Amended Council Agenda Assures A Short Meeting

SMALL AGENDA PROMISES SHORT MEETING
The Costa Mesa City Council will meet again tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2, 2015 beginning at 5:45 p.m. for what will likely be a relatively short meeting.  Then, again, with this council, one never knows.  Two items were yanked from the agenda shortly after noon today, so you can read what remains of the full agenda HERE.  My fingers will be crossed for a ten o'clock departure.

PARK FEES PULLED
The first of the two items removed was Public Hearing #3, the "proposed 2015 update to the park in lieu impact fees".  No indication was given about why this time was pulled and, as of press time here at the old Cauldron, nobody was available for comment.

FORENSIC AUDIT PULLED, TOO
The second one, New Business #2, "Information regarding a forensic audit for the 60th Anniversary Event", was also removed without comment, although considering the fact that the Orange County District Attorney chose to not move forward with his investigation last week, one can read between the lines.  Katrina Foley said for the record that she would NOT support such an audit.  I don't disagree with her on much, but do on this one.  Besides, it's VERY unlikely that there were three votes for it, anyhow.

Moving forward to what's left of the agenda, taking it from the top...

CLOSED SESSION
There is a Closed Session beginning at 5:00 p.m. at which three items will be discussed:
1 - Existing litigation, City of Costa Mesa v. Civic Center Barrio Housing
2 - Labor negotiations with the Costa Mesa City Employee Association (CMCEA)
3 - Existing litigation, CMCEA v. City of Costa Mesa

PRESENTATIONS
There are three presentations:

1 - Signature Academy Program
2 - Mesa Water District's Water Conservation Measures
3 - City of Costa Mesa's Water Conservation Mandate Implementation
On those last two, we're hoping to hear something from the city about slackening up code enforcement on brown lawns, since it doesn't make any sense to fine residents for brown lawns when Mesa Water will ding them for using too much water.

CONSENT CALENDAR
Following Public Comments and Council Member Comments they will move on to the Consent Calendar, which has eleven (11) items this time.  These will be voted upon as one vote unless someone wants to pull one for separate discussion, in which case it will be moved to the end of the agenda for discussion.  If you're interested in any of the items on the agenda, please go down through the list.  Most are pretty straightforward.

HOW WE SPENT OUR MONEY
However, as has been my practice, I'm going to give you a little tease about Warrant #2536, HERE, by listing a few of the entries to pique your interest.  I'm taking my entries from the top, in case you want more info.
City of Huntington Beach - $23,590.00 - helicopter svc, Mar. 2015
Civil Source - $28,000.00 - Constr. Mgt. Svcs, Mar. 2015
Complete Landscape Care, Inc - $59,213.18  - Bear/Yukon Bldg Mod. Proj
G4S Secure Solutions, Inc. - $120,193.59 - Jail Facilities Svcs, Feb and Mar. 2015
Jones & Mayer - $154,376.34 - Legal Svcs (a long list of them)
Lilley Planning Group - $23,655.00 - Planning Consultant Svcs (doesn't say for when)
US Bank - $33,937.86 - Retreat/Luncheon, Sales Tax/Misc Proc.Card Purchase.  WHAT?
Accountemps - $5,418.30 - Temp. Svcs, various
Allied Nationwide Security, Inc. - $1,345.56 - Security Guard Svcs, 3/16-3/31 - Assume for Sr. Center.
CBI Noor, Inc - $11,350.00 - Harbor/McArthur Sign Solar Lt/Bear/Yukon Proj
Government Staffing Services - $11,047.75 - Temp svcs, April, various
Hyatt Legal Plans, Inc. - $1,872.00 - Prepaid legal svcs, 4/15
Jones Day - $11,068.25 - Legal svcs. CMCEA, Jan. 15
Keyser Marston Assoc. - $6,690.00 - HOME policies, Nghbrhd Imp, Mar. 15
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore - $10,650.50 - Labor Neg. various
Meyers Nave - $5,202.50 - Legal - Fairview Park
Randstad Technologies, LP - $12,610.00 - Temp IT Support Staff 3/2-4/5
Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth - $4,352.00 - Legal, various
Hilton Costa Mesa - $10,322.09 - 2014 Employee Svcs Awards Bal.
CSG Consultants, Inc - $2,446.40 - Bldg Pln Chk/Insp + Fire Plan Review
Government Staffing Svcs - $13,120.00 - Temp Staffing, various (again)
Pacific Municipal Consultants - $4,500.00 - Consulting Svcs for Group Home
Quickstart Intelligence - $1,900.00 - IT Prof. Dev.
Safe Moves - $3,860.00 - Bicycle Education Services
Civil Source - $22,250.00 -  Staff Support, various Engr.
Costa Mesa Conference & Visitor Bureau - $227,300.11 - BIA receipts for March, 2015
Scientia Consulting Group, Inc. - $32,938.00 - On-site Tech Support, 2/22 - 5/2
Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc. - $8,481.72 - Addl Fee - WAGE INCREASE
Interwest Consulting Group - $10,783.50 - Bldg Inspt. Svcs.Mar. 15
Traveltech Enterprises - $7,920.00 - Sr. Center Travel, various
All City Management Services, Inc. - $18,803.60 - Schl Crsng Guard, 3/1-4/11
Merchants Building Maintenance, LLC - $25,960.98 - Janitorial Svcs
Accountemps - $7,605.38 - Fin. Temps, various

