Fireworks At The Planning Commission Meeting

WELL, THAT WAS INTERESTING!
In what most expected to be a pretty mild, routine Planning Commission meeting Monday night turned out to be anything BUT!

LEAP-FROGGING THROUGH THE AGENDA
The agenda was fairly routine - a time extension on an long delayed project with a deed complication was about the only controversial thing we might have anticipated.  So, let's take THOSE items first - kind of a flip-flop of the order of march - to get them out of the way.

CONSENT CALENDAR HAD NO DISCUSSION
The Consent Calendar, with only the minutes and a General Plan Conformity Resolution for the possible relocation of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District Headquarters from 19th Street to a new location near the airport, passed on a 4-0 vote without comment.  Commissioner Stephan Andranian was absent Monday night.

AFTER DISCUSSION, RED MOUNTAIN GETS A 2 YEAR EXTENSION
Public Hearing #1 was the request by developer Red Mountain for a two-year extension of their Planning Application for a much-delayed project at Harbor and Hamilton.  This issue got some unnecessary discussion on the processing of the original planning application - a complication with the actual transfer of a sliver of city property to the developer and the timing thereof.  It seems Mayor Steve Mensinger finally signed the transfer in November, 2015 - a couple years after this process began.  Several speakers addressed this project, presenting evidence of the deed complication and expressing concern for the Community Garden, which is contiguous to the potential development and it's appropriateness, but in the end the short-handed commission approved the 2-year extension on a 4-0 vote.

NO PROBLEM WITH 18TH STREET PROJECT
Public Hearing #2, the Planning Application and related matters for the two-unit development at 146 E. 18th Street breezed through the process - there were no public commenters.  The developer praised the staff, but did indicate he went through three planners. (This is a problem, since we have turnover throughout city government, including in Planning).

8 UNITS, UNDERGROUNDING WAIVED
Public Hearing #3, the 8-unit development on East 21st Street also moved through the process quickly.  The only complication was the existing utility pole, which will be directly in front of the driveway.  Normally, the staff would require the developer to underground the pole.  However, since that would require spending more than $500,000 and replace one pole with 3 - maybe 4 - the commission waived the requirement.  Commissioner Colin McCarthy was nearly orgasmic again as he praised the developer, Matt White, for this project - one of many he has done in the city.  These homes are targeted in the high $900,000 range.  At the end, before the vote was taken, McCarthy, pointed at White and said, "Look at that evil developer", with that big Cheshire Cat grin he sometimes gets on his face.  He, of course, was mocking critics of development in the city.  More on that at the end of this post.  The project was approved, without the undergrounding, on a 4-0 vote.

MCCARTHY BAILS, #4 PASSES, 3-0
After a short break, during which McCarthy apparently decided he'd had enough for the evening and bailed out, they moved to the last item on the agenda - Public Hearing #4, the 4-unit development on 22nd Street.  This one also was handled with dispatch.  The only questionable portion of this one was the setback along 22nd Street - necessitated by right-of-way requirements for possible future widening of the street and the creation of a bike path - combined they sucked up 11 feet of space.  These homes are also targeted at the high $900,000 range.  It passed, 3-0 and the meeting wrapped up at 8:35.

*****

NOW, BACK TO THE BEGINNING
I skipped over the really interesting part of the meeting, so let us now backtrack to discuss what was, in my view, the most disgusting display of partisan rudeness by this commission since I've been watching it.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
During Public Comments  Tim Lewis observed that the commission and City Council have been getting shoddy work from the staff - he later spoke about that specifically on the hearing on Item #1.

EASTER CANDY DRIVE
 Beth Refakes told us again about the Easter candy/egg drive for the children of the 1/5 Marines at Camp Pendleton.

"THE BIG SHORT" AND CORRUPTION
An unidentified speaker pushed back at Commissioner Tim Sesler for his chiding of her at the last meeting when she suggested folks go see "The Big Short", telling Sesler and the rest of us that it was an important movie - one of only three in history that had been viewed by Congress.

