Large Turnout For 2nd Library Meeting

A GOOD, INTERESTED CROWD
A crowd of more than 80 - double the turnout for the first meeting - attended the second of three feasibility meetings addressing the possibility of creating a new, larger library to replace the current Donald Dungan Library at Lions Park.  I wrote about the first meeting, held on March 5th,  HERE.  This report will be image-intensive.  Click on individual images if you have difficulty reading them.

MEDIA PRESENCE THIS TIME
This meeting was taped by Barry Friedland for his Costa Mesa Brief YouTube channel.  I'd show you the photo I took of him on the job, but he's a shy kind of fella.  But, I still think he deserves credit for the fine job he does, so here's a "not Barry" image to replace him.  You should be able to find an edited version of the meeting at his site, HERE, within a day or so. (Shhh, don't tell him, but you can see him in the photo above.)  Bradley Zint from the Daily Pilot also attended, so look for his story soon.

TAMMY TO JIM TO LINDA AND BACK
Costa Mesa Assistant CEO Tammy Letourneau kicked things off, then handed the microphone to Jim Favaro of Johnson Favaro, who also shared the presentation with consultant Linda Demmers.  There was a staff available to provide real-time Spanish translation for members of the audience - but I saw no takers.  Recreation Manager Travis Karlen was also in attendance with some of his staff.  Former councilwoman Wendy Leece was among the members of the audience.  Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer came in after the meeting began, but managed to stay out of camera range.

TIMELINE AND CAPACITIES
Favaro provided us with the timeline of this activity and gave us an overview of the existing facilities, describing the various capacities of the meeting rooms at the Neighborhood Community Center (NCC).  This meeting is the second of three planned - the remaining meeting will be held in June, at which time more data will be analyzed and costs for various options presented for discussion before this information is eventually sent on to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council.  The only discussion of costs last night was that of the Tustin Library, which cost around $22 million, but is a larger facility than what will likely be recommended here.

 

NCC NOT THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN 

We were told the existing NCC facility is significantly under-utilized, although well-managed.  We were also shown locations of other venues around the city where meeting space is available, but is also under-utilized.  A chart was provided to compare the available space in those venues to the current utilization of the NCC.

THE DUNGAN FALLS SHORT
Demmers took over and explained the current configuration and use of the Donald Dungan Library, which she emphasized was much too small for the current traffic, and the facilities are woefully inadequate and out of date.  In all the critical benchmarks the Dungan Library falls very short.  Her analysis, based on doing more than 140 previous such exercises, is that a replacement library should be around 20,000 square feet.

WHAT THE NEW LIBRARY WILL DO...
Demmers stressed that the library will:

• Serve a younger population
• Make greater use of computers
• Experience higher attendance
• Provide a better venue for after school study and tutoring
• Will be more flexible (everything will be on wheels)
• Will utilize new technologies for handling the books, in and out
• Will have shorter stacks and wider aisles
• Will have an Early Childhood area
• Will have a Quiet Reading area 
• And will povide a better venue for Teens.

FLIPPIN' THE BUILDINGS...
Then Favaro took us through the options as he saw them.  First, to simply "flip" the two facilities - converting the NCC into a new library and the existing Dungan building into a community center.  He went through in great detail the structural and practical difficulties involved in doing each.  The NCC, for example, has so many infrastructure complications and areas where it would have to be brought up to current codes - it was built in 1979 - that simply renovating the existing building will likely prove to be impractical.  The Dungan building is apparently historically protected, which complicates the process of the converstion.

...OR, A BRAND NEW BUILDING
The second choice, as Favaro saw it, was to build a new, 2-story library within the footprint of Lions Park, demolish the NCC and utilize the Dungan building and new community rooms in the new library to replace the necessary utilization from the NCC.  He also assumed that space in the other facilities around town mentioned above would also be utilized.  And, not mentioned last night, was the item on the City Council meeting agenda next Tuesday which proposes converting the old print shop on the first floor of City Hall into a 1,600 square foot meeting space.  That was not considered in Favaro's inventory of available spaces.
THREE OPTIONS

THE PREFERRED OPTION

MORE OPEN SPACE
His preference for the new library under his option #2 - there were three choices as shown on the image below - provided 20,000 square feet and opened up Lions Park to provide at least another acre of open space.  One speaker, viewing that image, asked about using part of it for playing fields - like a soccer field, for example.  Favaro said that was a possibility, but clearly he preferred a less active use - a more park-like setting for the park.

