Parks & Recreation Commission Special Meeting
WHY A "SPECIAL" MEETING?
I, along with about 20 of your friends and neighbors, attended the Special Parks and Recreation Commission meeting tonight at City Hall. I spoke with many of the attendees - none of whom can figure out why this "special" meeting was called because there seemed to be nothing on the agenda that could not have waited until their meeting in September.
CIVIC CENTER PARK TO BE NAMED FOR HAMMETT
The commission voted unanimously to recommend to the City Council that Civic Center Park - that large patch of grass and trees between the Police Station and
Fairview Road - be re-named for former mayor, councilman and Pearl Harbor attack survivor, Jack Hammett. I can find no fault with this decision. He certainly deserves to have this recognition in perpetuity.
TEWINKLE PARK SPORTS COMPLEX DISCUSSED
When it came time to consider the proposals presented by three respondents to the recent solicitation for qualifications to operate a public/private partnership at the TeWinkle Park Sports Complex the audience was dazzled by their presentations. Each group was experienced and professional. Each gave us, more or less, a good overview of how they planned to run the operation. Some had more detail than others. Two of them proposed a restaurant selling wine and beer at the complex - a fact that didn't sit well with some of the residents who spoke later.
WHY WAS THIS PRESENTED?
We were left wondering, as some of us had been doing before the meeting commenced, just why this presentation was made at all. To us it seemed out of sequence. First, there should have been some kind of community outreach to determine the feelings of the contiguous neighbors - that was not done. Even so, there should have been made available to the audience copies of the proposals by the respondents. We are promised that information will be available on the city web site Thursday. We'll see.
TASK FORCE TO BE FORMED
At the end th
e commission decided that some kind of a task force or committee, comprised of staff, commissioners and community members, should be formed to more fully flesh-out this issue before moving forward. Public Services Director Peter Naghavi advised the council that the staff will prepare a report for their next meeting that would outline the possible responsibilities of such a committee and a possible structure for it. The commission made it official by voting to direct staff to do exactly that and have it ready for their September 28th meeting.
WILL THIS VIOLATE THE INJUNCTION?
It seemed to me and several others at the meeting, that this is all about dollars. Appar
ently Mayor Gary Monahan requested at least one of the respondents to present a pitch. Since each of the proposals included complete maintenance of the site, it will certainly cost some city jobs. We're wondering if this violates the terms of the injunction currently being enforced. It seems like it.
TEMIANKA WANTS TO RESTRICT RECREATION
At the very end of the meeting commissioner Ethan Temianka - Jim Righeimer's former campaign manager who also shares a business address with Righeimer - asked that staff bring back the issue of how many members playing in a park constitute a "team" and require a permit. He mentioned that it is currently 10, but wanted to lower it to 5 "or some other number". I wonder what the heck that is all about? It sure sounds like an echo of Costa Mesa's racist laureate when he demanded that marauding soccer players, who he said were creating a dangerous situation at Paularino Park as they kicked a soccer ball around after work, be banned. He succeeded in conning the council at the time into making Paularino Park a "passive park" and having the current rules about 10 or more players requiring a permit. If Temianka wants to forbid six pals from kicking a soccer ball around - or playing a pick-up game of over-the-line - one must wonder what the heck he's doing on the Parks and Recreation Commission.
I, along with about 20 of your friends and neighbors, attended the Special Parks and Recreation Commission meeting tonight at City Hall. I spoke with many of the attendees - none of whom can figure out why this "special" meeting was called because there seemed to be nothing on the agenda that could not have waited until their meeting in September.
CIVIC CENTER PARK TO BE NAMED FOR HAMMETT
The commission voted unanimously to recommend to the City Council that Civic Center Park - that large patch of grass and trees between the Police Station and
Fairview Road - be re-named for former mayor, councilman and Pearl Harbor attack survivor, Jack Hammett. I can find no fault with this decision. He certainly deserves to have this recognition in perpetuity.
