I-405 Town Hall Summary

A CHANCE TO HEAR AND BE HEARD
Last Thursday, September 11, 2014, I attended the beginning of the Town Hall conducted by representatives of the coalition of corridor cities opposed to the current scheme by CalTrans to convert additional lanes planned for the I-405 into Toll Roads.  Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer moderated the event, never missing an opportunity to get his face before the public during this campaign season. 

100 PEOPLE, MAYBE, ATTENDED
Seating was available for 100 attendees, but only about 85 people filled those spots by the time I left about 75 minutes after the meeting began.  My best guess at the time was that at least a third of the folks in the room were politicians or staffers from CalTrans, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and various participating cities.  I'm told by those who remained after I departed that more folks filtered in before the meeting ended around 8:00 p.m. and that there might have actually been 100 people in attendance during the two hours of the meeting.

BAIT-AND-SWITCH
It was very clear during the comments by many public officials in attendance that they ARE NOT in favor of the plan and they and several speakers - including our own Beth Refakes - which is basically a "bait-and-switch" scam to convert the widened freeway approved by the voters with Measure M2 into toll lanes - so-called "Lexus Lanes", which would be used by only the most well-to-do among us.

LOTS OF VOCAL POLITICANS
Termed-out Supervisor John Moorlach was among the first of more than a dozen politicians to address this issue, then he left for a prior commitment.  Lame duck Assemblyman Allan Mansoor - who likely will have no place to sit when Michele Steele defeats him for Moorlach's seat in November - also expressed consternation about this scheme.

MOVING TRAFFIC - AND COLLECTING CASH
We also heard from the top PR executive from CalTrans, who told us everything was wonderful with this scheme, and implied that we would see region-wide freeway gridlock if this plan wasn't implemented.  Later, after I left, another CalTrans represented attempted to deflect the allegations that this was all about the cash that would be generated by the toll lanes - not very successfully, I'm told.

MORE COVERAGE...
Voice of OC reporter Nick Gerda was in attendance and wrote two excellent article, HERE and HERE, discussing the meeting and the potential results.  There will be a meeting of the OCTA Regional Planning and Highways Committee on Monday at 10:30 at the OCTA headquarters in Orange.  The following Monday, the 22nd, the full OCTA Board will meet to discuss this plan.

I-405 Toll Road Scheme Townhall Tonight

FIGHTING THE I-405 TOLL ROAD!

Tonight, September 11, 2014, representatives six Orange County cities which form a coalition against the current scheme to create Toll Lanes on the I-405 Freeway from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles County line will hold a town hall to gather input from the public on this plan.  The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors will consider this proposal at their meeting on September 22nd.

6:00 P.M. AT THE NCC
This meeting will be held at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood Community Center, 1845 Park Avenue (Lions Park) and will commence at 6:00 p.m.  I suggest an early arrival if you plan to attend and make your views known because parking will be at a premium.  Perhaps one of the homeless folks that infest that area will offer valet parking.  Sorry - couldn't resist.

OFFICIALS WILL SPEAK
According to the press release on this meeting, which is reproduced below, in addition to elected officials from Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Westminster and one from the Rossmoor community, it is anticipated that many other current and former elected officials will attend and offer their comments.  As I looked down that list I see several who are in the midst of campaigning for new jobs or to keep their current one, and some of them who will soon be out of a job.

ANOTHER CONVENIENT CAMPAIGN EVENT FOR THE MAYOR
Since this meeting is happening in Costa Mesa I fully expect Mayor Jim Righeimer to use this as yet another stop on his campaign for re-election.  If you attend, look around the room.  I'm sure you'll see many of his sycophants and hangers-on, ready to offer cheers as their guy speaks.

BAIT-AND-SWITCH
I make light of this issue, but it IS serious.  The folks at CalTRANS pulled the old bait-and-switch on us with this scheme and every city in the coalition will be negatively impacted by the change.  It's just unfortunate that this situation happens in the middle of campaign season, during what is certainly going to be one of the most contentious, nasty city council campaigns in recent memory.  It might be hard to sort the facts from campaign rhetoric tonight.

I AGREE WITH THE NEED FOR THIS MEETING
I agree with the need to speak out on this issue and to NOT turn that stretch of freeway, with High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, into toll lanes that will, 1) severely hamper drivers from exiting the freeway to reach shopping venues in the corridor cities and, 2)  generate cash for CalTRANS to use elsewhere.  I hope you'll plan on attending and make your views known.  I'll be very interested in your take on the meeting if you attend.  Hope to see you there.