FIRST FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

COMMUNITY MEETING ROOMS

COMBINING LIBRARY AND DUNGAN ROOMS

COMPARING THE TWO OPTIONS

SECOND OPTION PREFERRED
Cleary, Favaro preferred the second option, and of those three choices, he liked the one shown above the best.  Parking will be an issue - each one diminishes existing parking spaces while operating under the assumption that a new library will generate more "business".  One amusing sidebar... Favaro carefully tiptoed around the issue of homelessness, but implied that a new building strategically located, could solve the problem.  He didn't use the word, but a speaker did later.

GOOD QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
A dozen speakers stepped up to express views on the plans so far.  Generally, most seemed to like what they heard.  Leece expressed relief now that it looked like we might actually get a new Downtown Library and asked about the Tustin Library, since it's the most recent nearby facility to be built.

Margaret Mooney asked if it was possible to build a new library AND leave the NCC intact - and was told it was possible to do so.

Mary Ellen Goddard expressed concern about staffing a two-story library facility and was told that it likely would take more staff, but that the new technologies in handling incoming and outgoing books would change the way any new library is managed, particularly in staffing.

Others expressed concern about the entry to the new building, parking (would a parking structure be necessary?) and a preference for a more "holistic" approach to the use of the park space - he meant playing fields.

STILL MUCH MORE CONSULTING WORK TO BE DONE
Between now and the third week of June the consultants will get some firm numbers for each of the options discussed last night.  The existing NCC building apparently caught them off-guard, since the renovations necessary to convert it into a library will be much more formidible than originally anticipated from a structural, electrical, mechanical standpoint.

CHECK OUT THE TAPE
Take a few minutes to find the Costa Mesa Brief coverage to help you understand how the discussions flowed and for more details on the specific issues with each building.  And, look for the PowerPoint presentation on the City website - it should be up before this weekend.  We look forward to the final meeting on this issue in a few weeks.  It's going to be very interesting when some hard numbers get applied to this process.

Short Meeting, But Plenty Of Fun

SO CLOSE...

OK, so I'm not always right!  I thought we'd be out of the Costa Mesa city council meeting at 9:00 last night, but the meeting didn't end until 9:12 p.m.  Oh, well...

GODDARDS RECEIVE MAYOR'S AWARD
The meeting began on a very positive note with the presentation of the Mayor's Award to long time residents and de facto Costa Mesa historians, Mary Ellen and Art Goddard.  The presentation included a short, but fascinating, Powerpoint show by Goddard, who gave us the thumbnail version of Costa Mesa's history.  Kudos to this well-deserved recognition.

KIFF ASKS FOR OUR HELP
Next up was Newport Beach City Manager Dave Kiff, who gave an update on the status of negotiations on the flight regulations at John Wayne Airport.  He gave an overview of the current proposal and requested help from Costa Mesa leaders and residents when the Environmental Impact Report is released within the next couple months.  Basically, the proposal will extend the curfew until 2035, gradually step up flights per day to 95 by 2026 and also step up the caps on passengers from 10.8 million today through 2020, 11.8 million by 2025 and 12.5 million from 2026 to 2035.

COUNCIL COMMENTS
Council member comments were generally brief and to the point.  Sandra Genis asked about the payment to consultant Joe Nation, wondering about just what kind of questions he is supposed to be answering, and from whom - staff, residents, council or all of the above.  She also expressed concern about the type of businesses we're trying to lure to our city, indicating that we've got plenty of fast food places.

