Big News From The Council Meeting!
I wondered what kind of a meeting was ahead for us last night when I found a brand new sign standing outside City Council chambers. Two identical signs were placed strategically inside the chambers where folks line up to speak, too. Kind of a mixed message, don't you think? "Welcome, but don't you dare show any emotion!"
SOLID LANDINGS LAWSUITS SETTLED!
Right off the bat the Costa Mesa City Council meeting jolted us awake when the Deputy City Attorney Tarquin Preziosi reported out from the delayed Closed Session (they couldn't come up with a quorum until 5:15, when Gary Monahan finally showed up) that the two lawsuits between the City and Sober Living operator Solid Landings, had been settled! The short version of this story is that Solid Landings, under it's various names, has agreed to pull out of all Costa Mesa residential areas and to immediately move their counselling facilities from locations on West 19th Street and Placentia Avenue to commercial and industrial zones within the City on Bristol Street and Airway Avenue, near John Wayne Airport. According to the report, they will immediately close 15 residential facilities and shutter another 18 over the next two to three years due to lease obligations. Both sides will pay their own legal fees. Read Daily Pilot reporter Luke Money's story posted shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday night HERE.
Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer expounded on this subject - he told us he was unanimously selected by the City Council a few weeks ago to negotiate with Solid Landings to resolve these lawsuits. He spoke about the difficulty Solid Landings had making their business model work unless they could locate several homes in residential areas near each other. The city ordinance that forbids such facilities within 650 feet of each other put a crimp in this plan. He also spoke about the "consumer protection" aspect of this situation - citing families selling their homes to cover the cost for children in rehabilitation homes to the tune of $25,000- $30,000 per month.
Although nobody actually said it, one must presume that our two ordinances - one covering R-1 residential zones and the other covering all other residential zones in the city - will now be enforcable. Enforcement had been stalled by the lawsuits. Kudos to the City legal team and to Righeimer for hammering out this deal.
BOYS NIGHT OUT
Council members Katrina Foley and Sandra Genis both were absent from the proceedings due to family issues. That turned out to be too bad, since several of the discussions would have benefited from their perspective. So, it was "boys night on the dais" - and they behaved like they were just hanging out at Skosh Monahan's pub with no adult supervision.
Mayor Steve Mensinger bestowed his Mayor's Award on automobile dealer Tesla, and managed to slip into his presentation a dig at city employees when, as he presented the key to the city, he said, "Don't let the unions get that key." Yeah, we know he was just kidding around - Steve being Steve and all that - but that kind of behavior only exacerbates the strained relationships between those guys and the employees. He obviously doesn't care.
Presentations were also made to the leadership of Coastline Community College District with a proclamation naming April as Community College Month and April 21st as Coast Community College District Day in Costa Mesa. Former mayor Mary Hornbuckle - a member of the Coast Community College District Board, plus the presidents of both Golden West and Orange Coast Colleges attended.
And, Mensinger issued a proclamation naming April as Donate Life Month. John Weiland, a liver transplant survivor, accepted the proclamation.
Mensinger announced that the Medical Marijuana issue was being removed from the agenda and will be heard at the next meeting, when Genis is expected to return. He also moved the final item of the night - the lighted fields feasibility study - forward to be heard first in deference to children in the audience.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Eighteen (18) people stepped up during Public Comments to address a variety of issues. Donald Duman and neighbors addressed the delay in getting resident-only parking in their neighborhoods and were referred to Director of Public Services Ernesto Munoz.
Dan Goldmann complained about the crowded conditions at TeWinkle Park and suggested the council budget more equipment for that venue.
Flo Martin cited our water crisis and referred to trips her son makes to Zimbabwe, where the water crisis is critical. She suggested developments be required to utilize water capture measures.
Eric Beach, a proponent of Flag Football organization "Under the lights" (sponsored by Underarmor) expressed a desire to be permitted into Costa Mesa.
Tea Party Tom Pollitt presented illegible charts showing year-old employee compensation data to make some kind of incomprehensible point.
Beth Refakes gave a brief slide show of the recent Easter event for the children of the 1/5 Marines at Camp Pendleton. She thanked all who donated plastic eggs, candies and gifts and to her fellow-members of the Military Affairs Team who helped stuff the eggs and make the event a success.
