Mesa Water District To Adopt Conservation Ordinance

THIRSTY?
Most of us who have not been in a coma for the past couple years are aware of the water crisis facing the residents of the State of California these days.  Multiple years of drought conditions have resulted in historically low levels in water reservoirs throughout California and in lakes along the Colorado River.  Farmers are being forced to abandon their crops, particularly in the Central Valley, which has been called "The Bread Basket Of The World" because of the huge amount of crops that are exported annually.  On less than 1% of the total farmland in the United States, the Central Valley produces 8% of the nation's agricultural output by value.  About one-sixth of the irrigated land in the United States is in the Central Valley.  More than 230 crops are grown in that region, including toatoes, almonds, grapes, cotton, apricots and asparagus.

GOVERNMENT RULES
Water authorities throughout the state are mandating conservation measures - driven by edicts coming out of Sacramento.  Some may consider those measures draconian, but the simple fact is that we just don't have enough water to conduct "business as usual".

WE'RE CLUELESS
We here in Costa Mesa have been insulated from most of the rhetoric because the organization that provides us with water, Mesa Water District, does a very good job of managing that precious resource.  We are told that we operate with 100% locally-accessed water from wells that dip into a couple deep aquifers below us, plus Mesa Water is on the leading edge of the technology required to re-use water.

MESA WATER ON THE JOB
However, tomorrow, the Board of Directors of Mesa Water will meet in the Board Room at district headquarters, 1965 Placentia Avenue,  beginning at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the adoption of Ordinance 26, The Water Conservation and Water Supply Emergency Program.   Click HERE to be taken to a page which introduces the program, provides a historical justification and includes the ordinance as proposed plus all the details about the various emergency levels and the requirements and penalties involved in each. (Note: It's a big file, so it might take a few seconds to load for you.)

A QUICK LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE
The following chart capsulizes the broad brush facts of this ordinance.  Click on the image for easier reading if necessary.  You will probably wish to go to the actual ordinance and attachments for greater detail on the facts.  Little things, like if you're building a home with a swimming pool, you may not be able to fill it under certain conditions.  And, penalties COULD include disconnection of your water supply, so wealthy scofflaws cannot escape the need to conserve just because they have a few bucks.

INTO ENEMY TERRITORY FOR YOU
I have never attended a Mesa Water Board meeting, but this may force me to change my mind and place myself in the presence of my former Facebook buddy, Director Jim Fisler, so I can gather information on this very important issue.  The item is near the end of the agenda, following their review of the budget, so this could run late into the evening, depending on the amount of public input/questions and whether the directors plan to tinker with the ordinance/rules much.  For more information contact Mesa Water at 949-631-1205

THANKS, JORDAN GRAHAM
By the way, a hat tip to Jordan Graham of the Orange County Register for the article he recently wrote on this issue, HERE.  To my knowledge we have not received proper noticing of this extremely important issue at our home, so Graham's piece was the alarm bell for us.

New Medical Marijuana Ordinance Announced

GRAHAM SCOOPS THE STORY
Orange County Register reporter Jordan Graham provided us with a story tonight, HERE, announcing that the City of Costa Mesa has completed the first draft of a new Medical Marijuana ordinance that will likely be considered by the City Council for approval in April.  I don't think the article is hidden behind the Register pay wall.

IN CASE YOU CAN'T READ IT...
If it is, here's a brief summary of what Graham tells us:

• Several meetings will be held over the next two month to gauge support and get feedback
• Those will include a Study Session, conversations with NMUSD officials, medical marijuana supporters and public forums for community members.
• The ordinance could receive a first reading in April.
• This ordinance is a buffed-up version of councilman Gary Monahan's original document from last year.
• It will not restrict the total number of dispensaries.
• It will limit them to one of three industrial zones.
• 24 hour security would be required.
• Minimum age of 21 years for customers.
• No deliveries for the first two years.
• Minimum 1,000 feet from schools, parks, libraries and residential zones.
• Katrina Foley's 10% tax may be part of the ordinance.

PROPONENTS GETTING IMPATIENT
Graham reminds us that proponents of the two initiatives that received enough signatures to be place before the voters are getting impatient and may sue the city to force the issue.  Read his article for all the information.

Hatch And Sharpnack Apologize - For What?

APOLOGY?  REALLY?

