Bring the joy of art and creativity to individuals who have experienced challenging circumstances. The Muckenthaler will be partnered with the Women’s Transitional Living Center and for three months per session we will be offering art lessons and interactive programming.

Volunteers who are interested will be expected to donate their time for two weeks a month from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for three months.

Please contact Arts Education Director Adam England at 714.738.3134 or adam@themuck.org by June 29, 2012

Fullerton became home today to Orange County’s first Biodiesel and FlexFuel E85 gas station. Operated by Propel Fuels, the filling station is on the southwest corner of Raymond and Chapman Avenues, at 1124 E. Chapman Ave.

Fullerton was chosen for the station because of its “large existing vehicle base ready for renewable fuel adoption and awareness,” according to Propel Fuels CEO Matt Horton. Specifically, students of Cal State Fullerton are among the likely buyers of new fuels.

In addition to the new fuel availability in the region, the company provides customers the option to purchase a $1 carbon offset credit to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the fuel.

Currently there are five other Propel stations in the southland and the company plans to open 200 through 2013.

An explosive City Council meeting was rocked Tuesday by a surprise announcement that the city has reached a $1 million dollar settlement with Cathy Thomas for the death of her son Kelly.

The announcement, which drew some gasps from the standing-room-only crowd, came five minutes into the meeting as City Attorney Richard Jones gave the closed session report.

Jones read from a prepared statement:

“In exchange for the payment of $1 million by the city to Ms. Thomas, Ms. Thomas has chosen to forego pursuing her potential claims against the city and its police officers arising from the death of her son. Resolution of Ms. Thomas’ claim at this time allows her to begin the healing process and avoid what would likely be protracted, expensive and difficult civil litigations.”

Ms. Thomas was not present in council chambers Tuesday.

Outside council chambers, Ron Thomas, Kelly’s father, said he was surprised by his ex-wife’s settlement. “She felt it was the right thing for her to do.  I support her.”

Later Thomas added, “I know she’s hurting really bad. She’s not as strong as I am by any means.”

In regards to the amount of the settlement and whether it could impact his own civil case against the city, Thomas said, “It frees up my attorney and I to do what we need to do.  We don’t have [dollar] amounts in mind.  I’m all about the criminal case now.  I don’t know about civil.”

He added, “Will I sue the shit out of the city?  Yes.  And that’s with a capital ‘S’. All of the money will go to the Kelly Thomas Memorial Foundation.”

Tuesday’s council meeting was the first since the public release of the long-sought video of the July 5, 2011 incident between Kelly Thomas and Fullerton Police. The video was released last week during the preliminary hearing of the two officers charged in the case.

With their anger reignited by the sounds and images of the fatal encounter, citizens, visitors from other cities and Kelly’s Army members converged on City Hall to express their outrage.

“The blood of Kelly Thomas is on the hands of this city!” Pastor Wiley Drake’s voice boomed through chambers. “You will see God’s wrath continue to fall because the blood is on your hands!”

More than 40 people spoke during public comments, which the Council limited to two minutes each. Spectators wearing Guy Fawkes masks sat in the back row waving posters that read “Wanted—Officer Wolfe.” In the video, Fullerton Police Officer Joe Wolfe is seen administering the first baton strike to Kelly.

Addressing Acting Police Chief Dan Hughes, Barry Levinson wondered why Wolfe is still on paid leave.  “He instigated the illegal butchering of (Kelly Thomas). Why is he on a holiday on our taxpayer expense?”

Others called for Hughes to take action against all six officers involved.

“I guess I was one of the 95 million people that watched that video,” Michelle Kearney said. “Dan, the only way this can ever be fixed is if you fire every single one of them.”

Mayor Sharon Quirk-Silva offered her condolences to the Thomas family. “I know this has not only been heart-wrenching for Mr. Thomas, his friends, Kelly’s Army, but also for us here in our city, for those in the audience or watching on TV. This has been heart wrenching, watching the video last week. It’s been a challenging week and a challenging year.”

Thomas said he received phone calls from Council members Pat McKinley and F. Richard Jones on Monday. “Both apologized to me,” Thomas later said. “I respect that. I believe they were sincere.”

Homeless and Mental Health Task Force Presents Goals
Earlier in the day, the Council held a study session on the report by the Homeless and Mental Health Task Force. Task Force chair Rusty Kennedy presented eight recommendations for the city to pursue.  The meeting was attended by eight Task Force members, six candidates seeking to replace sitting Council members should they be recalled, and several members of the public.