LEECE
Wendy Leece gave a short commentary on the Senior Center and encouraged those eligible to take a tour of the facility and consider joining up.  She also expressed concern for the number of liquor licenses in the city.

MONAHAN
Gary Monahan had nothing to say.  Did I mention before that he seems to just be sleepwalking through his job lately?



RIGHEIMER
Mayor Jim Righeimer, not surprisingly, took exception to a comment by a resident on the loss of the A.B.L.E. helicopter program, regurgitating the same old stuff he said when he first announced his intent to dissolve it.  He alluded to side conversations with Newport Beach officials - the first time we've heard about that.  Previously we assumed the decision to abandon A.B.L.E. was unilateral - which was confirmed by Newport Beach officials at the time.  His little mini-rant included this statement, "We're very safe in the city.", a curious comment since calendar year 2012 had an increase in crime of over 15% and we've had a spurt in violent crimes over the past couple weeks.  But, gee, if he says we're safer, then we must be, right?  Somebody has a bad case of selective memory.  He also called for CEO Tom Hatch to investigate a way for the city to begin charging "problem motels" for calls for service.  It sounds like he wants to arbitrarily establish what is an acceptable number of calls for service, then begin charging businesses when that number is exceeded.  Really?  And, of course, he hawked his Mayor's Celebration, scheduled for next week.  I understand there are still plenty of seats available for those of you who wish to hear him pontificate about his "Art of Leadership".  Geez!

MENSINGER
Mayor Pro Tem Steve Mensinger suggested that Hatch and Public Affairs Manager Dan Joyce come up with a name for "the bridge to nowhere" - the bridge over Placentia Avenue at Fairview Park - as part of the 60th Anniversary Celebration.  In response to a public comment about the "rat and mosquito season" coming up, Mensinger told us that he's on the Vector Control Board, so just give him a call and he'll send some guys out.  What a guy!

SPECIAL CHARTER STUDY SESSION NEXT WEEK

Hatch was full of good information during his part of the program.  He told us that there will be a special study session next Tuesday, April 23rd, to have a "charter discussion", that might include a discussion of using a "facilitator" to help with the process.  Hatch said the meeting will discuss whether we want to have a charter or not, etc.  That's the first word we've had on this subject.  The meeting begins at 4:30 in council chambers, as far as we know right now.

ROHRABACHER, BETHEL TOWERS AND ABC LICENSES
He also told us that Congressman Dana Rohrabacher's office is eager to help when they can.  Hatch enlisted them to help secure Home Funds.  He also told us that the renovation of The Tower on 19th - formerly known as Bethel Towers - is moving forward.  And, there will be a study session soon to discuss the proliferation of ABC licenses in the city.

COMMUNITY RUN
He reminded us that the Costa Mesa Community Run is coming up - the same weekend of the Fish Fry.

BUSY MAY(Amended)

Hatch told us that May is going to be a busy month.  He said the Fire Department deployment model will come before the council again in May.  It's about darn time!  Fire Chief Tom Arnold has had that thing ready to go for months!  The council will meet with the Planning Commission on May 13th to discuss goals and the Parks and Recreation Commission the next day, May 14th, for the same purpose.  On Wednesday, the 15th, there will be a workshop on the General Plan.  Then, the very next day - Thursday, May 16th - there will be a Town Hall event to introduce the community to the 60th Anniversary plans.  Whew!  More on those meetings as the dates draw near.

NEW DEPUTY CITY CLERK
He had new City Clerk Brenda Green introduce her new Deputy City Clerk - Patricia Bravo-Valdez - who has solid experience and education for the job.  She worked as City Clerk in Maywood and Deputy City Clerk in several cities.

STREET REPAIRS
That took us to the Consent Calendar - this time with 14 items to be considered.  Only a few were pulled for separate discussion.  Resident Martin Millard pulled items 4-7 - the street improvements including lots of long-overdue work on Red Hill.  He suggested that the City should use the money to tear down slums and make pocket parks instead.  Remember that as you drive down Red Hill.

