Meetings, Meetings and More Meetings...
THE WEEK AHEAD
It's going to be an interesting week at City Hall. The City Council, the Planning Commission and the Parks & Recreation Commission all have meetings scheduled, which is going to tax a diminished staff even more.
SPECIAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TODAY
Today a Special Meeting of the Planning Commission
- the final one that Jim Righeimer will Chair - will be held in Council Chambers beginning at 6:00 p.m. As previously reported, there are 5 items on this agenda, a few of which will have special interest.
SENIOR HOUSING AT MESA VERDE CENTER
First, there is the proposal by Mesa Verde Partners to carve out a section of Mesa Verde Center for a 224 unit Senior Housing facility. It seems like an excellent project, located in the right place and certainly will fill a part of the shortage of Senior Housing we have in our city. The Staff recommends approval. You can read the staff report HERE.
WALDORF SCHOOL EXPANSION
Next comes the proposed expansion of the Waldorf Private School by 9,600 square feet, which the Staff also recommends for approval. The staff report is HERE.
WYNDHAM HOTEL PERMIT
Third will be a modification of the Wyndham Hotel on Avenue of the Arts, which the Staff recommends for approval. The staff report is HERE.
SPECIALIZED PHYSICAL THERAPY PERMIT
Fourth will be a conditional use permit for a facility on Airway Avenue for a specialized physical therapy facility that will deal with spinal cord injuries, also recommended for approval. The staff report is HERE.
TRIANGLE SQUARE
Finally, former mayor Peter Buffa will once again throw on his power suit and represent his clients for an amendment of the Triangle Square Master Plan amend the Conditional Use Permit for a deviation from shared parking requirements and a new Conditional Use Permit to allow a health club in the basement and on the street level of Triangle Square. No mention is made (yet) of the LED lights. The staff report is HERE.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY
CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS REPLACING CITY MANAGER
Tuesday evening the City Council will hold it's final meeting conducted by Mayor Allan Mansoor before Jim Righeimer and Wendy Leece are seated on the council on December 7th. The 10-page agenda begins and ends with personnel-related issues. At 5:00 p.m. the Council will adjourn to a closed session to discuss " Public Employment, Title: City Manager, pursuant to California Government Code section 54957." As you know, City Manager Allan Roeder has notified the City that he will retire in March of 2011, ending more than three dozen years of exemplary service to our city. The council needs to get cracking to find a suitable replacement, so I assume this item is to craft a strategy for his replacement.
OPEN SESSION AT 6:00
Once they reconvene in open session at 6:00 or thereabouts they will deal with 19 items on the Consent Calendar - including the issue of obtaining Commercial Credit Card Accounts through Commerce Bank, N.A. to facilitate accounts payable and to provide a little income to the city as a by-product.
INOPERABLE VEHICLES
There are three (3) Public Hearings, which are scheduled to begin at 7:00, and cover a variety of important and provocative issues. The first will involve a new ordinance about storing inoperable vehicles. If passed it will prohibit the parking or storing of inoperable vehicles on driveways leading to garages. Storage of such vehicles will be only permitted in garages or behind a 60foot high permanent solid fencing or wall on a paved area that is not within a building setback area adjacent to a street. I expect there may be more than a few interested parties stepping up to speak to the council about this one. The staff report is HERE.
EXTENSION OF REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY TIME LIMIT
Next comes a resolution extending the Costa Mesa Redevelopment Agency Downtown Redevelopment Project time limit for redevelopment activities and the time to collect tax increment by two years. Even though the California Redevelopment Association is recommending agencies delay adopting a redevelopment plan extension under Assembly Bill 26 until a lawsuit they filed has gone through the appeal process, Costa Mesa is moving forward with it's resolution. The staff report is HERE.
INCREASE IN PARKING TICKET FEES
The third public hearing deals with an increase in the fine schedule for parking violations required by state mandate. There is an additional charge of $3.00 that is a pass-through to the County and State for certain parking infractions. You can read the staff report HERE. It includes an exhibit of the new fine structure, which is far from the most easily-understood exhibit I've ever read.
OLD BUSINESS
Old Business will include the following:
NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY ORDINANCE
The adoption of a new Medical Marijuana Dispensary ordinance - a very strange piece of municipal legislation, indeed. For example, one of the sections in this ordinance says, "Whereas, the City of Costa Mesa has never criminally prosecuted medical marijuana dispensaries for any violation of the City" Zoning Code; does not intend to do so in the future; and desires to clarify the City's Zoning Code to make these facts explicit;". You can read this entire ordinance in the Staff Report, HERE. It's actually very amusing.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE BUDGET REDUCTIONS
Budget reductions for the Administrative Services FY 2010-2011 for 1)Downtown Community Pool operations, 2) Recreation on Campus (ROCKS) Program, 3) Amendment to CDBG-R for Whittier School site ROCKS Program. The staff report is HERE.
