It's Time To Say Adios

CHANGE...

One of the certainties of life is change.  Most of us go through phases in our lives when things change - childhood, school, young adulthood, career(s), kids, empty nesters, retirement and... well, you get the picture.  Today I find myself at another one of those change points. 

SOME HISTORY

When I wrote my very first commentary to the Daily Pilot fifteen years ago it began a change in my life that has proven to be both positive and negative,  simultaneously - just as are most things in life.  From that embryo - and several dozen letters to the editor and commentaries in local newspapers -  this blog has emerged in a couple different iterations.  I wrote my first blog entry using a different blog host - I've referred to it as a "bare bones" blog - on July 9, 2005, cautioning us about the possibility of the use of eminent domain to facilitate change on the Westside of town.  I shifted to this site, where comments are permitted and images are accommodated,  on November 1, 2006.  Now - more than 3400 entries later, with tens of thousands of page views each month (3 million total and counting), several acknowledgements as a top blogger in the area and many new friends (and more than a few enemies) - it’s time for another change.  Although I know my efforts have made a difference in our community, it’s time for me to stop blogging.

UNANTICIPATED EVENTS

As some of you know, last year threw me a very significant curveball health-wise.  Last June a pulmonary embolism, apparently caused by a tumble I took a couple months earlier,  nearly cost me my life.  When the emergency room doctor told me I was lucky, because there were four things that could have happened and the other three would have killed me immediately, it got my attention.  Ever since that time I’ve been dealing with the after effects of that event and other little nuisances that happen during the course of this steady march to geezerdom and it’s slowed me down significantly.  Changes had to be made - including how I did this blog.

HEALTH DEMANDS...

No longer can I attend a meeting until midnight, then come home and write until dawn to meet the expectations of a few thousand people who have grown accustomed to my views awaiting them when they dragged themselves out of bed.  Now I go home, hit the sack and begin putting things together in the morning, with the end result being posted sometime after noon.  It takes longer because I must interrupt my composition to pry myself out of my chair to give this old body some exercise, lest another nasty blood clot manifest itself in a way that would have a very unhappy ending.

ANOTHER LIFE CHANGE

Last month my sweet and very patient wife - and caretaker of my new health protocols - decided to retire from the business she and her two younger brothers have successfully operated for more than four decades.  When she stopped going to the office it marked the first time in our forty-nine years of marriage that we both were out of a job - unless you count this as “a job” - and it’s been very interesting.

THE NEXT PHASE

Now we are planning this next phase of our lives together, which will include the celebration of our 50th wedding anniversary in August and much more travel to many venues we’ve wanted to visit, but just couldn’t carve out the time to do so.  And, it will certainly include many more frequent visits to our favorite getaway on the Central California Coast.  We’re getting very excited about planning these adventures.  And, after many weeks of contemplation and consultation, I just don’t see a way to fold into those adventures the time it takes to continue writing this blog.  It’s not practical and not fair to her, even if I was up to it.  And, of course, there are these nagging health issues which have forced me to abandon my personal mantra - “You only have a certain number of heart beats and none should be wasted on exercise.” - and have caused me to contemplate an exercise program that will also cut into my day.  And, so, we move on...

 I'VE ENJOYED EVERY SINGLE DAY

I’ve enjoyed nearly every single second of the time I’ve spent presenting my thoughts for you, my loyal readers.  Some of you have become more informed, others have been entertained and more than a few have been angered.  I smile when I think of all those reactions to what I write.  Perfection remains an elusive goal.  I acknowledge that I’ve not always been correct in my views, but I’ve always tried to do my homework, study the issues, attend the meetings and provide my best assessment of what I’ve seen and heard.  Some of you have agreed with me and some certainly have not, but I’ve always appreciated your thoughts and have considered them carefully as I tackled the pithy issues facing our community.  I have always appreciated the kind words from those of you who have chosen to write to me. 

