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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Does Government Work Require Government Employees?

I have to thank Fullerton's own Travis Kiger and Jack Dean for forwarding a link that answers this question (as if you didn't already know).  During last year's election I proposed a plan to improve police and fire services while cutting costs to taxpayers.  I suggested the City of Fullerton hire more reserve police officers and begin hiring reserve firefighters.  I caught flack from everyone and for various reasons. 

Some said the unions wouldn't allow it, as if the unions ran the City, and therefore shouldn't bother with it.  Others said it would result in poor service and create dangerous conditions.

That idea is has been implemented in Redlands California where it has proved to be a massive savings for tax payers while improving the actual services.

The story at Governing.com features Redlands PD describes what has happened after drastic cuts were made.  The following is a brief excerpt. 

At a time when most city and local governments are preparing to do less with less, officials in Redlands are taking a different approach: They’re attempting to maintain current levels of service through other means. Ramping up the use of volunteers is one of them.

It’s easy to see why. Three years ago, the police department in Redlands, a city of 71,000 people east of Los Angeles, had 98 sworn officers, 208 civilians and about two dozen volunteers. The police budget was $23.8 million, nearly half of the city’s operating budget. Today, the department employs 75 sworn officers and 138 civilians and relies on 291 active volunteers, who last year contributed more than 31,000 hours of their time to the city.

Later the article says, Pleas read the article and discover how Fullerton might incorporate some of the solutions Redlands has implemented.  As the article suggests, "Do-it-yourself government is here for good."

“We have fewer resources,” says City Manager N. Enrique Martinez. “We had to cut staff. My challenge is to maintain the same service level if not better. The public is not interested in whether you have 15 fewer people than before or not.”

Nor should they be. At least that’s the argument Police Chief Jim Bueermann makes. “The fallback position for most local government bureaucrats like me,” he says, “is that it’s so much easier to say, ‘We have $3 million less so you are going to get fewer services.’ But there are multiple ways to get to the outcomes that taxpayers expect their police department is going to deliver.” Prominent among them are a greater reliance on technology and a greater use of volunteers.