An Interesting, And Probably Long, Meeting Tuesday

COULD BE A LONG ONE
The Costa Mesa City Council will meet on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 beginning at 5:45 p.m. for the open session, which will be preceded by a closed session beginning at 5:00 in which two (2) potential litigation issues will be discussed.  You can read the agenda for the full meeting HERE.

CONSENT CALENDAR
There are eight (8) items on the Consent Calendar - those items that are "routine" in nature and,  theoretically, can be voted upon in one vote.  However, there are a couple things worth commenting upon.

UNUSUAL WARRANT
Item #3, Warrant 2545, HERE, has some interesting entries.  I won't give you all of it - you can review it yourself - but these captured my eye:

• Costa Mesa Conference & Visitor Bureau - $233,007.31 - BIA receipts for August, 2015
• Jones & Mayer - $25, 163.24 - Legal fees for two items.  Noteworthy because of the small amount.
• Liebert Cassidy Whitmore - $390.00 - Legal fees, 2014 Fire Negotiations (?)
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Company - $50,000 - Annual Fee - Insurance Broker Svc.
• G4S Secure Solutions, Inc. - $63, 232.80 - Jail Svcs, Aug. 2015
• White Nelson Diehl Evans LLP - $17,500.00 - Audit Svcs for FY 2014-2015
• Liebert Cassidy Whitmore - $818.00 - POA Negotiations 2014
• Safe Moves - $8,325.00 - Bicycle Education Services

The legal bills on this warrant are extremely low... I suspect the next one will be a doozy.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT
Item #7, HERE, is interesting because it's a request to spend $940,000 in Project/Construction Management staff support for many Capital Improvement Projects.  It seems we are six (6) positions short in the Engineering Division, which would normally oversee these kind of projects, but without consulting support those projects would grind to a halt.  This request includes a request for a budget adjustment of $450,000 to help cover the costs.  That money comes from unspent, but budgeted, salary dollars as a result of the vacancies.  Interesting.

There are four (4) Public Hearings and I suspect the first two will each take awhile.

DESTRUCTION OF THE COSTA MESA MOTOR INN
Public Hearing #1, HERE, is the highly-controversial request for a General Plan Amendment, a Rezone and Zoning Code Amendment and Master Plan for 224 apartments at 2277 Harbor Boulevard - the site of the Costa Mesa Motor Inn.  This issue generated lots of discussion at the Planning Commission hearing and has been the subject of two (2) public demonstrations over the past week.  I have no reason to believe this one won't also draw MANY speakers to express their views on each side of this issue.

GROUP HOMES ORDINANCE
Public Hearing #2, HERE, is the first reading of the equally controversial Code Amendment to tighten up control on group homes in zones other than R-1, which were taken care of last year.  I expect there may be a few speakers on this issue, too - from both sides of it.

PRIVATE HELIPORT NEAR JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT
Public Hearing #3, HERE, is Kevin Coleman's much-delayed request by Leading Edge Aviation to install a helistop - a private helicopter landing site - on the roof of a building near the perimeter of John Wayne Airport.  The Planning Commission approved it despite significant outcry from contiguous neighbors, airport activists and the City of Newport Beach.  There are attachments included in the staff report that clearly outline the opposition.  This should be interesting.

EASEMENT VACATION
Public Hearing #4, HERE, should be a quick one.  This is a request for the vacation of a portion of sidewalk and landscape easement at 580 Anton Boulevard.

SEGERSTROM TOWN CENTER EXTENSION
The remaining item on the agenda is Old Business #1, HERE, the second reading of an amendment to a development agreement for Segerstrom Town Center.  I thought the first hearing might be a piece of cake, but it turned out to be more complicated than most anticipated.  You may recall that the applicant wanted a 20 year extension - to 2035 - but his majesty, Mayor Pro Tem Righeimer, demanded - and got- a reduction of that time to 10 years with an automatic 5-year extension if they have construction started on at least 30% of the project by that time.

NO PREDICTING THE TIME ON THIS ONE
There's no way to predict how long this meeting will last, but considering the controversial nature of several items, it could take us to midnight - again.  I sure hope not.