REVOCATION OF GARCIA RECYCLING CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
Staff recommends approval of the revocation of the conditional use permits for Garcia Recycling at it's current location. The staff report is HERE.
MEMBERSHIP IN THE AOCC-OC
The City Council will consider whether or not to participate in the Association of California Cities - Orange County (AOCC-OC) and whether to include just under $21,000 in the budget for membership. Without such membership, and because we no longer have employees dedicated to government relations and legislative oversight, the City will no longer belong to any forum or organization to facilitate establishing positions on legislation, etc. The staff report is HERE.
NEW BUSINESS
The council will consider two items of New Business
BAN FISHING, WATER CONTACT AND ANIMAL FEEDING AT TEWINKLE PARK
A proposal has been made to eliminate fishing, water contact and animal feeding at TeWinkle Park due to damage caused to the infrastructure of the lake and overfeeding of waterfowl and other critters. The staff report is HERE.
OPTIONS FOR FILLING COUNCIL VACANCY
Finally, at the very end of the meeting, the council will consider options to fill the anticipated vacancy on the City Council created when Katrina Foley resigns to take a seat on the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board. Her last day on the council will be December 14th - the day she takes the School Board seat. You can read the entire staff report HERE, but the short version is that the council has 30 days to appoint a replacement or a special election must be held "on the next regularly established election date not less than 114 days from the call of the special election." That date would be June 7, 2011 - way, way too long for there to be only four members on the City Council dais. And, the election would likely cost more than $200,000! You can read the staff report HERE. You will recall that I addressed this issue earlier this month, HERE.
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING WEDNESDAY
At it's scheduled meeting - the final Parks & Recreation Commission meetin
g for the year and the final one conducted by Chairman Mike Brumbaugh - the commission will consider several interesting items.
YOUTH BASKETBALL PROGRAM
The first one is on the consent calendar that involves a proposed new youth basketball program, replacing the city program and saving over $20,000 annually. You can read the report HERE.
HOMELESSNESS IN COSTA MESA
Under New Business the commission will address the request to create a Task Force to study homelessness in Costa Mesa. The staff report is HERE.
MODEL ENGINEERS EXTENSION PROPOSAL
They will also consider a proposal from the Orange County Model Engineers to extend its license in Fairview Park for 50 years and their request to build a facility that will house a museum and meeting rooms. You can read the report HERE.
FAIRVIEW PARK ANNUAL REPORT
They will also hear the Fairview Park Annual Report, HERE.
COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL UTILITY FIELD RENOVATION
And, there is a recommendation for the rest and renovation of Costa Mesa High School Utility Fields, HERE.
It's going to be an interesting week at City Hall. The City Council, the Planning Commission and the Parks & Recreation Commission all have meetings scheduled, which is going to tax a diminished staff even more.SPECIAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING TODAY
Today a Special Meeting of the Planning Commission
- the final one that Jim Righeimer will Chair - will be held in Council Chambers beginning at 6:00 p.m. As previously reported, there are 5 items on this agenda, a few of which will have special interest.SENIOR HOUSING AT MESA VERDE CENTER
First, there is the proposal by Mesa Verde Partners to carve out a section of Mesa Verde Center for a 224 unit Senior Housing facility. It seems like an excellent project, located in the right place and certainly will fill a part of the shortage of Senior Housing we have in our city. The Staff recommends approval. You can read the staff report HERE.
WALDORF SCHOOL EXPANSION
Next comes the proposed expansion of the Waldorf Private School by 9,600 square feet, which the Staff also recommends for approval. The staff report is HERE.
WYNDHAM HOTEL PERMIT
Third will be a modification of the Wyndham Hotel on Avenue of the Arts, which the Staff recommends for approval. The staff report is HERE.
SPECIALIZED PHYSICAL THERAPY PERMIT
Fourth will be a conditional use permit for a facility on Airway Avenue for a specialized physical therapy facility that will deal with spinal cord injuries, also recommended for approval. The staff report is HERE.
