Tustin council moves forward on pavement contract, hears student on Red Hill plan and hears city award announcements

The Tustin City Council approved a construction contract for the annual pavement maintenance and sidewalk repair project and heard public comment about the Red Hill Specific Plan before receiving staff updates on recent awards and park improvements.

Councilmember Fink pulled Item 7 to ask whether the selected contractor had a local workforce agreement or data on how many employees live in Tustin or Orange County. The City Manager responded, “We don't have those actions or policies in place, so it's not data that we collect,” and noted the project is publicly bid and will pay prevailing wage. Fink then moved to approve the contract; the motion passed 5–0.

In public comment, Matthew Chesick, a senior at Legacy Magnet Academy, asked the council to revisit the Red Hill Specific Plan to emphasize walkability and mixed-use development rather than wide vehicle lanes and single-family-only builds. “I come to you tonight to talk about a plan ... the Red Hill specific plan,” Chesick said, noting that plans from 2018–2019 may not reflect current goals for walkable communities.

City Manager updates: staff reported an award from the California Association for Local Economic Development for innovation in digital media, a statewide operating budget excellence award for the finance department from the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers, and that Camino Real Park playground work is expected to be completed and reopened the week of April 6 (picnic shelter work to start in April).

Votes at a glance from this meeting: Consent calendar items 1–13 approved 5–0; Item 7 (pavement maintenance contract) approved 5–0; Item 8 (waste agreement) approved 4–1; Item 13 (developer selection at Tustin Legacy) approved 4–0 with one recusal.