By Lauren Felechner
Daily Titan Staff Writer

Incorporated as a city in 1904, the City of Fullerton is both Cal State Fullerton’s host city and what 138,000 people call home, said Chris Meyer, city manager of Fullerton.

Coming to work in Fullerton in 1976, both Meyer and the mayor of Fullerton, Don Bankhead, who has worked with the city since 1957, have seen its expansion and growth over the past couple decades.

“I’ve seen the city evolve from a very small town with a small population to a very large city, but it still has its small town atmosphere,” Bankhead said.

He added that Fullerton is still the same great city it was when he first arrived.

Before coming to office 21 years ago, the small town feel was what persuaded Bankhead to join Fullerton’s police department rather than Los Angeles’.

Both graduates of CSUF, Bankhead and Meyer remain in close contact with CSUF and its faculty. Meyer serves on the board of the Fullerton Arboretum, and Bankhead and President Milton Gordon work closely together as well.

Fullerton, deemed the “education community” by both Meyer and Bankhead, stands true to its five organizations of higher learning, and as Bankhead sees it, has the ability to grow up and raise a family with the opportunities of any type of education available.

“What makes us unique in this city is children can grow up and, depending what they want to do with their lives, they can get a degree in law, optometry, just about anything. They can get that education without ever leaving Fullerton,” Bankhead said.

Meyer, while pointing to a large map in his office, has seen what were once oil fields in Fullerton turned into what is now a golf course, homes and a sports complex. There have been a lot of different types of development in Fullerton over the years, as well as incremental changes in the city, Meyer said.

“I would say the fundamental character of the city hasn’t changed,” Meyer said. “Fullerton has always been an educational resident oriented community. It was when I first came here, and it is today

Fullerton’s unique characteristics may be the reason for the constant expansion. Its transportation center, 44,000 tree urban forest, the vibrant social fabric and opportunity for employment all play into the appeal-factor of the city, Meyer said.

“There is a strong arts community and a number of non-profits focused on making this city the most livable environment for old and young,” said Christopher Reese, the director of community relations at CSUF.

Having been a graduate of CSUF as well, Reese jumped at the chance to work for the school.

“I love what CSUF stands for. I love that the university is focusing on how to better the environment around us,” Reese said.

With expansion and growth in its wake, Fullerton has not stopped.

“You are going to see the city as an organization focus on sustainability and focus on careful use of resources,” Meyer said. “We are wanting to incorporate desalinated water into the dorms; also, the city fleet will be converting to hybrids and compressed natural gas. We are starting to pay attention to our carbon output.”

Coordination between the city and CSUF remains consistent. Meetings between the two address construction, parking and general student life, Reese said.

“We have many of our projects on campus reviewed by the city. We also coordinate our efforts in terms of economic development, student affairs and the well being of campus neighborhoods will be developed or improved in the future,” Reese said.

Although it may be one of the oldest cities in Orange County, Meyer said, Fullerton is keeping up with its younger crowd with, as Reese said, the continuous expansion of the downtown area.

“As a city, people have come to Fullerton and never left,” Reese said.

Reese also said the long standing partnership between CSUF and its host city is “probably one of the best in the CSU system.”