Preview: 4/21/26 City council meeting
Meeting Summary
The April 21 Fullerton City Council meeting will focus mainly on how the city plans to spend money on fixing roads, along with updates on staffing shortages and a proposal to regulate kratom sales. Council will also review some administrative updates, like reorganizing the city’s municipal code. There will also be a presentation on the planned forensic audit.
View the full agenda and staff attachments here: Fullerton City Council Agenda
Presentation
Grant Thornton Risk Advisory Services will be making a presentation on a Special Fiscal Audit. Limited information is available at this time, but this is certainly related to the recent budget misclassification error.
Appointments
Mayor Pro Tem Dunlap has an appointment to the Community Development Citizens Committee. This committee provides input on how to use CDBG grant funds which come from the federal government. These funds are intended to benefit low and moderate income communities, or address blight/urgent needs.
Consent calendar (Items 1-11)
The consent calendar are typically routine items that are passed in bulk by the City Council. Any item can be pulled from the consent calendar by a single City Councilmember for a separate vote and/or discussion
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The minutes of the prior 2 City Council meetings. This documents the events that took place in writing
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This is a report on the attendance and activity of city committees. These committees refine policy and make recommendations to City Council.
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This is a list of every payment the city made in March. It lists who was paid, how much, and what for.
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This item was passed last meeting but, since it is an ordinance, it must be approved twice. The second vote is almost always on the consent calendar.
This ordinance increases fines and penalties for illegal cannabis dispensaries.
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The city is fixing a technical mistake about who officially represents Fullerton on a regional risk management board (basically the city’s insurance pool)
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The council is required to approve the police department’s policy on using certain equipment labeled as “military.” The definition of military equipment is broad and includes things like drones and equipment used by civilians. State law requires this approval annually
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The city is considering pursuing a lawsuit against fire truck manufacturers for potential price-fixing (anticompetitive behavior).
Here is an example given by staff of how fire truck prices have skyrocketed way beyond inflation:
1999: $339k
2015: $475k
2019: $751k
2023: $2.2 million
The city is concerned that the manufacturers may be colluding or consolidating in a way that drives up prices artificially.
This item would retain legal services to explore a potential lawsuit. The law firm would be hired on contingency, meaning there is no upfront costs, but they would receive 30% of any money received should the city decide to sue.
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Fullerton is joining Anaheim, Brea, and Orange to sync traffic lights along State College Blvd. These projects sync up the lights so drivers hit more greens in a row, reducing congestion and travel time.
80% of the cost comes from OCTA (Orange County Transportation Authority) with Fullerton paying about $202k. This money is already budgeted for infrastructure improvements.
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The city is approving contracts to buy and replace water meters every year. When water meters are old, they become inaccurate, meaning residents are undercharged for their water use. The city loses revenue in this case. Essentially: more accurate billing = more consistent city revenue.
This is funded by the water enterprise fund which comes from residents’ water bills. These funds have to be used on this utility service.
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Major street repair project near Beechwood Elementary. About 1.5 miles of street. This project will fix the pavement, sidewalks, curbs, and ramps.
This street is rated very poor and will be restored to like-new conditions. Since this is near a school, the project will take place over summer break
The bid came in about 23% below what was expected. The total cost of the project is ~$1.78 million and comes from multiple funds:
$1.2 million from infrastructure fund
$605k from Measure M2 (this comes from the county sales tax and is restricted to transportation uses)
$60k from sewer fund (some of the work overlaps with sewer improvements)
$205k from the general fund (this is the fund that city council can choose how to spend throughout the year)
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Another street rehab project (smaller area near a school + park). 0.4 miles of streets + 1 alleys. Same type of repairs as item 10. Street is in very poor condition
Total cost is $549k:
$350k from CDBG (this is federal money for low-moderate income communities)
$11k from sewer
$305k from general fund (City Council’s discretionary monies)
Public Hearings (items 12 & 13)
A public hearing is a formal part of a council meeting where the public is specifically invited to speak on a particular item before the council makes a decision (or receives a report). Everything said in a public hearing becomes part of the official record and can be used in legal challenges against the decision of the City Council
12. Vacancy Report (Recruitment & Retention)
What This Is: The city is required by state law to publicly report on staffing shortages and hiring efforts once per year. There is no action to be taken on this item; it is purely informational.
Deeper Dive: The city is still understaffed, especially at the executive level. 27% of executive positions are not filled with a permanent staff member. This is important as the executives are the decision-makers and provide oversight. Notably, Fullerton has not had a full-time finance director since Ellis Chang departed in 2025.
Another important point regarding vacancies is that they are often the first thing to be cut when a city experiences a budget deficit. These vacant positions are still budgeted for, so cities will often cut these positions because it doesn’t require laying off current staff.
13. Recodification of Municipal Code
What This Is: The city is reorganizing and cleaning up its entire municipal code (city laws). This includes renumbering sections, changing outdated language, and making it more accessible. Staff claims there are no policy changes. City Council are being asked to adopt the new municipal code
Deeper Dive: The newly drafted municipal code was not provided in the meeting materials. While staff claims that there are no policy changes, there’s no way for the public to verify that claim. Since this is an ordinance, it needs to be voted on twice to pass. Staff should include the draft municipal code at the next meeting so the public can review the changes before the new code is adopted.
Regular Business (Items 14-16)
14. SB 1 Funds Allocation
What This Is: SB 1 is a state law that raised the “gas tax” that funds road repairs. The city has ~$4 million in these funds. Staff is seeking City Council approval to spend these funds on the Rancho-Verona-Yucca neighborhood and State College.
Deeper Dive: ~$3.7 million would go to Rancho-Verona-Yucca which would rehab ~2.8 miles of streets. ~$336k would go to supplementing road repairs on State College. These streets were chosen due to their poor road quality and recent water main replacements (this is always a major factor as to replace water mains requires tearing up the road. Recent replacement → not having to tear up new road).
The location of the two repairs is below
State College Repairs (this project was already approved. Funding would be supplemental)
Rancho-Verona-Yucca Rehab
15. Street Rehab Plan
What This Is: This item is a plan for street repairs for the upcoming fiscal year. This is not a vote on any specific projects, but rather a vote on whether the plan is the correct approach.
Deeper Dive: The city has ~$12.6 million to spend on roads. Here’s where that money comes from, along with the recent, current, and planned street projects:
SB 1 is the gas tax increase. Measure M2 is a county sales tax to fund transportation. CDBG is the fund for low-moderate income community improvements.
Recent street projects
Current street projects
Planned street projects
16. Kratom Regulations
What This Is: The city is proposing a new law restricting the sale and distribution of kratom products in Fullerton. This is not a full ban, but it’s a regulated restriction. Staff is seeking approval of the regulations.
Deeper Dive: Kratom is a tree whose leaves can be used similarly to a stimulant or opioid depending on the dosage. This ordinance would prohibit sales of kratom: to people under 21, products with greater than 2% of the most harmful substance (7-hydroxymitragynine), and products with packaging that appeals to children.
Penalties could result in a misdemeanor, up to $1,000 fine, and/or 6 months in jail.
