Measure Y Gets The First Test Tuesday

FIRST MEETING WITH NEW (OLD) FORMAT
The Costa Mesa City Council meets on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 in City Council Chambers at City Hall beginning at 6:00 p.m. per the revised rules.  This meeting will be preceded by a Closed Session that begins at 4:00 p.m. in Council Chambers to take Public Comments, then moves to Conference Room 5A for the closed session.  Three items are on that Closed Session agenda, including the lawsuit between Yellowstone Women's First Step House, Inc and Sober Living Network, Inc v. City of Costa Mesa.  The full agenda for the entire meeting may be found HERE.

COUNCIL MEMBERS GET ONLY 4 MINUTES - FIRST TIME UP
When the open meeting begins at 6:00 they will follow the new agenda format.  Following Public Comments there will be Council Member's Reports, Comments and Suggestions, but each council member will be limited to only 4 minutes at this point.  If any council member has more things to talk about there is time reserved for that at the end of the meeting, before the City Manager and City Attorney reports.

CONSENT CALENDAR
The Consent Calendar has another load of items on it - 13 to be precise.  In theory these items could be voted upon in one vote without separate discussion on them.  However, it's unusual for that to happen.  Any member of the council, city staff or public may pull an item for separate discussion and vote.  I won't cover all those items - you can read them when you click on that agenda link above.  However, there are some that require comment.

SPENDING OUR MONEY
Item #2, Warrant Resolution #2569, HERE, represents the expenditure of right at $4 million in city funds.  You can scroll down through the list to see if anything catches your eye.  Some items that caught mine are:

• City of Huntington Beach - $23,100.00 - Helicopter Svcs, Nov. 2016
• Clean Street - $60,590.98 - Street Sweeping Svcs Nov. 2016 Plus Power Wash Harbor/19th
• G4S Secure Solutions, Inc - $50,823.18 - Jail Svcs Nov. 2016
• Heroes Hall Veteran's Foundation - $25,000.00 - 2nd Grant for Vets Museum
• Johnson Favaro LLP - $285,859.00 - Library/NCC Architecure 11/16-12/15
• Jones & Mayer - $132,449.62 - Legal Svcs, various
• Keyser Marston Assoc. - $4,774.00 - Nghd Improv/Homeless Nov. 2016
• Lilley Planning Group - $9,720.00 - Planning Consultant Nov 2016
• MPS Consulting, Inc - $9,666.25 - Planning Consultant, 11/1-11/22
• Management Partners Inc - $8,631.00 - Consulting Svcs DS 11/16-11/30
• Permit Management Solutions - $2,665.00 - Interim Permit Tech 11/21-11/23, 11/28-12/2
• Scott Fazekas & Assoc. - $6,022.84 - Bldg Plan Check Svcs
• Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth - $10,787.50 - Legal Svcs, various
• The Code Group Inc. - $1,440.00 - Bldg Inspect. Svs 10/30-11/26
• Interwest Consulting Group, Inc. - $22,960.00 - Bldg Ofcrs/Bldg Inspect Oct 2016
• Kimley Horn & Assoc. - $40,548.00 - Group Home Consulting
• Rutan & Tucker LLP - $83,285.35 - Legal various (No Growth & Fairview Park)
• CSG Consultants Inc - $11,055.47 - Plan Check Svcs Nov 2016
• Kitchell Cern - $3,990.00 - Const. Mgt.Svs 10/31-11/27
• Liebert Cassidy Whitmore - $5,973.10 - Legal various
• Vincent Benjamin - $5,960.07 - Temp Staff, Treas. & Purch.

As you can see, we spent more than $230,000 on legal fees and more than $60,000 on various consultants.

CLEANING UP THE TOW POLICY
Item #3, HERE, is the modification of the Police Department Tow Policy.