Of course, there's much more on the Warrant list itself.  This time we spent more than $185,000.00 on legal services; $40,250.00 to Civil Source; more than $25,000.00 to Government Staffing Services; more than $45,000 on IT support.

BIA REAUTHORIZATION
Public Hearing #1, HERE, is the Business Improvement Area (BIA) reauthorization and resolution to levy annual assessment.  Don't blink... this one won't take long.

GIVING AWAY LAND
Likewise, Public Hearing #2, HERE.  This is the hearing for the vacation of a portion of Fullerton Avenue at 155 Flower Street.  This one also seems like a no-brainer, although there may be a few people unhappy with the City giving away land to a developer on general principles.

VICTORIA STREET DEVELOPMENT - AGAIN
Old Business #1, HERE, is the second reading of the rezone for the planned development at 1239 Victoria Street.  This one passed on a 3-2 vote last time and there's no reason to assume otherwise this time around.  The last time few neighbors showed up.. I wonder if more will make it to this meeting?

APPOINTMENTS
The final item left on the agenda is New Business #1, HERE, the appointments to the Traffic Impact Fee Ad Hoc Committee, Bikeway and Walkability Committee and the Pension Oversight Committee.  This one could get interesting, particularly if the council chooses to appoint Santa Monica resident Brent Stoll, who professes a "passion for bikes and commercial real estate interests in Costa Mesa" to the Bikeways committee again instead of one of the other eighteen (18) applicants.  If they do that they must waive Council Policy 000-2, HERE, which REQUIRES members of such committees to be a resident of Costa Mesa.  Every other applicant is either a current resident, about-to-become a resident or has been educated in Costa Mesa.  Plenty of other choices area available to the council - you can read their backgrounds HERE - without violating yet another city policy to place an outsider on the committee.  The Traffic Impact Fee Ad Hoc Committee is a slam dunk for Mayor Steve Mensinger and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer.  The choices for the Pension Oversight Committee are sparse, but it looks like there are a couple qualified individuals in the hopper.

District Attorney Closes 60th Anniversary Investigation

INVESTIGATION COMPLETE
According to reliable sources, the Orange County District Attorney's Office has completed its investigation into the Costa Mesa 60th Anniversary Celebration that was held two years ago and ended under a cloud of suspicion of misuse of money, violation of city policies and procedures and other issues.

DA SAYS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE OF CRIMINAL CHARGES
The OCDA has wrapped up its investigation and concluded there is insufficient evidence to prove any criminal activity beyond a reasonable doubt and will take no further action.  No determination of whether City policies or procedures were violated was made.

FORENSIC AUDIT ON COUNCIL AGENDA TUESDAY
However, the issue of a Forensic Audit of the 60th Anniversary Celebration is on the City Council agenda for Tuesday's meeting.  The question will be whether or not to solicit bids for such an audit, which may cost up to $25,000, depending on the complexity.  It will be very interesting to see if the council majority decides to stonewall any further investigation of this event by denying the use of a Forensic Audit.  Or, will they attempt to get this debacle behind us once and for all by spending twenty-five grand of CEO Tom Hatch's contingency fund for the audit.  It will be an interesting roll of the dice at the end of the agenda Tuesday night.