The Council will consider the recommendations as a Regular Business Item at the June 5 meeting.

Council Adopts Revised Budget
In a 4-1 vote (Whitaker opposed), the City Council adopted the Revised Budget and Capital Improvement Program for the 2012-13 fiscal year.

The proposed budget reflects total General Operating Funds revenues and expenditures of $73.2 million including transfers. The projected General Operating Funds reserve at June 30, 2013 is projected to remain at $9.9 million, or $2.6 million higher than the required 10 percent.

At the May 1 City Council meeting, the budget proposal as presented contained a $1.4 million deficit. The Council continued the hearing to allow staff to quantify revenue-generating and cost-cutting measures to be implemented throughout the year.

The updated budget presented Tuesday included $553,400 in additional revenues and $880,000 in cost reductions/savings.

But some residents questioned the revenue figures the city inserted in the updated budget. “$20,000 in outdoor dining (fees) is awfully rosy,” Greg Sebourn argued. “I don’t see that as being plausible.”

Barry Levinson pointed out that there is nothing estimated in the budget for the lawsuits facing the city.

Noting the removal of the “in lieu” franchise water fee from the General Fund, Council member Whitaker said he was in disagreement with some revenue sources for the water fund. “For that reason I’ll be voting no.

OCTA Bike-Share Project Moves Forward
In a 5-0 vote, the City Council approved the city’s participation in the Orange County Transportation Authority’s bike-share pilot program for a five-year period. City Planner Jay Eastman said the program will allow cyclists to rent bicycles from 15 bike stations located throughout the city. The project is expected to provide a link between downtown transportation centers and the city’s colleges and universities.

Eastman said the OCTA is in the process of locating a vendor to install, operate and maintain the bike-share project. Since the vendor would be on contract with OCTA, there would be essentially no costs to the city, he added.

Fullerton was chosen because of its high train ridership, an active downtown, a network of bike racks already established and a number of universities concentrated in one location.

“I think it’s an exciting program,” Quirk-Silva said. “It’s one of the things we want to see in sustainable communities.”

Tow Franchise Process to Start Anew

After a 3-2 vote (Council members McKinley and Bankhead opposed), the City Council will begin the request for proposals (RFP) on the police department tow franchise awards again.

On Feb. 7, the police department provided a recommendation to the City Council to award tow franchises to Anaheim/Fullerton Towing and To’ and Mo’ Towing. But after questions were raised about the RFP process and bias on the part of the department, The City Council voted to continue the item. The city hired consultants David Mihalik and Henry Boggs to conduct a review of the RFP process.

But Council member Bruce Whitaker said Tuesday that the Mihalik and Boggs report was just a “superficial review of the evaluation from the first go-around” and did not meet his objectives of finding a third-party evaluator to re-do the process.

Council member McKinley disagreed. “If we open this up, we’ll have to go through the whole process again and this will go on and on and on. We’ve been at it four years. Nothing is for sure on anything but I think that both Anaheim Towing and To’ and Mo’ will represent us very well.”

Whitaker reminded the Council that the previous process generated a lawsuit against the city and many complaints.

“There’s a strong perception among all that it was a flawed process,” Whitaker said. “If there’s an attempt to cram this through, its not going to accomplish what we need: a clean, arms-length outcome. I’d like to be assured that process was considered without bias and would be likely not to generate new actions against the city. If that takes a few months I think it’s worth it.”

Fullerton Skate Park to Reopen
In a 5-0 vote, the Council agreed to reopen the skate park at Independence Park. City staff has been working jointly with the Skate Park Ad-Hoc Committee and the Fullerton Skate Park Association since the issue was brought to the City Council Feb. 2.

The Skate Park Association has agreed to assist with the overall operations and maintenance of the park, including graffiti removal and monitoring of activities during peak times.

A one-time cost to the city for fencing and other improvements is estimated at $50,000.

The skate park was closed in March 2010 because of illicit activities including illegal drug sales and consumption.

Scott Minton, chair of the Ad-Hoc Committee vowed things will be different this time.

“This is a great group of people and there’s a lot of potential here. These are not the same type of people when you think about things that happened at the skate park before.” 

