It's Fish Fry Weekend!

IT'S THAT TIME OF THE YEAR AGAIN!
The 66th annual Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club Fish Fry launches Friday and runs through the weekend at Fairview Park, and this year it includes the Costa Mesa Community Run on Sunday.  President Mike Scheafer invites one and all to enjoy this event.

THE FUN STARTS FRIDAY - FISH ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Friday the carnival will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. and the yummy fish will be fried on Saturday and Sunday starting at 11:30 a.m.  Read all about it below and/or go to the Lions Club website, HERE:

COSTA MESA COMMUNITY RUN
For more information about the Community Run, read the following or go to the website HERE.

A PERFECT WEEKEND FOR FUN IN THE SUN
It's going to be a perfect weekend for these events, so drag your family over to Fairview Park and have a great time for a great cause.  With any luck you'll be able to rub elbows (or bump chests) with local dignitaries - if you really want to, that is.

SEE YOU AT THE FISH FRY!

Motorcycle Safety Enforcement and DUI Results

TARGETED MOTORCYCLE SAFETY ENFORCEMENT
Today the Costa Mesa Police Department announced that for three weeks in June - June 1-22 - it will conduct a "specialized Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation" in an attempt to lower deaths and injuries.  Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where motorcycle crashes occur.  They will be focusing on speeding, making illegal turns and driving under the influence.

ACCIDENTS BACK UP
According to the press release, motorcycle fatalities saw a drop of 37% from 2008 to 2010, but rose nearly 18% in 2011.  Since January 2010 there have been 97 traffic collisions involving motorcyclists in which 91 people were injured and one was killed.

FUNDING
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

   


DUI CHECKPOINT RESULTS
Earlier this week the Costa Mesa Police Department announced the results of the most recent DUI/Drivers License checkpoint conducted Friday, May 24th along northbound Newport Boulevard at Flower Street between 8:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. Saturday.

8 DRUNKS ARRESTED, PLUS...
According to the announcement, 2,941 vehicles passed through the checkpoint.  618 were screened.  23 Field Sobriety Tests were administered and 8 DUI-alcohol suspects were arrested.  Additionally, 1 DUI-Drug impaired suspect was arrested; 1 drug suspect was arrested; 6 drivers were cited/arrested for operating a vehicle unlicensed; 2 drivers were cited/arrested for operating a vehicle while suspended/revoked and 9 vehicles were stored or impounded.

COST EFFECTIVE EFFORT
The announcement tells us that these enforcement/education efforts have demonstrable positive results and yield cost savings of $6 for every $1 spent.  And, of course, these checkpoints are conducted using grant funds, not general fund budget dollars.

Meet The Mayor Tonight

TOWER ON 19TH
Just a reminder for you... Tonight you can "Meet The Mayor" at the latest of Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer's monthly gatherings at different venues around town.  Tonight your chance to meet and chat with the mayor is at the Tower on 19th (formerly Bethel Towers), 678 West 19th Street from 6-7:30 p.m.

BUDGET
This is a great opportunity for you to ask Righeimer questions that might be rattling around in your head.  For example, the preliminary budget shows a $12 million deficit.  You might ask Righeimer what his solution for this problem might be.

VEGAS RESULTS
Or, you might ask him how many solid leads were developed during the recent Las Vegas visit by Righeimer, Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger, CEO Tom Hatch and other staffers.  What was our "return on investment" on that little trip?

RISING CRIME
Or, you might ask him about our rising crime rate, particularly in light of his decision to close down the A.B.L.E helicopter program and his unwillingness to staff the Costa Mesa Police Department back to levels appropriate for effective policing based on experts in the field.

FIRE DEPARTMENT RE-ORG
Or, you might ask him why Interim Fire Chief Tom Arnold's original reorganization proposal was modified to retain C.A.R.E Ambulance - one of his campaign contributors - despite evidence that Arnold's original plan would represent significant cost savings and better coverage?

SENIOR CENTER
Or, you might ask him about his attitude toward the Senior Center Corporation Board of Directors and the operations of the Senior Center.

CHARTER AGAIN?
Or, you might ask him why he insists on bringing back a Charter scheme after it was resoundingly defeated by the voters last year.



HOLD HIS FEET TO THE FIRE
Have fun...