An Early, But Surreal, Council Meeting Last Night

 CRONYISM ALIVE IN COSTA MESA
The Costa Mesa City Council met last night and, near the end of the meeting, demonstrated once again that cronyism guides the actions of the majority on that body.  More on that later.

SHAPE UP, ROOKIE!
First, Rookie Mayor Steve Mensinger demonstrated that he is, indeed, a rookie.  Even though he has an agenda right in front of him he still fumbled and stumbled his way through the meeting.  He was embarrassing as he read a prepared statement about the recipient of his Mayor's Award as though he was a kid in sixth grade being told to open a book to page 25 and read the third paragraph for the first time.  It's bad enough that somebody has to write that stuff for him.  The least he could do was read it with some sincerity.  Good grief.

MAYOR'S AWARD TO BAR OWNER
He presented his Mayor's Award to Jeffrey Chon, owner and operator of a bar called Wayfarer on the Westside.  Nothing against gin mills and Chon seemed like a nice fella, but, really - a bar?  Well, Chun got his nice plaque and a shadowbox in which he will place his business license - apparently a rarity in Westside bars these days (think Roland Barrera).

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Sixteen (16) people spoke during Public Comments and, to his credit, Mensinger didn't bifurcate them... all the speakers had a chance to address the council early in the meeting.

First up was Friend Of Steve Chuck Perry, who immediately praised the council for the median improvements around town, then asked for more bus benches on 17th Street in front of Ralph's to aid developmentally disabled bus riders.

Susan Shaw expressed concern about the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee being put on hiatus for at least a year without finishing their job, and asked about actual field numbers.  How many do we actually need?  Do we need lighted fields or what?

Teresa Drain, once again, spoke on the need for a forensic audit of the 60th Anniversary debacle.  She thanked councilwoman Katrina Foley for helping sort through some of the issues, and staffers Tammy Letourneau and Sylvia Chalmers, too.  She, once again, emphasized the need for the audit.

Mary Spadoni used her full 3 minutes to inquire about an October, 2014 meeting of many senior members of the CMPD, Assistant CEO Rick Francis and members of the County Probation Department.  She had an attendance roster and wondered what the meeting was about, implying from notes scribbled on the roster that it dealt with the large number of parolees in Costa Mesa.  She's been stonewalled in her inquiries.

A woman who's name I missed inquired about a meeting coming up with the Zoning Administrator concerning a zoning issue near her Westside home and a sign to be placed identifying an area as "Mesa Arts District".

Steve Chan once again addressed Roland Barrera and his flaunting of the rules with his two night clubs on the Westside and proposed a boycott of them and a supporting clothing manufacturer

Jay Humphrey observed that Mensinger was going to receive an award for his role in the building of more than 2,000 rental units in Costa Mesa and noted that NONE of them are affordable housing units, but some are, in fact, replacing affordable units.  He also, again, expressed concern about the status of our police staffing, observing that we are failing to attract lateral transfers, but are filling our open slots with rookie cops.

Ann Parker also addressed Roland Barrera and attempted to link him with Mayor Pro Tem's friend and business associate Scott Baugh - until recently the Chairman of the Orange County Republican Party.  She also mentioned Barrera's part in the 60th and Baugh's, as well.  Righeimer was not happy.

Beth Refakes gave us a slide show of the recent "Eggstravaganza" - the Easter celebration with the 1/5 Marines at Camp Pendleton.  Volunteers on the Military Affairs Team, including Refakes, journeyed to that location to help distribute the candies and plastic eggs that had been collected for the past few weeks for the event.  It was a huge success.

Then came Lisa Salisbury, speaking on behalf of Roland Barrera and his two night clubs, indicating that they want to be good citizens and were sorry for the confusion about permits, etc.  She spoke about the 40 or so jobs that are being created by the two businesses, and the fact that they bring affordable live music to Costa Mesa.

Tea Party Tom Pollett spoke about... The Tea Party!  How about

that?  Then he wandered off into a stream of consciousness mini-rant about Police Department negotiations and expressed an opinion that we should make better use of technology in policing.

Barrie Fisher expressed concern for the "open cul de sacs" in her neighborhood, citing that they had become hangouts for sex, drugs and gang activity.

Greg Ridge told us that Mensinger, during an event a few years ago, admitted to him that he knew the Fairview Park vernal pools came right up to the fence line at Parsons Field.  (more on that later)

Tamar Goldmann commented on the Daily Pilot article on the dramatic increase in public record requests - from 40 in 2008 to 613 in 2014, and opined that residents didn't trust the government now, so were looking for answers in documents produced by those requests.  Yep...  She specifically cited the 60th Anniversary issue.