5/5 Unknown Trouble – A female says her brother is bleeding to death on the 400 block of E. Truslow Avenue at 11:05 p.m. The brother was taken to U.C.I.

5/6 – Sex Offender Check – An officer from the Orange Parole Sex Offenders told police that high risk offender Scott Ede has a GPS device on him on the 1900 block of Rayner Avenue at 8:16 a.m. Their department got a message that the GPS is going to get turned off, and they want a Fullerton police officer to violate him. Police arrived but were unable to locate Mr. Ede.

5/6 Prowler – A woman says she can see a man hiding behind a tree in her backyard on the 400 block of E. Truslow Avenue at 9:42 p.m. Police checked the area but were unable to find him.

5/6 Burglary – Back Alley Bar. 116 W. Wilshire Avenue. 1:58 a.m.

5/6 Fight – Security guards at the Tuscany Club have two subjects detained for assaulting their bouncers at 12:40 a.m. Police arrived and cited 22-year-old Mission Viejo resident Christine Georg Hamassian for assault.

5/6 Auto Theft – N. Harbor Boulevard, W. Amerige Avenue. 12:25 a.m.

5/6 Vandalism – A caller discovered that vandals spray painted the 6^th grade classrooms and the auditorium at the Acacia School at 12:47 p.m.

5/6 Suspicious Persons – A caller says a man and woman who have been living in a tent on Hughes Drive and Bastanchury Road for the past four months have built a fire.

5/6 ID Theft – 2300 block Iris Court. 12:03 p.m.

5/6 Grand Theft – Fullerton College. 10:52 a.m.

5/6 Vandalism – Someone painted huge letters across the cafeteria wall at the Acacia School. 9 a.m.

5/6 Auto Theft – S. Magnolia Avenue and Carol Drive.

5/7 Burglary - 300 block E. Chapman Avenue. 7:34 p.m.

5/7 Petty Theft – Someone stole an accordion from the Uno Produce Market, a caller told police at 8:16 p.m. The victim said the instrument cost $300.

5/7 Hit and Run – A white Toyota F150 with the license plate 7Y1668 hit a black Toyota Corolla in the Starbucks parking lot at 5:29 p.m.

5/7 Petty Theft – Richman Elementary School. 4:42 p.m.

5/7 Petty Theft – A bike was stolen from N. Harbor Boulevard and W. Commonwealth Avenue at 4:36 p.m.

5/7 Probation Check – Police arrested 21-year-old Matthew Thomas Plascencia on the 100 block of S. Turner Avenue for violating probation.

5/7 Burglary – 2600 block W. Orangethorpe Avenue. 4:05 p.m.

5/7 Disturbance of the Peace – Police arrested 27-year-old Matthew Benjamin Garcia after a call to the 300 block of N. Hale Avenue at 3:37 p.m.

5/7 Burglary – 610 Oak Tree Street – Residential, 12:40 p.m.

5/7 Burglary – A caller discovered a silver Honda Accord was broken into on the 500 block of E. Imperial Highway at 6:48 a.m.

5/7 Burglary – An intruder threw a rock threw the front door to gain access to the Aspen Animal Hospital at 800 E. Commonwealth Avenue.The crime was discovered at 8:18 a.m.

5/7 Vandalism – Woodcrest School. 7:03 a.m.

5/7 Hit and Run – A red Toyota Tacoma license plate 8N74826 hit a white Volkswagon Beetle in the parking lot of the Bourbon Street Bar and Grill at 1:57 a.m. The driver of the Tacoma left the scene headed westbound.

5/7 Vandalism/Burglary – A caller heard a crash shortly after midnight on the 600 block of S. Hawthorne Avenue. The caller went outside and found the window smashed on a white Ford SUV, and a brick lying on the ground. Another witness saw a newer model 4 door pick-up leave the scene heading southbound on Hawthorne Avenue and then eastbound on W Southgate Avenue.

5/8 Public Assistance – A male at the front desk of the Fullerton Police Department is distraught over his d-friend of eight years moving to Oregon and joining the military at 11:23 p.m. Reports say Police were able to assist the man.

5/8 Suspicious Circumstances – A caller wants police to come to 1253 W. Orangethorpe Avenue to check on a man selling tacos illegally out of the back of a pick-up at 7:05 p.m.

5/8 Fraud – An Autozone employee says someone paid with a fake $100 30 minutes ago at the store at 102 N. Euclid Street at 6:48 p.m. The manager wants police to come and take a report.

