Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: april 1, 2025
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: sunayana thomas, director
adam loeser, fire chief
PREPARED BY: chris schaefer, aicp, planning manager
kristi hofstetter batiste, emergency PREPAREDNESS COORDINATOR SUBJECT: fullerton GENERAL PLAN safety element UPDATE
SUMMARY
A request to consider The Fullerton Plan (General Plan) amendments to update the Safety Element as required by state law.
PROPOSED MOTION
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-XXX.
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-XXX - A Resolution of the CITY COUNCIL of the City of Fullerton, California, Amending THE FULLERTON PLAN BY adoptiNG the fullerton plan SAFETY element (APPENDIX I) AND REPLACING GOALS 7, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 24 AND 26
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Deny the Proposed Motion
Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Proposed Motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
The City Manager recommends approval by City Council.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statements:
Fiscal and Organizational Stability
Public Safety
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City awarded a $43,280.00 contract to Atlas Planning Solutions to prepare the Safety Element and related documents on June 15, 2023, funded by the City General Fund.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Government Code Section 65302 requires every California city have a General Plan containing mandatory sections or “elements” including, but not limited to, the Housing Element, the Safety Element (SE) and the Open Space Element. Subsequently, Senate Bill (SB) 379 requires cities to update the Safety Element with the next General Plan revision. The City updated the Housing Element and received a Department of Housing and Community Development compliance letter on February 27, 2025.
The SE focuses on hazards and safety issues affecting the community and ensures the City adequately addresses public safety concerns. Resident and business sense of security directly impacts Fullerton’s quality of life. Addressing and reducing risks associated with natural and human-induced hazards furthers the City goal to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for citizens.
The Fullerton Plan uses a unique format and includes the Safety Element update in several sections of The Plan as well as related documents including:
Fullerton Safety Element Supplement (Appendix I)
Revised Goals (found throughout The Fullerton Plan)
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (updated in 2020).
Fullerton Safety Element Update (Appendix I – Fullerton Safety Element Supplement) State law requires a General Plan to include a Safety Element to address protecting people from unreasonable risks associated with disasters such as earthquakes, floods, fires, landslides and other hazards identified by the local community. Safety Element goals and policies address issues associated with hazard mitigation planning, disaster preparedness, emergency response, wildfires, geologic and seismic hazards, flooding, climate change, hazardous materials, law enforcement and airport hazards.
Fullerton Safety Element Update (Revised Goals)
The Fullerton Plan, Fullerton’s General Plan, is the City’s fundamental governance document guiding decision-making, actions, programs and crafting specific policies. It embodies community values and sets general direction to achieve The Fullerton Vision. It addresses wide-ranging topics, influencing many aspects of Fullerton.
The document contains safety-related goals and policies spread throughout, the majority of which meet state requirements and require no amendments. Staff proposes updating policies within the following goals, along with new policies, to meet state requirements:
Goal 7: Growth and development aligned with infrastructure capabilities Goal 12: Proactively addressing public safety concerns Goal 13: Responsive to public safety needs
Goal 18: Citizens actively involved in shaping the community’s future and overall quality of life Goal 19: An adequate, safe and reliable water supply
Goal 20: A healthy watershed and clean urban runoff
Goal 24: Responsible open management balanced with healthy environmental systems functioning Goal 26: Protectpeople, natural and built environments and economy from natural hazards.
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Fullerton Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) is both a reference document and an action plan containing information and resources for readers and decision makers about hazard events and related issues and a comprehensive strategy to improve resiliency in Fullerton. The LHMP has the five following goals:
Reduce and isolate threats to public safety and property in Fullerton.
Maintain government operations and essential service provision to residents and stakeholders during and after a hazard event.
Protect the natural environment through responsible stewardship of air, water and open spaces in Fullerton.
Promote resiliency and climate action in Fullerton through resilient infrastructure, responsive governance and civic participation.
Partner with surrounding local, regional, state and federal jurisdictions in hazard mitigation efforts.
The Planning Commission held public hearing on March 12, 2025 and received public comments from Curtis Gamble, Maurine Milton and Jane Reifer in support of the item. Jane Reifer asked questions regarding communication procedures with renters, communication with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, evacuation plans for non-drivers, emergency response times, oil pipelines, sensitive receptors, helicopter operations at the Fullerton Airport and adding Fullerton Creek to maps to Appendix I. Staff responded to questions and added Fullerton Creek to the maps.
Staff sent Draft Safety Element documents to the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection for mandatory review prior to adoption. The Board reviewed and approved the Safety Element . The Planning Commission approved Resolution No. PC-2025-02 by a 4 - 0 vote.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – PowerPoint Presentation
Attachment 2 – Draft City Council Resolution No. 2025-XXX Attachment 3 – Planning Commission Staff Report dated March 12, 2025 Attachment 4 – Planning Commission Resolution No. PC-2025-02 cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
Fullerton General Plan Safety Element Update
April 1, 2025 - Page 2