BIA Opines On The Costa Mesa General Plan

BIA CHIMES IN ON GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
Wednesday morning I joined a handful of interested residents, a few city staffers, one council member and some honchos from the Orange County chapter of the Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA) at a 90 minute meeting that is part of the community outreach on the update of Costa Mesa's General Plan. 

1ST OF THREE "ROAD SHOWS"
This meeting was billed as one of the three "Road Show" events at which selected organizations are invited to provide input on elements they'd like to see as the General Plan is updated.  The remaining two "Road Shows" are on Wednesday, June 5th from 3-4:30 p.m. in Conference Room 1A with the Chamber of Commerce and on Wednesday, June 26th from 9-11 a.m. with the Newport Beach Association of Realtors (Includes Costa Mesa and Newport Beach).  You can read the full schedule of events regarding the General Plan update HERE.

ATTENDEES
The BIA was represented by Mike Balsamo, Chief Executive Officer of the Orange County Chapter and Victor Cao, Government Affairs Manager.  Their organization represents over 1,000 companies or organizations involved in development and peripheral businesses.  Wendy Leece was the only council member present at the meeting conducted by Minoo Ashabi, Principal Planner.

WHY COSTA MESA IS APPEALING
Balsamo, in describing why Costa Mesa is an appealing venue for his member companies to consider for possible development, cited the solid financial condition, using South Coast Plaza and Metro Point as examples of Sales Tax generators; the quality of life found in Costa Mesa; the Fairgrounds, Hoag Hospital and the proximity of beach recreation in Newport Beach as favorable elements.  He also mentioned good weather and good schools. 

ARE WESTSIDE OVERLAYS VIABLE?
Leece asked his opinion of the Westside overlays, citing the fact that those plans have been slow to evolve due to the recent economic downturn, and wondered if he and his member companies thought those plans are viable today.  Balsamo deftly avoided directly answering that question, indicating it was a matter of timing in the marketplace.  Leece was concerned that the so-called "live/work" units planned would devolve into rental units, further exacerbating the renter vs. owner housing in the city.

"GEN Y" REQUIREMENTS?
A discussion ensued about the changing views in our society, emphasizing that the "Generation Y" group seem to be much more willing to consider renting as a way of live as opposed to the white picket fence suburban homes many have grown up seeking.  The only resident in attendance that fit into that group acknowledged that perception, but also indicated that she much preferred a home with a front and back yard and some peace and quiet not typically found in large rental buildings.

PREDICTABLE PROCESSES AND FLEXIBILITY
Transportation Services Manager Raja Sethuraman inquired about any special challenges the BIA sees ahead.  Balsamo spoke of the Banning Ranch development - not a Costa Mesa project, but one that will severely impact our city -  and the environmental hurdles involved.  He said his members are looking for predictable processes and a pro-business orientation so the development process can move smoothly.  He mentioned development fees, specifically the Parks fee, as issues that cause some developers to pause when considering Costa Mesa projects.  He also indicated that they'd like to see some "flexibility" with density, parking and setbacks on projects that are basically infill projects, usually constrained on all sides by adjacent uses.  That made me more than a little nervous, since our city has a long history of underparking projects all over the city.

EASTSIDE TRANSITION
We spoke briefly about the impact of transitions happening on the Eastside, where large lots with small homes are either being converted to large homes or common interest developments with multiple units that put stress on the existing infrastructure and significantly impact traffic in neighborhoods.  I expressed a view that such developments are inevitable, but that we don't want shoddy developments anywhere in our city.  I suggested they consider fewer units, so adequate parking could be provided onsite, and built to a quality level where a higher price could be charged per unit.

CLEAR GOALS AND RULES
Cao expressed a view that their members are looking for the General Plan update to create clear goals and unambiguous "rules of the game".

EGAN ON RENTERS
Former Planning Commissioner Eleanor Egan expressed concern about the renter/owner ratio, indicating that the transient nature of renters as a whole adversely affects the sense of "community" sought by many and, as a result, the quality of life in our neighborhoods.  The discussion of the "Gen Y" group was covered again.

HUMPHREY ON PARKING
Former councilman Jay Humphrey expressed concern about parking, which generated a significant discussion about that issue, including a mention of subterranean parking as an option.  Several projects throughout the city already require permit-only on-street parking in neighborhoods impacted by underparked apartments.