Brief, But Contentious, Council Meeting

STARTED HIGH, AND THEN....
The Costa Mesa City Council met for one of the shortest meetings in recent memory Tuesday night, but that doesn't mean it was without its dramatic moments.

KNOTS OF LOVE
It began on a high note when Mayor Steve Mensinger, perhaps the weakest reader we've had up there in some time, presented his latest Mayor's Award to Christine Fabiani, the driving force behind Knots Of Love, the organization which knits and distributes hats to thousands of people each year suffering from debilitating diseases like cancer.  According to Ms. Fabiani, they create over 4,000 knit caps per month and have distributed over 260,000 so far through more than 560 care centers and doctor's offices around the country.  Shown here are city staffers, each in a hat.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ten people spoke during Public Comments:

Ralph Taboada, Chairman of the Bikeways and Walkability Committee and the Pension Oversight Committee, spoke to the council about re-adjusting their budget priorities to, in his words, ratchet-back spending on things like sports fields.  He also expressed concern about the temperatures on the artificial turf fields that are in the planning stages for the Jack Hammett Sports Complex.  He also expressed extreme disappointment when no council quorum showed up for the recent Library Study Session.

Gay Royer expressed concern about what she referred to as the "Victoria Freeway" - the stretch of westside roadway on which traffic consistently runs too fast.  She was concerned about the need for a signal at Wilson and Pomona and the entrances to Victoria that may be closed to walk/bike through traffic.

Reggie Mundakis observed that the Fair Board will meet Thursday to discuss the Arlington Drive Bioswale and there still had been no public outreach.

Beth Refakes reminded us for the last time about the candy drive for the children of the 1/5 Marines at Camp Pendleton.  Individually wrapped candy may be placed in the foot locker in the City Hall Lobby the rest of this week before the Military Affairs Team delivers it to Camp Pendleton next week.

An anonymous speaker expressed concern about the item on the agenda regarding appeals that was pulled earlier in the day.  She opined that the money should be refunded and the new policy - whatever that might be - should include provisions for refunds.

Cindy Black, observing about the presentation to the folks from Knots Of Love, told us of two products that, theoretically, help an ill person retain their hair.

Dr. Nina Reich spoke on the recently passed CRONE act, which requires more transparency in public contracting for cities which use the COIN process.  She spoke of the protest planned Thursday evening in front of the Costa Mesa Motor Inn to remind the public of the need for affordable housing.  She spoke of meeting with CEO Tom Hatch regarding the removal of bus shelters.

Chuck Perry praised the council for all the "wonderful" housing that is being built throughout the city.  He complained about a traffic backup at the In N Out Burger store on Harbor Blvd and encouraged the council to go full speed ahead on roadwork.  He also told us, responding to an earlier speaker's concern about hot artificial turf, that when it gets too hot at Estancia's stadium field they just turn on the sprinklers.  Hmmm... artificial turf and sprinkler... what's wrong with that picture?

Wendy Leece said she was thankful for the 1st Amendment to the constitution which guarantees free speech and also for the Freedom of Information Act, through which she acquired information on Fire Safety.  She wondered about the status of the 17-point plan approved more than two years ago.  She also demanded an apology from Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer for his "slanderous" comments from the dais about her at the last council meeting.  (She received none).

Former employee Steve White - who was arrested for stealing $5.00 worth of campaign signs, lost his job, was taken to trial and found not guilty -  stepped up again and asked the council for some help sorting out the events of 91101 in a long, disjointed comment.

COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
Righeimer tried to explain that the budget process is deliberative and the council allocates the funds as they see fit.  He then spoke about several new developments that he thought were just great.

