Academy Awards and The Real World

ACADEMY AWARDS
Having survived the Academy Awards program last night - my least favorite television program of any year - I'm ready to push forward into another week of fun here in the land of Newport-Mesa.


BUFFA NAILED IT!
Before we leave the Oscars, though, a couple comments. First, Daily Pilot columnist and former Costa Mesa Mayor Peter Buffa, nailed it! In his prognostications on Sunday morning he predicted every major award recipient. Never again, Peter old buddy, will we doubt you.

NUTTY REDHEAD IN A PURPLE "SNUGGIE"
Among the strangest moments was when Roger Ross Williams climbed up onto the stage to accept his award for best documentary short ("Music by Prudence") and this nutty redhead dressed in what one reporter referred to as a purple Snuggie, jumped up and hogged the microphone, using up all the time poor Roger hoped to use to thank folks. Turns out the redhead, Elinor Burkett, had pulled out as producer last year due to creative differences, but re-inserted herself after the awards were announced. Tip of the hat to LA Observed and Chic Leak for this info and the photo.

HANKS RUNNING FOR A PLANE?
The final strange event in an evening full of them was when my favorite actor, Tom Hanks - the presenter for the Oscar for Best Movie (The Hurt Locker) - dashed on stage like a man running for a plane, spit out the name of the winner, then tried to usher folks off the stage. OK, the show ran 30 minutes late, but so what?! To give the bums-rush to the presentation of the top award of the night was truly strange. But, then, Hollywood is truly strange.

Back to the real world..

FULL PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA TONIGHT
Tonight, Monday, the Jim Righeimer-led Costa Mesa Planning Commission has a full agenda. They will discuss the 1) 2008 Development Phasing and Performance Monitoring Program (I read the staff report.. NoDoze is in order for this one); 2009 Planning Commission Design Awards and Mesa Green Design Awards Selection; Land Development and Planning Requirement for the New NPDES Permit (another snoozer); Fillmore/Coolidge Neighborhood Improvement Plan (look for the "usual suspects" to show up for this one) and, finally, Code Enforcement Priorities. That last one should evoke come comments if anyone sticks around for it. This should give us a pretty clear view into the minds of our planning commissioners...

JOINT COUNCIL/PLANNING COMMISSION STUDY SESSION
Tomorrow, Tuesday, the Costa Mesa City Council will hold a joint Study Session with the Planning Commission during which the two bodies will hear a presentation by Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff entitled "Aviation 2010. Following Kiff's presentation they will discuss Legacy Air Center Proposal for Airplane Hangar/Office Facility Adjacent to John Wayne Airport; State Route 55 Access Study Update and the Fiscal Year 2009/2010 Revenue Update.

SPECIAL JOINT SESSION COUNCIL MEETING
Then, immediately following the Study Session, the council will adjourn to a Special Meeting and go directly to a closed session to discuss the Sale of the Orange County Fair and Events Center. No further information is available on that subject, but we can speculate the lead negotiator, City Manager Allan Roeder, will brief the council and staff on progress on the Lease/Purchase plan Gary Monahan told the world about on radio a few weeks ago.