Orange · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Orange public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Sponsorship and naming-rights policy underused
The council approved the Grijalva skatepark and Olive Park netting projects, with groundbreaking in July. Council also pushed back on the $800,000 playground budget and asked about more pickleball courts. Commissioner Ahlswede urged staff to actually use the city's existing sponsorship policy to offset costs instead of drawing on the general fund.
Proposed City Charter on November ballot
Tavoularis wants Orange to explore becoming a charter city for more local control, following Fullerton and Fountain Valley — staff will bring back a proposal.
Five-Year Capital Improvement Program conformance
The city's five-year, $140.4 million capital plan covers street repairs, water and sewer lines, parks, and city facility upgrades. Eleven projects worth $7.2 million were deferred to help balance the general fund, and the water fund is projected to end the year with just $281,000.
13-Year Financial Sustainability and Investment Strategy
The city's long-term plan for spending an estimated $584 million in sales tax revenue over 13 years, focused on reserves, pensions, public safety, infrastructure, and economic growth. The council wants a companion plan showing cuts if the tax fails in November.
Mills Act Program Guidelines
New draft guidelines would tighten the Mills Act property-tax reduction program for historic homes — limiting contracts per year and prioritizing structural, plumbing, and electrical work over cosmetic remodels. Supporters say it restores the program's preservation focus; each contract reduces city property tax revenue.
Chapman University PILOT negotiations collapse
Chapman — with a billion-dollar endowment and tax-exempt real estate — has refused to keep negotiating a payment in lieu of taxes. Councilmember Barrios and Mayor Slater publicly blamed each other for the collapse. Staff will study what legal tools exist to get large nonprofits to contribute to city costs.
Late-distributed staff materials hamper public review
OPTA repeatedly complained that agenda packets and historic assessments arrive days or hours before meetings, making meaningful public review impossible. Committee members agreed and flagged it as a recurring problem.
Landscape maintenance district assessments
Santiago Hills and Sycamore Crossing residents will pay annual landscape assessments of $293 to $369 per single-family home for FY 2026-27, with no protests filed.
SB 707 Brown Act modernization compliance
A resident claims the mayor cut his speaking time at the February 24 meeting in violation of the Brown Act, and says he filed a cure-and-correct letter on March 10 with a 30-day response deadline.
Development appeal fees
The council delayed adopting new appeal fees after a resident described paying $1,000 plus a running bill to appeal a decision; staff will return with a flat or tiered fee structure.
2025 General Plan Annual Progress Report
The city's yearly check-in with the state on General Plan implementation — 172 housing units permitted in 2025, park projects like the Hart Park pickleball courts, and updated safety and zoning code provisions.
Water Division employee retention and labor negotiations
City water workers said Orange is the lowest-paid city in the area and is losing trained employees to other agencies after spending thousands on certifications. They asked the council to make compensation competitive as labor negotiations continue in closed session.
City employee contract dispute and strike
A dozen city water, parks, fleet, and maintenance workers told the council they're on strike or losing colleagues to better-paying cities, and asked for a fair contract with competitive wages. Several said they can't keep up with the cost of living on city pay.
Police and Fire budget needs
Councilmember Dumitru proposed a working group to dig into police and fire budgets, citing aging equipment and understaffing. Police and fire association leaders backed it, but most colleagues preferred a public study session, and the City Manager confirmed a March 24 budget study session.
Citywide Strategic Plan First-Quarter Update
The council picked which goals and strategies get staff attention and money next year. Top vote-getters included the Village at Orange specific plan, a possible revenue measure on the ballot, and the fire department's ambulance operator program.
Open Finance transparency platform
The city is launching a website where anyone can drill into budgets, spending, and revenue by department — updated weekly, with a vendor checkbook feature coming in a few months.