PRESS RELEASE - Downtown Core and Corridors Specific Plan

PRESS RELEASE

City of Fullerton

April 23, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City of Fullerton to extend deadline to recruit volunteers for The Downtown Core and Corridors Specific Plan Advisory Committee (DPAC)

Fullerton, CA  - On April 23, 2013, The City of Fullerton Planning Department announced that it will continue to accept applications for the Downtown Core and Corridors Specific Plan Advisory Committee (DPAC) until Friday, April 26, 2013.  Although the City has received several applications from well qualified candidates, the goal is to have representation from all of the eight “neighborhoods” represented on the project plan as well as members from the business community, the Korean community, the Latino community, a senior community member and a youth/young adult representative.  To ensure the community has had ample time to review the application and respond, the deadline is being extended until the end of the week. 

The Downtown Core and Corridors Specific Plan is an planning effort intended to guide the future vision for the Downtown Core and Corridors areas and ensure our downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods are thriving and sustainable. To assist with this effort, a committee representing the multiple interests of the study area will be appointed to provide input and guidance throughout the work program. The “Advisory Committee” will be responsible for reviewing information, providing feedback on topics, recommending priorities, soliciting the participation of the community at large and working to represent specific interests of the community. To ensure  the Advisory Committee includes a balance of perspectives and interests, the group is intended to be composed of the following cross-section of the community:

• West Commonwealth – 2 members

• East Corridor – 2 members

• University Neighborhood – 2 members

• Orangethorpe/Magnolia Neighborhood – 2 members

• Brea/Harbor Neighborhood – 2 members

• Downtown Core – 2 members

• Orangethorpe/Euclid – 2 members

• Orangethorpe/Brookhurst – 2 member

• Orangethorpe/Harbor – 2 members

• Community Serving Partner Organizations (e.g., Faith based, St. Jude, etc.)– 1    member

• Korean Community Partner – 1 member

• Latino Community Partner – 1 member

• Development Community – 1 member

• Broker/Realtor – 1 member

• Business Community – up to 3 members

• Historic Preservation – 1 member

• Parent Teacher’s Association (PTA) or Elementary/Middle School – 1 member

• Youth Community Partner – 1 member

• Senior Community Partner – 1 member

• Non-Profit Community Based Organizations (Fullerton Beautiful, NUFF, etc.) – 1 member

The study will involve the active participation of City Staff, a team of consultants, the public at large, and the City Council. The Advisory Committee will play a key role in providing insight and guidance during the Specific Plan process. Please be aware that selected Advisory Committee members will not receive any financial compensation for their service. The first meeting is planned for Thursday, May 9 at 6:30 pm. The Committee members will need to attend approximately eight (8) evening meetings during an eighteen (18) month period. It will be important that each Advisory Committee member attend all meetings throughout the process. If you are interested in being considered for the Advisory Committee position, based on the information above, please complete the application form, available on the City’s website www.ci.fullerton.ca.us or by visiting www.fullertonplanningforum.com, and submit to Heather Allen, Planning Manager at HeatherA@ci.fullerton.ca.us, by April 26, 2013.

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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.

Contrasts in Architecture Are Rare in Fullerton

I'm not an architect nor do I pretend to be.  At best, I notice some architecture while clearly ignoring other types.  I'm a land surveyor, not a building surveyor.  So when I see structures, I look to quantify them, not qualify them.

At least that was my modus operandi until May 11, 2011. 

On that day I was walking Independence Mall in Philadelphia and admiring the history and reflecting on what it would have been like in 1776.  As I crossed Market Street to go look at the Liberty Bell I looked left and right scanning the streets.  Then something caught my eye.  The antique cityscape had something shiny and new nestled in between two pieces of historic-looking buildings.

Those who have visited Independence Mall will agree that they are awed by Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Christ Church Burial Ground, and other important pieces of American history.  It is breathtaking for those with that certain affinity for history.

And in the midst of this structural history I find my eyes gazing on a structure unlike anything else on the Mall.  For that matter, I don't recall ever seeing anything like this structure with my own eyes. 

The structure has jutting polished metal forming right angles and contrasts sharply against the backdrop of American history.  The building's unusual placement on the Mall speaks volumes of its purpose, though no billboards announce what that may be. 

As I circle the Mall admiring the formation of our Country, my mind and camera wander back to the building, now more striking than when I saw it just moments ago. 

