Mensinger To Meet With Feds On DG Trail!

WHAT A WAY TO END THE WEEK!

Just when you think a week couldn't possibly get more bizarre, another curious missive is propelled out from the 5th floor of City Hall.

MEETING WITH FEDS
In a press release today, HERE, titled, "Statement from Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger on Fairview Park Trail", Mensinger tells us that, through the City Attorney's Office, he's requested a meeting with U.S. Fish and Wildlife to talk with their agents about what he knows about the incident.  Yikes!

HIS REQUEST STARTED IT...
You will recall from the released public records that it appears that Mensinger requested Public Services Director Ernesto Munoz to do something about the trail along the fence separating the Waldorf School/Parsons Field and Fairview Park.  What happened as a result of that request was a scraping of weeds and application of herbicide on a swath at least six feet wide.  And, later, mysteriously that area was found covered with decomposed granite to the depth in some places of at least six inches and wide enough to drive a tandem-axle truck on it.

ENCROACHED ON PROTECTED AREAS
That path encroached significantly on Federally-protected vernal pools - habitat for San Diego Fairy Shrimp.

DG REMOVED, SANCTIONS POSSIBLE
The decomposed granite has been removed under the guidance of the U.S Department of Fish and Wildlife at a very significant cost to the city.  Word on further possible sanctions by the government due to our poor stewardship of that site is still pending.

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?
It's not clear what Mensinger hopes to accomplish with his conversation with representatives of U.S. Fish and Wildlife.  One more thing for us to speculate about.  Maybe he will finally fess up to playing a bigger part in the debacle and take personal responsibility for it.  Or, maybe he'll tell them he didn't do anything.  Or, maybe he'll tell them who did it... I guess we'll find out.

IF HE'S CULPABLE HE SHOULD RESIGN
In my opinion, if it is the former - and he's consistently denied any knowledge of the installation of the DG path for more than six months - that's a serious breach of his fiduciary responsibility as a councilman and the number two elected official in our city.  If that's the case he should immediately resign from his office and pay whatever costs and penalties that act has caused the city to incur.  We'll see.

Gazsi And Snowden For Council?

LEAVE IT TO BARBARA...
Well, the irrepressible Barbara Venezia, columnist over at the Orange County Register, has probably caused soiled underwear in Mesa Verde today with her column in The Current.  You can read it on here BV On TV website, HERE.

WHO WILL UNSEAT THE LITTLE KING
 In her column, as you will read, she playfully speculates about the possibility of just who might run to unseat the Emperor Righeimer (my name, not hers) in his run for re-election to the Costa Mesa City Council.

OH, BOY! - FIRST GAZSI...
The first name she throws out is current Costa Mesa Police Chief Tom Gazsi, which is fun to contemplate all by itself.

...THEN SNOWDEN
Then she tossed former Costa Mesa Police Chief (and current Beverly Hills Chief) Dave Snowden's name out for contemplation.  Then she speculated about them running as a team.

SMILIN'...
I have to tell you that I have not stopped smiling since I read her piece a few hours ago, just contemplating how Jim Righeimer's camp must have reacted to it.  And, I wondered how their tiny brains must be trying to figure out how they could sully the names and reputations of those two outstanding law enforcement leaders, just in case one of them DOES decide to run against him.

TAKE A BREAK AND ENJOY
So, as a little break from your tedious analysis of the 60th Anniversary Celebration report and the speculation about why Recreation Manager Bob Knapp departed, take a couple minutes and read this very, very entertaining and provocative column.  It will make the end of your week just that much more enjoyable.

 ****

NOW, ABOUT THAT LITTLE GAME...
And, in case I don't post anything more before Sunday, my prediction for the Super Bowl - while keeping my fingers crossed for a game in which the weather doesn't play a part - is that Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos will slip past the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 27-24.  Let the game begin!!!!