(click on image to enlarge)

Mansoor Threatens Legislation On I-405 Expansion

 FOR YOU EARLY RISERS...
According to a press release sent out Friday, December 6th - displayed in full below - lame duck Assemblyman Allan Mansoor will announce at 8:30 this morning at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Headquarters in Orange that he plans to introduce legislation that will forbid the implementation of toll lanes on the I-405.

THE VOTE...
This morning the full OCTA board will discuss the recommendation of the subcommittee to move forward with the plan to add 1 lane in each direction instead of the alternatives that would produce two toll lanes from the Santa Ana River to the Los Angeles County Line.

JUST CAMPAIGN RHETORIC
Mansoor is running for the soon-to-be-vacated seat of termed-out Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach and is in for the battle of his political life against Michele Steel.  This press conference seems to just be a publicity stunt.  While I personally appreciate his effort on this issue, he's a toothless tiger in Sacramento, has an undistinguished legislative record to date and there's no reason to assume this scheme will gain any momentum among his assembly colleagues - particularly since he's not going to be around for long up there.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT
Here's the full text of the press release.  Click on it to enlarge the image.

OCTA Board Kicks The Can Down The (Toll) Road

"HOT" TIME AT THE OCTA BOARD MEETING

In what was reported to be another raucous meeting last Friday on the proposed plan to impose two High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on the driving public on the I-405 from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles County Line, the Orange County Transportation Board decided to defer a vote on the issue until their meeting on December 9th.

 (The dreaded Alternate #3)

TWO EXCELLENT REPORTS
I did not attend the meeting, but Nick Gerda of the Voice of OC provided an excellent report of the proceedings, HERE.  And, if you're looking for a report of the event with a little more "spice", try Vern Nelson's take on the meeting in his Orange Juice Blog entry, HERE.

RIGHEIMER RANTS
Both of the accounts mention comments by our mayor, Jim Righeimer, and quote other politicians, too.  Both are worth a read. 

STALLING FOR TIME...
I suspect the members of the OCTA Board who are inclined to vote to move forward with the HOT lane concept may think the December meeting - with holidays, not toll roads, in most of our minds - might make for a "kinder, gentler" meeting at which they could impose their will on us with fewer angry residents there to oppose them.  Righeimer as much as promised to "pack the place" on December 9th.

KEEPING THE PRESSURE ON...
So, the beat goes on and representatives of the corridor cities who oppose the HOT lane concept will keep the pressure on the Board.  And, we can also participate by going to the Costa Mesa web site, HERE, and write to each of the board members to express your views.

Stop The I-405 Toll Lanes!

OCTA BOARD VOTES FRIDAY
Friday, November 8th, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) will consider the latest proposal to expand the I-405 FREEWAY into a transportation corridor that may eliminate the current High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane and replace it with two (2) High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes!

IGNORING LOCAL PREFERENCES
This scheme flies in the face of what has been previously determined to be the "locally preferred" option - adding one additional general use lane in each direction.

"HIGHWAY ROBBERY"
It is our understanding that if the OCTA Board DOES NOT approve the HOT option and proceeds with a different option,  then the California Department of Transportation (CalTran) may take the roadway over and convert the lanes to HOT lanes and KEEP THE REVENUE for use throughout the state.  This is unacceptable.  At a recent Town Hall meeting on this subject Supervisor John Moorlach referred to this as "highway robbery".

CORRIDOR CITIES OPPOSE THE SCHEME
ALL the cities along the proposed corridor from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles County line officially oppose this new scheme for many reasons, starting with the severe economic impact it would have on our high sales tax generating entities - South Coast Plaza and the Harbor Boulevard of Cars in the case of Costa Mesa.

DEMOLISHING THE FAIRVIEW BRIDGE!
The relatively new Fairview Bridge over the I-405 will have to be demolished and replaced with another bridge with wider spans to accommodate the new lanes - there would be three (3) new lanes each direction, total.

WRITE TO THE OCTA BOARD
The City of Costa Mesa has provided a page, HERE, that includes contact information for concerned residents to communicate with ALL the directors of the OCTA board.  You can write to them individually or, as shown on that page, all at once by addressing your correspondence to the Clerk.  There's a link for that.