5/8 Suspicious Circumstances – A caller thinks the man on the 2600 block of Andover Avenue may be trying to poison the neighborhood cats at 5:29 p.m. The caller says friends found cat food and suspicious blue pellets in the neighbor’s garden.

5/8 Probation Check – 714 Leafwood Court.5:27 p.m. Checked okay.

5/8 Probation Check – 236 Poplar Street, Brea.  5:14 p.m. Checked okay.

5/8 Probation Check – 820 Willow Drive, Brea. 4:49 p.m. Checked okay.

 5/8 ID Theft – 1800 block Brea Boulevard. 4:42 p.m.

5/8 Disturbance of the Peace – A man says his neighbor cut the tree on his patio on the 400 block of W. Malvern Avenue while he was on vacation last week. He wants an officer to contact her at 4:30 p.m. Police arrived, and eventually conducted a crime scene investigation.

5/8 Petty Theft – An Apple iPhone 4S was stolen at Parks Jr. High, and reported at 4:32 p.m.

5/8 ID Theft – Cedar Hills Mobile Homes, 2851 E. Rolling Hills Drive. 3:35 p.m.

5/8 Fraud. 1500 block Conejo Lane. 3:a53 p.m.

5/8 Petty Theft – 1700 block W. Malvern Avenue. 2:38 p.m.

5/8 Burglary – A house was broken into during the day on the 3100 block Puente Street while a woman was away for only 20 minutes. She called police at 11:32 a.m.

5/8 Department Assist – An OCTA bus is on fire at E. Commonwealth Avenue and N. Lemon Street at 10:19 a.m.

5/8 Dead Body – A 59-year-old man is dead on the 1300 block of S. Vine Avenue.

5/8 Burglary – A gold Honda Accord was broken to the front of 2347 West Avenue. 7:12 a.m.

5/8 Burglary – A white Honda Civic was broken into on the second floor of the Bus Depot Parking Structure.

5/9 Public Assist – A caller’s stolen phone is mapping to a home on the 400 block of Ximeno Drive. Burglaries were reported around the corner on Las Riendas Drive and E. Cienega Drive last week.

5/9 Dead Body – An 87-year-old man has died on the 200 block of E. Amerige Avenue at 4:23 p.m. 

5/9 Suicide Threats – A caller’s 80-year-old intoxicated father told the caller he bought a bullet and that “he is ready to go” at his home on the 2200 block of Avenida Soledad at 11:44 p.m. The caller only knows of one b.b. gun in the home. The fire department is on the way. The case was eventually referred to another agency, police reports say.

5/9 ID Theft – 1800 W. Malvern Avenue. 6:51 p.m.

5/9 Fraud – 200 block N. Alberta Place. 5:59 p.m.

5/9 Fraud – 500 block W. Ash Avenue. 2:04 p.m.

5/10 Department Assist/Dead Body – A security guard found a 40-year-old man hunched over in the planter at Halloween City at 1361 S. Harbor Boulevard shortly before 8:30 p.m. The security guard called 911, then performed CPR on the man until the fire department arrived. Paramedics tried, but were unable to revive him, and the man died at the scene. Sgt. Jeff Stuart said the man was from Anaheim, and that he was in fact 55-years-old. His name is being withheld until relatives can be notified. Police said they found no evidence of foul play.

5/10 Suicide Threats – A caller says a friend is distraught over her 27-year-old son’s death from cancer. The caller would like police to check on her at her home on the 500 block of E. Commonweatlh Avenue at 8:30 p.m. Police arrived and determined that everything “checked okay”.

5/10 Forgery – A Sally’s Beauty Supply customer who wrote fraudulent checks is now at the business at 936 W. Orangethorpe Avenue at 7:13 p.m. The caller says she’s white, and has blond hair.

5/10 Grand Theft – 400 block W. Brookdale Place. 5:42 p.m.

5/10 Auto Theft – A 1997 Nissan Pickup was stolen from 911 E. Wilshire Avenue sometime between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

5/10 Department Assist – An employee from Orange County Social Services is at a home on the 200 block of W. Union Avenue because of a 1-year-old baby there who ingested and tested positive for cocaine. Both parents are home at 12:51 p.m.