Monday afternoon, in a press release attributed to Costa Mesa CEO Tom Hatch and Acting Police Chief Rob Sharpnack, they issued an apology to Mayor Steve Mensinger, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer and Councilman Gary Monahan.  My question is - for what?  I was SO angry about this that I had to just walk away from the subject for a couple hours.  Then I wrote this...

THE PRESS RELEASE
Here's the complete text of the press release:

Joint statement from City CEO Tom Hatch and Acting Police Chief Rob Sharpnack on the Orange County District Attorney’s investigation into surveillance of councilmembers 
Posted Date: 12/15/2014

   
Recently, the Orange County District Attorney stated that the Costa Mesa Police Officers Assn. paid to have some of our elected officials surveiled in the months prior to the November 2012 election. We find this deeply concerning and will work vigorously to obtain and evaluate all information about the conduct of any involved Costa Mesa police officers, whether on or off duty, and to do so in a thorough and unbiased manner.

Close scrutiny is being given to whether, and in what manner, any member of the Costa Mesa Police Department had culpable knowledge of or aided in the surveillance of our elected officials, or engaged in any other violation of the rules, regulations and standards of conduct of the City and Police Department.

If warranted and in coordination with the District Attorney's Office to insure no impacts on its criminal investigation, an internal investigation will be initiated by the City and conducted by an independent party to provide all concerned with confidence in the completeness, fairness, and impartiality of that process. Strong and appropriate action will be taken if misconduct has occurred.

We are sorry that Mayor Steve Mensinger, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer and Councilmember Gary Monahan and their families were put in this unacceptable situation.

RESPONDING TO T-RACK

They are responding to a press release issued by Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas last week, HERE, in which the arrest of two private investigators, Chris Lanzillo and Scott Impola, were arrested and charged with four felonies.

PROOF?

Nowhere in that press release by the OC DA does it name ANY member of the Costa Mesa Police Department or the Costa Mesa Police Officers Association as being culpable of ANY crime, although it does refer to the law firm the CMPOA hired to do "candidate research".  One could presume that if any member of the CMPD had been specifically implicated in the activities described in the OC DA press release they would also be charged with the crimes - but they were not.  I know several members of the CMPOA spoke before the Grand Jury and that an affidavit exists which refers to activities from that Grand Jury, although I have not personally seen the document.

ASSUMING GUILT, TAINTING A JURY?

What is very distressing to me is the willingness of Hatch and Sharpnack to ignore due process and assume that members of the CMPD are guilty - even though nobody has been charged with anything.  This stinks!  And, I find it oddly curious that Mensinger, himself, was guilty of hiring a PI to surveil employees he thought might be stealing his campaign signs.  That little activity cost Steven White his job with the city, despite the fact that he was acquitted of the alleged crime.  Talk about a double standard!

"BILL OF RIGHTS"

It seems to me that Hatch is skating on thin ice here.  Police officers are guaranteed certain rights under California Government Code Section 3300 - 3313, commonly known as the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill Of Rights, HERE.  Section 3302 (a) states: Except as otherwise provided by law, or whenever on duty or in uniform, no public safety officer shall be prohibited from engaging, or be coerced or required to engage, in political activity."  There's much more to that section of the code, which you can read at your leisure.

WHO'S INVESTIGATING?

And, I'm concerned about just who's going to be doing this "internal investigation" Hatch refers to.  Will he contract with an outside police agency?  The Orange County Sheriff's Department?  Newport Beach Police Department?  Or, will he have members of his 5th floor hierarchy take a stab at it.

DAILY PILOT COVERAGE 
As one person commented in the thread on Bradley Zint and Jeremiah Dobruck's article on this issue, HERE, "It's a far cry from an alleged conspiracy to a conviction."  She reminds us of the many questionable actions these guys have taken and didn't even mention the more than 200 bogus layoff notices that generated a lawsuit that is still percolating in the system.

*****

UH-OH!
Then, during a pause, I found a Google alert that linked to Jordan Graham's piece in the Orange County Register, HERE, and my perspective changed dramatically.  That article refers to an affidavit, and quotes liberally from it.  Some of you may not be able to read the article because of the Register Pay wall, so I'll give you a taste of it.

CODED MESSAGES
It speaks of coded messages between investigator Chris Lanzillo and Dieter Dammeier of the law firm Lackie, Dammeier, McGill and Ethir, which had hired Lanzillo to perform surveillance on Costa Mesa politicians.  It documents the acquisition and placement of GPS tracking devices on two individuals, including now-mayor Steve Mensinger.

