage if you don’t already have it. Given your living situation, you are likely eligible for it. While having coverage is important, even with job-based insurance like the one I have through Cal State Fullerton, accessing psychiatric medications can still be challenging. This highlights the need for universal health insurance, which I actively support, and I would be happy to discuss it further with you offline.

I hold office hours every Thursday from 12:00 to 2:00 PM, usually at City Hall. On the last Thursday of the month, I engage with the community. This month, I will be attending a talk at a Rotary Club in La Habra that is open to the public. I will post information about this on my social media, and it will also be available at the city manager’s office. If you’re interested in attending that talk, we will cover topics such as universal health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and other related subjects.

I would like to report that I attended the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District meeting. There is an ongoing concern regarding the West Nile virus, which has been found in mosquitoes in nearby cities, such as Anaheim, although not in Fullerton itself. Additionally, typhus has been detected in fleas in our area. I strongly encourage everyone to continue using bug spray outdoors and to eliminate any standing water near their homes.

Regarding recent events, the Transgender Pride event took place after our last meeting. I must say, it was a wonderful experience. I attended with my transgender child, and we felt very supported. It was a peaceful event where we had the opportunity to meet other families. I want to express my gratitude to the OC LGBTQ for organizing the event in Fullerton.

I also want to thank the Townley family for hosting their annual 9/11 memorial event again this year. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to a work commitment, but I heard that the memorial service was incredibly moving and impactful. I appreciate the Townley family for continuing this important public service.

Additionally, the Union Pacific Playground build was remarkable. Thank you to all the staff and the 176 volunteers who contributed their time and effort. I look forward to hearing more about Council Member Valencia’s perspective on this event. It’s wonderful to see her and her family actively participating.

Before I conclude, I would like to highlight two key points. September 8 was recognized as 988 Day. The 988 hotline is available for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis and can connect individuals to necessary services. If you find yourself in crisis, please call 988, just as you would call 911 in a physical emergency.

It’s critical to acknowledge that our collective mental health is being affected by the ongoing public health crisis of gun violence in our country. In 2025 alone, there have been over 100 school shootings. Recently, we also experienced two horrific political shootings in different states. These events impact our mental well-being, and as we navigate these concerns, I sincerely hope we can move toward a future where constructive dialogue can help us address these issues effectively.

Council Member Jamie Valencia: Thank you guys for giving me acknowledgement on the bill with my colleagues over here. It was nice to cut the ribbon with both of you and it was nice that you were both out there. I just want to say thank you so much to Kaboom! and Smile Generation for all their assistance for our new playground. Trees, plants, community garden beds, and we painted the fence. Thank you to all the city staff that was involved, from Parks and Rec and from Public Works. Thank you to our city Commissioners Oscar Valdez and David De Leon, who are head on the bills, as well as Arnel Dino and Yosef Malanado were also there in the mulch with me as we all volunteered with the build.

The city is working on getting a policy together for community garden beds, so hopefully we can have those throughout our city to come. It was wonderful to have my child contribute along with other children of the city design the playground. We had a great event at the Community Center and all the children put their magical playground into effect and it was amazing to see it come to life on Saturday. Please look out for the official ribbon cutting for the whole playground area. There’ll be pickleball courts there and a bunch of other stuff at Union Pacific Park.

I also attended the annual fire department golf tournament and they raised a bunch of money for Saint Jude to help out for Cancer Research. So it was a great weekend. So thank you all to everybody in the city.

Council Member Nicholas Dunlap: Had no comments

Mayor Fred Jung put his comments in the supplemental documents on September 11, 2025

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) 

The board met on September 2, 2025, and voted to approve the Games Mobility Program Development Framework in support of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. The board also approved a Resolution to add $7 million to the Comprehensive Budget and the Overall Work Program, as well as a Clean Air proclamation.

Orange County Water District (OCWD) 

The Orange County Water District’s Board of Directors met on September 3, 2025. Reviewed and ratified $5.4 million for operational expenses. The board approved a one-year extension of the property lease at Prado Basin and approved a temporary use easement for water utility relocation at Burris Basin.

Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) 

The Board of Directors met on Monday, September 10, 2025. The board received updates from advisory and legislative committees. Received monthly progress reports on strategic priorities of the agency’s renewable power content.

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) 

At the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) Board Meeting on September 9, 2025, the Board amended the administrative code to grant authority to the Ethics Officer to conduct ethics-related reviews to help foster a stronger ethical culture. The board awarded a contract to upgrade the wireless network at MWD’s Riverside locations. A Special Meeting was held on September 8, 2025, to discuss the employment of the General Manager and update the recruitment timeline.

Consent Calendar passed unanimously except the two items pulled by Council Member Dr Zahra.