Report On 60th Anniversary Costs Now Available

FINALLY, AND WITH GREAT TIMING...
Just before the close of business today the City of Costa Mesa finally released the report on the controversial 60th Anniversary Celebration Costs, HERE. (Read Bradley Zint's excellent summary in the Daily Pilot late Thursday night, HERE.) (And Antonie Boesenkool's equally fine report behind the pay wall in the Orange County Register, HERE.)

LOTS OF DETAIL
That page includes several links to individual segments of the financials of the report, including an Executive Summary, HERE, an 89 page report on the Sun Group Entertainment Expenses, HERE, and a 489 page report on Other Expenses, HERE.

JUST THE BEGINNING
I'm not going to try to present any kind of indepth analysis of this information now... I know that, all over the city, there are people and groups of people poised to spend their weekend doing just that.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
However, perhaps some snippets from the Executive Summary may be helpful to you.  For example, while they state that "multiple investigations have found to date that no public funds were used for personal gain or were unaccounted for" they acknowledge that purchasing policies and procedures were not followed.

WOW!
They tell us that the total expenses for this event ended up at $518,000!!!!

SHORTCOMINGS
In the section titled "City Shortcomings" they list the following, with details you can find on the report itself:

• Unbudgeted event growth
• Unbudgeted costs
• Violations of purchasing policies and procedures
• Control over cash

SPECIFIC VIOLATIONS
They also lost, under a title, "Specific potential violations by city staff of Costa Mesa policies" thirty-three (33) separate items that will make you very angry when you read them.

REFORMS
Under "Reforms Instituted", they tell us that they have:

• Instituted a refresher training course for all employees involved in purchasing
• CEO and Finance Director working with staff to ensure that the Finance Department actas as a strong check and balance mechanism.
• Added a new "Buyer" position

• Established a Purchasing Quality Control Committee

TAKE SOME TIME
I encourage you to take some time and review the various documents - all 1051 pages of them.  We've not heard the last of this issue.

NO WORD, YET, ON DAN JOYCE
And, although rumors are all over the place about the future of Dan Joyce, I'm told officially this afternoon that he is still on paid administrative leave.

Bob Knapp Out As Costa Mesa Recreation Manager

 "RESIGNS" AFTER 18 MONTHS
After hearing rumblings all morning about the future of Bob Knapp, Recreation Manager for the City of Costa Mesa for the past 18 months, this afternoon the City posted on it's web site a terse, three paragraph announcement that he had, in fact, resigned.  You can read that HERE.

WHAT I SAID EARLIER
I wrote about Knapp's appointment in July of 2012, HERE, and expressed concern that his background contained no recreation management experience, much less municipal recreation management.  I've met him several times and he's a heck of a guy - I'd love to have him as a neighbor.

LET THE SPECULATING BEGIN...
I don't know what led up to this "resignation", but I hope it is not related to the 60th Anniversary mess that we're supposed to hear about - maybe today.

INTERESTING TABLE TALK
Since Bob is the son-in-law of Gordon Bowley - who runs Costa Mesa United - and Steve Mensinger is deeply-immersed in that organization, I wonder what family dinners will be like in those families.

GOOD LUCK...

I wish Bob Knapp well and thank him for his service to the city in his job and the broader community in his volunteer recreation activities.

Costa Mesa Sanitary District Announces Townhalls

MORE PUBLIC OUTREACH SCHEDULED
The Costa Mesa Sanitary District announced today that two (2) more public town halls will be held to provide information to ratepayers about the proposed changes in Organic Recycling.  So far, two workshops have been held at the Neighborhood Community Center and both were well attended.


The two new town halls will be held as follows:

THURSDAY AT HALECREST PARK
On Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. a town hall will be held at Halecrest Park, 3107 Killybrooke Lane.

BACK BAY HIGH
On Saturday, February 8, 2014  at 9:00 a.m., a town hall will be held at Back Bay/Monte Vista High School, 390 Monte Vista Drive.

