Dorner Demise Update

REGISTER STORY UPDATED - ID FOUND IN CABIN
The Orange County Register updated their story on the probable demise of Chris Dorner this morning with news that his ID has been found in the burned-out house.  Read it HERE.  Positive identification of the remains in the house is still pending.

INTERESTING LISTENING...
A couple very fascinating video clips have surfaced in the wake of the events yesterday.  Matt Drudge included these two on his Twitter feed.  The first, HERE, is a short clip snatched from a live video taken from a KCAL 9 telecast.  The second apparently came from someone monitoring the tactical audio feed, HERE.  The five minute clip puts you right in the heads of the law enforcement personnel as they move to extract Dorner from the cabin.

SOME PROTECTION DETAILS REMOVED

Recent news reports this morning indicate that some of the protection teams have been removed from some members of the LAPD members mentioned in Dorner's manifesto.  In case you have not read the more than 11,000 word rant, you can do so HERE.  Be warned - parts are pretty frightening, but will help you understand why finding and stopping Dorner was so critical to all southern California law enforcement.  I suspect you'll find the names of those he admired to be very interesting.

WAITING FOR IT TO BE OVER

So, now we wait - as the funeral service for the first police officer he killed in his murderous spree is about to commence - for the final chapter to close on this tragic event.  It's going to be very interesting to see what kind of changes, if any, are demanded at the LAPD and elsewhere as a result of Dorner's acts.

Coming Events

BACK TO BUSINESS
I, along with most southern Californians I suspect, have spent the past several days following the manhunt for former LAPD police officer Christopher Dorner, hoping that he's apprehended soon and without further bloodshed.  However, the business of government goes on, so here's a little summary of what's ahead over the next few days in Costa Mesa.

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MONDAY
Monday the Costa Mesa Planning Commission - the "old" commission, since the seating of new commissioners has been delayed until February 19th - will meet at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers for what looks like a fairly short meeting.  You can read the agenda HERE.  Of particular interest will be the fourth item on the agenda, a discussion of Code Amendment CO-12-06, which brings our Municipal Code into compliance with the State Government Code in areas dealing with Emergency Shelters, Transitional Housing and Supportive Housing.  You can read that staff report HERE.  Considering the current situation with Homeless folks in our city, you may find this item informative.

FINANCE-ORIENTED STUDY SESSION TUESDAY
Tuesday the Costa Mesa City Council will hold a Study Session at 4:30 p.m. in council chambers to discuss the Mid-Year Budget Review and the Consolidated Annual Financial Review (CAFR).  You can read the agenda HERE and the staff report on the budget HERE, and the CAFR HERE.  As you go through the numbers - most of you won't - you'll find it interesting to see which departments have spent less than 50% of their budgets and which have spent more.  A hint - the public safety organizations have spent less than half their budgeted amounts.  I look forward to the explanations of the budget.

CEO BRIEFING - 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND MORE
Last week the City released the most recent, and improved, version of the CEO Briefing, HERE.  You'll find loads of interesting, timely information, led off with a summation of the planning taking place for the 60th Anniversary Celebration.

SO MUCH GOOD INFORMATION!
Among the other items included are a note about Shaheen Sadeghi, developer of The LAB and CAMP retail centers receipt recently of the Mayor's Award; Plans for a 113-unit apartment complex on Bernard Street; promotion of officers Paul Beckman, Keith Davis and Greg Scott to lieutenants by Chief Tom Gazsi; The public ceremony at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20th opening the recently-completed Fairview Park Wetlands restoration project; Costa Mesa Firefighters are going "paperless"; The City finished last fiscal year with a $2.5 million budget surplus; The Fish Fry and Costa Mesa Community Run Team Up; Camp Costa Mesa open for President's Day recess plus a calendar of events for the remainder of February.

 SANITARY DISTRICT BOARD VACANCY APPLICATIONS

A reminder that the Costa Mesa Sanitary District is still taking applications for persons interested in serving on the Board of Directors to fill out the remaining almost two years of Jim Fitzpatrick's term following his resignation.  The deadline is Friday, February 15th.  The Board will likely meet on February 19th to review the applications and again on the 22nd to select a replacement, who will be sworn in at their next regular meeting on Wednesday, February 27th.

VALENTINES DAY THURSDAY

Oh, yes.... don't forget that Thursday, February 14th, is Valentine's Day - don't forget your honey!