SLOWING TRAFFIC ON EAST 19TH STREET
Item #6, HERE, is a $1.6 million Safe Route To School Project on East 19th Street from Church Street to Irvine Avenue and will involve so-called "traffic calming" measures the over that length.
These "enhancements" will slow the traffic on a busy residential street and almost certainly force traffic on adjacent streets - Costa Mesa Street, 20th Street and others - as traffic, like water, will find a way.  It will also include a new monument sign on a new median near the intersection of Fullerton and 19th Street.

BRISTOL STREET PROJECTS
Item #7, HERE, is a bundle of Bristol Street Projects totalling nearly $5 million.

HOUSING AUTHORITY FINANCIAL AUDIT
For you numbers people, Item #8, HERE, is the Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Independent Financial Audit of the Costa Mesa Housing Authority.

BLOWING IN THE WIND
The first Public Hearing, HERE, is the 2016 California Residential Code Wind Speed Revision.  Yeah - I asked the same question - What the heck is that?  The staff report is short and this item may take a whole 5 minutes, max.

440 FAIR DRIVE - AND THE SMART GROWTH INITIATIVE
Public Hearing #2, HERE, is the elephant on the agenda, for many reasons.  This is the proposed project at 440 Fair Drive - the one the short-handed Planning Commission rejected.  According to the staff report, this one, if approved, will likely require a vote of the public before proceeding due to the requirements of Measure Y - the Smart Growth Initiative passed by the voters on November 8th.  The discussion of this item should be very interesting.

NAME CHANGES, PART 2
Old Business #1, HERE, is the second hearing of the change of the CEO and Assistant CEO positions to City Manager and Assistant City Manager.  This one will take about 2 minutes unless Jim Righeimer decides to launch off on a rant again.

WEST 19TH STREET BIKE TRAIL PROJECT
Old Business #2, HERE, is an amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Dudek for Environmental Services for the West 19th Street Bicycle Trail Project.

MOBILE RECREATION PROGRAM REDUX
New Business #1, HERE, is the resurrection of the Mobile Recreation Program, abandoned a few years ago due to budget constraints.  If the council supports this idea the staff will develop a funding plan for the 2016/2017 mid-year budget report.  For some history, HERE'S the 2004 staff report for your recollection.

NEXT MEETING TO CONSIDER VOLUNTEERS
The council will adjourn to a special meeting on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 during which applicants wishing to be considered for positions on the Planning, Parks and Recreation and Senior Commissions will be interviewed.  The deadline for applying for these positions is 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2017.  Go HERE for more information.

City Still Seeking Volunteers For Committees/Commission

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The City of Costa Mesa today again sent out a call for volunteers to fill positions on several committees and the Senior Commission, where two more positions were recently authorized by the City Council.  There are more than 50 positions open this time around, including fifteen (15) slots on the Bikeway & Walkability Committee.

TWO WEEKS TO GO!
So, disregard the fact that this council majority has demonstrated a tendency to fill these slots with cronies in the past and give it another shot.  I wrote about it earlier, HERE.  You can read all about it HERE on the city web site.  Go online for the application and get it to the City Clerk, Brenda Green, by March 20th.  You've got two weeks, so get with it!

Costa Mesa Needs Volunteers - Lots Of Them!

LOTS AND LOTS OF THEM...
Today the City of Costa Mesa announced a recruitment for volunteers for seven (7) and the new Senior Commission.  When you add up the numbers it totals 52 (!) regular positions and five (5) alternates.  That's nearly five dozen volunteers needed to fill vacancies right now!

A SUMMARY FOR YOU
You can read the details on each committee and commission with vacancies HERE, but I've provided a little summary for you below.  The deadline for applying is March 20th.

Costa Mesa Senior Commission
Two vacancies, 1 is a 4-year term.  1 is a 2-year term.  Call Travis Karlen for more info at 714-754-5052.

Access, Building, Fire & Housing Board of Appeal
5 regular member vacancies and 2 alternate member vacancies.  All are 4-year terms.  Call Khanh Nguyen for more information at 714-754-5604.

Bikeway & Walkability Committee
This is a new 15-member committee.  All vacancies are for a 2-year term.  Call Raja Sethuraman at 714-754-5032.