DO SOME HOMEWORK
I've written about these town halls several times and referred you to powerpoint presentations at the Sanitary District web site, www.cmsda.gov. 

LEARN AND LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD
I encourage any folks interested in this new plan to attend the town halls and ask questions.  The board will consider this issue at their next regular meeting on February 25, 2014, which will be held at a site yet to be determined.

Costa Mesa Cops Offer Reward For Return Of Stolen Ashes

TRYING TO HELP...
In a press release issued yesterday, Costa Mesa Police Officers Association President Rob Dimel announced that his association was offering a $1,000 reward for the return, or for information that leads to the return, of the ashes stolen during a residential burglary recently.  You can read the text of Dimel's announcement HERE.

KUDOS...
Kudos to the beleaguered men and women of the Costa Mesa Police Department for stepping up and offering this reward as one more way to help return the ashes.  We hope this offer of the reward will reap benefits.

Residents Hear About East 19th Street Plans

SIX DOZEN RESIDENTS CAME AND MANY SPOKE

Last night around six dozen anxious and vocal residents joined members of the Costa Mesa City Staff to hear about the proposed plans to slow traffic along East 19th Street from Irvine Avenue to Fullerton Avenue.

RAJA MODERATED
Transportation Services Manager Raja Sethuraman moderated a brief slide show and then fielded questions - several of which bordered on the hostile - from concerned residents.

COMPARISON TO BROADWAY
The theme for this meeting appeared to be "It's Not Broadway" - that nearby Eastside street that underwent traffic calming measures last year with apparent great success.  Folks kept bringing up that project throughout the 90 minutes or so that the Staff answered questions.

 Fullerton Ave. Intersection with "enhancements"

Orange Ave. Intersection

PRESENTATION AND DATA ON WEB SITE
No handouts were available for this meeting, but we're told that the entire slide presentation and other data will be available today sometime on the City Website.

Raymond Avenue

Westminster Avenue

FED'S CASH
Sethuraman frequently emphasized that this project, funded by over $850,000 in Federal "Safe Routes To School" grants, is designed to slow the traffic on that stretch of street, not to divert it to other routes on the Eastside.

Santa Ana Avenue

Tustin Avenue

UP CLOSE LOOK AT PLANS
They had images around the perimeter of the room depicting each of the intersections involved.
Most of the improvements will be done at the intersections as shown on the images displayed here. 

                                                                   Irvine Avenue

AT LEAST ONE MORE MEETING

There will be at least one other similar meeting to give residents another opportunity to express their views on this important Eastside subject.

 STAFF WILL GATHER DATA
The staff will take the information gleaned from the questions and comments by audience members and modify the plan if practicable to accommodate residents concerns.

FITZY AND RAMOS

And, of course, Eastsider Jim Fitzpatrick was at the meeting, buzzing around City Council Candidate Lee Ramos' shoulder much of the night.

LONG-TERM PROJECT
The next meeting will be scheduled for sometime in April and, if eventually approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council, the actual construction on this stretch of roadway would not begin until early next year.

Gericault's 60th Celebration Chronology

MY EARLIER POST
In the wee hours of Monday I posted an entry, HERE, asking when we were going to be seeing the much-promised and much-delayed documents for the 60th Anniversary Celebration.

EXCELLENT ANALYSIS
Today, over on the Orange Juice Blog, contributor Gericault published an excellent chronology of the events surrounding the celebration and provides some perspective on this issue that should prove valuable if, and when, we ever see the documents in question.  You can read his summary HERE.

CIRCLING VULTURES
It is just past close of business at City Hall on Wednesday as I write this.  The documents have been promised - again - to be released by Friday.  Because of broken promises and missed deadlines in the past,  none of us are holding our breath waiting for that to happen.  However, based on comments I've received over the past couple weeks, interested parties are circling City Hall like vultures, waiting to swoop down and snatch the documents for analysis once they become available.  Because of this unacceptable delay, and because of the potential for a blockbuster scandal to bust wide open, I fear the city will be poorly served by this stalling process.  We'll see.  In the meantime, we will continue to tap our toe and hum the Jeopardy! theme...