Greg Thunnel took the council to task over their "divide and conquer" tactics, and told them that crime has risen and that they were responsible for it. (Gary Monahan just smirked during this presentation.)
During Council Member Comments Mensinger talked about three calls he'd recently received about quick police responses, told us an anecdote about an acquaintance's son - a 3-year police officer in the City of Orange - who wanted to come to the CMPD because of all the good things he'd heard about it. He also praised Munoz for his dedication - even taking calls from council members on the weekends. Hey, Steve - quit bugging Ernesto during his rare time off, for goodness sake! He also told us his "Meet The Mayor" event scheduled for Sunday had been canceled due to a family event.
Monahan apologized for his phone going off earlier - it was his wife in Big Sur. He also told us it was Autism Awareness Month - he has an autistic son - and asked us to wear blue and contribute to organizations dealing with autism if possible.
BLOWHARD, ER, RIGHEIMER
Then it was Righeimer's turn - another long-winded rant covering a variety of issues. He blamed Genis for the condition of the alleys during her earlier tour on the council without actually naming her. He talked about "problem motels". He complained because in government it just takes longer to do things. Then began a string of memorable quotes. He said, "This council has a good relation with the employees." I found myself wondering which employees he was talking about, because his actions only show disdain for them. He spoke about the "Miscellaneous Employees" contract - it was a terrible deal for them! - and the pending police contract. Then he said, "We have a great relationship with the police. Now, yes the fire contract comes up now. Is there gonna be some tension? Are people gonna say stupid things? Are people gonna put things on Facebook? Yeah! Is that like divisiveness and toxicity in the community? No, it's called negotiation. It just kinda happens." And I found myself thinking to myself, right there he demonstrated what a two-faced person he is, and why he just cannot be trusted. He's living in some kind of alternative universe.
CEO Tom Hatch had no report, to which Mensinger and Monahan expressed glee. How very sad for Hatch.
One item, #5, was pulled from the Consent Calendar by Robin Leffler and was heard at the very end of the meeting. The remainder of the Consent Calendar passed on a single vote, 3-0.
LIGHTED FIELDS
At 7:20 we began hearing New Business #4, the feasibility study for lighted fields and use of artificial turf on three schools. Three members of the public, Brett Woods and Umi and Shawn Patterson, spoke in favor of it, citing the shortage of fields, particularly if Daylight Savings Time is stopped. It passed on a 3-0 vote at 7:30.
Next up was the only Public Hearing on the agenda, the proposed updates of the SoBECA and Westside Urban Plans. Assistant Development Services Director Claire Flynn led this discussion. She walked us through the proposed changes using the charts in the staff report and, with the assistance of the architect the City contracted, showed some examples of different architectural styles that might be used on future projects. Four members of the public spoke on this issue.
Robin Leffler echoed the need for a park and was concerned about the narrow setbacks and how they would complicate potential street widening in the future. She also expressed an opinion that, since some of the new developments used a modern style, those kind of units should not be forbidden.
Wendy Leece observed about parking at one of the recently-completed projects - Sea House - near her Westside home. She observed the improvements in the north part of town - near where Mensinger and Righeimer live - and hoped for similar improvements on the Westside. She cited the impact on the quality of life for Westside residents.
MONAHAN CHIDES WENDY
Monohan spit back at Leece, calling her comments ridiculous. He said the arguments that we were adding traffic with new residential projects that replaced industrial uses was "bogus"
MENSINGER CHIDES HER, TOO
Mensinger, telling us he has walked 2,750 miles in the city, said that Sea House is not the reason for parking problems and chided Leece for living in a gated community.
Righeimer cited the Lighthouse development with "ocean views". He spoke about the need for more commercial on the Westside, and mentioned a new business - a coffee roaster - who wanted to come to Costa Mesa. Then he said that "people buying those three or four story houses are not bringing kids", as a positive situation.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB LEASE
The discussion, guided by Assistant CEO Rick Francis, of the extension of the lease with the Boys and Girls Club was brief. Only Chuck Perry spoke to the subject, stating that we should not extend it for 48 years at $1 per year, but 10 years, max. In the end the council was satisfied that the financial and maintenance committments being made, and the bolstered terms of the lease, made it a satisfactory deal.