TEWINKLE PARK SPORTS COMPLEX DISCUSSED
When it came time to consider the proposals presented by three respondents to the recent solicitation for qualifications to operate a public/private partnership at the TeWinkle Park Sports Complex the audience was dazzled by their presentations. Each group was experienced and professional. Each gave us, more or less, a good overview of how they planned to run the operation. Some had more detail than others. Two of them proposed a restaurant selling wine and beer at the complex - a fact that didn't sit well with some of the residents who spoke later.
WHY WAS THIS PRESENTED?
We were left wondering, as some of us had been doing before the meeting commenced, just why this presentation was made at all. To us it seemed out of sequence. First, there should have been some kind of community outreach to determine the feelings of the contiguous neighbors - that was not done. Even so, there should have been made available to the audience copies of the proposals by the respondents. We are promised that information will be available on the city web site Thursday. We'll see.
TASK FORCE TO BE FORMED
At the end th
e commission decided that some kind of a task force or committee, comprised of staff, commissioners and community members, should be formed to more fully flesh-out this issue before moving forward. Public Services Director Peter Naghavi advised the council that the staff will prepare a report for their next meeting that would outline the possible responsibilities of such a committee and a possible structure for it. The commission made it official by voting to direct staff to do exactly that and have it ready for their September 28th meeting.
WILL THIS VIOLATE THE INJUNCTION?
It seemed to me and several others at the meeting, that this is all about dollars. Appar
ently Mayor Gary Monahan requested at least one of the respondents to present a pitch. Since each of the proposals included complete maintenance of the site, it will certainly cost some city jobs. We're wondering if this violates the terms of the injunction currently being enforced. It seems like it.
TEMIANKA WANTS TO RESTRICT RECREATION
At the very end of the meeting commissioner Ethan Temianka - Jim Righeimer's former campaign manager who also shares a business address with Righeimer - asked that staff bring back the issue of how many members playing in a park constitute a "team" and require a permit. He mentioned that it is currently 10, but wanted to lower it to 5 "or some other number". I wonder what the heck that is all about? It sure sounds like an echo of Costa Mesa's racist laureate when he demanded that marauding soccer players, who he said were creating a dangerous situation at Paularino Park as they kicked a soccer ball around after work, be banned. He succeeded in conning the council at the time into making Paularino Park a "passive park" and having the current rules about 10 or more players requiring a permit. If Temianka wants to forbid six pals from kicking a soccer ball around - or playing a pick-up game of over-the-line - one must wonder what the heck he's doing on the Parks and Recreation Commission.Labels: Ethan Temianka, Jim Righeimer, Peter Naghavi
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 8/10/2011 11:48:00 PM
35 Comments:
Parks and Rec Commissioner Ethan Temianka - Jim Righeimer's lapdog is a selfish GOP individual. The night of Huy Pham's sudden death- I asked him personally to cancel the Taxpayer's Association Meeting scheduled because I thought it was inappropriate for such a committee to meet in light of such a tragic event. Ethan ignore me and could of cared less that the city was in turmoil. His selfish decisions and subsequent actions on this committee lead me to believe he will do nothing for the City of Costa Mesa only what is good for Ethan and the OCGOP.
Temianka looks like a candidate for the reality show 'Tool Academy'...
Guess my youthful football and OTL games at Tanager Park back in the day would now be illegal if this goes through. Thanks, Millard. Haul those kids in, you are NOT allowed to have fun in our town any more - unless you're bellying up at Monahan's bar!
Can it even be legal to ban a group the use of a park for a pick up game? So on the weekend if my family and I want to play a game of touch football, we would not be able to play because we number more than five people? Besides who would enforce this? Aren't parks supposed to be used for recreation? Ethan sounds like a real jerk.
The Riggmarshal's former campaign manager's a P&R Commissioner?
I don't see John Carpenter at the moment, but is Costa Mesa the set for a third remake of "The Thing?"
The most cost-effective way to run sports facilities is with the models proven through decades of experience by groups like Little League and AYSO, where volunteers provide most of the labor and also generate revenue through snack bar operations.
These "professional" operations jack up the cost of everything, and also profit by substantially increasing usage and bringing in outsiders for adult leagues and tournaments.
Costa Mesa youth sports lose. The neighborhoods get hammered by noise and traffic.