CMPD/OC Probation Sweep Nets Violators

AB 109 OFFENDERS AMONG THOSE ARRESTED
Tuesday, January 28th, members of the Costa Mesa Police Department, including Chief Tom Gazsi and members of his command staff,  and the Orange County Probation Department participated in a sweep in Costa Mesa to check on Assembly Bill 109 released inmates in the community.   They investigated 20 individuals and snatched up 6 for violation of the terms of their release or for new crimes.

(CMPD Chief Tom Gazsi and Captain Rob Sharpnack oversee officers conducting investigation)

 (Orange County Probation K9 Officer assigned to the PRCS compliance sweep)

(Note: The CMPD no longer has any K9 units)

KUDOS FOR A JOB WELL DONE

Kudos to the Costa Mesa Police Department for their proactive efforts to keep our community safe, particularly in light of the depleted staffing levels today.  The full text of the press release follows.


Synopsis:
On Tuesday, January 28, 2014, the Costa Mesa Police Department partnered with the Orange County Probation Department in a collaborative effort to conduct compliance checks on those offenders subject to Post-Release Community Supervision (PRCS), per Assembly Bill 109 (State Prison Realignment). These checks were designed to locate and audit the activity of those local criminal offenders residing within Costa Mesa whom are under the supervision of the Orange County Probation Department.

Officers contacted twenty total persons subject to supervision, 9 of which were classified as PRCS offenders living in Costa Mesa. The compliance checks resulted in 6 total offenders being arrested for violations of the conditions of their supervision and/or new criminal law violations. 4 of those arrested were classified as PRCS offenders.

The following is a summary of those arrested (names intentionally omitted):
Male, 34 years old, Costa Mesa
Location of arrest: 600 block of Capitol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Supervision status: Probation – Mandatory Supervision
Charges: Possession of narcotics paraphernalia, Probation violation hold

Male, 34 years old, Costa Mesa
Location of arrest: 1900 block of Anaheim Av., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Supervision: Probation – Mandatory Supervision
Charges: Warrant – Burglary, Possession of stolen property

Male, 47 years old, Costa Mesa
Location of arrest: 900 block of Begonia Av., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Supervision: Probation – PRCS Active Supervision
Charges: Probation violation hold

Male, 52 years old, Costa Mesa
Location of arrest: 1900 block of Anaheim Av., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Supervision: Probation – PRCS Active Supervision
Charges: Probation violation hold

Male, 44 years old, Costa Mesa
Location of arrest: 300 block of Victoria Av., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Supervision: Probation – PRCS Active Supervision
Charges: Possession of dangerous drugs, Probation violation hold

Male, 25 years old, Costa Mesa
Location of arrest: 300 block of Hamilton St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Supervision: Probation – PRCS Active Supervision
Charges: Probation violation hold

The Costa Mesa Police Department will continue to collaborate with Orange County Probation to conduct similar, future compliance checks of PRCS offenders living in the Costa Mesa community.

Photos courtesy of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

School Board Disciplines Corona del Mar Students

EARLY MORNING PRESS RELEASE
Shortly after 1:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 29, 2014, Laura Boss, Communications Director for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District released a long statement for immediate release regarding the disciplining of several Corona del Mar High School Students following the recent hacking of school records and changing of grades.

STUDENTS DISCIPLINED

In the press release, reproduced in its entirety below, the Board voted to discipline eleven (11) students, but doesn't state what that discipline includes, only that "The Board's action imposes discipline upon these students for the maximum allowed by the Education Code for what occurred at Corona del Mar High School."  There had been much speculation about what that discipline might be, including expulsion.