APPRECIATE THE PRAISE AND SUPPORT

I’ve also appreciated the praise and encouragement from professionals in the local media.  Former Publisher Tom Johnson and editors, Bill Lobdell, S.J. Cahn, Brady Rhoades, Tony Dodero and John Canalis of the Daily Pilot, for example, have encouraged me, tolerated me, edited and published my too-wordy submissions to make them better, and have chosen me to be part of the DP 103 list of those folks they considered to be influential in our community several times.  Obviously, despite their best efforts, I have still not mastered brevity.  I have abandoned that as a goal.  Many of those editors also offered me a regular column in that fine newspaper - a dozen times, in fact - and I thanked them, but gratefully turned them down.  I’m not geared to be “edited”, nor could I write “on assignment” - I write about what interests me.  I’m also grateful to other local publications and blogs who have offered similar opportunities, and to Gustavo Arellano and the editors of the OC Weekly, who selected my blog as the Best in OC a couple times.  And, of course, I’m grateful to my friend, Byron de Arakal, whose Daily Pilot commentaries many years ago provoked my very first efforts to influence the populace.  This has all been pretty heady stuff for an old guy with marginal writing skills,  a skull full of opinion and too much time on his hands.

THE GOAL

When I began this effort - that word really doesn’t seem right, since this has been less an “effort” than a pursuit of a passion - my goal was to encourage more folks to pay attention and get involved in local issues.  I take great pride in the fact that I’ve met that goal, and then some.  More people have become engaged in local issues due, at least in part, to some of the things I’ve written.

AFTER CONSULTATION AND CONSIDERATION...

I’ve recently tested the waters about stopping this blog with a couple very wise close friends who have asked me to consider simply just cutting back - attend fewer meetings, write fewer words, post fewer entries.  I appreciate that advice and have given it a lot of thought.  However, in my opinion, a big part of the value of what I’ve been doing has to do with continuity.  Attending most important meetings, hearing the comments and seeing the players in action has given me a perspective unlike most others.  If I were to curtail those activities it wouldn’t be long before I would lose the continuity of events and the quality of this product would decline.  I’m not eager for that to happen.  I guess I’d rather stop somewhere near the peak instead of sliding slowly downhill toward the abyss of insignificance.

HANDING OFF IS NOT AN OPTION

Others have suggested I find someone else to either share the writing or to take over A Bubbling Cauldron completely.  That is not an option.  What you’ve read on these pages has been my work product, based on my observations and my opinions.  No, I will retain the domain, toss some water on the flames that keeps this pot boiling and simply let it cool.  I might occasionally resurrect this site from time-to-time, so I suggest you go to image shown above on my Home Page and click on it to use one of the readers available to be alerted when a new entry pops up.  And, I will continue to post any future entries on my Facebook page and on my Twitter feed, too... but those will be few and far between.  And, because things continue to happen in this city, I suspect I’ll be reacting to events on both those platforms, too - just not via the blog.

SOME THOUGHTS...

Before I douse the fire under the old Cauldron I do want to leave you with a few thoughts - for whatever they are worth.

THANKS TO THE EMPLOYEES

First, I want to express my gratitude to every single employee of the City of Costa Mesa.  Much of what I've written has been about them.  I’ve gotten to know many of them quite well over the years.  The trauma many have endured, particularly over the past decade, has been very difficult for them, but they have persevered.  I’ve watched as previous council majorities tried to eviscerate the organization, leaving only anxious, beleaguered employees in the wake of that activity.  I’ve seen new folks come and go. I’ve seen many long term employees retire or simply seek a different pasture - I hesitate to call them “greener” - for a variety of reasons.  During all my contacts with City employees I’ve ALWAYS found them to be helpful, professional and eager to do a good job.  I will always be grateful for that.

THANKS TO YOU READERS

Second, to those of you have become loyal readers - thank you.  Those two little words hardly seem enough.  I have appreciated your participation in the issues of our times.  I know some of you balked when I was forced to require commentors to register, but many simply did the necessary confidential registration and continued to provide us with their insights.  As I’ve said many times, I’m very disappointed that folks with differing viewpoints refused to participate - comments that echo what I write are always welcome, but I much prefer a spirited, intelligent debate, with differing views provided.  Alas, that seldom happens.  On that note, I’ve ceased the registration requirement.  Anybody can now post a comment, but I still have to view each comment before approving it for publication.  If I think someone has attempted to use another’s identity I simply will not post it.  If someone posts language that will offend others, I will not post it.  I will post opposing viewpoints.  It really won’t be much of an issue, since there will be few entries on which to post comments.  In many cases I suspect our relationships will cease because I’ve stopped publishing this blog, since we have been bound together in our common interests on city issues and I’m walking away.  That will sadden me, but I do understand...

