As Fullerton faces mounting financial pressure, housing battles and ongoing audit concerns, an increasing number of public meetings across the city government are being canceled — even as elected officials continue receiving taxpayer-funded compensation.
The Fullerton City Council canceled its scheduled May 19 meeting, according to the city’s public calendar. Other canceled meetings in recent months include the Transportation and Circulation Commission on May 4, the Planning Commission on March 25 and the Active Transportation Committee on February 18.
The cancellations are occurring during a critical period for the city. Fullerton is wrestling with budget concerns, fiscal sustainability discussions, housing development pressures tied to state mandates, infrastructure costs and unresolved financial oversight issues. Yet instead of more public discussion and accountability, residents are seeing fewer meetings.
At the same time, council members continue receiving fixed compensation under the city’s salary structure regardless of whether a scheduled meeting takes place. Public city records show council compensation is established by ordinance and is not tied to attendance at individual meetings.
The situation is drawing additional scrutiny because Mayor Fred Jung is currently running for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors, and these cancellations come ahead of the 2026 primary election.
Critics argue the public expects City Hall to be actively addressing the city’s growing list of challenges, not reducing opportunities for public oversight and discussion through canceled meetings.
The Planning Commission, Transportation and Circulation Commission and Active Transportation Committee all play advisory roles on issues directly tied to development, traffic, housing and long-term city planning. Canceled meetings mean fewer opportunities for residents to weigh in on projects and policies affecting their neighborhoods.
Cities can cancel meetings for administrative reasons, including lack of agenda items, scheduling conflicts or quorum issues. However, the frequency of cancellations across multiple city bodies has raised questions among residents about transparency, priorities and responsiveness during a period of significant citywide challenges.
The Fullerton City Council normally meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Meeting schedules and cancellation notices are posted through the city’s public meetings portal.
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Categories: Local Government, Local News
What justification did the city administration give the Observer for canceling these meetings?
And who are the “critics” making the arguments against cancelations?
You write that “The situation is drawing additional scrutiny because Mayor Fred Jung is currently running for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisor.” Who is scrutinizing this situation, besides you?
As a former member of a committee whose meetings were continually canceled despite unresolved issues pertinent to its mission, I recognize that a real problem may exist, but without examples of what agenda items are not being addressed by the various bodies, and lacking any evident effort on the part of the Observer to ascertain the reason(s) for the cancellations, this story is not at all informative. Please interview members of the committees, commissions, and council and ask the city administration why meetings are being canceled.
P.S. A May 10 story still on the Observer home page reads “The Fullerton City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 5:30 pm to discuss proposed amendments to the Fullerton Municipal Code affecting businesses that sell tobacco products.”
Has this public hearing been canceled?
ED Answer: Thank you Matt – I will fix that!! You are right the meeting was canceled according to the city because three councilmembers were unavailable. The meeting has been rescheduled to June 2, the last day to vote.