A SAD DAY...
I'll let you read the entire statement and glean from it what you might.  Needless to say, this is a sad day in the history of Corona del Mar High School - which had been riding on a cloud following the undefeated season by the football team -  and the entire Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

THE STATEMENT

Newport-Mesa Unified School District Statement
For Immediate Release: Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Board of Education Takes Action in Corona Del Mar Student Discipline Cases

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education met Tuesday evening in closed session to consider student discipline. Following closed session, Board President Karen Yelsey recited the following statement for the record:
In all student discipline cases, the Board’s main responsibility is to determine the appropriate disciplinary action allowed under Board policy and state law while protecting the involved student’s rights to privacy and due process. As trustees, we are held to a higher standard of confidentiality than members of the public. While individuals may publically comment on specific student discipline cases, we cannot. As such, we cannot provide any specifics of these cases beyond what is shared in this statement, even if those details could clarify misinformation and rumors. 

The Board met in closed session in compliance with Education Code section 35146 to consider the student discipline for students listed on the agenda, and identified by discipline file numbers

In accordance with the provisions of Education Code sections 48900 and 48918, the Board reviewed the expulsion matters before them, and took action regarding the discipline recommendations and agreements reached with these students and their parents.

The recommended discipline and agreements for these students were approved and the vote was as follows: 13-01-76: 4/3; 13-02-76: 6/1; 13-03-76: 7/0; 13-04-76: 4/3; 13-05-76: 7/0; 13-06-76: 7/0; 13-07-76: 4/3; 13-08-76: 7/0; 13-09-76: 7/0 13-10-76: 7/0; 13-11-76: 4/3 


The Board’s action imposes discipline upon these students for the maximum allowed by the Education Code for what occurred at Corona del Mar High School.

Now that this has been read into the official record, let me say that the action by the Board upheld the recommendations of the principal and district administration. The Board’s action also reflects our responsibility pursuant to Education Code to provide continued academic access for all students.

The Board of Education has weighed each of the cases presented this evening on an individual basis and in careful detail. We’ve focused on the cases for hours in closed session. As a Board of Education, we are unanimous in our resolve to ensure the academic integrity of CDM and the District, as well as in delivering justice for the cases before us. We came to different positions on some of the cases, reflecting the individual circumstances as we each saw them. The final votes reflect the due consideration with which the Board has addressed the individual cases before us.

It is our sincere hope that the speculations and rumors regarding student discipline matters can now be put to rest and for the sake of the school community and all involved, these student discipline matters are considered resolved.

While the current student discipline matters have concluded, the lingering effects of the hacking incident at Corona del Mar continue as part of an ongoing investigation. The Newport Beach Police Department is currently seeking to interview the alleged private tutor for his involvement in the incident. The District is currently involved in an intensive audit of all CdM teachers’ grade books so that we can ensure the integrity and accuracy of all posted grades. The District has also taken preventative measures and is implementing a new notification system districtwide to flag grade changes.

Inaccuracies continue to be shared in the public domain about access to student discipline records by college admission offices. Student discipline records are not a part of a student’s regular transcript and are not included in the records sent to colleges. If a college specifically requests a student’s discipline record, they would only be able to obtain it from the school district by receiving signed parent permission. The District will continue to partner with Corona del Mar High School administration and staff to ensure that the rigor and educational excellence demonstrated by CdM’s graduates for decades is not tarnished. Despite needing some time to wrestle with the disappointment of this unfortunate incident, we are confident that the school community will rise above this event.
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Council, Planning Commission Hear Land Use Presentation

 (click on image to enlarge)

MOST LEADERS ATTENDED
Tuesday night the Costa Mesa City Council and Planning Commission, in a joint study session, heard a presentation by consultants and city staff on the Land Use Element of the General Plan Update currently underway.  Councilwoman Wendy Leece was absent, recovering from recent surgery, and planning commissioners Rob Dickson and Jeff Mathews were also absent.

