A Big Week In Costa Mesa

The next couple days are going to be very interesting in Costa Mesa...

BUFFA BACK AGAIN BEFORE PLANNING COMMISSION
Monday, the 19th, the Planning Commission will, once again, hear the plan for the rescue of the current South Coast Furnishings Center. This item was pushed out from last week. It will be very interesting to see what, if anything, former mayor Peter Buffa has come up with for his clients on this issue.

WILL THE COMMUNITY TURN OUT - AGAIN?
At the last meeting it was clear that all the commissioners wanted to make this project work. However, the staff report for Monday's meeting includes a petition signed by more than 100 residents theoretically affected by the plans for a 60 foot tall LED light display that is part of the plan. Should make for interesting watching at 6 p.m. in the council chambers, on CMTV, Channel 24 or on streaming video.

CITY COUNCIL AGENDA FOR TUESDAY
Then, on Tuesday, the City Council will address several items of great interest.

NEW PLANNING (AND MAYBE PARKS) COMMISSIONER
Among those will be the selection of a new Planning Commissioner to replace Jim Fisler, who resigned in August because he was appointed to the Mesa Consolidated Water District Board. The recruitment for this opening was actually a joint recruitment for both the Planning and Parks and Recreation Commissions. That might lead one to think that the Planning Commission slot is already pre-ordained to Parks and Recreation Commissioner Jeff Mathews - why else would we run a dual recruitment effort? Mathews, you may recall, was a campaign operative for Gary Monahan last year.

POLITICS WILL DETERMINE THE CHOICES
The pool of candidates for both commissions is quite impressive, but I suspect it will be pure politics that determines the selections.

CURRENT STATUS OF OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION
Also on the agenda is a quarterly update on our current fiscal situation, although there is presently no staff report available for advance viewing, much to my disappointment. Perhaps the staff will post the report on Monday for those of us actually interested in just how we're doing in light of all the extreme measures adopted. How many city staffers have opted for the retirement program, for example?

FAIRGROUNDS USE RESTRICTION TO BE DISCUSSED
And, of extreme interest will be an item near the end of the agenda dealing with the consideration of a Specific Plan for the Fairgrounds. I've read the staff report and it appears that such a plan would severely restrict any future uses of the Fairgrounds property to only it's current use. This might put a crimp in the game plan of any potential purchasers of the 150 acre facility.... we'll see.

WHAT'S MONAHAN UP TO NOW?
And, at the very end, there is a curious little item in which councilman Gary Monahan is apparently requesting a moratorium on enforcement of temporary signs and banners. There is no staff report on this one either, so we have no clue at all what's on Monahan's mind. Based on what is presented, it sounds like he must want to put an even bigger banner on his gin mill! I guess we'll just have to wait until the bitter end of the meeting Tuesday to find out.