TRIANGLE SQUARE
Finally, former mayor Peter Buffa will once again throw on his power suit and represent his clients for an amendment of the Triangle Square Master Plan amend the Conditional Use Permit for a deviation from shared parking requirements and a new Conditional Use Permit to allow a health club in the basement and on the street level of Triangle Square. No mention is made (yet) of the LED lights. The staff report is HERE.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY
CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS REPLACING CITY MANAGER
Tuesday evening the City Council will hold it's final meeting conducted by Mayor Allan Mansoor before Jim Righeimer and Wendy Leece are seated on the council on December 7th. The 10-page agenda begins and ends with personnel-related issues. At 5:00 p.m. the Council will adjourn to a closed session to discuss " Public Employment, Title: City Manager, pursuant to California Government Code section 54957." As you know, City Manager Allan Roeder has notified the City that he will retire in March of 2011, ending more than three dozen years of exemplary service to our city. The council needs to get cracking to find a suitable replacement, so I assume this item is to craft a strategy for his replacement.OPEN SESSION AT 6:00
Once they reconvene in open session at 6:00 or thereabouts they will deal with 19 items on the Consent Calendar - including the issue of obtaining Commercial Credit Card Accounts through Commerce Bank, N.A. to facilitate accounts payable and to provide a little income to the city as a by-product.
INOPERABLE VEHICLES
There are three (3) Public Hearings, which are scheduled to begin at 7:00, and cover a variety of important and provocative issues. The first will involve a new ordinance about storing inoperable vehicles. If passed it will prohibit the parking or storing of inoperable vehicles on driveways leading to garages. Storage of such vehicles will be only permitted in garages or behind a 60foot high permanent solid fencing or wall on a paved area that is not within a building setback area adjacent to a street. I expect there may be more than a few interested parties stepping up to speak to the council about this one. The staff report is HERE.
EXTENSION OF REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY TIME LIMIT
Next comes a resolution extending the Costa Mesa Redevelopment Agency Downtown Redevelopment Project time limit for redevelopment activities and the time to collect tax increment by two years. Even though the California Redevelopment Association is recommending agencies delay adopting a redevelopment plan extension under Assembly Bill 26 until a lawsuit they filed has gone through the appeal process, Costa Mesa is moving forward with it's resolution. The staff report is HERE.
INCREASE IN PARKING TICKET FEES
The third public hearing deals with an increase in the fine schedule for parking violations required by state mandate. There is an additional charge of $3.00 that is a pass-through to the County and State for certain parking infractions. You can read the staff report HERE. It includes an exhibit of the new fine structure, which is far from the most easily-understood exhibit I've ever read.
OLD BUSINESS
Old Business will include the following:
NEW MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY ORDINANCE
The adoption of a new Medical Marijuana Dispensary ordinance - a very strange piece of municipal legislation, indeed. For example, one of the sections in this ordinance says, "Whereas, the City of Costa Mesa has never criminally prosecuted medical marijuana dispensaries for any violation of the City" Zoning Code; does not intend to do so in the future; and desires to clarify the City's Zoning Code to make these facts explicit;". You can read this entire ordinance in the Staff Report, HERE. It's actually very amusing.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE BUDGET REDUCTIONS
Budget reductions for the Administrative Services FY 2010-2011 for 1)Downtown Community Pool operations, 2) Recreation on Campus (ROCKS) Program, 3) Amendment to CDBG-R for Whittier School site ROCKS Program. The staff report is HERE.
REVOCATION OF GARCIA RECYCLING CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS
Staff recommends approval of the revocation of the conditional use permits for Garcia Recycling at it's current location. The staff report is HERE.
MEMBERSHIP IN THE AOCC-OC
The City Council will consider whether or not to participate in the Association of California Cities - Orange County (AOCC-OC) and whether to include just under $21,000 in the budget for membership. Without such membership, and because we no longer have employees dedicated to government relations and legislative oversight, the City will no longer belong to any forum or organization to facilitate establishing positions on legislation, etc. The staff report is HERE.
NEW BUSINESS
The council will consider two items of New Business
BAN FISHING, WATER CONTACT AND ANIMAL FEEDING AT TEWINKLE PARK
A proposal has been made to eliminate fishing, water contact and animal feeding at TeWinkle Park due to damage caused to the infrastructure of the lake and overfeeding of waterfowl and other critters. The staff report is HERE.
OPTIONS FOR FILLING COUNCIL VACANCY
Finally, at the very end of the meeting, the council will consider options to fill the anticipated vacancy on the City Council created when Katrina Foley resigns to take a seat on the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board. Her last day on the council will be December 14th - the day she takes the School Board seat. You can read the entire staff report HERE, but the short version is that the council has 30 days to appoint a replacement or a special election must be held "on the next regularly established election date not less than 114 days from the call of the special election." That date would be June 7, 2011 - way, way too long for there to be only four members on the City Council dais. And, the election would likely cost more than $200,000! You can read the staff report HERE. You will recall that I addressed this issue earlier this month, HERE.