Cindy Brenneman attempted to correct a misstatement about a South County City and their policing model.

MONAHAN SPOKE - AND SHOULDN'T HAVE
During Council Member Comments, Gary Monahan actually had something to say this time.  Unfortunately, what he said was that the 60th was over and we should put it behind us  He said it was "old, old news.", a view not widely supported by many in the audience.  He should have just kept quiet...

RIGHEIMER ON THE I-405 TOLL ROAD AND MORE
Righeimer addressed the cul de sac issue and the Mesa Arts District issue.  He also reminded us that there will be a second public outreach meeting on his library scheme - which he said was not a done deal yet.  The meeting is Thursday, April 16th at the Neighborhood Community Center from 6-8 pm.  He then told us that the I405 Toll Road scheme is all but a done deal!  He complained that our tax money - Measure M funds - were being used to produce toll lanes and he was not happy about it.  He spoke of bringing "political pressure" on CalTrans on the issue.  I found myself wondering just how that happens, since CalTrans can do whatever they want on the highways - almost verbatim what he said.  He praised our City staff for their "phenomenal" job.

MENSINGER
Mensinger also addressed the cul de sac issue and shared a personal story about visiting that area with CEO Tom Hatch and seeing guys swilling beer, only to skip through the openings in the wall at the end of the cul de sac and dash across Victoria Street.  He asked Hatch to update them on the Police Reserves program and reminded folks that they can "Walk with the Mayor" on Friday morning at 5:30 at Estancia High School.

FOLEY
Katrina Foley spoke of the Estancia/Tewinkle gala recently held, and described a traffic issue at Harper school which she suggested be resolved by painting the curb red nearby.  She also spoke of the 60th Anniversary and asked Hatch for a report on the content and cost of a forensic audit.  She also admitted that such an audit wouldn't answer many of the questions, at least a few of which seem to be the result of bad decisions.  She cited some good news from this mess - a whole new set of procedures to help preclude another instance like it.  She also mentioned the library meeting and asked Chief Ron Lowenberg if he could, at least temporarily, increase the visible police presence in the area to discourage the kind of acts described by Barrie Fisher.  She also spoke about the  Signature Academies at Costa Mesa and Estancia High Schools.

GENIS
Sandra Genis congratulated the Orange Coast College debate team for "blowing the doors off the competition" in a recent competition.  She addressed Barrera's CASA night club and the skimpy costumes and how they might violate our rules.  She also expressed a need for more information on a forensic audit of the 60th.  She spoke of the Fairview Developmental Center, and how the City should be alert in case part or all of it becomes available.

HATCH - NOTHING
Mensinger then turned to Hatch for his report.. and got nothing...  No comments about the inquiry about police reserves... nada.

CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS PULLED
Items 7,8 and 9 were pulled from the Consent Calendar and the remainder was passed on a 5-0 vote, with Foley wanted the record to show that she didn't vote on the Minutes - which go back nearly 4 years!

SMALL LOT ORDINANCE, AGAIN, AND AGAIN
Old Business #1, the second reading of the Small Lot Ordinance modifications hit a snag when something Righeimer thought was removed regarding parking was still in the document.  It was decided to vote on the second reading with that modification, then bring it back AGAIN for a second, second reading.  Somebody was not paying attention at the last meeting, although I recall that vote was just a little confusing.  That's what happens when things get rushed and nobody in charge has the skills to keep things flowing properly.  A lack of leadership...

APPOINTMENTS - THE TWILIGHT ZONE
Then came New Business #1, the appointment of dozens of individuals to positions on the Senior Commission and many committees.  The process was bizarre, to say the least, but the outcome was predictable.

SENIOR COMMISSION
There were two new positions on the Senior Commission to be filled and thirteen (13) applicants, many of whom seemed quite qualified.  Ann Perry was selected for the 4-year term and Sue Healy got the 2-year slot.  Former councilwoman Wendy Leece, a long, long time advocate for Costa Mesa Seniors, was nominated but rejected by the council majority.

FITZY GETS A NEW GIG
The seven positions on the Access, Building, Fire and Housing Board of Appeal were filled from the applicant pool of 8 persons.  All four current members, Bill Mason, Tariq Shamma, Larry Weichman and Gilbert Figueroa were returned and Jacob Batista, Josue Castenada and former Planning Commissioner Jim Fitzpatrick were selected for the other slots.