Cultural Arts Committee
7 regular member vacancies and 2 alternates, all 2-year terms.  Call Justin Martin at 714-754-5065.

Historical Preservation Committee
4 regular member vacancies and 1 alternate, all 2-year terms.  Call Justin Martin at 714-754-5065.

Housing & Public Service Grant Committee
6 regular member vacancies, all 2-year terms.  Call Mike Linares at 714-754-5678.

Pension Oversight Committee
9 regular member vacancies, all 2-year terms.  Call John Donlon at 714-754-5227.

Traffic Impact Fee Ad Hoc Committee
4 vacancies: 2 at-large positions representing Costa Mesa residents, one representing major developers and one representing small developers.  Call Raja Sethuraman at 714-754-5032.

TO APPLY...
Those interested are encouraged to complete a Commission/Committee Application Form from the City Clerk’s Office or from the City’s website (www.costamesaca.gov/apply). The completed application may be submitted online; mailed to Costa Mesa City Clerk at Post Office Box 1200, Costa Mesa, California, 92628-1200; faxed to (714) 754-4942; or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

DEADLINE
The deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, March 20, 2015. Appointments are tentatively scheduled for the April 7, 2015 City Council meeting.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
For further information, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (714) 754-5225 or cityclerk@costamesaca.gov.

Volunteers Needed for 60th Anniversary Celebration!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Our friends who formed the 60th Anniversary Celebration Committee and the City staffers who have all worked tirelessly to make this event a success need some help.

FREEBIES INCLUDED
Today the City announced that they need 50 more volunteers to help with the three-day event that begins June 28th and continues through June 30th.  Those who can help out will be entitled to some freebies for their participation, including a ticket to the main entertainment venue.

LEARN MORE...
Go to the city website, HERE, for information on how to sign up and go the the 60th Anniversary web site, HERE, to read about all the neat events that will be happening that weekend and through the remainder of the year.

City Needs Three Dozen Volunteers

SIX COMMITTEES NEED HELP
A reminder for you again that the City of Costa Mesa is actively recruiting community volunteers to serve on six (6) committees covering a variety of interests.

36 SLOTS AVAILABLE
The page on the city website, HERE, that announced this recruitment says 33 positions are available, but that was before they added three positions on the Costa Mesa Senior Center Corporation Board.

The positions available, by committee, are as follows:

• Cultural Arts Committee - 6
• 
  
• Historical Preservation Committee - 5
• 
  
• Housing and Public Service Grant Committee - 6
• 
  
• Pension Oversight Committee - 9
• 
  
• Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee - 7
• 
  
• Costa Mesa Senior Center Corporation Board - 3

NINE DAYS LEFT

The page on the web site has contact numbers and application information.  The deadline for submission is 5:00 p.m., Thursday, March 28th.

Call For Volunteers

VOLUNTEERS WANTED
The City of Costa Mesa has issued a call for volunteers for several city committees.  You can read the entire roster of needs, details about the committees and city staff contact information for each on the city web site HERE.

33 VACANCIES
In a press release today they announced the need for 33 vacancies on five committees.  The committees involved and the number of openings are:

Cultural Arts Committee (6)

Historical Preservation Committee (5)

Housing and Public Service Grant Committee (6)

Pension Oversight Committee (9)

Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee (7)

APPLICATION INFORMATION
The deadline for submission of the completed application form is 5:00 p.m., Thursday, March 28th.  The link I provided above includes application information.  You can also contact the City Clerk's office at 714-754-5327 or by email at cityclerk@costamesaca.gov

Costa Mesa Recruiting Volunteers for Committees

RECRUITING CALL
The City of Costa Mesa is actively recruiting for volunteers for several city committees. Here is the text from the most recent press release on this issue.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CITY COMMITTEES

COSTA MESA, CALIF. — The Costa Mesa City Council is seeking community members to serve on the following Council committees:

Cultural Arts Committee: This committee works to promote the City slogan: “City of the Arts.” The Cultural Arts Committee has started a Youth Gallery in City Hall and maintains a directory of local artists. The Council will appoint four regular members and two alternate members. For further information, please contact Lisa McPherson at (714)754-5322.