MANSOORS PETITION
In addition, Assemblyman Allan Mansoor has set up a petition site where signatories can also communicate their displeasure about this scheme.  You can find that petition and an explanation about it HERE.  Among the sponsoring officials for this petition are Costa Mesa's Mayor Jim Righeimer and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger.

TAKE THE TIME - WRITE AND SIGN
Take a few minutes and use the links provided to write to the OCTA Board and to sign Mansoor's petition.  This scheme is a BAD idea for Costa Mesa and the adjoining cities and time's a'wastin'.  They will vote on Friday.

Lots Of Rhetoric, No Real Plan On I-405**(Amended)

A PACKED HOUSE HEARS THE BAD NEWS
At a standing-room-only Town Hall meeting at the Community Services Facility in the city of Westminster last night the Freeway Cities Coalition, officials from the so-called "corridor cities" - Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Westminster, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach plus the enclave of Rossmoor - discussed the current state of affairs surrounding the scheme by the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) to widen the I-405 Freeway from Costa Mesa to the Los Angeles County line and install High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes in both directions.  You can read Bradley Zint's comprehensive coverage of the meeting in the Daily Pilot, HERE.

NEW OCTA SCHEME
This scheme has been foisted off on the corridor cities after we - they - thought the deal was done for what as then known as Alternative #1 - the addition of one general purpose lane in each direction WITHOUT TOLLS.  Alternative #2 would have added an additional lane.Recently the OCTA has back-doored the process with their scheme, called Alternative #3, to add general purpose lane in each direction,  a toll lane in each direction, and convert the current High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or carpool lane into a HOT lane.  You can read more HERE, from the OCTA web site.

THE PANEL
The engineering representatives from several of the cities presented their case for Alternate #2, which would basically double the HOV capacity with very little additional cost over #1.  The "distinguished panel" from member organizations included our own lovable mayor, Jim Righeimer, John Collins, former Fountain Valley mayor, Matt Harper, councilman from Huntington Beach, Tri Ta, mayor of Westminster, Gary Miller, councilman from Seal Beach, Gerri Graham-Mejia from Seal Beach and Ron Casey from Rossmoor.  The event was moderated by Westminster councilwoman Diane Carey.

THIN COSTA MESA TURNOUT
In addition to the panel, the crowd of approximately 150 people included Supervisor John Moorlach - who suggested the move by the OCTA and CalTrans was akin to highway robbery - Assemblyman Allan Mansoor - who muttered nothing important except that his door is always open -  our Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger, CEO Tom Hatch, Director of Public Services Ernesto Munoz and Transportation Services Manager Raja Sethuraman.  The only other Costa Mesa faces I recognized were the omnipresent Beth Refakes and her mother, Gladys, although two other people spoke and identified themselves as Costa Mesa residents.  I was disappointed that so few of our neighbors showed up for this meeting.  This is actually a VERY big deal for us, since the plan would connect the 73 Toll Road with the new toll lanes and, basically, bypass our shopping venues - the Harbor Boulevard of Cars and South Coast Plaza, for example -  not to mention being virtually impossible for Costa Mesa residents to use.

ENGINEERS GAVE AN OVERVIEW
Adolfo Ozaeta, a traffic engineer from Westminster, gave  some history of this project and included the following two charts.

MANY ISSUES...
The panel addressed many issues of concern - a flawed "Degradation Study", enviornmental issues with air pollution, congestion at the northly end of the toll lanes, being effectively double-taxed, since Measure M2 monies are to build the I-405 improvements and then we'd end up paying a toll on top of those costs which are paid by an increase in the sales tax until 2041!

QUESTIONS WITH FEW ANSWERS
Other concerns revolved around just what happens to that toll money?  Does it stay in Orange County?  Does the State take it away the way it did our Redevelopment Agency money?  OCTA and CalTrans were asked to send representatives but declined.

WHAT DID HE SAY?

Several speakers were very animated and angry, including Righeimer, who at one point said the process was so frustrating that it was like putting a gun to your head and pulling the trigger!  What?!

MOST DON'T WANT TOLL ROADS
All the speakers, including the eighteen members of the public who spoke - including our own Beth Refakes - except one, suggested that this was a bad idea and that "none of us" want tolls.  The elected folks suggested we all show up at the OCTA Board meeting on November 8th, when this issue will be discussed.  They also handed out a list of the names of the seventeen (17) members of the OCTA Board and suggested they each be contacted and told our views on the subject.