MENSINGER
Mensinger told us that 8 people joined him in his most recent waddle around town, including one person who bought a place at Superior Point, the development at the corner of Superior and 17th Street, who he quoted as saying, "I sometimes wonder why people criticize where I live and why we can't criticize where they live".  I thought that was peculiar, but then Mensinger went on to say himself, not quoting anyone else, "I think we all need to understand we may not like what we see, but that may be something that somebody else wants to live in and I think we ought to respect that because it is somebody's home."  Those words would come back to haunt him in a minute or two.  He asked Public Services Director Ernesto Munoz to check on the traffic light at Wilson and Pomona.  He also asked Hatch to have Police Chief Rob Sharpnack to talk about some specific crime mapping at the next council meeting.  He observed that, "as the mayor pro tem says, the city is 'who you attract'".  Anyhow, he went on to describe the vagrants hiding in the bushes along the Joann Street bike trail and defecating on the sidewalk..

FOLEY
Katrina Foley went next and began by hoisting Mensinger on his own petard by quoting his comment exactly and asked HIM to remember his own words when we talk about housing where HE might not like to live, but it is somebody else's home - like motels, for example.  I smiled.

SPEED BUMPS AND HOLES IN THE WALL
She asked Munoz about the St. Claire Street Speed Bumps and expressed concern, too, about the Victoria Street openings that will soon be closed.  She expressed concern about the "noticing" process, since it seemed that many residents who have children that use those openings in the walls along Victoria Street received NO notice.  Munoz will be sure noticing occurs throughout the entire affected neighborhood and, at Foley's request, will copy the principal of Victoria Elementary school and Dr. Kirk Bauermeister at the NMUSD, too.  She also asked about the Arlington Drive Bioswale and was told that there will be a presentation made to the Fair Board on Thursday at their meeting that begins at 9:00 a.m.

REPORTS
She also requested of Hatch a report As Soon As Possible on job/housing balancing in the city.  She also expressed concern about the issue raised by Leece concerning the implementation of the 17 point Fire Department plan and asked for a report on that, too.

UH, OH!
Then she asked for ALL communications between Mayor Mensinger, Mayor Pro Tem Righeimer and the staff with ANY developers regarding affordable housing.  She said we talk about it a lot, but it seems to just be all talk.

GENIS
Sandra Genis congratulated the folks in Halecrest for another successful chili cook-off, which she described as a great community event.  She also congratulated those responsible for the Scarecrow Festival last weekend at Fairview Park.  She spoke about a couple of the items on the Consent Calendar, Item 4, the cattail removal, wanting to be sure all appropriate agencies would be involved to avoid any intergovernmental conflicts/complications; and the #6, the Harbor Blvd. medians, and expressed a strong desire for community outreach.  She expressed a view that, regarding the Arlington Drive Bioswale, the Fairgrounds Equestrian groups felt un-involved.

STUDY SESSION GAFFE
She apologized to all for the mess up with the Library Study Session, and expressed the opinion that the funding mechanisms should not be considered in a vacuum, and cited the General Plan process as an example of "hodge-podge".  She expressed concern for the "ongoing sustainability of our community".  She also expressed concern for the significant loss of affordable housing, at which Righeimer attempted to challenge her definition of affordable housing, twice.

MONAHAN, THE PROMOTER
Gary Monahan used his time to 1) promote the weekend "harvest festival" at his church, St. Joachims; 2) promote a fundraiser at his own restaurant for Newport Harbor High School Dance; 3) to wish everyone a Happy Halloween and 4) to make a feeble attempt to get Mensinger to wear a Notre Dame visor because they whipped USC last weekend.  Mensinger weaseled out of it.

HATCH - NO REPORT
CEO Tom Hatch had no report.  I found myself wondering how that is possible, since there were many items previously mentioned that he could, and probably should, have responded to.  Then again, he has been criticized in the past by the council majority for talking too much during meetings.  One more casualty in the free speech wars...

CONSENT CALENDAR
Four items were pulled for separate discussion - #4, #5, #6 and #7.
Because we were still just before 7:00 p.m., Public Hearings, by council rules, may not begin until that time.  So, Consent Calendar item #4 was discussed.  This is the item about removing cattails from Fairview Park.  A lengthy discussion took place involving what appears to be an increase in mosquitoes as a result of the ponds at the north end of the park.  Genis expressed concern not only for West Nile Virus, but for Yellow Fever, too.  That got our attention.  Munoz told us that proper maintanence had been missed last year in the tiny window available because of the nesting season.  He assured us that this year this process would do the trick to help avoid standing water where mosquitoes breed.  One speaker, Mary Hanna (sp?) complained that she can no longer sit in their back yard because of flying critters - she thinks mosquitoes, but no-see-ums were also mentioned.

