Foley On City Talk & Homeless Task Force

FOLEY ON CITY TALK
As mentioned in an earlier post, new Newport Mesa Unified School District Trustee Katrina Foley is featured in a new edition of City Talk on Costa Mesa TV. Foley, who wrapped up twelve years service to the City of Costa Mesa - six on the Planning Commission and six on the City Council - was elected to the School Board in November, 2010 and subsequently resigned her seat on the City Council in December.

TIME WELL SPENT
I think you'll find the half-hour it takes to watch this presentation will be time well-spent. Foley is still engaged in city issues, particularly as they relate to the schools and children. I think some of you will find, as I did as I watched it, that her energy and intellect will be sorely missed on the dais in the months to come.

VIEWING SCHEDULE
You can watch this edition of City Talk via streaming video on the city web site HERE or view it on CMTV, Channel 24 on Time Warner Cable and Channel 99 on ATT UVerse on the following schedule:


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HOMELESS TASK FORCE SOLICITING MEMBERS
Today the City issued a press release announcing the formation of the Homeless Task Force and soliciting interested folks who may wish to serve as a member of that Task Force to apply soon. Application forms can be found at the city web site HERE or contact Muriel Ullman, Neighborhood Improvement Manager at 714-754-5167 or by email, mullman@ci.costa-mesa.ca.us. The deadline for submission is 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 18. 2011.

According to the Press Release, the proposed Task Force scope of work is as follows:

Evaluation of current actions;

Legal review of park policies and procedures, review of new ordinances designed to address long term municipal code violators, proposed legal/law enforcement strategies, and a review of current state and local laws which deal with problem individuals;

Review of best practices of other cities with the goal of developing data driven solutions;

Examination of homeless population characteristics and development of appropriate short term and long term strategies to best serve these individuals.

It is estimated that the work of the Task Force will be between 6-9 months.

A WORTHY EFFORT
This effort on the part of our city leaders, headed up by soon-to-be City Manager Tom Hatch, to address and resolve the problem of the proliferation of homeless people in our town - primarily in and around Lions Park and the municipal buildings contiguous to the park - is commendable. It will not be an easy job. If it was it would have been resolved a long time ago. I only hope our new, impatient council members will give this task force a chance to do it's job.

A NEW FAN...
I don't feel, as was alluded to specifically by one misguided speaker before the council last Tuesday evening, that the "four men on the council are cavemen" when it comes to this issue. It was a curious comment, apparently based on a very cursory peek at this blog sometime in the past. I knew he was serious when he turned, twice, and looked directly at me while addressing the council with his "caveman" remark. It's always fun to meet a fan... :-) I reserve the right to characterize the council in ways I feel appropriate under the circumstances - even though I've never referred to any of them as "cavemen" - Neanderthal, perhaps, but not "cavemen". We'll see how this goes for the next few months.