Land Use and Libraries - A Study Session

SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
While we're all getting our "stuff" together to rush out to either the Planning Commission meeting tonight or to the Feet To The Fire Forum where supervisorial candidates will be slowly roasted on a spit, we need to pause for a moment and consider the Special Study Session called by the Costa Mesa City Council tomorrow to discuss two very important issues in our city - Land Use Alternatives and the proposed new library where the Neighborhood Community Center is presently located.

EARLY MEETING
This meeting, which begins tomorrow, Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, has some important long-term ramifications for us to consider.  That being said, I doubt we'll see more than a couple dozen people in the auditorium, especially considering the early start time.  We already know stayed-too-long-at-the-dance councilman Gary Monahan won't be there because he told me last week that he's got important business in his "gin mill" - that's the term he used as an "in-your-face" remark.  Yep, his presence is required for a fundraiser for a youth group, so he won't be attending this study session.  That's OK, Gary... your priorities have been very clear for the past three years.

FLIPPING FACILITIES
The first item on the agenda is "Authorize the issuance of a request for proposal for the architectural planning and design of the proposed library at the Neighborhood Community Center".  You can read that staff report HERE.  You can also see conceptual drawings by the architect, KAL architects, HERE.  Basically, this plan flips the current Donald Dungan Library, located adjacent to the Neighborhood Community Center, with the NCC.  The NCC would be the location of a much larger, more advanced library and the current library - about a third the size of the NCC - would become meeting rooms.

MANAGING AND MONEY
It's going to be interesting to hear how the staff plans to manage the relocation of the 45 annual user groups when this re-construction takes place.  And, while I see that we're going to be paying the architect $100,000 to do his drawings, I didn't see any kind of estimate of the actual cost of this project - or where we're getting the cash.

GENERAL PLAN UPDATE - LAND USE ALTERNATIVES
The second item on the agenda, General Plan Update - Land Use Alternatives.  Read the staff report HERE.  Also click on the several attachments and graphic displays that are at the end of the staff report.


SMALL PERCENTAGE - BIG CHANGES
One of the interesting elements of this report is that we're told that only about 15% of the city will be impacted by the changes suggested.  The issues are complex, but the graphics provided help - a little.  I did note that, on page 3, under Area D: Residential Overlay, there is this interesting sentence: "The Overlay would also increase development opportunities on underutilized motel and commercial properties."  Hence, the discussion TONIGHT by the Planning Commission on motels.

CONSULTANTS NEED MORE MONEY
And, the discussion tomorrow will also include the fact that the consultant we retained, MIG (Hogle Ireland) is going to need more money to complete the work.  Not saying that's not necessary, but I'm going to be interested to hear the discussion.


LIVE TV AND STREAMING VIDEO
And, for those of you who cannot attend the early meeting, CMTV will be televising and streaming live beginning at 4:30 tomorrow.