This is a transcript of City Council members comments. Some comments are summarized.

Mayor Fred Jung: “Mr. City Manager, you want to give the public details on how this outdoor dining fee increase happened?”

Intrim City Manager Eddy Manfro: “This council voted to increase those fees.”

Jung: “When did we do that?”

Manfro: “I don’t know. If Director Bise was in the room right now. If he was, I would ask that, but this isn’t an agendized item.”

Jung: “So I don’t want to go back and forth beyond that because it is going to be an agendized item that’s coming in December, right? But I, I did want to make sure that the public understood these fees were just not arbitrarily increased. They were council approved by the vast majority, not all of us in the room to increase these fees. Regarding the restaurant in question in particular, what was the balance? Do we have that?”

Manfro: “I don’t have a detailed information in front of me tonight. We have it scheduled to come back on December 2nd where we can talk about it.”

Jung: “We’re not addressing this particular [Les Amis] restaurant that evening. We’re addressing the entire policy, correct? So, this restaurant, there’s a lot of information out there seems to be some passionate views on all of this and I just want to make sure that the information is correct. So do we have some semblance of idea as to what was the monetary fee that was owed, what was the abatements that were issued, anything of that nature at all?”

Manfro: “I’m reluctant to speak of the cuff. I do believe the amount owed was, you know, $25,000 in that range. And again, it’s, I know there’s opinions as to whether or not the past fees or the revised fees were fair, but those were the fees that were adopted by council and there is a long history of the owner not paying those fees. So the record does go back about 15 years on this particular restaurant, uh, with these types of back and forth for, for years and years. She is correct. There was a was a payment made to the to the prior city manager I think in the neighborhood of $3800 and that did provide a 90 day stay. I don’t know that there was a commitment from Eric [Levitt] to make the item come back within those 90 days, but there also were no payments made during those 90 days.”

Jung: “Alright, thank you. Alright, let’s go to council reports before the consent calendar.” Mayor Jung had no report or comment.

Council Member Nicholas Dunlap: “Two weeks ago, I attended the 1st annual Eddie Sheldrake Day at Polly’s Pies, honoring the founder, who started the restaurant in 1968. Eddie was a beloved Fullerton resident, and I’d say Polly’s is my favorite restaurant in town.

“We tried to honor Eddie for his many contributions to the city before he passed, but health issues prevented an in-person recognition. On his first heavenly birthday, we gathered with community members, patrons, family, and longtime staff to celebrate his legacy.

“During my funeral speech, I joked about getting Eddie’s namesake sandwich, the King Edwards Club, back on the menu. It was a club sandwich with avocado and his favorite, but it had been removed as he stepped back from operations. Because of my comments, it has now returned, much to everyone’s amusement.

“The restaurant has also revamped its entryway to honor Eddie’s legacy, including his time as John Wooden’s first point guard at UCLA, where he’s in the Athletic Hall of Fame. This serves as a reminder of the greatness around us, right here in Fullerton. That’s my report for this evening.”

Council Member Jamie Valencia had no report or comment.

Council Member Dr. Ahmad Zahra: “I appreciate the emphasis on kindness and positivity, but it’s challenging to remain positive when our community is struggling and our policies don’t reflect that. We need to revise our policies instead of simply ignoring businesses that are having difficulties. Our policies should support rather than harm our community.

“When staff presents suggestions or fees that are creating more hardships, we must be willing to re-evaluate them. The goal is to nurture local businesses, not drive them away for political reasons. I have been advocating for a small business development plan for seven years, formally agendizing it multiple times, yet it continues to be overlooked.

“Recently, I pushed for a review of the outdoor dining program, as it seems ineffective compared to other cities. After many delays, it is finally on the agenda for our December 2nd meeting. This lack of progress gives the impression that there isn’t a genuine effort from the city to support businesses.

“I’m also concerned about inequities in park fees, which I addressed in an op-ed in the Observer. While we attempt to secure funding for our parks, we often miss opportunities, and funds are allocated elsewhere.

“Lastly, I want to address recent ethical concerns regarding threats made by council members towards residents. Any ethical complaints must be brought to council as a whole, as accountability is essential. I urge everyone to remain engaged with council meetings. When members of the public, especially political donors, influence decisions, it undermines our work. Your presence and attention are vital for transparency and effective governance.”

