Tardy Press Briefing Provides Insight

WHAT'S HAPPENING...

Costa Mesa Public Information Officer Tony Dodero issued his Monday Morning Press Briefing today - a little late, but worth the wait.

COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA
He told us right off the top that the City Council will be considering several important items at their meeting tonight, including the conversion of the Costa Mesa Motor Inn into luxury apartments, a new sober living ordinance and a proposed heliport next door to John Wayne Airport.  I've told you about those in an earlier post, HERE.

KEEPING TRACK OF HOMELESSNESS ISSUES
He also told us about a new web site that's available, HERE,  that will help residents and other interested parties stay abreast of the activities of the Network For Homeless Solutions, the successor to the Homeless Task Force which has been meeting in a semi-stealth mode for months.

MORE ENFORCEMENT STAFF ADDED
He also told us the city has added staff to deal with the group home issue.  Here's the text of that message:
Additional staff have been allocated to the group homes effort: Two existing Code Enforcement Officers have been moved to the Group Homes Section of the Code Enforcement Division.  Further, two new part-time Code Enforcement Officers have been approved are being hired to assist with enforcement of group homes as well as one part-time Management Analyst.  This will result in there being three full-time Code Enforcement Officers and two part-time Code Enforcement Officers and one part-time management analyst dedicated to the group homes effort.

GROUP HOME LEGISLATION?

Additionally, on that subject, he told us that legislation on group homes may be on the way.  Here's his text on that subject:
Assembly Member Bill Brough, R-Dana Point, and Sen. Pate Bates, R-Laguna Niguel, are forming a joint task force on Sober Living Homes.  They are planned to reintroduce legislation and they will be holding the first task force meeting soon to obtain input.  Costa Mesa city staff has spoken with staff in Assembly Member Brough’s office and expressed interest in participating in this task force. 

GONNA BE A LONG NIGHT

More on his message later.  Time to head for City Hall for what may be another marathon meeting, replete with demonstrations, long-winded speakers both on the dais and from the speaker's podium.  It's gonna be a long night...  If you cannot attend, watch it live on Costa Mesa Television or streaming live on the city website.