CULTURAL ARTS
On the Cultural Arts Committee the nine (9) slots were filled with returning members Kathleen Eric, Lisa Grant, Frank Gutierrez, and Monica Morita.  The remaining positions were filled by Andrea Marr, Tracy Taber, Chrystal Swope, Stacie Wendland, with Rocky Evans and Jason Komala as alternates.

HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
The Historical Preservation Committee, with five (5) slots open, four were filled with returning members - Dave Gardner, Gary Parkin, John McQueen and Karen McKenna-Juergens and Matthew Fletcher selected for the other.

HOUSING AND PUBLIC SERVICE GRANT
The Housing and Public Service Grant Committee had 6 open slots.  Eight people applied.  The positions were filled by returning members Christian Eric, Denise Rochelle Dew-Bennett, Jeff R. Mathews, Eric Vu, and new members Yvonne Rowdert and Tony Capitelli.

PENSION OVERSIGHT
The Pension Oversight Committee process was very interesting.  A dozen people applied for one of the nine (9) open positions.  Returning members Jeff Arthur, Tim Sesler, Ralph Taboada and Gary Parkin filled four of them.  Newcomers James Bridges, Robert Juneman, Al Melone and George Turner filled four more, leaving one vacancy.  The council majority decided to re-advertise and try to find a better candidate for the one remaining slot.  It was very strange, but things would soon get stranger.

TRAFFIC IMPACT FEE - A STRANGE SITUATION
Next up was the Traffic Impact Fee Ad Hoc Committee, which had four (4) open slots: 2 at large members, 1 major developer representative and 1 small developers representative.  Six people applied.  George Sakioka, likely representing large developers, and Kerry Smith representing small developers, were chosen and Walt Davenport - a member of the Newport Mesa Unified School District Board of Trustees and a Planning Commissioner for more than two decades - was also chosen.  Cynthia McDonald was nominated for the other at-large slot, but was rejected by the male majority and the majority wanted to re-advertise for the position.  This generated a heated discussion because nobody would provide a description of the qualifications for the position!  Things got so hot for the Rookie Mayor that he called for a break.  It was surreal!

BIKEWAY AND WALKABILITY - ANOTHER STRANGE ONE
When they reconvened the council tackled the appointment of fifteen (15) members of the Bikeway and Walkability Committee.  The following  ten (10) people were selected unanimously: Kathleen Brown, Donna Check, Tony Capitelli, Jim Erickson, Leah Ersoylu , James Kane, Jim Kerins, Flo Martin, John Merrill and Ralph Taboada. Michael M.S. Chun was chosen on a 4-1 vote, with Monahan voting no.  Richard Huffman was chosen on a 4-1 vote, with Mensinger voting no.  Max Poling was chosen on a 4-1 vote, with Foley voting no.  Andrea Marr was chosen on a 3-2 vote, with Mensinger and Righeimer voting no.  Cynthia McDonald and Jim Drain were rejected on 3-2 votes by the council majority.  The final slot was curiously filled by a man, Brent Stoll, who doesn't live in Costa Mesa - he lives in Santa Monica - and doesn't work in Costa Mesa, although he did say he worked for an outfit that is in the process of acquiring a big piece of property in the north part of town.  That screamed "developer" to me, but he was chosen over nine (9) residents besides McDonald and Drain.  What a travesty!

MENSINGER STEPS OUTSIDE
This brought us to the "pulled" items from the Consent Calendar - and another surprise.  When #7 - the issue of increasing the contract with attorneys Meyers Nave, who are dealing with the Fairview Park Decomposed Granite issue - was called, Mayor Mensinger decided to recuse himself and left the auditorium.  Well, I wrote about that earlier and suggested that, because of his personal involvement (culpability?) in the whole "Decomposed Granite Trail" fiasco, that he should not be involved in the discussion or vote on increasing the contract to the attorney.  When he left Foley and Genis wanted to know why - specifically - he left.  No good explanation was given, although Deputy City Attorney Yolanda Summerhill said something about "in light of the investigation".