PRESENTATION BEFORE A SMALL CROWD
Consultant Laura Stetson from MIG-Hogle-Ireland presented an hour-long PowerPoint presentation to the assembled crowd that included 14 residents and a few developer representatives. Members of the city staff and consultants actually outnumbered residents.  CMTV was on hand to record the meeting for archival purposes.  It's unclear if it will make it into the regular playback rotation.  You can read the staff reports prepared for the meeting, Land Use Alternatives, HERE and Land Use Maps, HERE.  You can read the summary of previous workshops HERE.

ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE CITY
Basically, this report deals with only the 15% of the City for which changes are being recommended.  The other 85% of the City - the residential areas - will remain unchanged.  This report focused on seven (7) areas described by Stetson as:

• Area A - Regional Commercial
• Area B - North Costa Mesa
• Area C - Harbor Boulevard
• Area D - Newport Boulevard
• Area E - Westside
• Area F - SoBECA
• Area G - Airport Business Park

ONLY SEGMENTS...
In fact, those designations can be misleading, since in each case the areas actually discussed are segments segments of those geographical identifiers.  You can see more about them on the Land Use Maps item linked above.  I'm not going to try to provide you with a word-for-word account of the discussion, but will provide you with some highlights.  Again, the exhibits I provided links for will give you details.

AREA A - REGIONAL COMMERCIAL
This is the area north of the 405 Freeway that includes the SOCO center.  It was suggested that consideration be given to expanding that commercial region.

AREA B - NORTH COSTA MESA
Recommendations included introducing residential uses with business park setting and allow small-scale commercial/retail

AREA C - HARBOR BOULEVARD
 The discussion here involved limited residential development opportunities; Increase development opportunities for underutilized commercial sites and motel properties; New buildings sensitive to surrounding low-density residential neighborhoods.

AREA D - NEWPORT BOULEVARD
Discussions included providing greater development capacity to spur reuse of properties and New buildings sensitive to surrounding low-density residential neighborhoods.

AREA E - WESTSIDE
Introduce a divers mix of uses at higher densities than exist today; Goal of creating an integrated, walkable, and complementary balance of creative uses and New buildings sensitive to surrounding low-density residential neighborhoods.

AREA F - SOBECA
Discussion included possible changes in land use for this segment, possibly including an overlay similar to the Westside overlays.

AREA G - AIRPORT BUSINESS PARK
The discussion here focused on what may be a shifting emphasis in that area that may include some high-density residential housing opportunities.

HUMPHREY AND VALANTINE
Following that presentation the public was offered the chance to comment.  Only two speakers, former councilman Jay Humphrey and retired development services executive Perry Valantine, stepped up to the microphone.  Humphrey expressed concern about the increase of 15,000 - 25,000 people anticipated, the need for more parks to accommodate them and the "urbanization" of Costa Mesa as higher density housing is approved.  Valantine was concerned about not having traffic analysis to permit better evaluation of these proposals and minimizing the impact on adjacent properties.

RIGHEIMER TOOK OVER
Mayor Jim Righeimer took charge of the show at this point.  In fact, it was his dialogue that drove much of the discussion, although other officials had a chance to speak.  He read into the record a comment from the absent Wendy Leece.

GENIS CONCERNS
Sandra Genis expressed concern about the high-density housing thread that ran through most of the presentation, indicating that maximizing the development potential of properties doesn't seem consistent with the views expressed by residents in the workshops who were loud and clear in their desire to limit such developments, which overtax streets and other infrastructure elements.  She said she was "concerned for the long-term economic viability as a result of this plan.", meaning the move from our industrial base to high-density housing - mainly on the Westside.  Righeimer later countered that the State of California was causing it to become ever-more difficult for industrial operations to exist in the state, citing the recent move by McGregor Yachts of their manufacturing facilities to Florida.

MOBILE HOME PARKS IN JEOPARDY
Genis also expressed concern that this plan may further threaten the mobile home parks in the city - one of the last bastions of affordable housing available in the city.  Righeimer leaned over and told her that her views may not be shared by others in the room.  THAT message was loud and clear to me... If you operate a mobile home park you'd better start making plans to liquidate and your tenants better think about where they're going to live!

