Details Of Eastside Infrastructure Improvements

A CALM EXPLANATION OF THE EASTSIDE IMPROVEMENTS
OK, I've calmed down a little bit now, so here's some of the pertinent details of the Street improvements planned for the Eastside over the next few months that five dozen of my neighbors heard about Wednesday evening.  These projects fall within the area shown on the image immediately below.  Click to enlarge the image.

PROJECT DETAILS 
•       Street Rehabilitation Project (Majority of streets within 15th Street and 21st Street and Newport Boulevard and Irvine Boulevard)

Construction Cost: $6,305,000
Funding Source: Gas Tax and Measure "M2“
Construction Starting Date: July 2012
Construction Completion Date: January 2013
Scope of work:

Phase I: Parkway and Concrete work

Removal and reconstruction of damaged concrete curb & gutter, sidewalks, driveways and cross gutters;
Removal of existing asphalt sidewalks and driveways and replacing them with concrete sidewalks and driveways;
Grind uplifted sidewalk (up to one inch).

Phase II: Asphalt Concrete (AC) Pavement work

Grind and overlay with new Asphalt Concrete (AC) on Collector streets (such as Tustin, Santa Ana, Orange, etc.) which have higher traffic usage;
Localized removal of damaged pavement and construction of new Asphalt Concrete pavement;
Asphalt Concrete leveling course to improve the ride and to seal the cracks;

Phase III: Slurry Seal

•       Tustin Avenue Storm Drain Project (From 19th Street to Costa Mesa Street)

Construction Cost: $38,000

Funding Source: Drainage Fund

Construction Starting Date: July 2012

Construction Completion Date: August 2012

Scope of work:
Construction of a catch basin at north-east corner of the intersection of Tustin Avenue and Costa Mesa Street and underground storm drain pipe from Costa Mesa Street to 19th Street.

•       Broadway Safe Route To School and Street Rehabilitation (From Newport Boulevard to Irvine Avenue)

Estimated Construction Cost: $1,400,000
Funding Source: SRTS Grant & Measure "M2“
Construction Starting Date: August 2012
Construction Completion Date: December 2012
Scope of work:
Construction of intersection chokers, midblock medians, sidewalk on both sides of the street, drought tolerant and low maintenance landscape and mill and  Asphalt Rubber Hot Mix overlay the pavement.

•       Landscaped Median on Irvine Avenue (from 17th Street to 19th Street)

Construction cost : $300,000
Funding Source: City of Newport Beach
Construction Starting Date: July 2012
Construction Completion Date: October 2012
Scope of work:
Landscaping the existing median on Irvine Avenue from 17th Street to 19th Street.

•       15th Street Rehabilitation (From Old Newport Boulevard to Redlands Avenue)

Construction Cost: $400,000
Funding Source: City of Newport Beach and City of Costa Mesa
Construction Starting Date: August 2012
Construction Completion Date: January 2013
Scope of work:
Mill and overlay the existing pavement on 15th Street from old Newport Boulevard to Redlands Avenue, which includes reconstruction of wheelchair ramps per the latest Americans with Disabilities Act criteria.

FUNDING...

That means our Eastside will receive more than $8.4 million in street and other infrastructure improvements six or seven months.  Most of the funding does NOT come from the Costa Mesa General Fund, but from grants, state and federal funding.  For more information contact Fariba Fazeli, Interim City Engineer at 714-745-5378

Eastside Improvement Meeting Hijacked!

BEEN HIJACKED?   
Ever been hijacked?  No?  Well I have!  Last night I, along with five dozen of my neighbors, had our meeting hijacked by two political opportunists with a personal agenda.
 

STAFF PRESENTATION OF EASTSIDE IMPROVEMENTS PENDING
Yesterday evening I, and about 60 of my Eastside neighbors, attended the presentation by Public Services Director Ernesto Munoz and his outstanding team of the pending infrastructure improvements scheduled for our side of town.

PROJECT IN A NUTSHELL...
I've written about this before, but, in a nutshell, more than $8 million will be spent improving streets, gutters, sidewalks, storm drains and other ancillary issues throughout the Eastside.  The area involved is bordered by Newport Boulevard on the west, Irvine Avenue on the east, 21st Street on the north and 15th Street on the south.  The area can be seen on this image.  Click on the image to enlarge it.