Then came the discussion of what I refer to as the Smart Growth Initiative. The council only had to make three decisions. First, they could vote to accept it as-is and vote it into law. Or, they could officially vote to place it on the November 8, 2016 consolidated ballot. And, they could direct staff on an alternative ballot measure.
A WASTE OF TIME FOR POLITICAL POSTURING
Instead of simply voting to place it on the ballot right off the bat - they really had no choice because they were NOT going to vote it into law - they blew off the next hour with a discussion of the initiative! Before that, though, eight (8) people stepped up to address it. Only one - Kerins expressed the view that the council should offer an alternative.
Susan Shaw expressed befuddlement on why the council would even consider an alternative - just let the people vote.
Cynthia McDonald mentioned other cities with similar ordinances.
Tamar Goldmann told the council to not waste our money on another ballot issue. She also address the increase in traffic from new developments.
Robin Leffler said she had hoped for a public presentation of the consultant's report - none had yet been forthcoming. She suggested we just do what the voters want - let them vote on it.
Terry Koken suggested an alternative ballot measure could be referred to as the "second growth initiative" - and compared it to the return of cancer that had been in remission. He also muttered something he said was from the Kingston Trio.
Jay Humphrey expressed a desire to show respect for the voters who had signed the petition.
ACCUSING FOLKS OF LYING, THEN FABRICATES ISSUES
Righeimer took over and he told us that folks gathering signatures had lied about the initiative, but provided no specifics. He pulled numbers out of context from the initiative to demonstrate the complexity and that people didn't understand it. Well, Jimbo, of course not! NOBODY would understand your mumbo-jumbo - which Monahan confirmed - as you tried to spread your own misinformation! He raised questions about "retroactivity", and on and on. He asked Kathy Head, Managing Principle of the consulting firm Keyser Marston Associates, about differences between this initiative and Newport Beach's Greenlight initiative. And on and on it went with completely irrelevant issues. Their only task was to vote to place it on the ballot - all that jabbering was just political posturing and intentional attempts to confuse the public - and it won't be the last of it, either. Finally at 9:25, the council voted, 3-0, to place it on the ballot.
Then Righeimer continued to control the discussion as they "debated" whether to craft an alternative ballot measure. It really wasn't so much a debate as a monologue. Righeimer said he wanted the staff to include the following issues in an Alternative measure:
1 - Commercial developments to pay park fees
2 - Make it a General Plan Amendment, not an ordinance
3 - Require planning for bike paths for commercial developments - mainly north of the 405 Freeway.
4 - He mentioned affordable housing, then spoke of the Bond measure, which was next on the agenda.
5 - He wanted "triggers" to be reasonable.
STEVE'S ONE THOUGHT
Mensinger chimed in that he wanted it to insure NO residential development north of the 405 - Righeimer refined it to mean "north of thr 405 and west of Fairview". They voted on it, 3-0, at 9:30 and called for a break.
At 9:40 City Attorney Tom Duarte did a brief presentation of Righeimer's plan to shut the mouths of affordable housing activists by placing a $20 million Bond issue on the ballot. Five members of the public spoke to this issue.
Tamar Goldmann said she wouldn't support it because there was NO PLAN for how the funds would be used. She gave her definition of "blight" - Land that developers want. She indicated Affordable Housing could be paid for by placing a requirement on future development.
AN ECHO
Elearnor Egan - a former member of the City legal department and also a former planning commissioner - also suggested the same solution.
Jim Kerins said he didn't like the idea that his kids would have to pay for this and said that "there's affordable housing only a couple miles away in Santa Ana."
NO PLAN
Beth Refakes didn't like the fact that there was NO PLAN and told the council they needed to re-think this scheme.
NO TAX PLEDGE DOESN'T SQUARE WITH THIS
Robin Leffler observed that all three of the council members took the "no tax" pledge, yet they were willing to saddle the residents of this city with long-term debt. She mentioned the developer of 1901 Newport Boulevard who included affordable housing in his project, then went bankrupt and it as lost. She also suggested that developers pay for affordable housing and that we not spend the money to put this on the ballot.