What the heck are these guys thinking?
Let them change the playing in the park municipal code..Who will enforce it? We are down to one Park Ranger who chases transients around all day and we know cops don't have the time. We are a "rule of law" city with no law enforcement. Maybe Mensinger's Militia can handle it.
Tha't how the system works here, Skosh and Mansoor appoint Riggy and the football booster to planning commission so they can slither into council seats, they in turn appoint their chosen toadies like Temianka, McCarthy and everybody's favorite stool sample Jim Fitzy and others so the city can be stuck with these clowns and their political agenda. A vicious cycle of incompetence and corrupt behavior.
EGAD! Riggy's lackies are everywhere. Costa Mesans are getting the royal shaft!
feral:
"..everybody's favorite stool sample Jim Fitzy.."
LOFL!
Really, though- said sample allegedly has a degree from Notre Dame. Was he hit by a car or something?
Ethan is a tool so I might have to share some great stories about him with you very very soon.
moaryo, I caution you, as I cautioned Tommy Trojan on another thread, we're not interested in unsubstantiated stuff. Thanks for being interested, just be careful, please.
Not interested in unsubstantiated stuff, but calling an elected and appointed city official a stool sample is accepted on multiple posts.
Nice standards you have here Geoff West.
Well, that description seems to fit pretty well. If you disagree, or otherwise don't like what you read here, just don't click on the link.
Tool was the only clean word I could think of...
I don't know what depresses me more - the lack of leadership locally or nationally?
Flo, you are quite correct. Riggie's lackies are everywhere because they are called TAXPAYERS.
Vicki! Your back! I've missed you, girl. I had hoped you'd flushed all that Kool-Aid out of your system and had finished withdrawal.... guess not. Anyhow, welcome back.
"At the end the commission decided that some kind of a task force or committee, comprised of staff, commissioners and community members, should be formed to more fully flesh-out this issue before moving forward."
Gee another useless task force/committee to discuss something the city can't do anyway until the injunction is lifted. More wasted time, energy and money. Can't we just have city staff do their job without adding useless crap to their workload?
Does Geoff have any standards? said...
Not interested in unsubstantiated stuff, but calling an elected and appointed city official a stool sample is accepted on multiple posts.
Nice standards you have here Geoff West.
Mr. West said no UNSUBSTATIATED stuff.
I would say Fitzy being a stool sample has been substantiated on numerous occasions.
Carry on
Mike 1, you know what I'm talkin' bout!!!
Webster's Online Dictionary defines "Recreation... refreshment of strength and spirits after work; a means of refreshment or a diversion".
Hmmm...maybe the potential sports-complex operators are interpreting "strength" as food, and "spirits" as wine & beer, instead of "mind & body"?
Also, Webster's "English-Learners" definition of Recreation reads: "something people do to relax or have fun. activities done for enjoyment."
Ethan wants to discourage people from gathering for enjoyable & relaxing activities in public parks, unless they go to City Hall, and file the required permit, and "pay to play".
Btw, isn't the main objective of Physical Education to encourage "lifelong active-learners". So what happens to all the teens that want to play "pick-up" games of 3v3 basketball? Or when you want to have an impromptu family reunion softball/kickball game at the park?
Ethan, you can't systematically discriminate one group or activity over another, that's not what recreation is about. It's inclusive of diverse populations. Just be happy that your motley crue passed the 10 player rule, and get over yourself.
"Mensy's Meatheads" will thank you come Thanksgiving weekend....
The Tewinkle concession stand has been used by many youth sports and academic club organizations as a fundraising opportunity, much like the fireworks booths. That sadly, would be lost and another resource parents use to help projects in the communities would be lost forever. Many times the costs of outsourcing are in unseen effects that directly affect the public while protecting the private operators profits. In this instance, it's very clear you can make money and sell wine and beer, and a whole host of other services to outside interests, using a public resource for profit. The question is ...Should you?.
Geoff, I know that you don't like me very much, but I obviously enjoy your blog or I wouldn't visit here. :-)
I have a problem that affects many, many, many, taxpayers in Costa Mesa. My property taxes keep going up, and my income keeps going down. And for what? Excessive city salaries are a big part of the problem.