PUBLIC NOT HAPPY
Several members of the public addressed this issue.  Susan Shaw and Teresa Drain expressed concern about this whole issue.   Jay Humphrey was concerned about multiple attorneys being involved and referred to a letter from US Fish and Wildlife which basically said "don't do anything".  Greg Ridge expressed outrage that we are about to spend $100,000 on this issue and don't know what it's for.  He wondered if we're paying a lawyer to defend Mensinger - who directed this act, and compared it to the 60th debacle as another situation where rules are not followed.  Earlier he told his story about Mensinger's knowledge of the location of the vernal pools.  Cindy Brenneman wondered when we would get the updated information from USFWS.  Cindy Black then took the podium and presented a slide show with images of correspondence showing that Mensinger communicated with Public Services Director Ernesto Munoz, who, in turn, communicated with his staffer, Rick Simon, asking what could be done.  I've seen subsequent correspondence in which Simon describes what they did to "Steve's Path".

APPROVED, BUT NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY
Monahan moved to approve the issue, with Foley seconding it.  She went on to ask about the agreement and what the 20 hours working with the U.S. Attorney was for.  Both she and Genis were concerned about the possibility of the City defending Mensinger.  The item passed, 4-0 and Mensinger was brought back.

CHANGING TRAVEL RULES
Item #8 was the change to policy 100-8 regarding travel distances by council and staff.  Afer a short discussion and a few comments by the public - Humphrey, Drain and Brenneman all expressed concern about lack of council oversight on travel - it passed 4-1.

CANCELING 5/19 MEETING
That vote made half of Item #9 - approval of the trip by Mensinger, Righeimer and several staff members to a convention in Las Vegan next month -  moot.  The council voted, 5-0,  to cancel the May 19 City Council meeting and we were done for the evening.

ADJOURNED IN MEMORY OF MOSKOWITZ
Mensinger adjourned the meeting in memory of Joel Moskowitz, founder of Ceradyne, who passed away recently.  We were out of there before 9 p.m. with our heads reeling from some of the bizarre behavior we observed.   Cronyism is alive and not-well in Costa Mesa.

An Early Evening, But Not Without Some Drama

SHORT, BUT NOT SO SWEET
The Costa Mesa City Council meeting last night went about as anticipated, including some drama from an unexpected source... more on that a little later.

BILL BURKE HONORED
The meeting started right on time, although without councilwoman Sandra Genis, who was ill.  The very beginning of the meeting turned out to be the highlight as Costa Mesa Adventurer Bill Burke was recognized for his accomplishments including climbing Mt. Everest - twice!  The most recent time was last May, when he reached the peak again.  We're told the 72 year-old Burke has climbed every major peak in the world!

FASCINATING ADVENTURE
Burke spent a few minutes showing a slide show of his latest climb, providing us with great detail of the travails of that effort.  Mayor Jim Righeimer presented him with a plaque acknowledging his accomplishments.  I suggest you find some time to watch the video of that portion of the evening - you will be amazed, as was the small audience last night.

"GOD" WAS BENEVOLENT
Eleven people completed speaker cards for Public Comments, so Righeimer agreed to let all of them speak instead of the remaining one (1) being required to remain to the end of the meeting.  There was a small murmur of sarcastic cheers when he made that announcement.

GROUP HOMES
Ann Parker grilled Righeimer on the rehab homes issue, and wanted to know why the City had waited so long to put together an ordinance, citing the City of Orange ordinance.

FANNY SMOOCHING PLUS 60TH DEBACLE DEMANDS
Chuck Perry - a Riganista and candidate for the Costa Mesa Sanitary District Board - stepped up again to praise the council for their golf course improvements, the new development at Newport Boulevard and Industrial Way and the general street improvements.  Sue Lester demanded action on the 60th Anniversary debacle, indicating that if the District Attorney isn't going to do something The City should release the CMPD report.  She also opined that the medical marijuana petitions are being circulated and that councilman Gary Monahan should keep the pressure on the council to produce an ordinance to control it.  Jeffrey Hall invited all to the Project Independence event.

AND MORE...
Beth Refakes reported on the recent I-405 Toll Road Town Hall.  Robin Leffler complained that Righeimer's recent "Promises Made, Promises Kept" email blast was inaccurate and misleading.  Funny, whenever I think of that document I cannot help but think he meant promises he'd made to his developer buddies... Cindy Brenneman echoed Lester's comments on the 60th.  Teresa Drain renewed her demand for a forensic audit of the 60th and used a graphic to depict the cash flow of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) dollars through the City.  Greg Thunnel used quotations from Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln to chide the council on issues of integrity.