Historical Preservation Committee: The Historical Preservation Committee serves to maintain, preserve, educate and promote the City’s historical resources, and advises the City Council on such matters. The Council will appoint one regular member and one alternate member. For further information, please contact Lisa McPherson at (714)754-5322.

Redevelopment and Residential Rehabilitation (3R) Committee: This committee promotes understanding of, and involvement in, the redevelopment of housing throughout the City and commercial properties within the redevelopment area. The committee serves as an advisory board to both the Redevelopment Agency and the City Council on housing-related and neighborhood issues. Committee members provide input on the eligible uses of Community Development Block Grant, HOME, and Redevelopment Agency funds. The Council will appoint five regular members and two alternate members. For further information, please contact Alma Penalosa at (714) 754-5692.

Investment Oversight Committee: The purpose of the Committee is to review the City and Redevelopment Agency’s portfolio and investment strategies for compliance with the City and Agency’s adopted investment policies. The role of the committee shall be advisory to the City Treasurer. The Council will appoint one committee member and one alternate member. Candidates may either reside or conduct business within the City and should have a background that includes experience in securities trading, financial planning or banking. For further information, please contact Colleen O’Donoghue, assistant finance director, at (714) 754-5243.

Costa Mesa Senior Center Board of Directors: The Costa Mesa City Council is recruiting individuals interested in serving on the Costa Mesa Senior Center Board of Directors. The Council will appoint one director to fill a vacancy and to serve on the board to represent the City for the remainder of a two-year term (to be extended to October 2012). For more information, please contact Donna Theriault, recreation management analyst, at (714) 754-5636 or email dtheriault@ci.costa-mesa.ca.us.

Application Process: Individuals interested in serving on any of the above committees should complete a “Committee Interest Form” available in the City Clerk’s Office or on the City’s website at http://www.costamesaca.gov/docs/commform.pdf. The completed form may be mailed to: Costa Mesa City Clerk, Post Office Box 1200, Costa Mesa, California, 92628-1200; faxed to (714) 754-4942; or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. The deadline for submission is 5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 3, 2011. The City Council will make selections from applications filed in a timely manner. For further information, please contact City Clerk Julie Folcik at (714) 754-5225 or julie.folcik@costamesaca.gov.

People In The News

COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS AND ACTIVISTS TO BE HONORED
As some of you may have read in Jim DeBoom's Daily Pilot column, on Friday, May 29th, some of our outstanding friends and neighbors are being honored at the Daily Pilot Community and Clubs Hall of Fame Luncheon at the American Legion Post in Newport Beach.

THE "MAGNIFICENT SEVEN"
According to DeBoom's column and the invitation provided, the following individuals are being honored: Christina Holiday of the Rotary Club of Newport Beach Sunrise; Richard Freeman of the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor; Carol Van Holt of the Harbor Mesa Lions Club; Mike Scheafer of the Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club; Fran Ursini of the Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club; Tim Shields of the Rotary Club of Newport Irvine and Jim De Boom himself, of the Rotary Club of Newport Balboa.

HURRY FOR TICKETS!
The event begins at 11:45 a.m. with a reception and noon luncheon. Tickets are available, but time's a wastin' because I didn't post this earlier this week. Here's the link to DeBoom's column with the information.

KUDOS ALL AROUND
Congrats to all who will receive this very appropriate recognition for their contributions to making our communities such wonderful places to live, work and play.

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INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH ALLAN ROEDER
Last week I came across a very interesting interview with Costa Mesa City Manager, Allan Roeder, by writer Debbie L. Sklar in PublicCEO.com. This fascinating interview, in which Roeder addresses many of the current challenges facing our city, may be found HERE. This interview only reinforces my opinion that our city continues to be in good hands and that, with Roeder at the helm, we will find our way out of the current financial turmoil.

Just a little note... the city needs to update Roeder's file photo!