Nearing the building, I look for signs as to what the building is and what it represents.  Seeing none and realizing I'm now short on time, I turn away to make my next appointment.

Troubled by the mystery, I turn to the internet to find my answer. 

I find Google Earth to be a great tool for understanding our world.  Once again, the tool came through with an answer which was supported by additional sources.

The National Museum of American Jewish History stands as a monument to, as the name implies, American Jews.  Its purpose is to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire.  The architect, James Polshek, has created a striking symbol of American Jews and their story through the placement and use of materials, textures, shapes, and colors.  You can see more of James Polshek's work at http://ennead.com/#/projects/nmajh.

This experience, seeing the building on the Mall and recognizing the unusual beauty of its presence in that location has caused me to question the direction the City of Fullerton has traveled for decades. 

A recent Friends for Fullerton's Future blog post brought to light the Redevelopment Design Review Committee's selections of less than inspiring architecture. 

I used to have the strong opinion that modern designs just would not work in our downtown.  After long debates and discussions with friends and my visit to Philadelphia I am confident that it can work well. 

Entrepreneurs looking to raise the bar and make their place in Fullerton should look to innovative designs which will stand in contrast to our old and confused architecture.  More importantly, when every other building is a bar or tattoo parlor, business owners need to look at ways of setting their establishment apart from the rest of the herd. 

There is a great transcript of a debate on this architectural issue that took place at Harvard in 1982.  Click HERE and read the arguments that shape our structural world. 

Tonight the future of Downtown Fullerton is in your hands...sort of

Passenger Admits To Drinking In Downtown Fullerton Moments Before Fatal Crash

The Orange County Sheriff's Department is using the words of a passenger involved in a fatal crash in Fullerton to point out the dangers of drunk driving. 

The Orange County Register reported on the crash on December 22, 2010.  The article states that the unidentified passenger admitted he and the driver, now identified as 22-year old Ryan Rivera, had been drinking in Downtown Fullerton.

As the OC Coroner waits for the toxicology report there is the usual rhetoric and sentiment that thankfully only the drunk was killed.  The incident unfortunately just adds fuel for those who would like nothing more than to shut down the the Downtown Fullerton bars. 

What should happen (but likely won't) is for the servers to be held responsible for over serving patrons.  On any given night a watchful eye can witness the drunks stumbling out of the bars, some even being carried out by friends. 

The Fullerton Police Department and the Alcohol Beverage Council (ABC) should have tackled this problem years ago.

I believe these sad deaths represent numerous failures in our broken community:

• The patrons fail to recognize their bodily limits and take responsibility. 
• Servers look the other way and continue to serve those clearly and visibly impaired.
• Police continue to set up checkpoints rather than targeting the source.
• The ABC is nowhere to be found. 
• Citizens, residents, business owners, parents, patrons, and public officials have failed to come together to address binge drinking and drunk driving. 

It's time for City Hall to wake up. 

Fullerton Taggers Busted

(From the Orange County Register)

FULLERTON – An officer patrolling downtown Fullerton on Tuesday spotted five taggers in an alley, and then pounced to arrest all five after enlisting backup, police said.

At 1:20 p.m., Cpl. John DeCaprio was patrolling the area of the FM Market liquor store in the 400 block of Harbor Boulevard when he saw through a fence five males tagging what Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich said were gang monikers on the wall with felt-tipped pens.

Three were writing, while two acted as lookouts, Goodrich said.

He said DeCaprio quietly called for backup, and was able to team up with another police car to roll up and block exits from the alley, allowing the officers it intercept all five.

Four were juveniles and taken to Juvenile Hall, Goodrich said. The fifth was an adult.

He said he expects the five arrested to face vandalism and gang charges.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3706 or atownsend@ocregister.com

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Below are some pictures I took back in February of the 92831 post Office property in downtown Fullerton. I hate taggers and the mess they make. Fullerton Police Corporal John DeCaprio deserves a medal for his bust. It may not have been a violent crime in progress or a person down call, however, it was exactly what all of us hope our officers are doing everyday - fighting crime. The best part is that the officer observed the crime, called in back up, and caught 5 decrepit gangbanging thugs! I hope they are all charged as adults! Great job Cpl. DeCaprio and the FPD for exemplify quality service to our city and meeting our expectations!!