WHAT ABOUT THE INJUNCTION?
The final speaker, who also failed to identify herself, wondered about the status of the injunction on enforcing our ordinances on Sober Living Homes.  She never got an answer. 

MYTH-BUSTERS
In between speakers Teresa Drain, Mary Spadoni and Anna Vrska spoke about the so-called Smart Growth Initiative, referencing the website, commenting about the fact that the signatures have been certified and that they were at the meeting to help dispel some myths about the initiative that have been widely publicized.  They referred folks to the Costa Mesa First website, HERE, for more information. They presented their information in a clear, respectful manner and all went smoothly until Vrska, unfortunately, criticized the Sergeant-at-arms for enforcing the "no clapping" rules, opining that it was their right to clap - and called the officer a "Nazi".  That was uncalled-for and basically wrong.  Yes, it's her free-speech right.  No, the Chairman decides what is disturbing the meeting and can - but he didn't - demand no clapping.  From there we went straight down hill.

FIRST IT WAS MC CARTHY
When they segued into the Commissioner Comments segment  Colin McCarthy immediately jumped in with a scathing criticism of Vrska for her reference to the officer as a "Nazi".  He then proceeded to go into a long monologue, which I will transcribe for you verbatim below so there's no doubt about what he said.   When Chairman Rob Dickson turned the floor over to him he began:
"Nothing from me tonight except the absurdity of the no-growth hater crowd never ceases to amaze me and I guess it never will."

"HATERS" - REALLY?
Let me insert my thought right here... Right there you have demonstrated for you the mind set of those in charge in this city who consider people with opposing viewpoints as "haters" - a term that's thrown around on the Costa Mesa Public Square Facebook page, which has become their bully pulpit - with great frequency.  McCarthy - a long-time planning commissioner and former chairman of the group - showed his true colors with that statement.  Clearly, he has no respect for residents who dare to speak out with an opposing viewpoint.  It's precisely that kind of arrogant attitude that kept him from being a serious City Council candidate when he ran a few years ago.

ANALYSIS?
He went on to say: "The City Council will be receiving soon at some point, and I believe we'll get a copy of it and I hope the public will, an analysis whatever initiative you want to call it - no-growth, Smart Growth matter and that will have some factual analysis and I understand it on dispelling some of the myths on what it does and what it doesn't."

HOW DOES HE KNOW?
Let us pause here again for a minute.  He mentions an "analysis" that will be performed, yet this issue has NOT YET been heard by the City Council.  The process is for it, the initiative, to be presented to the City Council at a meeting soon - sometime in March, for sure - at which time the council will accept the certified signatures.  It then can decide to NOT require an election and simply vote to adopt the initiative.  We ALL know that's not going to happen, so they will authorize it to be placed on the November ballot.  They also may order "reports" from any number of departments on any number of issues regarding the possible impact of the initiative on the city and it's many operations.  However, THAT has not yet been decided - at least, not in public.  It sure sounded like McCarthy KNEW that those reports would be ordered by the council, didn't it?  It makes one wonder just what kind of backroom conversations - illegal conversations - have been taking place among commissioners and council members that produced the assumption that those reports would be ordered, doesn't it?

MORE MISINFORMATION - FROM THE DAIS
McCarthy continued: "My biggest concern with the initiative has always been and continues to be that it puts the brakes on our General Plan - and it does.  It's gonna force our General Plan to get frozen in time until it gets voted on.  It's going to be subject to the initiative.  I love the citizen's voice and power and all that and measures, but the idea of us putting through the General Plan, which has bone through a significant heavy lifting process, public hearings and staff and it's going to be discussed here in March and, ultimately going before the City Council.  The idea that we could implement a General Plan and that it would not go into effect until an election two years later is just silly."

Well, he's got that all wrong, which is no surprise to me.

BROKE HIS HEART
He continued: "I ran into one of our old developers not that long ago at a family function and I asked him why I haven't seen him around in Costa Mesa and he said 'We're doing projects in Santa Ana.  We don't have any interest in being in Costa Mesa anymore.' And that just kinda broke my heart."