LIES AND CRITICISM FROM THE DAIS
Mensinger chided Leffler, referring her suggestion as "code talk" and repeatedly criticized her by name. Referring to developers, he said, "People like Robin want to denigrate anybody that wants to do this and she's been doing this for 30 years." During that discussion he and Righeimer conspired to lie about Leffler, implying that she had sued the developer of 1901 Newport when exactly the opposite was true - he sued her! This is the kind of lies the voters are going to have to deal with as we move on into this election cycle. They lie and chuckle about it.
As Righeimer discussed this at one point he said, "I understand this stuff more than most people understand it - I just do!" He forgot to mention that he's also very humble. He criticized those who would have developers pay for affordable housing. He pulled numbers out of the air that varied by multiples of 100% before he settled on the unknowable "20 bucks a year" for the cost of affordable housing. This was another of his "speaking in tongues" moments, where he just makes it up as he goes along with no apparent regard for the truth.
He said, "Put your money where your mouth is, Costa Mesa." He went on to say, "If the citizens do not want it and they vote it down - it's going to take a 23 vote, folks - but at least 50% don't vote for it, don't every come back to these microphones again and say you want affordable housing. If you went out there at least fighting for it, pushing for it or campaigning for it, because you're full of hot air!" So much for Humphrey's call for giving the voters respect, huh?
MOVING IT FORWARD
At 10:05 the council voted, 3-0, to have the staff and consultants craft the Bond language which would include all those pesky details - like how the money would be spent, for example. I can tell you, the sentiment I saw last night was to NOT hand Jim Righeimer $20 million for some amorphous scheme that might result in affordable housing. And, I don't think he thinks the voters will pass this measure, so he can then just spit in the eye of affordable housing advocates.
WHERE WERE THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ADVOCATES?
I thought it was interesting, by the way, that not one of the many members of the Costa Mesa Affordable Housing Coalition - the major advocacy group in the City - were present in the auditorium. That's hard to figure out, unless they saw through Righeimer's scheme and realized their thoughts would fall on hostile, deaf ears.
Next up was the latest version of a project at 3350 Avenue of the Arts, which modifies a previously-approved plan for a condominium development in a 23-story building into a 15-story building with 150 more units, all hotel rooms, which will generate large amounts of Transient Occupancy Tax revenue. The goal for it to be a 4-Star hotel. After a brief discussion the council voted to approve the plan on a 3-0 vote at 10:18.
Robin Leffler spoke on Consent Calendar item #5, the Placentia Avenue at 20th Street illuminated crosswalk project, expressing concern for the slippery nature of the product. The council voted on it at 10:20 and adjourned the meeting.
This meeting really needed the voices of Katrina Foley and Sandra Genis. While the discussions would have certainly been longer, they would have been much more balanced. Without their presence it was clear that the remaining council members - the boys club - knew they could operate with impunity, with nobody to challenge them.
WHAT A CLOWN!
And, Jim Righeimer demonstrated again what a schemer he is, particularly with his "I'm going to show them!" Bond issue. The city deserves much, much better - but we're saddled with him for another two and a half years. Woe is us!
Labels: affordable housing, Boys and Girls Club, Coast Community College District, Lighted Fields, Medical Marijuana, Smart Growth Initiative, Sober Living Homes, Solid Landings
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 4/06/2016 07:42:00 AM
9 Comments:
With respect to the citizens’ growth initiative, of course Righeimer wants to make it a general plan amendment. And after the election he will have the council pass another general plan amendment that undoes it. This is why we need to have citizens vote on things like this. His “competing” initiative is so different from the citizens’ growth initiative, I don’t see how it can be considered competing. Requiring bike paths for new developments is something in the neutered bike plan that is part of the General Plan update. Obviously, he didn’t read that one either.
We need an inclusionary housing ordinance. That is the way other cities get affordable housing and it appears to be working for them. My observation is people, once they understand why we need affordable housing, like it, but they don’t like paying for bonds unless it is for an amenity they all enjoy, like a senior center.
Does anyone know what, if anything, the City paid Solid Landings to go away? So Scott Baugh brings these guys to town, makes his bucks; certain real estate agents find them places, make their bucks; Solid Landings brings in the clients, makes A LOT OF BUCKS; and then, I assume, gets a settlement payment from the City to go away, and makes more bucks. The City (aka the residents) have to pay lawyers and a settlement fee. Well, guess who got screwed again.