"A RECIPE FOR DISASTER"
Genis also mentioned that, although the focus recently has been on "problem motels" for calls for service, in fact many of the top locations recorded are actually apartment complexes around the city.  She described the plan for higher density housing will create stress on our infrastructure and is "a recipe for disaster".

COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Colin McCarthy was the only commissioner to speak.  Chairman Jim Fitzpatrick and commissioner Tim Sesler remained mostly mute.  Among McCarthy's contributions was his observation that, "Traffic isn't necessarily a bad thing."  Really?

MONAHAN WAS THERE, BUT...
Councilman Gary Monahan attended, but fought drowsiness as he frequently checked the clock on the wall.  I kind felt bad for him, having to be at the meeting instead of pulling beer taps at his bar.

MENSINGER TWEETS OR TEXTS OR... ?
Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger stopped texting long enough to make a statement supporting one of Righeimer's comments.  He reminds me of almost any teenage kid these days - the attention span of a flea!

RIGHEIMER WANTS MORE...
Righeimer then took over and went down the list with his comments.  He told us that it probably isn't enough to just convert motels - that we needed to snatch up contiguous properties to make a development work.  Swell!  Now those folks adjacent to some of those targeted properties - like the mobile home park next door to the Sandpiper Motel - will start feeling pressure to sell out.  I wonder what kind of pressure the mayor will put on THEM to be more realistic, like he's bludgeoned the motel owners recently with the Nuisance Ordinance and the Excessive Use Of Resources Ordinance.  I guess we'll see...

MOTELS AND ?
He suggested that the section of Harbor Boulevard south of Wilson should be a focus, and that getting adjoining lots for development should be the way to go.  Similarly with the portion of Newport Boulevard that kind of surrounds Monahan's gin mill.

WHAT IS HE THINKING?
Regarding the Westside, he expressed concern about traffic numbers, and particularly the bottleneck at the 55 Freeway/Newport Boulevard location.  Regarding the SoBECA area, he favored some changes and was concerned about traffic issues.  He made a curious comment about there being "B and C properties" and mentioned marijuana stores.  We have only one such place that I'm aware of, so I wonder what he was thinking.  Sometimes what comes out of his mouth seems to just be stream-of-consciousness babble - this was one of them.

BACK TO DRAWING BOARD

At the end, shortly after 6 p.m., the staff and consultants said they will consolidate the Visioning exercise with the input from the council and commission on Land Use and prepare traffic studies and consolidate 2 or 3 land use alternatives for future consideration by both bodies, then perform California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) studies.

MY THOUGHTS...
I came away from this meeting with a few observations.  1) Mayor Righeimer seems determined to find ways to pressure businesses he doesn't like - problem motels, industrial organizations - into making their properties available to developers at a "reasonable price".  And, of course, he's demonstrated just how far he's willing to go to do that with new ordinances and ramped-up enforcement actions.  2) The majority on the council and the planning commission are willing to dance to his tune without any kind of challenge.  3) Sandra Genis continues to demonstrate that her priority is for the residents of the city, not special interest groups or political power brokers, and that she will continue to ask tough questions and demand the answers the voters who elected her expect.

OUT OF CONTROL
I worry that Righeimer will continue to run roughshod in this city, increasing density willy-nilly and permitting his developer buddies to come in and do projects that will have a long-term detrimental impact on the city, both from an economic standpoint and a demand on the infrastructure.

A COARSE, BUT MAYBE ACCURATE, DESCRIPTION
One wag recently observed that it's their opinion that Costa Mesa is now viewed by some in the development community as - in the crudest of analogies - a "cheap lay".  Like a prostitute who just flops on her back and doesn't even make you pay.  Such is the image of our city under the rule of Jim Righeimer, who never misses the opportunity to go before a camera or on radio to denigrate one element or another in our city.