NO VIDEO RECORD MADE...
The meeting was not videotaped - a major shortfall in the grand transparency plans for these kind of things - although an audio recording was made.  I thought there was a good exchange of information among the participants and I think the staff now has a clearer idea of what the BIA is looking in the General Plan.  I'm glad I attended, but was disappointed so few of my neighbors took this opportunity to become informed.

Budget Study Session Blues

ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO
Tuesday afternoon the Costa Mesa City Council held the first of two budget study sessions - the next one will be at 4:30 p.m., June 11, 2013 in Council Chambers.

YOUNG BREAKS THE BAD NEWS
This meeting, conducted primarily by Finance and Information Technology Director Bobby Young, presented the cold, hard facts that the preliminary budget created using council and department heads desires for the next fiscal year would result in a $12 million deficit.

SPENDING UP 18.74%!
Young broke the presentation into two sections - the Preliminary Budget and the Preliminary Capital Improvement Program Budget.  The former included a PowerPoint presentation showing 22 slides and took just under an hour.  If you wish to plow through the 290 page Preliminary Budget document on the city web site you'll find it HERE.  In a nutshell, with just about $139.5 million in anticipated revenues and just under $157.5 million in appropriations, the budget as prepared would require $18 million in Fund Balance dollars - reserves.  The increase in spending represents an 18.74% increase over the fiscal year ending the end of June.

CAPITAL SPENDING UP OVER 50%!
The Operating Budget is relatively flat - up only $270,083.  However, the Capital Improvement budget is $31,156,387 - up a whopping 50.46%!  At this point it's easy to see where cuts must be made.

HATCH SLASHES CIP BUDGET
CEO Tom Hatch prepared a list of 63 separate line items from the Capital Budget with his recommendations for reductions to produce a balanced budget.  His proposals slashed that $31 million to $18.3 million and included some VERY interesting inclusions and cuts.  Unfortunately, his list is not yet available online for your reading pleasure.

STREETS AND DRAINS INTACT, BUILDING MAINT. CUT

For example, he left intact almost all funding for Street Improvements - right at $10.4 million.  He left out line item 25, Westside Improvements ($250,000).  He left in major Storm Drain funding of almost $3.4 million, but deleted $1.25 million in much-needed Broadcast Systems upgrades for the council chambers.  In fact, in the section identified as "Building Maintenance", which included those broadcast systems, Hatch left in only $500,000 of the just under $2.7 million requested dollars, and that was half of the line item #63, Building Maintenance Projects.

PARKS, INCLUDING CMHS TRACK, SLASHED
Under Park Development, with a total requested of just over $9.7 million, Hatch left only $3.05 million.  He funded only $500,000 of the $3.5 million requested for Costa Mesa High School Track and Field upgrades.  Several members of the public showed up to support the CMHS improvements - most looking like they had just jogged over from the track.  Council members Wendy Leece and Sandra Genis expressed concern that the Newport-Mesa Unified School District - the organization primarily responsible for that facility - still had bond money available to put toward this project.  Hatch was directed to contact school board officials to determine if they're willing to participate in this project using some of that bond money.

MORE CUTS AND SAVES
Another item not included in Hatch's pared-down recommendations was just over $1 million upgrade to Jack Hammett Field #1 and $275,000 for bluff stairs at the south end of Fairview Park.  He did leave almost $836,000 for a Fairview Park Multipurpose Trail and $650,000 for parking lot lighting, also at Fairview Park.

THE NEXT ONE WILL BE INTERESTING
It's going to be VERY interesting to see what the council comes back with at the next study session on June 11th.  Mayor Jim Righeimer has recently been making a big deal of having had two balanced budgets - rightfully so.  We'll see how the council under his leadership juggles the numbers this time around to accomplish that feat.

More On The Week Ahead

MORE STUFF GOING ON!
You'll recall that I mentioned last week that this coming week is going to be hectic.  Well, it just got MORE hectic.  Taking it from the top...


TUESDAY, MAY, 28TH
Budget Study Session
At 4:30 p.m. the City Council will hold a Special Study Session on the 2013-2014 Preliminary Budget in Conference Room 1A.  A meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee, scheduled for earlier in the day, has been canceled so those members can attend this study session.  Finance and Information Technology Director will lead a discussion to look for ways to resolve the current $12 million deficit.  This meeting, usually anticipated for 90 minutes, may run much longer.. which leads us to the next meeting.