5/10 Family Disturbance – A caller’s dad threw a bottle at her mother’s head at their home on the 2000 block of Foothill Drive. Now the father is threatening her and her mother at 12:45 p.m. Police arrived and arrested 47-year-old Herrt Tuj Kuym for inflicting visible injury on a spouse. Mr. Kuym was later released on bail.

5/10 Transient Problem – A caller is complaining about a man sleeping at the bus stop at W. Orangethorpe Avenue and S. Harbor Boulevard at 5:23 a.m. The caller wants the person moved along. Police arrived and determined the person was not sleeping, but in fact waiting for the bus.

5/10 Suicide Attempt – A caller says a woman has taken pills and slit her wrists on the 1100 block of W. Porter Avenue. The caller says she isn’t bleeding much.

5/10 Robbery – A white man with a beanie and a gun robbed the Subway at 908 W. Orangethorpe Avenue at 8:31 p.m. He left the scene running towards the back of the store.

5/11 Robbery – A 40-year-old man with a black handgun robbed the Subway at 2451 E. Orangethorpe Avenue at 9:19 p.m.

5/11 Auto Theft – Police tried to stop a maroon Dodge 1500 pick-up near Euclid Street and Wilshire Avenue that was reported stolen out of Buena Park shortly after 11 p.m. May 11^th. The driver tried to outrun the patrol car, but ended up crashing through a fence and into an Orange County flood control channel. The car flipped and ended up upside down in the bottom of the channel. The driver, 22-year-old Aurelio Paul Ramos-Navarette, ran and hid in a tunnel, but “re-emerged and fired at the officers” Sgt. Jeff Stuart said. Police shot back, and Ramos-Navarette died. They then turned to Mr. Ramos-Vavarette’s passenger, 21-year-old Diego Alejandro Figueroa, who hails from Utah. They arrested him, so far, for only auto-theft. Now he’s in Orange County Jail, in the medical unit.

5/11 Suspicious Person/Burglary – A woman called police after she caught pair of teenagers walking into her backyard on the 1300 block of W. Porter Avenue at 3:14 p.m. When she confronted one of them—a 17-year-old wearing plaid shorts, white socks and a white shirt—he said he was looking for his friend, Jose. The female was on a bike. Both were Hispanic. The caller checked the area and everything seemed okay. But two hours later she called police and realized her home had been burglarized.

5/11 Fight – A fight erupted on the sidewalk in front of 522 S. Raymond Avenue when one man hit another on the head with a bottle at 9:37 p.m. Police arrived and arrested 45-year-old Christopher Allen Lasley, a homeless man from Fullerton, the day before his 46^th birthday. They sent him to the medical unit of Orange County Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

5/11 Vandalism – 700 S. Hawthorne Avenue. 5:04 p.m.

5/11 Fraud – 200 block E. Amerige Avenue. 3:41 p.m.

5/11 Patrol Check – A caller wants to alert police about a solicitor who keeps coming to the caller’s home on the 700 block of W. Valencia Mesa Drive. The solicitor has returned three times. The caller wants police to patrol the area 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

5/11 Department Assist – An employee at Mental Health on Commonwealth Drive requests assistance while they place a patient on a 5150 psychiatric hold at 9:34 a.m. The employee says he is unpredictable, and may become angry.

5/11 Disturbance of the Peace – A white man in a crossing uniform is waving a sign that says “F___ the Cops” while he yells at passing vehicles in front of the Bank of America at 401 N. Harbor Boulevard at 2:11 p.m. Police arrived but were unable to locate the man or the sign.

5/12 Welfare Check – A transient appears to be asleep behind the Yogurt Club Love Swirl near Blockbuster Video at 8:58 p.m. The caller is concerned for the person’s health. Police arrived but no one was there.

5/12 Vandalism – Vandals painted the garage doors and vehicles parked on the 100 block of N. Prichard Avenue at 8:32 p.m.

5/12 Vandalism – A group of “gang-types” vandalized a power-box with blue markers at the corner of N. Gilbert Street and W. Malvern Avenue at 6:04 p.m. One was a 5’7”, 20-year-old Hispanic man with a shaved head. He wrote “Barrio” and “RIP” on the power-box.

5/12 Burglary – 2200 Derek Drive, off of Bastanchury Road and Associated Road.

5/12 Petty Theft – 2100 block W. Porter Avenue. 3:54 p.m. Look for a pair of Hispanic teenagers, one male and one female, on bikes.