THE SEGERSTROM SURPRISE
At 7:20 the first Public Hearing commenced - the extension of the development agreement for the Segerstrom Town Center project for another 20 years, to 2035.  Most in the auditorium expected this one to move forward with no problems, but that was before Righeimer got his claws into this process.  Apparently the staff has been working with the Segerstrom folks for a couple years on this request.  The economic downturn delayed any progress on this project for several years, but now they are finally getting back to it, but it won't be a quick project, just as all their other projects have taken time to fully flesh-out and build.  Apparently Righeimer has met with the Segerstroms and told them that he wasn't interested in stretching this process out 20 years - he wanted 10 years in which they could show 30% completion of the project, then an automatic 5 year extension if necessary!

STAFF SURPRISED, TOO

When Justin McCusker, the Segerstrom representative, came up to speak he concurred with the change.  I don't know what was in his head, but I'm thinking this was NOT what he wanted.  Foley then flat-out asked him if he would prefer the 20 year time frame to complete a proper project, and he said yes.  Righeimer pushed back with his 10/5 scheme.  Foley asked the staff when they first heard of this change and was told "just now"!  Righeimer used as his excuse that he didn't want other developers to come ask for 20 years to complete a project - that he wanted the Segerstroms treated just like everyone else.  Well, the Segerstroms ARE NOT like everyone else!  Through their vision and execution of outstanding projects - South Coast Plaza, the Performing Arts Center, for example - not only have they put Costa Mesa on the map in a very positive way, but the sales tax dollars generated by South Coast Plaza keep this city alive.

MY WAY, OR ELSE!
Righeimer made a motion for his 10/5 scheme.  Foley made a substitute motion for the original staff recommendation, which was voted down, 2-3, with Foley and Genis voting for it.  When the vote was then taken on the original motion it passed, 5-0, with neigher Foley nor Genis wanting to quash the project.  It was obvious this was just Righeimer flexing his muscles - to show everyone in the room that he was the boss.  It made me want to puke!

RIGHT-OF-WAY VACATION
Public Hearing #2, the vacation of right-of-way at 752 West 19th Street, began at 7:32 p.m.  Two speakers, Teresa Drain and Ralph Taboada, expressed concern that giving up this chunk of land on the corner might eliminate a spot useful for the bikeabililty crowd.  Taboada asked that it be put off for a few months, until the Bikeway and Walkability Committee had completed their work, since this was on a logical bikeway.

UNUSABLE
Robert Gibson, who described himself as an "investor in the project" - we presume he meant the one adjacent to the right-of-way in question - cited the unusability of that cite for bike purposes because nearby properties encroached on what might have been bikeways.  The item passed on a 3-2 vote, with Genis and Foley voting no.

PULLED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
The trailed Consent Calendar items were then considered.  Righeimer had pulled #5 to have a correction made on a map that was part of the package.  It passed, 5-0.

PREMATURE CONCERNS
Item #6, the Harbor Blvd Medians between Wilson and 19th Street revolved around concerns that the left turn restrictions that would be imposed on the traffic might drive small mom-and-pop businesses out of town.  Munoz told the council that we were "light years away" from major decisions on this issue and that significant public outreach will happen as part of the process.  Genis asked that the work include a new traffic study.  The item passed, 5-0.

EMINENT DOMAIN CONCERNS
Item #7, involving applications for comprehensive transportation funding, was challenged by residents Jay Humphrey and Cindy Black because they were concerned about the taking of private lands via eminent domain.  Nobody really answered that question and the vote passed, 4-1, with Foley voting no.

EARLY OUT
And the meeting ended at 7:55 p.m.!  Yea!

RIGHEIMER IN COMMAND

To use a Righeimerism, my "take away" from this short meeting was that Righeimer continues to dominate the discussion of important issues and seems not to care at all what the women who form the minority on the council think - about anything.  He knows he's got the votes in his pocket, so he can spring something like that new Segerstrom scheme on them at the last moment without worrying about having to "sell it" - it's already bought and paid for.