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING WEDNESDAY
At it's scheduled meeting - the final Parks & Recreation Commission meetin
g for the year and the final one conducted by Chairman Mike Brumbaugh - the commission will consider several interesting items.YOUTH BASKETBALL PROGRAM
The first one is on the consent calendar that involves a proposed new youth basketball program, replacing the city program and saving over $20,000 annually. You can read the report HERE.
HOMELESSNESS IN COSTA MESA
Under New Business the commission will address the request to create a Task Force to study homelessness in Costa Mesa. The staff report is HERE.
MODEL ENGINEERS EXTENSION PROPOSAL
They will also consider a proposal from the Orange County Model Engineers to extend its license in Fairview Park for 50 years and their request to build a facility that will house a museum and meeting rooms. You can read the report HERE.
FAIRVIEW PARK ANNUAL REPORT
They will also hear the Fairview Park Annual Report, HERE.
COSTA MESA HIGH SCHOOL UTILITY FIELD RENOVATION
And, there is a recommendation for the rest and renovation of Costa Mesa High School Utility Fields, HERE.
Labels: City Council Race, Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 11/15/2010 01:02:00 PM
9 Comments:
Geoff, did you see yet another Daily Pilot article with Mensinger talking about the City Council seat. He's practially talking like he owns it. I can't imagine the backroom deals that are going on with him and other other Councilmembers now to give him the seat. Democracy in Costa Mesa is dead! I'll give everyone who reads this great blog $1 if he doesn't get the appointment.
Blair, be careful, this is, after all, the internet. :)
Geoff, RE: Non-Op vehicles. You bet there are more than a few of us interested in this topic. The only problem is that most people that have project cars are too busy working and making ends meet to deal with this BS at a council meeting. That is why they vote for Small Government, non-nanny-state Republicans. So they will not be assaulted by these big government regulations that "encourage you to park your car in your garage."
Blair, rumors abound about just which of the Righeimer posse will snag that seat - a possible 10 year council seat - longer than Righeimer can have! :-( Despite all his faux protests in the past, Mensinger's name continues to be the one that pops up most often.
Bruce, this is yet another plan hatched by the current Planning Commission to infringe on people's lives in Costa Mesa. The next few years are going to see even more of this stuff, as Righeimer and his buddies try to convert our city into a kind of shadow Irvine.
i hope the waldorf expansion wont hamper the costa mesa marina the cm press wants. id hate to see a showdown between my daughters school and those forces.
as far as the car in the driveway goes... i just keep thinking of all of the righiemer signs on all those empty lots and what absolute eyesores all of those empty properties are, and have been for years now. so, jimmy knows what kind of eyesores devalue our neighborhoods. they put him where he is.
maybe I'm missing something but hasn't the non operation vehicle law been on the books for some time? I had a registered non-op vehicle in my driveway and costa mesa code told me to move it or befined several months ago.
Well, according to the DP readers 74% or 242 of the 325 respondants want the next council member to be voted in. http://www.dailypilot.com/news/dpt_poll_1,0,4762294,post.poll
Because of this CM's financial ineptness, someone will just be handed the ~$1600 a month insurance program
Rich, of course an election would be much too costly now. It will be an appointment and will likely be Mensinger or one of Righeimer's other cronies. I don't begrudge the compensation we provide our council members. They have the toughest "part time" job I've ever seen. Anyone in those jobs who does it well spends much, much more than 20-25 hours a week on behalf of the residents. I've been critical of many of them, but think they are probably under-compensated for the job we expect them to do representing our interests.
Geoff, my beef with the insurance benefit package is that I can buy a PPO with a $2500 family deductible, and once it is met there is no out of pocket except a $10 global co-pay. For myself and wife this was 175/mo. So 175 x 12 = 2100 plus the 2500 ded, that is 4600 per year. Add in maybe 20 office visits, RX's etc... and there is another 200, or a total of 4800. That should eqaute to $400 a month. Who researched their insurance.
From what I understand they have Blue Cross and the deductible is only $500. And people belly ached over the CMPD insurance and other benefits. They have a choice of plans, but the PPO has a $600 individual deductible and the family ded. is $1200. Plus if they have a family larger than 4 they have to pay more out of pocket to insure other members.
This is my gripe, Im almost over it.
Thanks Geoff
Rich, the insurance problem, is that we can only buy what is available through PERS. It is in fact Blue Cross, but the rates are much much higher than what you would get if you went out and bought it independently. I looked into that. The problem is, we are not ALLOWED to purchase it independently. We can only buy what the city offers through pers: Blue Cross, Kaiser, or for the sworn officers PORAC. Even the "mid level" HMO plan from Blue Cross is way expensive. That's what I chose. So, to cover a family with the HMO, dental, vision etc, it costs me about $1,100 a month out of pocket (above and beyond the stipend I get from the city).
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