5/12 Keep the Peace – A caller wants an officer to come to his home on the 1800 block of E. Commonwealth Avenue because a neighbor keeps yelling at and bestowing the caller with offensive names. Police arrived sometime after the original 4:53 p.m. report and “assisted” the dueling neighbors.

5/12 Hit and Run – A suspect driving an older-model beige Lexus 4-door sedan hit a green Dodge Stratus parked behind Stater Brothers on 1040 E. Bastanchury Road at 2:52 p.m. The suspect left the scene headed westbound on Bastanchury Road.

5/12 Auto Theft – A man in a beat-up black Honda Accord license plate 6PR5813 pulled up so fast in the parking garage of the City Point Apartments that he hit a wall. He got out and left the scene running towards Starbucks at 2:22 p.m. The vehicle is smoking.

5/12 Burglary – A house was burglarized on the 2100 block of W. Walnut Avenue. 11:30 p.m.

5/12 Found Property – A caller who just moved into an apartment on the 3100 block of Quartz Land found an urn full of ashes in the garage.

5/12 Burglary – United Dental Group in Pier One, 1961 W. Malvern Avenue.

5/12 Fraud – 300 block Cienage Drive. The victim of this crime lives around the corner from a home on the 400 block of Ximeno Drive where a stolen cell phone was mapping to May 9^th. Both homes are directly off of Imperial Highway and Palm Street.

5/12 Burglary – A thief stole the catalytic converter out of a Toyota 4-Runner parked on the 1200 block of W. Jacaranda Place. The victim discovered the crime at 7:45 p.m.

The exhibition includes prints and objects from the Combat Paper Collection assembled through nationwide workshops, as well as artworks created in a Muckenthaler workshop called “Combat Paper: Uniforms into Handmade Paper” (June 3 to June 6) to be held at the Cultural Center. The special veterans workshop is free to veterans and their families.

“Combat Paper: Uniforms into Handmade Paper” will be instructed by Drew Cameron, a hand papermaker, printer and book artist based in San Francisco, CA. Cameron earned his degree in Forestry from the University of Vermont and served in the US Army from 2000-06.

The Combat Paper Project utilizes art making workshops to assist veterans in reconciling and sharing their personal experiences as well as broadening the traditional narrative surrounding service and the military culture.
Through papermaking workshops veterans use their uniforms worn in combat to create cathartic works of art. The uniforms are cut up, beaten into a pulp and formed into sheets of paper. Veterans use the transformative process of papermaking to reclaim their uniform as art and begin to embrace their experiences in the military.

The Combat Paper Project is based out of art studios throughout the United States and has traveled to Canada and the United Kingdom, providing veterans workshops, exhibitions, performances and artists’ talks. This project is made possible by a multifaceted collaboration between artists, art collectors, academic institutions and veterans. The Combat Paper exhibition will run from June 21 to August 19.

The ad hoc committee tasked with assessing the needs of Fullerton’s homeless and mentally ill population has completed the first phase of its work and will present its recommendations to the City Council in a special study session Tuesday.

Rusty Kennedy, chair of the Fullerton Task Force on Homelessness and Mental Health Services, confirmed the following eight recommendations will go before the Council:

• Year-Round Shelter: Collaborate with the County of Orange and surrounding cities to identify and secure a site to create a regional, year-round multi-service center that includes a low-threshold emergency shelter for the homeless.

• Census and Needs Assessment of Homeless: Direct city staff to work with Mercy House and/or other organizations to conduct a census and needs assessment of Fullerton’s homeless population.

• Information Accessibility: Direct city staff to identify specific opportunities to disseminate information to the homeless, including bulletin boards, kiosks and websites, and support efforts to disseminate information through financial assistance, in-kind services and referrals.

• Laura’s Law: Prepare and submit a letter from the Fullerton City Council to the Orange County Board of Supervisors supporting the implementation of Laura’s Law or an alternative that achieves the same objectives.

• Permanent Supportive Housing: Work with the County of Orange to identify and acquire land in Fullerton for a permanent supportive housing development to serve the mentally ill homeless.

• Affordable Housing for Very Low and Extremely Low Income Residents: Support efforts to create affordable housing for very low and extremely low income residents through a range of techniques.

• Outreach Clinicians: Request from the County of Orange Health Care Agency and Behavioral Health Services the provision of a clinician to the Fullerton Police Dept. to conduct outreach to the mentally ill homeless independently and in tandem with police officers.

