budget

Argued that CDBG funding allocations for seniors, students, and homeless individuals are insufficient and requested meetings at senior centers.

Congratulated long-serving staff, praised garbage collection services, and reminded residents to vote early.

Expressed concern that eliminating the city's book purchasing budget could negatively impact donor motivation and future foundation donations if donors feel city obligations are being shifted onto private giving.

Shared that bookstore customers are happy to support library programs and emphasized the critical importance of keeping essential staff positions fully funded.

Criticized council leadership for the budget deficit and urged against significant cuts to public safety, libraries, and public works.

Suggested cutting expensive events like First Night and Fourth of July fireworks if funds are tight, and noted low participation in the resident budget survey.

Advocated for protecting frontline staff in police, fire, and economic development, utilizing limited reserves, and studying a charter city framework and regional service consolidation.

Expressed opposition to privatizing city services, selling property, or cutting essential departments, and called for focusing on economic development.

Thanked staff for the budget workshops and emphasized that budgets are moral documents that reflect community values and need to protect city employees.

Supported keeping the in-house paramedic service and opposed any privatization of the water department.

Opposed contracting out police and fire services, warning it hurts response times, and urged council unity.

Discussed the history of Fullerton's fire department decisions and urged council members to work together instead of fighting.

Suggested looking into contracting police and fire services like neighboring cities and exploring the sale of vacant city-owned properties and the airport.

Argued Fullerton's problem is revenue, not spending, and suggested cutting council health benefits, allowing cannabis shops, and boosting economic development.

Shared personal stories of how police and fire departments saved her family, emphasizing the critical importance of municipal services.

Appreciated the department breakdown in the budget report, opposed using reserves, and supported a dedicated road tax with a sunset clause.

Judy reported on the Friends of the Library's highly successful two-day book and art sale, which raised over $15,000 to support library programs.

Requested improved department-by-department budget transparency and highlighted bicycle theft security issues at the train station.

Inquired about pesticide use in city waterways, praised the financial audit, and suggested flexible working-class parking solutions.

Praised recent joint military-civilian ruck run events and supported recovering prior audit costs.

Supported the temporary spending resolution and praised Grant Thornton's fact-finding approach over political speculation.

Criticized council leadership and financial management, raising concerns about community trust and budget accountability.

Raised concerns regarding past budget discrepancies, auditing issues, and ethics compliance related to staff and consultants.

Reiterated concerns about the lack of a proposed budget and community budget meetings.

Expressed general opposition to sales tax increases due to government waste, but acknowledged Fullerton's pressing need to fund streets and public safety.

A retired librarian expressed deep emotional resonance with trustees regarding the vital importance of the book budget to the identity of a public library.

Criticized staff for presenting repetitive PowerPoint presentations and urged the committee to push back and wait for the Grant Thornton audit results before acting.

Asked for clarification on whether the proposed cuts actually solve the $13 million deficit and recommended utilizing the existing infrastructure fund instead of threatening public safety cuts.

Expressed frustration with historical budget tracking issues and questioned the timing of the meeting before the independent audit results were finalized.

Praised city staff for doing a great job with limited resources and urged the committee not to make further cuts to essential services.

Thanked staff for the detailed presentations, noted that comparisons show Fullerton is not bloated, and suggested that passing any tax increase will be difficult without a unified council.

Expressed appreciation for city services and suggested that departments focus on revenue-generating strategies rather than just spending cuts.

Praised city staff for professionalism and criticized council ad-hoc committee interference in waste disposal procurement.

A resident and business owner praised the city's proactive PFAS response and suggested exploring 30-day water billing cycles and real-time meter monitoring to improve cash flow and leak detection.

Called for an independent investigation into budget errors and misallocated funds.

Asked detailed questions about budget allocations and expressed concern over out-of-character multi-unit development in historic preservation zones.

Commended city staff for transparency regarding budget errors but urged the council to support an independent investigation.

Advocated for expanded homeless services, shelter beds at Rancho La Paz, senior transportation, and better street repairs in partnership with OCTA.

Raised concerns regarding past closed-session policy direction and criticized mayoral ballot statements regarding deficits and parks.

Requested curbs and sidewalks for elementary school children walking to Orange Thorpe Elementary and criticized local road conditions and budget deficits.

Expressed concern that ICE raids are impacting local sales tax revenue and asked council for creative revenue solutions and vision.

Called in to request that staff send out email notifications to program participants regarding any approved transportation changes so seniors are aware of how it impacts them.

Proposed exploring a city-operated wooden trolley system to connect downtown Fullerton, medical facilities, colleges, and the community center as an alternative transportation solution.

Criticized deficit spending, road conditions, and mayoral rotation policies, but praised business owners improving local properties.