CURRY, QUOTING JFK AND OTHERS
Earlier in the day Tuesday an acquaintance reminded me of a column then-Newport Beach Mayor Keith Curry wrote for the Orange County Register on November 14, 2013 in the run-up to the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, which you can read in its entirety HERE.

THE BEST IS HIS LAST ONE...
In that column Curry quoted passages from Kennedy's book, Profiles In Courage.  Kennedy quoted great Americans like John Quincy Adams and Daniel Webster, to name but two and cited the common theme - the need to compromise.  I'll let you read the column yourself, but it ends with the following passage by Curry:  "...it is good for us to remember President Kennedy's words and the examples of great senators who served the higher purpose of America rather than their own narrow political agendas.  Compromise is not a dirty word; it is the required element of functioning government."

NO COMPROMISE IN COSTA MESA
Having watched this City Council, led by Jim Righeimer, in action for more than five years, it is clear that compromise is an alien concept in our city these days, which is why we have in our city a non-functioning government, where special interests and ignorant, arrogant, self-serving vindictiveness is the order of the day.  From the 200 layoff notices and Huy Pham; through two (2) failed bogus charter schemes; to suing the men and women of the CMPD; to the disastrous 60th Anniversary debacle; to the loss of more than 50 seasoned, senior police officers and on and on and on.  How very sad for us all.

A New Appeal Process Tops City Council Agenda Tuesday

HOPING FOR A QUORUM
The Costa Mesa City Council meets for the final time this month on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 beginning at 5:45 p.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall.  The agenda for this meeting may be read HERE.  It should be a short one, but you just never know.  It will be preceded by a multi-item Closed Session in Conference Room 5A.  Since they failed to provide a quorum for the last Study Session last week, it will be interesting to see how many of the council members show up.

THE WARRANT...
Early in the meeting the council will consider nine (9) items on the Consent Calendar - those items deemed to be of a routine nature and, in theory, should be voted on in one vote.  Item #3 is Warrant #2544, HERE, which contains a listing of recently paid bills.  Usually I will list some of those items for your illumination, but today I'll simply let you click on that link and scroll down yourself and pick out some of your favorites.  I will observe that, even though this warrant did not include a payment to our contract City Attorney, Jones & Mayer, we still managed to pay nearly $25,000 to other law firms for various legal services.  Enjoy your scroll through the warrant.

MORE INTERESTING STUFF
Other items on the Consent Calendar that were interesting include:

• Item #4, HERE, for more than $200,000 for Cattail Removal at Fairview Park
• Item #6, HERE, for nearly $140,000 for engineering design services for improvements along Harbor Blvd. between Wilson Street and 19th Street.
• Item #7, HERE, a resolution authorizing the submission of comprehensive transportation funding program applications to try to capture some of the nearly $50 million in transportation-related funding available via the so-called Measure M2 funding.  The city staff has historically done an excellent job of grabbing some of these dollars for transportation projects in our city.
• Item #8, HERE, is a Budget Adjustment and Acceptance of a Grant from Hoag Hospital for Medical Transportation Programs of $100,000, administered through the Costa Mesa Senior Center.
• Item #9, HERE, is a resolution consenting to the inclusion of properties within the City of Costa Mesa to join the Californiafirst Program for installation of renewable energy, energy and water efficiency improvements and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.  

EXTENSION OF SEGERSTROM TOWN CENTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
There are two Public Hearings on the agenda.  #1, HERE, is an ordinance for the Second Amendment involving the Segerstrom Town Center and includes extending the development agreement (originally executed in 2001) for an additional 20 years until 2035.

VACATION OF MORE RIGHT-OF-WAY
Public Hearing #2, HERE, is for the vacation of excess right-of-way at 752 West 19th Street.  This is the most recent of many such requests, usually granted coincident with a planned development adjacent to the site of the vacation.