Us taxpayers are pretty slow, and not too smart, but eventually, we figure out what the problem is. City salaries need to be reduced, one way, or another. That's why Riggie's minions are everywhere. Either lower the salaries individually, or layoff a whole bunch of employees. The councilmen are quite correct in their approach, whether their detractors like it or not.
The parade will only continue to get longer Geoff (even when I'm on my meds, and not drinking Kool-Aid). :-)
Now, Ms. Vicki, I NEVER said I didn't like you, even though you're usually wrong. :-)
We all deal with taxes every day. Can you tell me how you will be positively impacted if we were to, say, cut all city employee salaries in half? How do you think that would personally affect you?
Slamanger - right on, brother... by the way, we must know each other, because I was one of the most feared 'D's' ever to suit up in a Rib Co. tank top...and good god, there's photos to prove it.
Oh Vicki, your property taxes going up or down has nothing to do with the City of Costa Mesa nor the salaries it pays it's employees. Property tax assessments are based on a formula implemented when prop. 13 passed many years ago. Go to the County of Orange Treasurer-Tax Collector web page and it will explain where your money goes. Your tax bill will also show if there are any additional assessments like school bonds or mello-roos that affect your property tax bill. If you feel you are being assessed too much based upon the current value of your property, you can request an appeal with the County of Orange. Even if Costa Mesa got rid of every city employee your property taxes would not decrease. What is sad is how clueless some people are about the taxes they pay and where the money goes.
Vicki = 1 of many aliases
Vicky- how about you do what the rest of us able-bodied taxpayers have done and get a second job or move to Corona. I thought only Dem's were allowed to complain about poor me the victim, now I have to listen to it from Republitards too? The world has gone crazy.
Not Surprised, your ignorance is beyond belief. 25% of the city's income comes from our property taxes and a whole lot more comes from all the sales tax we pay.
Taxpayers are sick and tired of providing lavish lifestyles for people who don't even appreciate what they receive.
Pocket parks shouldn't be overrun by team sports. We have fantastic sports fields for legitimate teams.
Vicki, define "lavish". When you say "lavish", I probably picture something a whole lot different than you do. Does that mean not living in a double wide?
You talk as if you and your circle of friends are the only taxpayers. That somehow, you are a special protected class for being such. Everyone pays taxes, so get over yourself. Even the public employees you seem to have so much disdain for pay taxes.
Lavish lifestyles? Name one Costa Mesa employee who lives on a golf course, or is that lifestyle only acceptable for unemployed council members who think only they deserve it?
Vicki I am tired of subsidizing your life. Please return all my money as it has been a complete government waste. If you even own a home please start by giving back the taxpayer money used to subsidize/back your mortgage and if you have a college degree, which I doubt, I would like my money that was used to fund/subsidize your degree back as well.
Vicki, your ignorance is more astounding. Your were complaining about how high your property taxes are, not where the money goes. At least be consistent with your rants. Besides this blog is about the Park and Recreation Commission Special Meeting, not employee compensation. That was the previous blog. It would be nice if you posted in the right place, maybe then people would take you seriously.
It's odd that the council and their brainwashed (or is it brain dead?) supporters are constantly pushing the benefits of youth sports as what needs to be the #1 priority, but then talk out the other side of their faces and want to prevent kids from actually using the parks for sports.
I don't really know this Ethan Temikaka or whatever his name is, just that he seems to be Colon Mccarthys little boy toy and another gop clone so I'm adding him to my ever growing list of stool samples that infest local politics.
Vicki has to be as dumb as a post to believe that more than about .30 cents a year of her property tax pays for employee costs. As pointed out to her, this isn't the place for this dialog. But then, she so of base on everything else why be surprised?
Hicky vicki was correct. We paid more for her mortgage subsidy and her education than she pays for public safety through taxes.
She pays more tax on every bottle of vodka she buys than her property tax pays individually for services.
The vodka I drink comes in gallon jugs and I don't pay tax on it, so there.
Vicki probably makes her own in a still out behind her mobile home.
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