BROADER OUTREACH NEEDED

A couple speakers suggested the use of online technology - petitions, etc., to spread the word, which was encouraged by the moderator.

ANOTHER LAW SUIT?  REALLY?!**
I did learn something VERY new after I got home and was watching the television news.  Stacey Butler - who was in the audience last night, said on Channel 9, that "Costa Mesa was seriously considering legal action to block the toll road."  That's the first time I've heard that, although I missed a couple meetings recently.  I guess there's just no issue that we can't solve without a law suit.  Geez!  Will somebody please double check those campaign contribution lists to see how many lawyers are contributing to which council members? NOTE:  Apparently there was conversation about legal action while I was snowed-in earlier this month.  Didn't know about it since I couldn't access the internet for awhile.  Brad Zint sent me the two following links to stories he wrote at the time, HERE, and also way back in June of 2012, HERE.  Thanks to Zint for setting the record straight.

CONTACT THE BOARD
After all the rhetoric for more than two hours I came away with the feeling that the OCTA and CalTrans is going to do what they want, regardless what the residents tell them.  However, that doesn't mean we should stop telling them.  You can learn about the Board of Directors of the OCTA HERE.  And, you can always go to www.octa.net to see the location of the meeting on November 8th at 9:00 a.m.

Of Design, Problem Motels and I-405 Extortion

INTERESTING STUFF AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
The Costa Mesa Planning Commission, led by their "dynamic" chairman, Jim Fitzpatrick, will again tackle some interesting issues during their final meeting of the month on Monday, October 28th beginning at 6:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers.  By the way, help me out... I'm going to try to keep track of the number of times Fitzpatrick utters the words "Cool!" and "Excellent!" during the meeting.  Thanks for your help.

FIXING A COUPLE OF DESIGN PROBLEMS
The first item of special interest is Public Hearing #1, HERE, which, if approved, will make significant changes to the Residential Design Guidelines dealing with second floor side yard setbacks and the second floor to first floor ratio from 80% to 100%.  In my view, both of these changes are long overdue and will make building or remodeling homes less costly and more practical.  It's about time!

SQUEEZING "PROBLEM MOTELS"
The other VERY interesting item is New Business #2, HERE, which deals with so-called Extended Occupancy Motels.  This staff report requires no action by the Planning Commission, but will "provide a basis for forthcoming matters the Planning Commission will be considering regarding extended occupancy motels."

READ THE STAFF REPORT
As you scroll down through the fairly short staff report you'll see some pretty graphic images of rooms at some of our motels around town.  Recently Code Enforcement has been clamping down on so-called "problem motels" in the city, nailing them with fines in the thousands of dollars to encourage them to clean up their businesses.  You may recall that Mayor Jim Righeimer has stated repeatedly in the recent past that he wants to force some of those businesses out of business by making life so difficult for them from an enforcement standpoint that they will re-consider their valuations of their properties.  His goal is to have them sold on the cheap to developers who would replace them with apartments.  In fact, at one time Righeimer said the city might have to buy up some of those properties at market rates, then sell them at a loss to developers!  I don't know about you, but I sure don't want MY tax dollars used to line the pockets of his developer buddies.

ONE MORE STEP TO EXPULSION
In any event, this report is one more step to lay the groundwork for the expulsion of those businesses from our city. 


I-405 TOWN HALL MEETING TUESDAY
On Tuesday, October 29th, at 6:30 p.m. the seven so-called corridor cities who oppose the latest scheme by the Orange County Transportation Authority to widen the I-405 Freeway and impose High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on us will hold a Town Hall meeting in Westminster.  As I wrote HERE, the meeting will be in the Westminster Community Services Building, 8200 Westminster Blvd. in that city.  I've provided you with a copy of the announcement and two maps to help you find your way.

LARGE TURNOUT REQUIRED

It's important that we have a large turnout to this meeting to show our displeasure for the OCTA's move to disregard our clearly-stated wishes on this very sensitive subject.  As we understand the issue, if the OCTA does NOT build this expansion of the I-405 to include HOT lanes, then CalTrans will take over and impose them on us and use the toll fees throughout the state.  Please attend and speak out on this issue.