APPEAL FEE POLICY
The final item on the agenda, New Business #1, HERE, is the most interesting.  This is the discussion of the City's Appeal Fees and Procedures.  In recent months there have been two (2) incidents where a resident has appealed a decision made by a city body - the Zoning Administrator or the Planning Commission - and in both cases those appeals were upheld.  Each of those residents had to pony up significant dollars, nearly $700 in one case and more than $1200 in the other.  Because their appeals were upheld they each, individually, requested reimbursement for their fees.  The City Council lumped those two requests into one action item and rejected them.

LOOSEY-GOOSEY NOW
The City has no formal policy on this kind of thing, although there have been at least two incidents within the past few years where the fees were reimbursed.  They are mentioned in the staff report.  Unfortunately, the recommendation by the staff is that a new policy be established firmly stating that all such appeal fees are non-refundable.

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR DECISION OVERTURNED
I'm familiar with both of the current incidents.  In each case it might have been possible for a council member to appeal the issue without cost to the resident.  In one case it was possible for a planning commissioner to do so, and it was presumed he would - but then he backed out at the very last minute and the resident had no choice to pay the fees and proceed on her own.   This was the Solid Landings issue on East 19th Street.  It's interesting to note that, although the appeal was upheld and the organization was found at fault, they still have not remedied the situation.  It's interesting to note that one of the Closed Session items involves legal action with Solid Landings.

FARMER'S MARKET REJECTED
The other incident involved the proposed Farmers Market at the church on the corner of Bay Street and Orange Avenue.  In that case the resident discovered what the staff should have discovered - a condition of approval on a prior project at that site that would preclude the establishment of the Farmer's Market.  She basically did the work the staff should have done and the approval for that market was overturned.

NEW POLICY NEEDS MORE FLEXIBILITY
In my view, the proposed policy is much too stringent and, in fact, seems punitive.  In my opinion, there should be more flexibility in any such policy, so concerned residents who take their own time and effort to thoroughly vet an issue, which turns out to be a correction of a mistake by the process, should not be also required to pay for the privilege.  If their action results in a proper decision, then consideration should be given to reimbursement of all, or at least part of, the fees paid for the process.  The discussion should be very interesting and, as usual, comes at the very end of the agenda.

AN EARLY EVENING IS POSSIBLE
It's possible that we could be out of the meeting before 8:00 p.m., but I have a sneaking suspicion the last item will draw out a few speakers.  We'll see.

An Early Night At The Planning Commission

SHORT, BUT NOT WITHOUT A SURPRISE
The final Planning Commission meeting of this month was a short one, with all the business completed by 8:15 p.m., barely two hours in duration.  It was a nice relief to be able to get home and re-introduce myself to the sweet and very patient woman who shares my roof.

HALLOWEEN CANDY DRIVE
Beth Refakes, member of the Military Affairs Team, reminded us of the Halloween candy drive for the children of the 1/5 Marines at Camp Pendleton.  Each piece MUST be individually wrapped and placed in the box in the City Hall lobby.

BUILDING INSPECTION REPORT
Item #2 was pulled from the Consent Calendar so Building Official Khanh Nguyen could make a brief report to the commission on the status of the Building Inspection Department.  I showed you this graphic before.  It shows you, in trimesters, the volume of building inspections done by city staff and contractors since 2005 - the year Nguyen began with the city.  He explained that the staff, supplemented by one contract inspector, are working long hours and that the management team also goes out to inspect if necessary.  You can see the dramatic dip during the recession and the rise to current record numbers today, from just over 3100 to over 11,000 today.

 Nguyen went through the permitting process and showed many slides depicting various stages.

EXTENSION OF SEGERSTROM TOWN CENTER DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
Public Hearing #1, the request from Segerstroms and Sons for a 20 year extension of the Development Agreement for what is known as the Segerstrom Town Center property.  It took all of six minutes for staffer Minoo Ashabi to make her presentation, Segerstrom representative Justin McCusker to make his and for the vote to be taken - 5-0 - to recommend to the City Council that this request be approved.