It was interesting that Righeimer basically ran the meeting last night and Mensinger was just his sidekick. Oh, and the missing 5,000 single-family homes isn’t the only error in the General Plan (besides a ton of typos). The total number of acres is off too. That may affect the way density is calculated to where building becomes denser than the City is telling us. Paying big fees to consultants and high-priced attorneys isn’t getting us much. By the way, I heard that our general plan consultant MIG was fired by the City of Encinitas a few years back when the General Plan update they presented produced so much outrage on the part of the residents that the City has no choice but to terminate them and start over.
I’m going to look into “HONK IF YOU HATE TRAFFIC” bumper stickers. Every time I miss two signals because I’m sitting in traffic, I’m going to lay on my horn until the signal changes. If others do it too, it might get the City Council’s attention.
Once more, JR demonstrates his arithmetically-challenged foolishness. I think he probably didn't have his shoes off when he delivered his twenty million dollar rant. He was unsure whether it was twenty, forty, or fifty bucks a year for affordable housing per household to support his "I'm Mr. No New Taxes" bond issue. This, and of course the lack of footy-odor from the dais, is a sure sign that his ten-toe abacus was not in use.
Nonetheless, if the prospective ballot measure is skillfully-crafted (by this I mean that JR must keep his big smelly toes out of the process and lets someone less arithmetically-challenged do it), and really does provide affordable housing, I'd vote for it, even at a hundred bucks a year.
Thanks for all the good work, Geoff.
It's hard to watch the meeting when Jim lectures the audience with his own peculiar brand of illogic and invented economics as he takes us through the rabbit hole to Wonderland - as in "I wonder what he's really up to?"
I'm tired of Righeimer attacking the CMFA and calling it negotiations. He is creating divides that will not be healed and goes far beyond "negotiations". He has permanently scarred relationships in this city in all areas that will not be healed until he is gone.
I agree with Robin L. that the 10 ft. setbacks from the street are not enough to ever be able to widen Placentia. Once Banning Ranch is installed, we are going to be screwed.
Gary is either drunk or high. He said the new developments don't add traffic, but in fact make it less? How does that work in the real world, outside of your addled brain, Gary?
Obvious that Kerins needs an a$$ to kiss and wants work from the city. The guy is barely able to speak. It was a toss up as to who made the most unintelligible comments, Kerins or Pollitt. Both left me shaking my head, and can't figure out any of it.
And just for the record, I've had cause to be in the area in the morning, and Sea House DOES park many cars on the street. While there I did see many people coming out to get in their cars in the morning. Oh yes, they most certainly do park on the street, and not just a few. Once again, Mensheimer lies to cover their misdeed.
Its no wonder why, indeed, that the high density housing isn't exactly "flying off the shelves". What young couple can say definitively that they don't want a family? Not many. Very dishonest statement, Rig. Hipsters are not buying these things like they thought, and young couples do want space for families. Rig, you're kidding yourself, and screwing he rest of the residents.
Agree with Cynthia M. that we all should have been able to see the actual report that WE paid for regarding the initiative. That little exhibit of ridiculously contrived questions put forth in order to discredit the Smart Growth Initiative was the funniest thing I've ever seen. Poorly choreographed, but staged nonetheless. After listening to the responses, it sounds like a pretty good deal for the residents, and may cause the developers to sit up and take notice that they'd better come up with some better development before they create any more "BLOW AND GO" crap in the city. What Righeimer finds unacceptable, is exactly what the voters want. We don’t want our intersections clogged, we don’t want the streets lined with high density 4-5 story, with 6 story parking structures (Harbor and Newport Blvd.s) I think their little show backfired. Makes it very clear that Rig has $$ to lose here.
Hey, did Rig say (more than once) that this initiative will make it difficult for them to sell a project to a developer? I caught it twice. Why is Rig trying to $ell project$ to developer$ anyway? He gave him$elf away.
As for Righeimer's conflicting initiative put on the ballot to fool voters that he thinks are stupid, this is nothing more than just another of his charter attempts. He's desperate and will do whatever he has to, to insure that this initiative doesn't pass. He stands to lose $$$$. Righeimer and ilk refer to the long time residents as "LTRs" and not in a kindly fashion. They use it as a very derogatory term. They don't like the older residents as they don't pay as much property tax. He would love to see them all move away and have newer homeowners paying more taxes as he cannot raise them
Here is another Righeimer lie. He said that Whittier Law School wants to close because they don't need to produce as many lawyers anymore.