Mayor Pro Tem Dr. Shana Charles: “I want to express my gratitude to Council Member Zahra. Due to recent redistricting, he is now the only council member representing downtown. When he is marginalized, it directly impacts our downtown businesses. Thank you for advocating for them. This month, I also want to acknowledge National Native American Heritage Month. We must recognize that we are on the ancestral and current lands of the Hiteman and Keiths, also known as the Tongva tribes. Additionally, as it is National Homeless Awareness Month, I want to emphasize our ongoing efforts in addressing homelessness in the city. While we have made strides, there is always more we can do.

“I want to revisit our previous conversation regarding cold weather shelter and vouchers. Our city manager is actively working on this issue and will provide us with an update as soon as possible. I’m looking forward to that!

“I also want to express my gratitude to the local businesses that are supporting homeless services this month. For instance, I recently visited a popular local spot that is now collecting funds for their own foundation dedicated to helping the homeless.

“Pathways of Hope is also making a significant impact, especially in light of the recent cuts to federal SNAP benefits. My daughter volunteers there, and she has noticed an increase in the number of people coming in to donate.

“I want to thank everyone in our community who is stepping up to help. If you are affected by the recent federal cuts, please reach out to the city. We have a list of resources available. There are organizations in town, and food banks in Fullerton are operating every day, seven days a week. There are plenty of places to turn for support.

“Thank you to all the public commenters who came forward today. I appreciate your courage, especially those who spoke for the first time, like the gentleman who has been a resident for 44 years. I understand how intimidating it can be to take the podium. Even as a professor who frequently addresses crowds, I felt nervous before I joined the council. Your input is important, and I value the effort it takes to share your thoughts.

“I want to clarify that, by law, we cannot respond to your questions directly during the public comment period. Any feedback or discussion must occur during an agenda item, and this is not an agendized matter. Thank you again for your participation.

“I want to address my concerns regarding the destruction I learned about on Facebook. As a council member, I was disturbed to hear about the 6:30 AM timing after the fact. I’m learning more from public comments than from our staff, which is unacceptable.

“I look forward to a comprehensive discussion about the fees on December 2nd, but I need a full report on the circumstances around the destruction: how it occurred, who authorized the early work, and whether this is a common practice.

“Additionally, I was disheartened by the comparison to other public patios. I visited the patio near the train station, and it appears to be a private restaurant patio rather than a public space. Calling it a public patio is misleading. We need to resolve this issue promptly.

“In response to public comments and previous issues, I received a staff report regarding the sidewalks. I’m pleased to hear that there is currently a planning phase for Orange Thorpe Elementary, where they are considering including sidewalks in their plans. If you’re interested, community meetings will be held. Additionally, I attended the monthly Orange County Mosquito Vector Control District meeting, as I do every month.

“I attended the recent festival organized by the Museum Center and it was fantastic. The event showcased the community’s pride, and I noticed that other cities host house decorating contests for Halloween. I’d like to suggest to our deputy city manager, who oversees Parks and Recreation, that we consider implementing a similar contest next year. There were several houses that truly stood out and deserved recognition. This could be a great addition to our community celebrations.

“I noticed that the council reorganization did not take place on December 2nd as usual. This has been a recurring issue, especially in election years when reorganizations typically happen after votes are certified. After speaking with the city manager and city clerk, I learned that there’s currently no ordinance governing when this meeting should occur.

“I propose we establish an ordinance to set the council reorganization for the first meeting of December in non-election years and after the certification of votes in election years. I’d like to motion for this to be added to the agenda for the December 16th meeting.

“The reorganization involves the mayoral rotation, and I believe it’s essential to address both topics in one meeting for clarity and efficiency. Let’s tackle this on December 16th.

“OK, so just as a housekeeping notice, my office hours are every Thursday from 12:00 to 2:00 at City Hall, except for this upcoming Thursday, which I need to cancel due to a prior commitment. However, I am available for appointments via email. After the semester ends in December, I will have more availability during the holidays and into January. For the rest of the year, all my office hours will be held in City Hall to accommodate the holiday schedule.

“I look forward to seeing everyone at the restored Veterans Day Parade and Celebration in Hillcrest Park on November 11th. A big thank you to the staff for bringing this event back. After missing last year’s celebration, it’s great to reunite and honor our veterans together. See you downtown!”