HELISTOP REQUEST RESURRECTED
Public Hearing #2, the request for a helistop on the roof of a commercial building at 3132 Airway Avenue, adjacent to John Wayne Airport, didn't go quite so quickly.  This item is a resurrection of the same request from 2011, which was denied by the then-Planning Commission and the applicant did not appeal it to the City Council.  The applicant, Kevin Coleman, explained that this use would actually reduce the number of flights by this private owner, who currently houses his helicopter in a hangar on the John Wayne Airport grounds within 200 yards of this site.

Property owner Denis Labonge stepped up to object to the proposal and said he represented several of the other occupants of the building in question.  He spoke of the noise and dirt that his tenants would be subjected to with this use on the roof of the building - dust being forced down the air vents, etc.

Helicopter Mike Manclark addressed the issue and clarified the uses of his machine currently and the anticipated reduced use if the request is approved.  He spoke of the philanthropic uses of his helicopter throughout Costa Mesa.

MORE DATA NOW
When the original request was denied by the Planning Commission they were missing a Noise Report, which was now available.  When this issue was considered in 2011 the City of Newport Beach sent a long letter suggesting approval of the request might be interpreted as an expansion of the John Wayne Airport footprint and, therefore, was against it.  This time around former Costa Mesa senior staffer Kim Brandt, now a senior planning official in Newport Beach, wrote a letter transmitting that original document, reinforcing their opposition, which members of the commission apparently interpreted as flagging interest in this issue.

BUTT OUT, NEWPORT!
Commissioner Colin McCarthy carried much of the discussion and seemed peeved that Newport Beach would dare insert itself into Costa Mesa's business.  He indicated early in the discussion that he didn't see the problem with the request.

QUIET HELICOPTER
Other commissioners, including Chairman Rob Dickson and Commissioner Stephan Andranian,  had some concern about the current helicopter - an EC 120 - being swapped out for a noisier one in the future.  However, the proposal contains a condition restricting the noise levels to those made by this machine, so any new equipment would be held to that standard.

A THIRD ALTERNATIVE REJECTED
Assistant Development Services Director Claire Flynn told the commission they actually had three alternatives.  They could approve, deny or simply register their opinions and pass the decision on the City Council.  McCarthy balked at that one, and suggested they actually make a decision - which would be sent to the City Council for ratification in any event.  So, he moved approval of the request and Vice Chair Jeff Mathews seconded it.  The commission approved it on a 5-0 vote.

HERE IT COMES... THERE IT GOES!
Public Hearing #3, a two year extension request for a development at 522 and 526 Bernard Street took six minutes flat for the commission to approve.

UNDERGROUNDING AN ISSUE ON ELDEN STREET PROJECT
Public Hearing #4, the development at 2333 Elden Street, took a little longer to flesh out.  Two minor deviations were being requested for this 5-unit Small Lot Development on a long, skinny lot.  The only clinker in the discussion was the requirement for the project to have undergrounded utilities.  The owner balked at this suggestion because a consultant he hired to assess the situation told him that it would be quite costly, even if Southern California Edison approved it - and that was no slam dunk.  For this to happen at least 3 nearby neighbors would have to agree to the undergrounding for their properties and that was complicated by the understanding that Edison would forbid any infrastructure to be built over their undergrounded lines.  Unfortunately, the applicant had no letter from Edison to that effect.  Nor did he have communication from the neighbors involved registering their opposition.  If he had, the staff could have handled it without commission intervention.  Even though they knew that, the commission approved the plan WITH the requirement that the undergrounding move forward, presuming the applicant would get the necessary objections from Edison and/or neighbors which would negate the requirement.  They simply could have NOT required the undergrounding.  Strange.  Now this means more work on the part of the applicant and more staff time taken up on this issue.  The project was approved, 5-0.

MEDIAN AND MONUMENT ON DEL MAR
During staff comments City Engineer Fariba Faseli told the commission that the median and monument work was beginning near the Starbucks at DelMar and Newport Boulevard, near the community garden.

COSTA MESA MOTOR INN PROJECT MOVING FORWARD
Flynn told the commission that the information about the project at the Costa Mesa Motor Inn is now online and the project will be appearing before them at their next meeting on October 12th and will go before the City Council on November 3rd.

(Image courtesy of the Daily Pilot)