In fact, they do NOT want to move or close. They want to sell their property, and lease it back from the new owner.
There is no intent whatsoever to have storage units there. Another lie. I've lost track of how many that was in one night.
Its unbelievable the stuff this guy will attempt to feed the unsuspecting public.
I’m definitely voting for the Smart Growth Initiative. Works just fine in other cities, it will here also.
So Mensheimer's war has been declared on the Smart Growth Initiative. People are smarter than he thinks. I believe the residents will see right through the nonsense they want to fling. We see the traffic, the packed intersections, the lack of parking, the variances and allowances granted to the developers. All the rhetoric did the other night at the council meeting was enforce that I want to see it pass more than ever. Why would he be so rabid about these developments if there weren't $$$ in it for him?
There's apparently a connection between extremists in Fullerton and our our own little dicktator in Costa Mesa through the latter's super PAC. Fullerton's pushing the "no clapping" thing too. The bosses need everything and everyone to be scripted.
A couple of years ago Mr. West was criticized by Riggy because he drew parallels between events in Costa Mesa and Nazi Germany:
"This is how they roll..Create a 'task force' — no open-meeting law compliance required — then meet in secret and hatch (pun intended) plans to focus 'enforcement' on specific types of groups. 75 years ago this is what another strutting dictator did in Germany. 'Transparency' seems to be a one-way mirror [for] these guys!"
-G.West
Yet here we are, seeing more of what West was talking about back then.
We get slogans, ranting and rhetoric from Righeimer at every opportunity. Why? Maybe because he believes:
"The receptivity of the masses is very limited, their intelligence is small, but their power of forgetting is enormous. In consequence of these facts, all effective propaganda must be limited to a very few points and must harp on these in slogans until the last member of the public understands what you want him to understand by your slogan.”
-Adolf Hitler
Geoff, thanks for mentioning that it was not the residents who sued the developer, it was the developers of the 1901 Newport condo project who sued the residents for talking about things like shade and shadow, traffic, parking and affordable housing... just generally expressing their pesky first amendment rights in a public forum, as permitted by law. Even though the settlement was good, I kind of regretted it because each resident named could have collected $11,000 from the company that brought the SLAPP suit.
As Einstein wrote...
"If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts."
"The difference between stupidity and genius, is that genius has its limits."
Dr. Seuss said...
“I'm afraid that sometimes you'll play lonely games too. Games you can't win 'cause you'll play against you.”
“They say I'm old-fashioned, and live in the past, but sometimes I think progress progresses too fast!”
Ken Nyquist said...
" If you put his brain in a matchbox, it would be like putting a BB in a boxcar."
Geoff, you guessed right that our affordable housing coalition made no effort to come to this week's council meeting to address Mr. Righeimer's $20 million bond proposal because we are not sure what to make of it. He first mentioned the bond proposal during last November's council meeting where he and the majority voted to approve the new luxury apartments at the CM Motor Inn site without requiring the developer to include any affordable housing in the project. The bond proposal then seemed a pretty obvious attempt to deflect criticism of the council for its lack of concern for the hundreds of low income motel residents who will be displaced as a result of the council's decision.
The bond proposal came out of the blue-- Mr. Righeimer never discussed it with affordable housing advocates and he has provided the public with no details about how bond funds would be used. Most worrisome, his comments as reported in the Daily Pilot today suggest he is using the bond measure as a mere stalking horse -- to test whether CM voters are willing to tax themselves to build affordable housing. Then, if the measure loses (as most bond measures do), he can say the people don't care about affordable housing. And he can blame affordable housing advocates for the bond's failure. But the bond measure is his idea, not ours.
We have been arguing for an inclusionary housing ordinance in CM, which is how many other OC cities get affordable housing built. That is our priority, not a bond measure. Sure, it would be great if CM voters passed a bond measure to raise funds for affordable housing. But it is downright false for Mr. Righeimer to characterize his bond proposal as a referendum on affordable housing. He should know that there are other ways to get affordable housing built than by a bond measure.
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