DIRT
It talks of digging up dirt on Mensinger, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer and Councilman Gary Monahan and quotes from the text of the report about the possible tactics to be used.

DUES
It talks about raising dues for Costa Mesa Police Officers Association members to cover the costs of the investigations and contacts between CMPOA officers and the law firm on the issue.

STAGGERING REPORT
I was distressed, figuring Graham may have misinterpreted the information, so I obtained a copy of the report to which he referred and read every word of the 27 pages - twice.  I am not a happy guy.

HARD TO BELIEVE...

As I reviewed the report I just shook my head as I read the details of the investigation - search warrants for cell phone records, bank accounts and interviews with the parties involved.  I was stunned at the actions and words attributed to officers I've come to know, admire and trust.  I find myself wanting more information - more background - that would temper the appearance of this situation.

MENSINGER QUOTE
In Graham's article Mensinger is quoted thus: 
 “Its disappointing that police officers have become political operatives with a desire to ruin peoples lives in order to achieve additional pay and benefits,” Mensinger responded Monday. “It speaks volumes to the corruption and thuggery in the Costa Mesa police union. I have to believe that rank-and-file police officers, who are fine men and women, will find this every bit as displeasing.”

DISAPPOINTED...
We don't have all the details yet, and I'm still willing to let this case run its course, but I now understand why he feels this way.  Members of the CMPOA are not talking on this issue yet, so we'll just have to wait to see if they can offer any clarification that will mitigate this situation.

THAT BEING SAID...
And, as I pause one more time before finishing this entry, I reflect on the lives that have been ruined by actions this council majority have taken.  I recall the shell-shocked look on the faces of more than 200 employees on St. Patrick's Day, 2011 when they received those bogus layoff notices - the day Huy Pham leaped to his death.  I recall Steven White, who was accused of stealing campaign signs by Mensinger and a private investigator, arrested, charged with a crime, lost his job and then was acquitted.  His life was dramatically changed by the same man being quoted above.  And I think of the dozens of employees for whom city government had become such a toxic workplace that they just left, retiring earlier than anticipated or simply finding jobs elsewhere.

NOT YOUR FATHER'S COSTA MESA
This is not the Costa Mesa I once knew.  This is not the town where I felt we were in good hands with the City Councils in charge in years past.  Today it's a town torn by distrust and divisiveness, where elected leaders overstep their authority with impunity and stifle dissent at every turn.  It's a town where employees cower at the thought of elected leaders prowling the halls at their workplace.  It's a place now where employees actively seek other jobs instead of pulling together to keep the City on an even keel.  It's a place where contractors manage operations rather than senior employees with broad institutional knowledge and a true vested interest in the success of the City.

UPSIDE DOWN!
This is a City upside down where the only department with a growing head-count is the Executive Offices!  This is a place where prison early releasees and homeless seek shelter, rehab homes proliferate, businesses are discouraged from reporting crimes or suffer fines if they do, and where our public safety organization is held in such disdain by elected leaders that they seem willing to place the entire city in jeopardy just to get back at the men and women who are hired to protect and serve us.

SPINMEISTERS AND PARTY PLANNERS
This is a City where we hire spinmeisters to paint a happy face on municipal dung heaps.  This is a place where we hire party planners to distract us from the important issues, then are aghast when events like the 60th anniversary celebration is beset with no-bid contracts, financial irregularities and other misdeeds that result in tens of thousands of dollars in cost overruns.

THEY DONT LISTEN...
This is a city where elected leaders refuse to hear the voice of the people who overwhelmingly rejected a Charter scheme, so brought it right back for another epic fail at the polls.  It's a city where leaders bemoan unfunded pension liabilities, yet do NOTHING about it.  It's a city where it feels like we are being sold to the highest bidding developers, who line the campaign coffers of certain politicians, who then change the codes to make it easier for them to build more dense housing.  It's become a city where the elected leaders don't serve the residents - they serve outside interests.

WE DIDN'T LISTEN, SO...
It's a city where, because we failed to listen to the voices that warned us about this, we now have elected leaders and our law enforcement organization in what amounts to a battle to the death.  It is not a pretty sight and it doesn't have to be this way, but it will until the voters in this town start paying attention.  I do not condone the tactics used against the current council majority, but I understand them.  This city needs a change in leadership, but I don't see that happening for two years - unless one of the majority decides to bail out early.  Until then, I expect only more of the same, which might even include a move toward municipal bankruptcy.  Stay tuned...