• Continue Task Force: Continue the Fullerton Task Force on Homelessness and Mental Health Services and alter its charge to oversee implementation of the recommendations approved by the City Council.

Kennedy, Executive Director of the OC Human Relations Commission, expressed his satisfaction with the recommendations.

“We knew we were stepping into a tinder box where lots of people had different feelings and potentially controversial perspectives and disagreements that could sabotage our work,” he said. “I’m really pleased we were able to come together and come to a consensus on recommendations that can make a difference here.”

Kennedy said the purpose of Tuesday’s study session is to help the City Council members understand what the Task Force has done and to give them an idea of what the recommendations will entail. He added that some of the recommendations can be implemented immediately but others will take months and years of planning and work to get done.

Getting city staff to analyze the recommendations in terms of budget, feasibility and priorities will be the next steps, Kennedy said.

The recommendations will be considered as a Regular Business Item at the June 5 City Council meeting.

“I think the recommendations are quite good and they’ve been carefully considered,” Task Force member Sue Serbin said, adding that Kennedy was very fair and very good about soliciting comments on the entire spectrum that the Task Force addressed.

Serbin, a member of the State Governor’s Commission on Mental Health, noted several recommendations, such as providing outreach clinicians and conducting needs assessments, can be accomplished with very little effort and with little or no cost to the city.

But Task Force member Ron Thomas expressed frustration that many of the ideas discussed at Task Force meetings have not yet been implemented.

“Clothing, immediate information on where to get showers, bus passes, pamphlets handed out to tell (the homeless) where to eat…. and locations with a map. Those things were very important but, in fairness, the committee was not designed to do that,” Thomas said.

The Task Force was formed at the request of the City Council last September in response to circumstances surrounding the death of Kelly Thomas.  Its 14 members were drawn from a variety of public, private and non-profit organizations. Several members, including Serbin and Thomas, are parents of mentally ill children.

Beginning in October 2011, the Task Force met 13 times. A variety of representatives from local homeless and mental heath service providers, faith-based institutions and the homeless community were invited to speak.

Public input was encouraged at each session, Kennedy said, adding there were never less than 20 people in the audience.

Fullerton resident Tony Package said he attended most of the Task Force meetings.

“They are very much interested in input from the public,” Package said after a recent meeting. “The challenge is they get overwhelmed because the public is specific-oriented and the Task Force is more interested in the broad end of the spectrum. But they’ve been very appreciative of the public.”

Tuesday’s study session will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the Fullerton Library Conference Center.

Story by Jennifer Karmarkar/FullertonStories.com

The Department of Military Science Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) at California State University Fullerton (CSUF) will conduct the ceremony to commission 22 new Second Lieutenants into the Active, National Guard and Reserves of the United States Army.  The ceremony will take place on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the ECS lawn of California State University, Fullerton under enormous white tents used for graduation ceremonies. (north/east side of campus).

According to Jonathan B. Nepute, Lieutenant Colonel, US Army, Professor of Military Science, CSUF, this is an outstanding celebration of our men and women who will ultimately serve our country by taking an Oath of Office and commission into the United States Army. “The ceremony is conducted by military protocol, and includes cadets becoming newly commissioned officers, their families, the ROTC cadre, the University faculty and members of the community”, said LTC Nepute. “We will also have a presentation at the ceremony by California State Senator, Lou Correa,” he added. Brigadier General Terry Ferrell, Commander Fort Irwin and the US Army National Training Center will be the guest speaker. 

Each cadet is called to the stage as their accomplishments from the university and their future plans are read aloud.  The cadet then takes the Officer Oath of Office from an Officer of their choosing. They are joined on stage by their family into a tight circle of friendship, dedication, and love to pin the gold bar insignia on the cadet’s shoulders signifying that they are now second lieutenants in the U.S. Army.  The newly commissioned lieutenant is given their first military salute as an Officer by an enlisted soldier of their choice and a silver dollar coin is exchanged during a handshake. It is quite an emotional ceremony. 

Dr. Rebecca Morgan, executive director of the Southern California Army Advisory Council encourages friends and family of solders, future soldiers, and veterans to attend this event as it puts into perspective the protocol of military life.

