Council Member Zahra requested, supported by Council Member Charles, to bring this item back for consideration on December 19, 2023. City Council continued the item from that. date to January 16, 2024, after council member Bruce Whitaker requested the continuation.
Deputy City Manager Daisy Perez made a presentation on the Phase II Union Pacific Trail project. She showed a chart listing the Grant Deadlines along with what had been provided in meetings over the years. The first performance deadline for the final site design/plans/specifications to be submitted to the state is June 2024. The construction start deadline is August 2024, the Plant Establishment deadline is October 2025, and the Project Closeout package must be submitted by March 2026.
Perez said that staff, following council (majority) direction, explored alternatives with the state agency of any possibility of moving the grant to open UP Park instead but was told that would result in uncertain funding availability and higher city match due to insufficient space for the 176 trees, and lack of community support.
The revised plan includes the potential to build housing along the Union Pacific Trail. The city Housing Element calls for zoning of up to 13,000 new housing units and includes a Housing Incentive Overlay Zone, giving developers proper zoning in the currently general manufacturing zoned area if 10% of the units are affordable.
The revised Union Pacific Trail would integrate the HIOZ and the Rail District Specific Plan, allowing mixed-use, 2 & 3-story, and up to 4-story residential between Highland and Richman Ave.
The 50-foot-wide portion of the trail between Highland and Richman has industrial buildings on both sides. It would include a 12-foot Class I dedicated bike lane and an 8-foot pedestrian- a pathway centered, lighting, trees, and landscaping – and 10 feet of vacant land on each side to provide access to future developments. Private developers would improve these 10-foot-wide portions at no cost to the city as part of future development. Possible uses include outdoor dining.
The portion of the trail between Richman Ave to Independence Park would include a Class I dedicated bike lane and pedestrian path with potential redevelopment on the south side properties.
Two options were presented to the council.
1) Direct CM Levitt to proceed with the updated Union Pacific Phase II plan and appropriate $330,000 from park dwelling funds.
2) Reaffirm the August 15, 2023, council direction to re-approach the State of California Natural Resources Agency and continue to explore an alternate project.
The council unanimously voted to direct the City Manager to proceed with the updated Union Pacific Trail Phase II concept (presented on January 16, 2024) and appropriate $330,000 from Park Dwelling (Fund 39) fund balance to Project 54260 Union Pacific Trail Phase II Project in Capital Projects Fund (Fund 74).
CHIEF OF POLICE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Jon Radus was appointed interim chief in September 2023 when Chief Robert Dunn left the city to work in Torrance as Assistant Chief of Police.
Interim Chief Radus’ resume includes over 20 years of law enforcement experience with the City of Fullerton, including approximately three years as a police captain and current service as Interim Chief of Police. He has a Bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, an Executive Development certificate from California Post, and a leadership certificate from West Point. LAPD leadership program.
Key points of his employment agreement include a 5-year term with an optional 3-year extension and a base annual salary of $249,062 effective January 20th of this year. The agreement also includes a schedule of future salary increases commensurate with the Fullerton Police Management Association. He would receive paid vacation, executive sick leave commensurate with executive employees, and all major benefits. Health insurance CalPERS incentive will be the same as is afforded to members of the Fullerton Police Management Association. He’ll also be provided a city vehicle for use and a uniform allowance, and the city does provide him with a weapon.
The police chief serves at the pleasure of the City Council, with the daily supervision and management delegated by contract to the city manager. The agreement does include a right of reversion during the first five years of the agreement, which means if this employment relationship doesn’t work out for whatever reason, he retains the right to return to his position as a police captain. The Chief of Police position already has a salary in the budget, so there is no additional fiscal impact for the remainder of this fiscal year.
The employment agreement was ratified unanimously.
The newly appointed Chief of Police said, “Honestly, never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be in this position today. And I’m grateful for the opportunity, number one, to the council for the trust and confidence you put in me to serve an organization that I truly deeply care about, love, and a community I’m grateful to be a part of. I’m certainly looking forward to continuing the things that we started with Chief Dunn. He set a great example for what it’s like to be a community-based Police Department. I plan on continuing those initiatives to work with our community, with which we’ve spent a lot of time and effort building trusting relationships, which will undoubtedly continue. The police have two really basic functions: To reduce crime and the fear of crime, and all that stuff that we do with the community really speaks to that. And so, I’m grateful for the opportunity. I love the organization, I love the community that we serve, and I look forward to the next five years or more.”