"LA-DE-DA"...
Looking like death warmed-over, Costa Mesa's racist laureate, M.H. Millard, (n)ever the class act, stepped up and told us the City is on the right track and is now attracting the "right kind of people".  We presume he doesn't mean Latinos, since his body of work vilifies any race except white.  He referred to opposition voices as "hen-pecking blowhards", told us that "liberals tried to turn the Westside into a permanent ethnic ghetto" and that we should be careful not to elect the "wrong people".  He then made a curious - even for him - comment about some folks being "la-de-da", and that we don't want Costa Mesa to become Santa Ana, which he described as" a zoo every night".  I chuckled, since that city does, in fact, have a zoo.  Such a sad man and a tragic waste of an intellect - he's a Mensa member, don'tcha know?

FIREWORKS
Former city council candidate Karl Ahlf was the final speaker complained about illegal fireworks and he addressed the need for compassion for our veterans and cited some suicide statistics.  He also acknowledged the Mexican Independence Day - yesterday was that day.

MORE ON FIREWORKS, SECRET MEETING AND NEGOTIATIONS
During Council Member Comments Wendy Leece addressed the Fireworks issue and indicated that she would be studying a way to eliminate them.  She referred to a "median meeting" today in the Emergency Operations Center that nobody seemed to know anything about.  Earlier in the day I asked Director of Public Services, Ernesto Munoz, about the meeting and he had no knowledge of it.  Before the council meeting began he told me that there was, indeed, such a meeting at which the presentation made to the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee recently would be duplicated.  It's unclear whether the meeting begins at 5:30 or 6:30 tonight.  It theoretically runs until 7:00 p.m.  Leece also complimented Mesa Water for the good work it does keeping us in drinking water and closed her comments by telling us that she, Sandy Genis and Gary Monahan would be meeting in a closed session to begin discussions about the Costa Mesa Police Association contract negotiations this Friday at 10:00 a.m.  Finally!

ECHOING THE RACIST!
Monahan, bless his distracted little heart, told us that because it was campaign season there was a lot of inaccurate information going around and parroted Millard's "la-de-da-de-da" blather.  You know he's in trouble when the best he can do is echo an incomprehensible inanity from a racist.  Good grief!

GAZSI - NOPE, WE WON'T RELEASE THE REPORT
Righeimer addressed the complaints about the 60th Anniversary investigation and asked Police Chief Tom Gazsi to step up and address it.  He asked Gazsi if we should release his - the CMPD's - report?  Gazsi told him that he was not inclined to release the contents of the report until there is a conclusion to the issue, and thought the District Attorney's office would feel the same way about their information.

CAMPAIGN MANTRA
Righeimer then tried to deflect earlier criticism of the city's financial situation, indicating that the way a municipality balances the budget is different than the way a business balances a budget, and launched into his campaign chant about previous councils "blowing through $35 million in reserves".  We're going to hear that at every opportunity for the next couple months, even though he knows it's inaccurate and misleading.  Previous councils used reserves for the reason they were accumulated - to bail us out of emergencies, like the economic downturn of the late 2000's.

REHAB HOME ORDINANCE COMING
He told us there's a rehab home ordinance that will be coming to the Planning Commission at their next meeting, and he solicited the public's input.  And, he mentioned the I-405 Town Hall, and how CalTrans representatives seemed more willing to listen.  Funny, that doesn't track with any other report I've seen or heard about that meeting.  What does he know that he's not telling us?

ALWAYS HUMBLE
Steve Mensinger took credit for the infrastructure improvements mentioned by Perry earlier - big surprise!  He then launched into the usual tirade about the value and tradition of fireworks in the city.  He then complimented CEO Tom Hatch for the success of Camp Costa Mesa - the summer program for youth in the city.

CERT AND THE "BIG DIG"
During his comments Hatch spoke about the recent recognition of the Costa Mesa CERT program by FEMA.  He had Munoz give a brief update on the "Big Dig" - the water treatment project underway at Lions Park.  He also spoke of the recent criticism of monies paid to our new insurance broker.

Several items were pulled from the 16-item Consent Calendar for later discussion.