Those who will be commissioned include Jacob Albers, Andrew Barclay, Sarah Beech, Lizzett Belmonte, Steven Cabrera, Cody DeYoung, David Downey, Sarah Enamorado, Carlos Genel, Robert Golding, Joe Lopez, Frank Loxsom, James Loxsom, Andrew Nowak, Matthew Olsen, John Pai, Thuhong Pham, Jeffrey Rogers, Robert Ruiz, Eric Smith, Robert Spencer and Tina Tu.

The community is invited to attend this ceremony along with local and regional legislators. No reservations are necessary, but further information is available by contacting Ms Yuhico at 657-278-3007 or armyrotc@fullerton.edu in the Department of Military Science at CSUF. Military Dress uniform or Civilian Business attire.  CSUF is located at  800 N. State College Blvd, (cross street is Nutwood Ave.)  Fullerton, CA 92834. Parking on the campus is free in parking lot E, which is located behind the parking structure adjacent to highway 57.

The Department of Military Science Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC) at California State University Fullerton (CSUF) is a year-round academic program.

FullertonStories.com will not endorse any vote regarding the recall ballot June 5.  Instead, we aim to provide as much information and context as possible so that Fullerton voters can make up their own minds.

If last night was any indication, the voter sentiment is extremely hot, but it is also still flexible.  At a well-attended private event hosted by Fullerton activist Stephan Baxter, three candidates, Jane Rands, Matt Rowe and Glenn Georgieff,  presented their views, countered loud shout-outs and questions from attendees, and generally guided an anger-filled discussion through their platforms and ideals.

Several things stood out among this crowd.  First, everybody cared deeply about the current state of affairs in town. Second, Not all issues revolve around the police department; street parking questions hit red on decibel meter.  And third, the death of Kelly Thomas has fundamentally changed internal views of our city and its government.

This may not be news to most people.  Protests on the street and at City Council meetings have all but drowned out other dialogs in the city. It’s no surprise people are angry and want change.

What made this group different is that they are all from Fullerton, all have a stake in the community, and all have been visible and active in the city for years. You can’t say that about many, if not most, of the loudest critics in council chambers.

No new ideas were floated, though the candidates ably presented some views more coherently than is often possible in more formal and question-controlled environments. The loose approach, set in an art-filled living room punctuated with occupied portable chairs and recently vacated bottles of wine, allowed for public displays of personality, something largely missing from open forums.

Each candidate made at least one revelation or statement that might have challenged some common thought in the room. For example, one explained the reason for their perceived silence after July 5, 2011. It was a necessary comment to make to a room largely hostile to excuses.

But they were allowed to speak and be heard. Regardless of agreement or lack thereof, making the statement stood alone as a reason to be respected.

Better yet, there was no hiding behind anonymity.  Each candidate stood front and center, as did those asking the questions. It was an open and honest conversation, and that is what made the night wonderful.

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FullertonStories.com will soon present an overview of the issues and dialogs concerning Fullerton as told by people on the street, the sitting City Council members and the candidates hoping to replace those under threat of recall. Almost all of our interviews are done, and we hope to publish by May22, two weeks before the election.

We welcome you to add your voice to the project.  Please send your ideas, thoughts and opinions to us via email, snail mail, or even by phone.  Our only requirement is that you use your real name and stand by what you say.  That’s what we expect of our elected officials, and it’s what we should expect of each other.  Without accountability to ourselves and each other, we have nothing.

Davis Barber
Publisher
FullertonStories.com
714-525-2671

Fullerton Police shot and killed a man that shot at officers following a high speed car chase last night.  The man has not yet been identified.

According to Fullerton Police Sgt. Jef Stuart, the incident began at approximately 11:15 pm, when officers attempted to stop a vehicle near Euclid and Wilshire Avenues for minor traffic violations. The driver failed to yield and turned west on Malvern Ave., crashing moments later into the drainage canal that runs parallel to the street.

One occupant fled the vehicle and hid in a connecting tunnel.  As officers search for him, the suspect reappeared with a handgun and fired at the officers. The officers returned fire, killing him.

A second subject who was in the vehicle was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries resulting from the crash. Suspect Diego Figueroa, 22 has since been released from the hospital and has been booked at Fullerton Police Department on suspicion of auto theft, Stuart said.

According to Stuart, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office was immediately notified and has investigators conducting an independent investigation.

The Orange County Register has a good video interview with Acting Police Chief Dan Hughes regarding the incident.