Orange · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Orange public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.