ADMITS HE DOESN'T KNOW SQUAT
And finally: "So, looking forward to seeing some good fact-based discussions.  I agree with what a couple speakers said about dispelling myths about the initiative and I look forward to learning more about it, but everything that I'm reading is really troubling, not just as a commissioner, but as a resident."

WHERE'S HE BEEN READING?
So, he admits he really doesn't know enough about the initiative, yet he pillories the folks who attempt to educate the public - the speakers last night - and refers to them as "haters".  And, I wonder just where he's "reading" whatever he's reading?  Is this like former commissioner Jim Fitzpatrick's frequent comment, "The voices I'm hearing."?

LITTLE TIM TOUTS THE CMPS
Next up was Commissioner Tim Sesler, with comments that evoked an outcry from members of the audience, who were so upset with him that a few stormed out of the auditorium.  He began:
Thank you, Mr. Chair.  Just a few comments.  I know that the Costa Mesa First supporters came out and were directing people to their own web site and that's fine.  I encoursage everyone to do so.  I also encourage citizens that are really interested in perhaps a more objective approach to visit Costa Mesa Public Square.  It's a web site which people on both sides can visit.  It's a web site for people to gather information and people can have discussions there and have discussions there on a civil manner.  They don't call individuals who they disagree with "nazis" because they're police.  I think some of the resident's comments tonight kind of illustrate that the supporters for Costa Mesa First really aren't interested in a full public debate.  So, I think that's really a worthwhile place to visit and have a good discussion.  And I wish our sergeant of arms luck as he checks our outgoing film critic.  Otherwise, I have no comment, Mr. Chair."

SHOUTS AND DEPARTURES

As you might imagine, it was that "Costa Mesa Public Square" comment that got some in the audience so upset.  First, it's NOT open to the public, so for him to refer folks to it with the expectation of being able to even SEE what's going on there, much less participate, is a lie.  If, perchance, a person were to find his way onto that Facebook page what he will find is group-think, where only one side of the issue is discussed, and in terms like McCarthy's "hater" comment.  Sadly, ALL of the planning commissioners are denizens of that site - I see screen grabs of many of their comment threads every week - so I KNOW what they're saying - about the initiative and other issues.

MATHEWS
Next Dickson handed the baton to Vice Chair Jeff Mathews - he of few words.  This time he had a little something to say.  He began:
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  Usually none, but just briefly.  So, what does that say about some of the people are leading that initiative?  What we just heard, how they just acted - Really?!  I'm really, I find that disappointing, troubling and amusing all at the same time.  I would think that other right-minded, logical citizens might take a look at that and incorporate that into their judgment of what's going on.  It's ridiculous.  But that's just my opinion - I could be wrong."

YEP, YOU ARE WRONG, JEFF

So, Jeff, "right-minded, logical citizens", huh?  Why, how superior of you!  Make yourself a note:  "When tempted to open my mouth - DON'T!"  And, yes, Jeff - not only could you be wrong, but you ARE wrong.

DICKSON
Finally it was Dickson's turn to comment.  He said:
"Thank you very much.  I hope that everybody reads carefully the city documents that come out when the analysis comes forth they get their own facts."

AND HOW DOES HE KNOW, TOO?
So, yet another pre-judgment of "city documents" being produced soon - just as McCarthy mentioned above.  Again, what kind of insider, inappropriate, illegal conversations have they had with council members who have NOT yet heard this issue in open session - or closed session, either, for that matter.  It comes as no surprise that there has likely been major Brown Act violations by members of the City Council in which they discussed this issue among themselves, either as a majority or in a serial conversation, and have decided that there WILL be reports prepared.  They're just not letting the rules get in the way of their opinions and decisions - as usual.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR
So, the meeting began on a very sour note, with the use of the words "nazi" and "hater" - and those were the high points.  In my view, it is absolutely unacceptable for sitting commissioners to chide and vilify concerned residents who present opposing views to them.  My friend, Bruce Garlich, must be spinning in his grave about now.  This behavior is unprofessional, at best.  The residents of this city deserve better.   November provides an opportunity for that to happen.