City Council Closed Session

Scheduled at 6:00, but will probably be held immediately following the Budget Study Session, the City Council will hold a Special City Council Closed Session meeting to hear from labor negotiators.  The public may not attend this meeting.

Planning Commission

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission, led by Chairman Jim Fitzpatrick, will hold a regularly-scheduled meeting at 6:00 in City Council Chambers.  The agenda for that meeting is HERE.  Of particular interest may be the possible creation of a 4th Neighborhood Improvement Program, HERE;  The upcoming Capital Improvement Programs, HERE; The proposed Public Nuisance Ordinance, HERE and the General Plan Housing Element, HERE.  Regarding the latter, you can find the entire schedule of meetings involving the update of the General Plan HERE.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29TH

Pension Oversight Committee
The Pension Oversight Committee seems to have a full agenda for its meeting Wednesday in Conference Room 1A, HERE.  I'm still curious about the precise mission of this group, since there is virtually nothing they can do about our pension situation.

THURSDAY, MAY 30TH
Meet The Mayor?
It's unclear whether Mayor Jim Righeimer will, in fact, hold another in his series of "Meet The Mayor" events at a venue somewhere in town.  When that is confirmed I'll announce it for you.

FRIDAY, MAY 31ST - SUNDAY, JUNE 2ND
Fish Fry
The 66th Annual Costa Mesa/Newport Harbor Lions Club Fish Fry at Fairview Park kicks off Friday night for rides only.  The famous fried fish and games continue on Saturday and Sunday.

Costa Mesa Community Run
On Sunday, June 2nd the Costa Mesa Community Run will be conducted, also at Fairview Park and in conjunction with the Fish Fry.

HOW IS THE STAFF HOLDING UP?
Just a thought... all these meetings take up a heck of a lot of staff time, both for the preparation and attendance at the meetings themselves.  I find myself wondering just how exhausted these staffers must be these days.  And this doesn't even take into account those council members and commissioners who prowl the corridors of City Hall, taking up valuable staff time with inappropriate requests.  It's clear that the city policy that specifically forbids council members from giving direction to members of the staff is being ignored by more than one such person.  Somebody - CEO Tom Hatch - should set them straight and do so promptly.

DUI Checkpoint Planned For Friday Night

ANOTHER DUI CHECKPOINT TOMORROW
Just a reminder... Don't start your holiday weekend with a drunk driving arrest!

FULL TEXT OF THE MESSAGE
The Costa Mesa Police Department announced today that they will be conducting another in their series of DUI checkpoints somewhere in the city beginning at 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 24th and continuing through 3:00 a.m. Saturday, May 25th.  You can read the text of their announcement HERE.

GREAT "RETURN ON INVESTMENT"
As you read in that message, DUI Checkpoints such as this one produce a great "return on investment" in addition to keeping dangerous impaired drivers off the roads.

HAVE FUN... BE SAFE
Have a wonderful holiday, but don't drink and drive.

Memorial Day - 2013

WHAT IS THIS HOLIDAY ABOUT?

As we reach the cusp of the Memorial Day holiday today and look forward to three days of recreation and relaxation, I hope you all will take a few minutes to remember just what this day is all about.  You can read the Wikipedia description and history of the holiday HERE.   

HALLOWED GROUND
I visited this place during a visit to Europe many years ago.  It's the American Military Cemetery just a couple kilometers south of Florence, Italy - the final resting place of more than 4,000 American soldiers who died nearby during World War II.  It's a beautiful place - a chunk of the USA - and is meticulously maintained to honor all those men.

STAGGERING NUMBERS

The chart below will give you an idea of how many men and women have given their lives in the defense of our country over the past couple hundred years.  As you scroll down that list it might help you get some perspective as we consider where our young men and women serve and die for us today. One of those is Costa Mesan Jose Angel Garibay, the young Marine who died a decade ago, on March 23, 2003, in Iraq.  Garibay, an illegal alien who hoped for citizenship through his military service, planned a career in law enforcement.  He was buried at Riverside National Cemetery on April 11, 2003 with full military honors, HERE, was awarded posthumous citizenship and was named honorary Costa Mesa policeman by then Police Chief Dave Snowden. 

REMEMBER THEM AND HONOR THEM...

Please take a couple minutes to view this video clip to honor our fallen men and women.  Regardless how you feel about a particular war or police action, the men and women who fought and died in them deserve your respect.