New meeting time 6pm: A new public service is now available at City Hall. Simultaneous onscreen transcription of presentations in English, along with Spanish translation, is projected throughout the meeting.

Present: Commissioners McKendry, Maldonado and Freeman

Department Updates:

 Fullerton Tennis Center has been busy with over 1,000 reservations each month, and pickleball courts will be added soon.  Summer hours for the four Spray Pools will be extended this year from 10am-6pm, 7 days a week, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.   A Youth in Government Day was held, sponsored by the Fullerton Collaborative, to engage local youth in the systems of governance.  Ten junior high and thirty high school students rotated through city departments, and participated in a mock election, voting for their favorite city event.  They practiced CPR with first responders, toured a sewer truck and played a simulated budget game.

The first Community Yard Sale of the year was held in March on a windy day, and a Spring Eggstravaganza was put on at the Hunt Library.  It featured outdoor egg hunts and bunny photos for children and indoor “egg positions”, with wedding planners, Pooch Park vendors and a Senior expo.  Upcoming events in May include another Community Yard Sale and a first-ever Coffee Festival.

Fullerton Night Markets have resumed as of April 2, and a band lineup is scheduled until Labor Day.  The Outdoor Equity Grant, serving the Richman community, has recently provided hikes and outdoor crafts to many young people.  Spring Break Camp, featuring a reptile show and an excursion to Urban Air, was sold out.  Senior programming for April will feature a ukulele jam, a drum circle, Crafternoons and a popular Discover Fullerton on Foot walking tour of Hillcrest Park.  A Spring Camp for Older Adults, with activities such as tai chi and painting, was held in March, along with a sold-out Senior Winter Formal.  Another popular event was the Valentine’s Tea Party with a harp player and Hawaiian dancers.  A Health and Wellness Fair offered massages and memory screenings, as well as many vendors.

 Hunt Branch Library hosted a Spring Break Art Camp for kids and a unique Goat Yoga gathering in March.  A new exhibition, “Snapshot 1887”, curated by educator Aimee Aul, gives a glimpse into Fullerton’s past.

 Fullerton Parks and Recreation was recently honored with a medal by CPRS (California Parks and Recreation Society) for its excellent programming.   Commissioners also commended Director Christian, who is also serving as President of District 10 of the organization; Southern California is the largest active district in the state.

Independence Park Playground Renovation

Staff recently solicited proposals from four qualified playground manufacturers, requesting conceptual designs to include 15,000 square feet of playground area, Poured-in-Place rubber surfacing, a universally accessible inclusive playground, and high-value play equipment.  The design concepts of each company were shared with the commissioners.  Commissioners moved to approve the Innovative design, with the caveat that amendments be made to keep the cost at or under the million-dollar budget.

 Public comments:

Former commissioner Jensen Hallstrom urged that the natural topography of the park be preserved in the redesign, and that children have open space and natural elements available.  A Zoom caller approved the inclusion of separate areas for two age groups, 2–5-year-olds and 5-12-year-olds, and wondered if water fountains for thirsty kids would be located near the equipment.

Budget Overview

Staff presented a review of the budgets for each component of the department.  Parks and Rec budget is allocated 67% to maintenance and 33 % to personnel.  Proposed fee changes for next year’s budget were introduced for youth sports and other programs.  Each department also listed items needed in future budgets.  Projected revenue vs. actual revenue is tracked with the Once app by the department.  Fullerton Community Center is currently fully booked every weekend, and the recent Expo at the Hunt was valuable publicity as well.

Public Comments:

The Secretary and Treasurer of the Isaac Walton League are eager to reactivate rental of the existing log cabin and want to meet regarding insurance details to close a final agreement. Jensen Hallstrom mentioned the deteriorating WW2 memorial in Hillcrest Park and the need to maintain the structure.  Public Works is meeting with the Hillcrest Park Ad Hoc Committee to assess the status.

Commissioners praised the staff for recent awards and ongoing excellence in programming for the community.