Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Tustin public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
7 issues with critical priority
Fiscal Year 2025-2026 General Fund Closeout and Financial Health
The city closed out the fiscal year with a balanced budget, a 33% reserve fund, and stable revenue growth from sales and property taxes. While city leaders celebrated the strong financial footing and investments in parks and Old Town, council members debated ongoing long-term obligations like pension costs and temporary shelter funding.
Capital Improvement Projects and Park Upgrades
The city is moving forward with several key projects, including the completion of the Camino Real Park playground, Old Town Tustin street improvements, value engineering for Legacy Park Phase 2, a new community-designed mural at the Tustin Family Youth Center, and a pilot micro-gallery project.
Downtown and Red Hill Specific Plan Code Amendments
A local student raised concerns about pedestrian safety and walkability along Red Hill Avenue, urging the council to rethink the 2018-2019 specific plan to avoid overly wide streets.
Enderle Center Mixed-Use Redevelopment
Burnham Ward Properties and Intracorp are transforming the aging 16-acre Enderle Shopping Center into 100 townhomes and modernized retail space, featuring a town green and local favorites like Zov's. While city leaders praised the project for revitalizing a tired corridor and avoiding massive high-density state mandates, several residents voiced worries about increased traffic, loss of cut-through streets, and the displacement of longtime small businesses like Chemers Gallery.
South Hangar Competitive Offering
The city is moving forward with a competitive offering process to test the market for potential reuse or development partners for the historic South Hangar. Maintaining the status quo costs over a million dollars annually in security and maintenance, while full rehabilitation would cost hundreds of millions.
Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Preliminary Budget and Sustainability Strategy
The council adopted a balanced $123 million operating and capital budget that keeps public safety as its top focus and maintains healthy general fund reserves above 20 percent. The spending plan continues progress on paying down unfunded pension liabilities.
Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Mid-Year Budget & Surplus
Tustin's mid-year budget shows a positive $600,000 operating surplus rather than a projected deficit, allowing the city to maintain a 24% reserve without needing land sale proceeds for day-to-day operations.