TICKET POLICY
Resident Robin Leffler pulled #11, the Ticket Policy, for discussion.  As it turns out, we have no choice about this policy - the state government requires it.

VEGAS BOONDOGGLE
Leece pulled #14, the Economic Development trip to Vegas for Righeimer, Mensinger and an entourage of city staffers.  Much discussion was held on the value of such events.  Righeimer set us straight, though, as he gave us a brief history of his schmooze-fests at previous such events.  They finished those discussions and we were all ready for New Business #1 at 7:45.

NEW BUSINESS #1 - LIVE/WORK DEVELOPMENT

The discussion of the 60+ unit development that will be build adjacent to the proposed development where the Anchor Trailer Port is currently being vacated.  The operations will be folded together.  Some concern was expressed by Genis and Leece about these "live/work" units actually becoming just another bunch of rentals.  Nobody gave any reason that couldn't happen.  Size and availability of parking was also an issue.  However, this is just a screening process, so the real nuts and bolts of this development will be fleshed out with the staff and Planning Commission, since many deviations from the norm will be necessary to make it work.

FINALLY, THE "APPOINTMENTS"

At 8:25 we finally got to the final item on the agenda - the appointments of individuals to various committees and the Senior Corporation Board.  Since I predicted a 9:00 departure time, things were looking bleak.  As it turned out, they actually blitzed right through this process.

DID THEY?...
I, and others, assumed the council majority would stack the committees with their cronies, so we expected this process to be anticlimactic.  It was actually more interesting, and entertaining, than I expected.

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FOR THE SENIOR CORP.
First, Righeimer permitted public comments.  Ernie Feeney stepped up to complain about the requirement for each appointed member of the Senior Corporation Board to fork over $500 if appointed.  She read into the record a letter from then-mayor Gary Monahan in which he guaranteed that the $500 requirement would be dropped.  It has not been - at least not officially - so the announcement of three openings included that reference.  Later the announcement of the recruitment dropped that requirement.  The upshot was that when this issue was discussed the council, following Genis' lead, decided to open a NEW recruitment that clearly did not include the monetary requirement.  No closing date for applications was discussed, but I suspect it will be a month or so.  In the meantime, Righeimer expressed hope that the members whose terms have expired will stay on the board until new members can be seated.  Feeney is one of those, as is Kathleen Eric and Judi Berry.  On to the rest.

CULTURAL ARTS COMMITTEE
The first committee up was the Cultural Arts Committee, with 9 members and 2 alternates.  There are 6 vacancies open.  Genis, as the liaison to the committee, nominated the following people:
Kathleen Eric 
Lisa Grant
Frank Gutierrez
Edwardo Iniestra
Monica Morita
Debora Wondercheck
Alan Remington (alt)

All were approved on a 5-0 vote.

HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
Next up was the Historical Preservation Committee, with 9 members and 2 alternates and 5 vacancies.  Leece, as the liaison, chose all four candidates:
Rich Cantillon
Pamela G. Crenshaw
Dave Gardner
Gary Parkin

They passed on a 5-0 vote.

HOUSING & PUBLIC SERVICE GRANT COMMITTEE
Next was the Housing and Public Service Grant Committee (formerly the 3R committee), with 9 members and 2 alternates and 6 vacancies.  Mensinger is the liaison, but the poor guy had a heck of a time trying to figure out the numbers.  There were 7 applicants for 6 vacancies, but he just mumbled and fumbled and seemed to be totally befuddled by the process.  It was more than a little embarrassing.  Finally, in order to get the thing finished, other council members helped him along and they chose the following folks on a 5-0 vote:
Denise R. Dew-Bennett
Brett D. McDonell
Christian Eric
Eric Vu
Jeff Mathews
Yvonne Rowden

PENSION OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Next came the first of two brand new committees - the Pension Oversight Committee, which will have 9 regular members.  There are 9 vacancies.  Righeimer assigned himself as the liaison and decided arbitrarily that each council member would nominate one person and, if a second was received, a vote would be taken.  The nomination then passed to the next member.  It began with Leece, then Genis, Righeimer, Mensinger and Monahan.  Sounds fair, right?  Well, I'll tell you how it went and you decide.

