An Interesting, And Probably Long, Meeting Tuesday

COULD BE A LONG ONE
The Costa Mesa City Council will meet on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 beginning at 5:45 p.m. for the open session, which will be preceded by a closed session beginning at 5:00 in which two (2) potential litigation issues will be discussed.  You can read the agenda for the full meeting HERE.

CONSENT CALENDAR
There are eight (8) items on the Consent Calendar - those items that are "routine" in nature and,  theoretically, can be voted upon in one vote.  However, there are a couple things worth commenting upon.

UNUSUAL WARRANT
Item #3, Warrant 2545, HERE, has some interesting entries.  I won't give you all of it - you can review it yourself - but these captured my eye:

• Costa Mesa Conference & Visitor Bureau - $233,007.31 - BIA receipts for August, 2015
• Jones & Mayer - $25, 163.24 - Legal fees for two items.  Noteworthy because of the small amount.
• Liebert Cassidy Whitmore - $390.00 - Legal fees, 2014 Fire Negotiations (?)
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Company - $50,000 - Annual Fee - Insurance Broker Svc.
• G4S Secure Solutions, Inc. - $63, 232.80 - Jail Svcs, Aug. 2015
• White Nelson Diehl Evans LLP - $17,500.00 - Audit Svcs for FY 2014-2015
• Liebert Cassidy Whitmore - $818.00 - POA Negotiations 2014
• Safe Moves - $8,325.00 - Bicycle Education Services

The legal bills on this warrant are extremely low... I suspect the next one will be a doozy.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
Item #7, HERE, is interesting because it's a request to spend $940,000 in Project/Construction Management staff support for many Capital Improvement Projects.  It seems we are six (6) positions short in the Engineering Division, which would normally oversee these kind of projects, but without consulting support those projects would grind to a halt.  This request includes a request for a budget adjustment of $450,000 to help cover the costs.  That money comes from unspent, but budgeted, salary dollars as a result of the vacancies.  Interesting.

There are four (4) Public Hearings and I suspect the first two will each take awhile.

DESTRUCTION OF THE COSTA MESA MOTOR INN
Public Hearing #1, HERE, is the highly-controversial request for a General Plan Amendment, a Rezone and Zoning Code Amendment and Master Plan for 224 apartments at 2277 Harbor Boulevard - the site of the Costa Mesa Motor Inn.  This issue generated lots of discussion at the Planning Commission hearing and has been the subject of two (2) public demonstrations over the past week.  I have no reason to believe this one won't also draw MANY speakers to express their views on each side of this issue.

GROUP HOMES ORDINANCE
Public Hearing #2, HERE, is the first reading of the equally controversial Code Amendment to tighten up control on group homes in zones other than R-1, which were taken care of last year.  I expect there may be a few speakers on this issue, too - from both sides of it.

PRIVATE HELIPORT NEAR JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT
Public Hearing #3, HERE, is Kevin Coleman's much-delayed request by Leading Edge Aviation to install a helistop - a private helicopter landing site - on the roof of a building near the perimeter of John Wayne Airport.  The Planning Commission approved it despite significant outcry from contiguous neighbors, airport activists and the City of Newport Beach.  There are attachments included in the staff report that clearly outline the opposition.  This should be interesting.

EASEMENT VACATION
Public Hearing #4, HERE, should be a quick one.  This is a request for the vacation of a portion of sidewalk and landscape easement at 580 Anton Boulevard.

SEGERSTROM TOWN CENTER EXTENSION
The remaining item on the agenda is Old Business #1, HERE, the second reading of an amendment to a development agreement for Segerstrom Town Center.  I thought the first hearing might be a piece of cake, but it turned out to be more complicated than most anticipated.  You may recall that the applicant wanted a 20 year extension - to 2035 - but his majesty, Mayor Pro Tem Righeimer, demanded - and got- a reduction of that time to 10 years with an automatic 5-year extension if they have construction started on at least 30% of the project by that time.

NO PREDICTING THE TIME ON THIS ONE
There's no way to predict how long this meeting will last, but considering the controversial nature of several items, it could take us to midnight - again.  I sure hope not.

A Great Day For The Costa Mesa Fire Department!

GREAT WAY TO START A DAY!
This morning I attended an event that was a terrific way to begin the day and end the week.  The Costa Mesa Fire Department held a ceremony in City Council Chambers to officially pin the badges on four new members of the command staff and it was a glorious event.

GOOD TURNOUT
More than 100 residents, friends, family members, retirees, city staff members and visiting members of other public safety organizations all gathered to see four very deserving men receive their badges.

THE COLORS AND THE TRUMPETEER
Battalion Chief Kevin Diamond led things off by introducing recently-retired Deputy Fire Chief (and man of many hats) Fred Seguin, then introduced the Costa Mesa Honor Guard, who presented the colors.  Following the Pledge of Allegiance new badge recipient, now-Captain Fred McDowell joined them and played the national anthem on his trumpet - a VERY special moment.

DIVINE GUIDANCE
Pastors Mike Decker and Ric Olsen provided a double-barrelled invocation.

THE CHIEF AND THE VIDEO
Chief Dan Stefano introduced the individual recipients, then introduced a very special video presentation about the Costa Mesa Fire Department.

Then, one-by-one, the recipients were introduced by a Battalion Chief.

CAPTAIN TAYLOR VOSS
Battalion Chief Bill Kershaw introduced Captain Taylor Voss, providing a brief biographical summary before his wife affixed his badge to his chest.  Voss then spoke a few brief words of gratitude to those who helped him get this far.

CAPTAIN STEVEN AIREY
Next up was new Captain Steven Airey, introduced by Chief Diamond.  He had his badge affixed by his wife and also spoke a few words.

CAPTAIN FRED MCDOWELL
Next was Captain Fred McDowell, introduced by Battalion Chief Tim Vasin.  His wife affixed his pin and Fred also spoke briefly.

DIVISION CHIEF JASON PYLE
Finally, last but certainly not least, was new Division Chief Jason Pyle.  Chief Stefano made this presentation personally Pyle's wife affixed his badge spoke a few words.

THE SWEARING-IN
Stefano was about to release the crowd for photos when he was reminded that the most important part was yet to come - the actual swearing-in of these new members of the command staff.  So, City Clerk Brenda Green stepped up and issued the oath of office to the four men and the ceremony was complete.  All that was left was photos and congratulations all around.

BOY, ARE WE LUCKY!
We are indeed lucky to have such high-quality men from which to choose for important command positions in the Costa Mesa Fire Department.  Stefano made that point very clear, and expressed deep gratitude to the City Council members present - Mayor Steve Mensinger and councilwomen Sandra Genis and Katrina Foley, and to his boss, Chief Executive Officer Tom Hatch and his staff.

9-11 RESCUE TRUCK
Another high point was the presence of the traveling 9-11 Rescue truck, which tours the country for special events like this one.  It was in the parking lot and available for tours.

KUDOS TO ALL
Congratulation to each of these four outstanding leaders for this most recent step for them, and to their families for the sacrifices they make, too.  Kudos to Chief Stefano for his leadership and thanks to all who participated in putting this wonderful event together, especially Brenda Emerick, the CMFD's version of the Energizer Bunny.  And thanks to all who attended...