HIJACKED BY POLITICAL OPPORTUNISTS                                           About a half hour into the meeting it was hijacked by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer and his pal, councilman Steve Mensinger.  All of a sudden they diverted the discussion to one of their pet peeves - alleys.  They asked the crowd - who was not there to hear about alleys, by the way - how many thought Costa Mesa alleys needed improvement.  Of course, many hands were raised, so off the discussion went.  The most memorable line I recall was Righeimer saying, "Those people who come to the council meetings don't care about alleys."   That was the duet he and Mensinger sang about wanting to get the alleys fixed soon.  Funny, I had not realized that Righeimer was clairvoyant - that he could read the minds of the folks who take the time out their busy lives to attend council meetings.  Of course, he can't - that was just another fabrication to suit his agenda.

PLAYING FAST AND LOOSE WITH THE NUMBERS
He also told the group that the city was trying to put together a $134 million budget.  Wrong!  Once again he plays fast and loose with numbers.  The actual Preliminary Budget was $132 million and change.  But, then, what's a couple million between friend, right?  That's how he put together his wish list that he is now demanding the staff to budget for.  He just pulls numbers out of the air and hopes nobody will challenge him.

STREETS, GUTTERS, SIDEWALKS AND MORE...
Back to the meeting.  We heard that many excellent projects will be completed on the Eastside by early next year.  Besides the overall street improvements that total just over $6 million, additional jobs will be completed taking those numbers to over $8 million.  They include the Broadway Safe Route To Schools Project, the Irvine Avenue Median rehabilitation and a storm drain on Tustin between Costa Mesa Street and 19th Street.  Staffer Tom Banks will head up these projects and will be our "go to" guy over the next 8 months.

A JOB WELL DONE
Kudos to Munoz and his staff for a job well done.  Their presentation was crisp and they were ready to answer any question tossed at them.  For more information about this project you can contact Fariba Fazeli in the Public Services Department at 714-754-5378 or email her at Fariba.Fazeli@costamesaca.gov.

RASPBERRIES TO THESE GUYS
Boos to Righeimer and Mensinger for contributing NOTHING to the evening except trying to feather their political beds.

Eastside Infrastructure Improvement Meeting

EASTSIDE STREET IMPROVEMENTS

At the last City Council meeting CEO Tom Hatch announced significant infrastructure improvements scheduled for most of the streets in the Eastside of town.  As you can see from the text of a recent notification, these much-needed improvements will use over $6 million in Gas Tax and Measure "M" funds.

PUBLIC HEARING/INFORMATIONAL MEETING WEDNESDAY

Those of my Eastside neighbors interested in this project are encouraged to attend the public meeting to be held next Wednesday at Kaiser Elementary School.  I've included a map to Kaiser Elementary School for you.  At the bottom of the page I've also included an image of proposed improvements, including a key to show the type of improvement in each area, for your viewing pleasure.  Click on the images to make them larger.  The text of the announcement follows:

CITY ANNOUNCEMENT
The City's Public Services Department has completed the construction documents for a major rehabilitation project in the Eastside neighborhoods bounded by 15th Street to the south, 21st Street to the north, Irvine Avenue to the east and Newport Boulevard to the west. The project includes the rehabilitation of  pavements, removal and reconstruction of damaged curb & gutter, sidewalks, driveways and cross gutters.  The work also includes removal of existing asphalt sidewalks and driveways and replacing them with concrete sidewalks and driveways. The construction cost is estimated at $6,305,000. The project is funded entirely from Gas Tax and Measure "M" revenues.

The City will be hosting an open house neighborhood meeting to go over the project details and timelines. 

The public meeting will be held as follows:
Date:   Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Time:   6:00 pm
Place:  Kaiser Elementary School
             2130 Santa Ana Avenue, multi-purpose room,
             Costa Mesa, CA 92627.
If you need additional information please contact Fariba Fazeli at (714) 754-5378.

KAISER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LOCATION

IMAGE OF IMPROVEMENT AREA