Leece nominated Teresa Drain.  Genis seconded.  She was rejected on a 2-3 vote - all the guys voted no.
Genis nominated Ralph Taboada.  Monahan seconded and he was selected, 5-0.
Righeimer nominated Jeff Arthur.  Mensinger seconded and he was selected, 5-0.
Mensinger nominated Gene Hutchins.  Monahan seconded.  He was selected, 5-0.
Monahan nominated Rick Kapko.  Mensinger seconded.  He was selected, 5-0.
Leece nominated Charles Mooney.  Genis seconded.  He was rejected, 2-3.  The guys voted no.
Genis nominated James Bridges but received no second.
Righeimer nominated Kent Mora.  Monahan seconded.  He was selected on a 4-1 vote.  Leece voted no.
Mensinger nominated Tim Sesler.  Monahan seconded.  He was selected, 5-0.
Monahan nominated Shawn Dewane.  Mensinger seconded and he was chosen on a 3-2 vote.
Leece nominated John Stephens.  Monahan seconded.  He was chosen, 4-1, with Mensinger voting no.
Genis nominated Jay Humphrey.  Leece seconded.  He was rejected, 2-3.  The boys voted no.
Righeimer nominated Gary Parkin.  Leece seconded.  He was chosen, 5-0.
Curiously, no alternates were chosen

A PATTERN?
See a pattern here?  Every candidate (7) nominated by the male majority was chosen.  Only two candidates nominated by the female minority were chosen. Most of the selections didn't surprise me.  Neither did the rejections.  I was surprised that Stephens was chosen, although I'm pleased that he was.  Maybe it was because his name was misspelled on the roster.

FAIRVIEW PARK CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Finally we got to the last item, the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee, with 9 members and two alternates. 9 vacancies existed.  Righeimer nominated Mensinger for the liaison and he balked a little, wanting Genis to join him as co-liaisons.  That was rejected, but Genis promised to be at every meeting.  The process was the same as previously.  Here's how it went:

Leece nominated William Burke.  Genis seconded.  He was rejected, 2-3.  The guys voted no.
Genis nominated Dr. Richard J. Mehren.  Leece seconded.  He was chosen, 3-2, with Righeimer and Mensinger voting no.
Righeimer nominated Terry Cummings.  Monahan seconded.  He was chosen, 5-0.
Mensinger nominated Brett Eckles.  Monahan seconded.  He was chosen, 5-0.
Monahan nominated Steve Smith.  Mensinger seconded.  He was chosen, 5-0
Leece nominated Jay Litvak.  Genis seconded.  He was rejected, 2-3.  The guys voted no.
Genis nominated Judy Gielow.  Leece seconded.  She was rejected, 2-3.  The guys voted no.
Righeimer nominated Anna Vrska.  Leece seconded.  She was chosen, 4-1.  Monahan voted no.
Mensinger nominated Ron Amburgey.  Monahan seconded.  He was chosen, 4-1.  Genis voted no.
Monahan nominated David Stiller.  Genis seconded.  He was chosen, 3-2.  Righeimer and Mensinger voted no.

Next came selection of two alternates.
Leece nominated Laura Rakunas.  Genis seconded.  She was rejected, 2-3.  The guys voted no.
Genis nominated Stephanie Remington.  Leece seconded.  She was rejected, 2-3.  The guys voted no.
Righeimer nominated Lee Ramos.  Mensinger seconded.  He was chosen, 5-0.
Mensinger nominated Dennis Popp.  Monahan seconded.  He was chosen, 5-0.

THERE'S THAT PATTERN, AGAIN
Recognize the pattern?  Every candidate nominated by the male majority (8) were chosen.  Only one nominated by a female was chosen.

HERE WE GO AGAIN!
So, off we go to the Charter Study Session next Tuesday.  So many questions...  That ought to be fun.