Community Dialog with Community Development Director Al Zelinka

Community Development Director Al Zelinka has updated his schedule for his "Community Dialogue" meetings.

These are a great way to find out what's going on, make suggestions, and get answers.  Bring your friends, family, and neighbors!

The next “dialogue” will be held from 8-9 a.m. Tuesday, March 27, at the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, 444 N. Harbor Blvd.

The schedule for the remaining “Community Dialogues” is as follows:

- May 8 – 6-7 p.m., Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 1201 W. Malvern Ave.

- June 28 – 6-7 p.m. Fullerton Main Library Conference Center, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave.

- July 24 – 8-9 a.m., Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, 444 N. Harbor Blvd.

- Aug. 30 – 8-9 a.m., Fullerton Main Library Conference Center, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave.

- Sept. 27 – 6-7 p.m., Grace Ministries International, 150 S. Brookhurst Road.

- Nov. 27 – 8-9 a.m., Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, 444 N. Harbor Blvd.

Further information about the “Community Dialogue” program may be obtained by calling Zelinka at (714) 738-3347, or by email at alz@ci.fullerton.ca.us.

Persons requiring special accommodations to attend a “Community Dialogue” are asked to notify the Community Development Department at (714) 738-6547 prior to the meeting.

Keeping Tabs On Your Community

 

Here are some links and contacts to help you stay informed with what is going on in Fullerton. Thanks to Community Development Director Al Zelinka who forwarded this to me to share with you.

• ELIST. Please follow this link to subscribe to the Fullerton eList (email and/or text notifications on a variety of topics of interest to you): http://www.cityoffullerton.com/about/citizen_support/elists.asp (this link also connects you with the Police Department’s iWatch service).

• FULLERTON GENERAL PLAN. Please following this link to learn more about The Fullerton Plan (as Zelinka noted, the first public review draft general plan is being reviewed by the City’s many commissions and committees for comments – except the Planning Commission; in October, The Fullerton Plan will begin the public hearing process with the Planning Commission and then City Council): http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/dev_serv/general_plan_update/default.asp 

• DOWNTOWN CORE AND CORRIDORS SPECIFIC PLAN. Following is the link to this project. As noted, it has not officially kicked off due to the uncertainty of redevelopment. Please review this site to get an understanding of the project. More will be posted on the website over the next several weeks. The City will be outreaching to the community to announce opportunities for involvement as soon as the project is kicked off. http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/dev_serv/development_activity/downtown_core/default.asp

• COLLEGETOWN. Following are two links with more information on Collegetown; additional information will be posted in the coming weeks. http://www.cityoffullerton.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6775 and http://www.cityoffullerton.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=6770

• CITY COUNCIL AND PLANNING COMMISSION & PUBLIC NOTICES. Please check regularly the following link to learn of the upcoming (and past) items on the agenda of the Planning Commission and City Council – your participation in these decision-making meetings is welcomed and encouraged: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/about/meetings_live.asp#bodyTop . You can also follow the attached link regarding public notices: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/weblink8/Browse.aspx?dbid=1&startid=380557 

• GRAFFITI REMOVAL. The following link provides information on the City’s graffiti removal services: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/maintenance/graffiti_removal.asp You may also report graffiti to: GraffitiH@ci.fullerton.ca.us and (714) 738-3108.

• CODE ENFORCEMENT. Information on the City’s code enforcement services may be found at: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/dev_serv/code_enforcement/default.asp You may also report code enforcement issues to the Code Enforcement Complaint 24-hour Hotline (714)773-5704. As noted last night, confidentiality is maintained for all who report issues.

• CITY SERVICE NEEDS. The following link is a central clearinghouse to assist the community in reporting issues. Please bookmark this link as it is a great resource for you to report a wide array (from abandoned shopping carts to broken sidewalks) of issues that may need attention by the City: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/about/citizen_support/service_requests/default.asp#bodyTop . Please always remember that City staff are here to serve you – by serving as additional eyes and ears of your neighborhood, City staff is more effective at addressing important quality of life issues.

• PROJECTS. Following are several links regarding projects. A) Engineering projects in construction: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/engineering/projects_in_construction/default.asp B) Engineering projects in design: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/engineering/project_development_n_design/default.asp C) Development activity: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/dev_serv/development_activity/default.asp

• SIGNALS. Several community members voiced concerns about traffic signals. Please follow this link to learn how to share your concerns with the Engineering Department. http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/engineering/traffic_engineering_n_signals/signal_complaints.asp You may also call: (714) 738-6899 or (714) 738-6845

• STREET CONDITIONS. Following is a link to the current street improvement projects. http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/engineering/projects_in_design/streets.asp Also, please see the Capital Improvement Program for the approved budgets for different capital improvements, including street improvements (any question re: the CIP can be directed to the Director of Engineering, Don Hoppe, at (714) 738-6845) http://www.cityoffullerton.com/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=7459 You can also report potholes and other street issues at the “City Service Needs” link above.

• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. As was discussed at the "Community Dialogues", there is much the City needs to do to proactively address economic development. Zelinka says the City, Chamber of Commerce, CSUF, and many other organizations and individuals have been focused on creating a strong proactive economic development program. The City economic development coordinator is Nicole Bernard – please call her at 714-738-4102 with any ideas you have. Some of the available resources pertaining to economic development include: A) EDAT – Economic Development Action Team (see http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/eco_dev/edat/edat.asp) B) “Fullerton’s Most Wanted Businesses” survey – please provide your input: http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/eco_dev/edat/retailsurvey.asp#bodyTop C) Commercial and Industrial Property Search tool - http://www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/eco_dev/realestate.asp

It's easy to sit at home and post comments on blogs and complain on Facebook.  It takes character, concern, and desire to get up, step up, speak up, and offer up solutions for what most will agree is a broken and neglected community.  It's up to us.

Fullerton Press Release - Al Zelinka

A City of Fullerton Press Release just dropped into my in box and it looks like something you should know about. 

Fullerton Community Development Director Al Zelinka will conduct a “Community Dialogue” Tuesday, Sept. 27, which citizens can attend and discuss issues, concerns and hopes they have regarding the city’s growth and development.

The dialogue, one in a series of bi-monthly community meetings conducted by Zelinka, will be held from 6-7 p.m. at the Vision Center, Room 140, Grace Ministries International, 150 S. Brookhurst Road.

Zelinka said he started the dialogues as a means of helping his department meet the goals of its mission statement.

           

“Our mission,” Zelinka said, “is to help residents and businesses with their efforts to grow within our community in a safe, orderly and healthful manner that respects Fullerton’s heritage while sustaining opportunity for present and future generations.

           

“I believe community involvement in the planning process is absolutely essential to achieving that goal, and I hope the public will take advantage of these meetings to share their ideas, issues and other information.”

The final dialogue in the series will be held from 8-9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 22, at the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, 444 N. Harbor Blvd.

Further information about the “Community Dialogue” program may be obtained by calling Zelinka at (714) 738-3347, or by email at alz@ci.fullerton.ca.us.

Persons requiring special accommodations to attend a “Community Dialogue” are asked to notify the Community Development Department at (714) 738-6547 prior to the meeting.

City Attorney's Felonious Fig Tree Fight - Part 1

Standing before the Fullerton City Council January 18, 2011 was Shannon Ellis, a long-time Fullerton resident, mother, Boy Scout mom, West Fullerton Little League team mom, and Fullerton College employee.  Despite her selfless dedication to her husband, children, and West Fullerton neighborhood, she wasn’t at City Hall to receive any awards or certificates.  Instead, Shannon was there to express her frustration for what many are characterizing as the systematic harassment of her family by Fullerton’s Community Preservation officers. 

Shannon gives some background to her problem and explains how she has a pending criminal case as a result of her fig tree. 

 During summer months the fig tree grows quickly and produces fruit.  Admittedly, during these summer months the tree extends beyond her 6-foot tall block wall and over the sidewalk on the other side of the wall, much like others around Fullerton as shown below.

But the Fullerton Community Preservation officers will have none of her fig tree over the wall.  Instead, they will turn a blind eye to similar encroachments like those shown above so that they can focus their combined efforts on eradicating a fig tree from the sleepy 2400 West Olive neighborhood.

Just a few blocks north on West Avenue, residents have felt a similar squeeze by City Hall in the form of parking tickets.    Fullerton police officers have been targeting the neighborhood and citing pickup trucks which are classified by the California Department of Motor Vehicles as commercial vehicles.  Also being cited by the police officers are toy haulers and recreational trailers that are not attached to the tow vehicle. 

These are but a snippet of the gauntlet Fullerton residents and taxpayers face having a Fullerton address. 

Is it just dumb luck that enforcement officials are patrolling West Avenue and West Olive while ignoring neighborhoods in North Fullerton with similar conditions?  Doubtful. 

With the amended ordinances which will make it a crime to leave your trash cans out or throw a tarp to cover your leaking roof having been approved, many residents are concerned just how far the City’s Community Preservation officers will take these issues. 

Despite assurances from “staff” seen here...

...that the ordinances will not be unfairly enforced, the abuse continues.   As mentioned, Shannon is going to trial where she faces jail time and a stiff fine if she is found guilty – for a fig tree that has been cut back and is in full compliance with the Fullerton Municipal Code.   

“We have gone to court half-dozen times now,” Shannon writes in an email to me.  “Each time the city attorney has said we have not done enough…they are never going to be happy with anything we do.”

Unmaintained City-Owned Trees



Moreover, she sees the City as “always out ‘beautifying’…other upscale areas of Fullerton but they barely come around to remove graffiti and trim trees in the areas they are ticketing.”

Shannon notes that she has been charged for not maintaining property she doesn't even own.  Public records do not list her as the property owner.  

"Non-compliant" trees over the public right-of-way

"Non-compliant" trees and cacti over the public right-of-way

Stay tuned, more to come...

Another Bar and Nightclub to Open Near You

Wednesday, November 10, the Fullerton Planning Commission will be considering an application to open another bar and nightclub in Downtown Fullerton.  With parking and the aftermath of bars being a point of contention for area residents and business owners, its hard t o believe that this application will be approved with little or no public outcry. 

I hope that the Planning Commission does approve the application and I also hope that code enforcement and the Alcohol Beverage Council actually enforce the regulations pertaining to serving and OVER SERVING patrons. 

Click HERE for the official agenda.