Representatives of the Fullerton Woodcrest community at Palm Gardens Apartments attended the Fullerton City Council meeting on June 16, 2026, to ask again for a permanent solution to their problems with parking.

Woodcrest Association* President Mireya Figueroa, Fullerton School District Board Member Vanessa Estrella, and Alma Chavez were some of the representatives for Woodcrest’s Palm Gardens community at the City Council meeting on June 16. During the meeting, they proposed reviewing permit programs and making potential modifications to Fullerton’s parking ordinance, which prevents overnight on-street parking.

https://www.cityoffullerton.com/government/departments/public-works/traffic-engineering-signals/early-morning-parking/overnight-street-sweeping-parking

Estrella emphasized the need for mutual understanding between the Woodcrest community and Fullerton, stating:
“I also hope the city considers the impact this is having on these working families, the multigenerational households that are in this community, and the long-time residents who simply want safe and reasonable access to parking near their homes. If you listen to these residents and work together, I’m sure we can find balanced solutions that support both the community and the needs of the city.”

Mayor Pro Tem Nicholas Dunlap had a sudden outburst toward city staff, frustrated that residents had to return to the city council to appeal for a parking solution he thought the city had already solved last year. That remedy had only been a temporary trial solution, and once the trial ran out, it was supposed to come back to the council, but it never did.

“[We need to] help these folks,” Dunlap said. “[For the Woodcrest residents] to have to come out again and again, it’s great that you’re speaking up, but you shouldn’t have to. This should have been addressed for you.”

Fullerton City Council Member Dr. Ahmad Zahra recommended re-agendizing a formerly existing program that allowed exemptions for parking permits, establishing particular zones for approved overnight parking and suspending currently existing parking tickets.

In particular, exemptions for parking tickets around Woodcrest Park were brought up, as many Palm Gardens residents park there. However, on June 18, Fullerton Director of Public Works Stephen Bise emailed the Woodcrest community, stating that “Per [Fullerton Municipal Code] 9.12.331, the park and parking lot are closed to the public from 10pm to 7am; therefore, no parking is permitted within the early morning 2am-5am parking restriction timeframe.”

Bise also mentioned FMC 9.12.170 (H), which he states prohibits attended or unattended parking and standing vehicles during the park’s closing time. Moreover, the email stated that city staff was opposed to the idea of overnight parking at Woodcrest Park, citing “concerns with public safety and park availability” and an “undesirable precedent citywide for overnight parking within parkland.”

The email also noted that, although the Early Morning Parking Permit Policy, Procedures, and Standards provide select residents with the opportunity to obtain “individual permit exemption[s],” the areas surrounding the Woodcrest community are “exempt block[s]” for which the program does not apply. Bise added that “modification to the program would likely create undesirable conditions for surrounding streets/communities.” The email then ended with the statement that city staff would “hold until directed by Council to pursue.”

In a response to the city email, Figueroa acknowledged FMC 9.12.331 (https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/fullerton/latest/fullerton_ca/0-0-0-8571), the city’s concern for public safety, and FMC 8.44.080’s (https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/fullerton/latest/fullerton_ca/0-0-0-7383) intention to prevent vehicle abandonment and street congestion. However, she asked the city to consider a potential exception to the code, stating that “the current situation for [Woodcrest] residents is untenable.”

She explained that the parking allocations within Palm Gardens Apartments, which allow at most two spaces per two-bedroom apartment, do not account for shifting working-family circumstances. With most Woodcrest families having two working adults, as well as children who may also need to drive to work or school—all of whom require vehicles—she maintained the need for a permanent solution.

The Woodcrest community at Palm Gardens Apartments comprises six apartment complexes. Although parking spaces are provided within the apartments’ grounds, problems began in 2024. As family sizes grew and more people moved in, the number of residents living in Palm Gardens outgrew the number of parking spaces available. As a result, residents often have to look for parking outside their community, traveling several blocks to places such as the local Food 4 Less. This results in many being ticketed, as Fullerton prohibits overnight on-street parking from 2 am to 5 am.

In an interview, Woodcrest Association President Mireya Figueroa talked about her community’s parking problems and their struggles with ticketing.

“This is a sad situation,” Figueroa said. “People [in our community] have to work [while being] paid the minimum wage. [Then] they have to pay for tickets (averaging $55 per ticket). Our association doesn’t have enough money to help pay them.”

In the past, discussions have occurred regarding opening up the parking lot of Fullerton School District’s Woodcrest Elementary for overnight permit parking. However, according to Estrella, this may cause problems.

“The biggest [problem] is that cars would need to be moved by 7:00 am, and that often doesn’t happen. That leaves the school with the difficulty of either not having enough parking for staff or having to tow vehicles. If cars are towed, the community will understandably get upset. If staff does not have parking, that creates another problem because there isn’t enough street parking, and on street-sweeping days, staff can end up getting ticketed,” Estrella said.

As of now, the matter awaits further direction from the Fullerton City Council. The next City Council meeting is July 21.

*The Fullerton Woodcrest Association is a dedicated charitable and neighborhood organization composed of residents focused on improving the quality of life and strengthening the community in the Woodcrest area.