COIN
Public Hearing #1, the 2nd hearing on the contract between The City and the Costa Mesa City Employees Association (CMCEA) was conducted by negotiator Richard Kreisler - the $300 per hour lawyer from Liebert Cassidy Whitmore.  He spoke of the success of the COIN process, citing a nearly $1 million ongoing savings and a one-time savings of about that same amount due to the outsourcing of the Street Sweeping activities.  (Hatch told us they expected the contractor - Athens Services - to take over in October since the contract had already been negotiated.  Did we mention that they are big campaign contributors to Righeimer?

UNHAPPY PUBLIC
During public comments on this issue Jay Humphrey complained that this process, COIN, is used ONLY for labor negotiations, not other commercial contract activities.  Robin Leffler reminded the council of it's ham-handed handling of the layoffs a few years ago that caused Huy Pham to leap to his death and postulated that the punitive nature of this contract will hurt those employees who make the least the most - and it will hurt their families.

ENVIOUS
Monahan observed that the average compensation package for the employees under this contract is $105,000 - but neglected to mention how many employees fell well under that number.  One had the idea that he was a little envious of the pay of some city employees.  It was clear from the tone of his question that he didn't have ANY sympathy for them in this matter.

PRAISING MENSINGER
Righeimer observed that, with the Street Sweeping outsourcing, not a single employee was laid off.  He said that 80% of the budget is in salaries and benefits, so that's where COIN is focused.  He went on to praise Mensinger effusively for the COIN scheme - something he said will spread like wildfire now that there has been a negotiation completed using it.  He thanked the negotiators on both sides for their efforts.  The motion to approve it and the resolutions passed, 4-0.

NO COMMENT... YET
I tried to get a comment from CMCEA negotiator Don Drozd after the vote, but he referred me to his associate, Jennifer Muir later today.  I'm thinking they are not that happy with the results...

ANNEXATION FRUSTRATION
At 8:00 the council began the second hearing on the Santa Ana/Colleen annexation issue.  There was virtually no discussion before public comments were opened.  The first two speakers represented the ownership of the strange-shaped parcel of land that is going to be developed once annexation is complete.  Both cited relief that the "long haul" is over.

A "RIGGED" SYSTEM
Two residents spoke about this process with great passion.  To summarize their thoughts, both felt the council was "disinterested" in the plight of the property owners in this annexation island.  They felt - probably appropriately so - that this annexation was developer-driven - that the owner of the vacant land wanted the parcel to become part of Costa Mesa so more homes could be built on it.  The way this has played out, it certainly seems that way.  One of the speakers mentioned learning that the developers had been working with the City on this project for a couple years!  Later, as Righeimer attempted to rebut comments, both men yelled out from the audience, calling Righeimer a liar.  He cautioned them that they were disrupting the meeting - the code word for "if you don't shut up I'm going to have you removed from the auditorium". 

Both men left in a huff, shouting back over their shoulders.  Can't blame them.  This thing appears to have been rigged (pun intended) from the beginning.

WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A PECK ON THE CHEEK
Among the other speakers, Leffler suggested this was "annexation without representation" - an appropriate and clever turn of phrase.  Long time resident Mary Spadoni scolded the council for their shabby treatment of the newest Costa Mesa residents and suggested that the council's behavior will be remembered in future elections.  When the vote was taken it passed, 3-1 - Leece voted no.

LEGAL FEES AND CARE CONTRACT EXTENSION
The Consent Calendar items were discussed - Greg Thunnel pulled the Warrant to discuss the legal costs.  Item 11, the extension of the contract with CARE Ambulance, had been pulled so Righeimer stepped out of the auditorium because that firm had contributed more than the permitted $249 to him.  Fire Chief Dan Stefano explained why the extension was necessary - in a nutshell, the city is not quite ready to take over the transportation of injured in our new medic vans.  He explained that his preference is to take that over sooner than later, but the extension with CARE is essential right now and can be cancelled immediately whenever the city chooses to do so.  A lot of extraneous conversation about Fire Department staffing and deployment models sidetracked this issue briefly.  Eventually it passed, 3-0, after a half-dozen speakers expressed concern and impatience with the pace of the conversion to the Medic Van system and the revenue generation that will accompany it.

AN ANGRY RESIDENT CAPS THE NIGHT
At the very end of the meeting one woman who didn't identify herself and I didn't recognize her, stepped up to tell the council that she was very disappointed with the male majority on the council... that was it.

NEXT STOP - FEET TO THE FIRE
So, the short night ended just after 9:00 p.m., but it was not without it's magic moments.  It's going to be a very long campaign season...