Fullerton Ca Ordinances

The City Council refused Tuesday night to extend a controversial 45-day restriction on the construction of large homes in the city, choosing to establish building guidelines to ensure that big houses will blend harmoniously into existing neighborhoods. The temporary measure was enacted June 2 after residents complained that many of the larger single-family homes being built in the city are not in character with existing residences.

The City Council approved plans to require mandatory annual building and health code inspections of almost 350 apartment units for the next three years as part of a program to rid five blocks of crime, drug activity and substandard housing. The council's 4-1 decision Tuesday authorizes ongoing inspections as part of the housing rehabilitation effort that is part of the city's Operation Cleanup Program.

The City Council tonight will consider passing an ordinance intended to decrease the amount of graffiti. The council will also invite public comment on the issue. "We get more complaints right now on graffiti than anything," said City Manager James L. Armstrong. Calls to the city's graffiti removal hot line have recently been pouring in. In 1990, the city received 480 calls from people who saw graffiti and wanted it removed. Last month, 605 people called the hot line.

The City Council on Tuesday passed a tough ordinance that sets $1,000 fines and six-month jail sentences for those convicted of spraying graffiti on public and private property. In addition, parents of graffiti vandals will be held responsible for damages. Placing adhesive stickers on another person's property is also considered a type of graffiti under the new ordinance.

The City Council today will consider approving outdoor displays and other means of drawing business to the downtown area. Merchants first approached the council in November and asked to be allowed to put clothing, flowers, books and other sale items in front of their stores. "If people are zooming by, there's nothing to catch their eye," said Allison Becker, owner of Hanson's Flowers on Commonwealth Avenue. "We've got to have something out there."

The City Council will vote tonight on establishing a residents' panel to hear appeals to the city's emergency water conservation ordinance. Under the five-phase plan that went into effect in April, the council is required to establish one or more appeals boards to hear grievances brought by homeowners or businesses over water conservation violations that cannot be resolved by a city hearing officer.

Adrian Pedroza, who sells food every day from the back of his produce truck, says he is just trying to make a living. But how he does that may be changed by a new city ordinance that would increase regulation of produce trucks like Pedroza's and ban pushcart vendors from public property. "I don't want to beg for food stamps or welfare," said the 35-year-old father of eight children at a stop Wednesday on Baker Street. "I need to feed my family.

Fees are going up for those who are not subscribers of the city's paramedic service. The $175 fee now charged for minor injuries treated by paramedics will cost $200 and the $275 fee charged for critical cases will rise to $300 starting Aug. 15. The City Council decided this week to raise the fees because local hospitals will no longer be paying to supply paramedic vans with medical supplies, including drugs and bandages. A regulation starting Aug.