THE COUNCIL'S DOING OK, BUT...

Third, while I’m generally happy with the present configuration of the new City Council and the commissions and committees they have appointed, I’m not particularly pleased with how things have been going.  I agree with many of their plans for the direction this city will be taking for the next couple of years.  But, in my opinion, the strained relationships on the dais need to be resolved quickly.  The core of City Council - Mayor Katrina Foley, Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Genis and Councilman John Stephens - make up a group of dedicated, intelligent, clear thinkers who know how to frame arguments and persuade others.  I’m not unhappy that Jim Righeimer and Allan Mansoor are in the minority and I suspect we’ll see many 3-2 votes as the months progress... such is life.

MAJOR ISSUES AHEAD

There are several major issues that the new council majority will be working on that will effect all of us.  For example:

LIONS PARK PROJECT COSTS

The Lions Park Project, which replaces the existing Neighborhood Community Center with a new, state-of-the-art two-story library and converts the existing Donald Dungan Branch Library into a new, smaller community center.  The project also creates a new acre of public parkland.  Ever since this project was proposed the costs have escalated.  You all need to pay attention to that because there’s no doubt that trend will continue.

DISTRICT VOTING/DIRECTLY-ELECTED MAYOR

The Directly-elected mayor/District Voting scheme will begin implementation for the 2018 election cycle.  Candidates for that mayor slot are already jockeying for positions and folks are trying to figure out how they might run for the other vacancies.  It will take the next cycle, in 2020, to complete this metamorphosis.  Watch how this is managed by the City Council, and watch Jim Righeimer - who hijacked this process at the last minute and forced this new method onto the ballot - scramble for that mayor slot since he’s termed out of his council seat in 2018.

ROLLING BACK THE OVERLAYS

Undoing the Harbor and Newport Boulevard Overlays that were passed by the last regime as part of the General Plan update.  Those were developer-driven and tax our infrastructure, add horrendous amounts of traffic to our streets and are bad ideas for Costa Mesans.

SMALL LOT ORDINANCE

Revisiting the Small Lot Ordinance - another developer-driven change that has codified the dilution of protections for our neighborhoods to facilitate rampant growth throughout the city.

SOBER LIVING HOMES

Keep an eye on how the City deals with the whole Sober Living Home issue.  The most recent changes to our two ordinances might help, but there will certainly be lawsuits that will spring from our attempts to enforce our rules and that industry - a $35 billion business - will certainly test our resolve and our treasury.

HOMELESSNESS SOLUTIONS

How effectively will our City Council and staff deal with Homelessness in our city.  We’re told we have the greatest number of homeless individuals per capita than any other Orange County city.  Progress has been made, but there are no easy solutions to this issue.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Public Safety is a top priority for the City Council.  Hold their feet to the fire on the staffing issues - the CMPD continues to be understaffed by about 20%, and that’s based on the bogus staffing level imposed by the previous administration.  We currently have no staff Crime Scene Investigators (CSIs), so patrol officers are forced to perform those duties.  We may not reach that staffing level until the end of next year, and that will still put us about 10% below the proper staffing level necessary to properly protect our residents, businesses and visitors.  Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue seems to be on the right track now, which is encouraging.

OUTSOURCING AND CONSULTANT COSTS

Outsourcing continues to plague our city.  Right now our entire senior management level in Development Services is made up of very expensive - and very competent - contract employees.  Most of the engineering done in the city is done by contractors, as is much of the inspection and plan check services.  Contractors operate our jail and street sweeping services and, as of the end of June, will do all park and landscape maintenance, too.  It’s important to manage those resources carefully, to be sure the residents are being properly served.

MANY IMMEDIATE MEETINGS PENDING

As I fold this tent up now I will remind you that there are plenty of things that should require your immediate attention over the next few weeks. 

PLANNING COMMISSION MONDAY

Monday there is a Planning Commission meeting, which I’ve already written about. 

BUDGET MEETING TUESDAY

Tuesday, however, is a Special Study Session beginning at 5:00 p.m. in Conference Room 1A at which the City Council will dig into a proposed budget that increases spending by more than 7%, to a total of over $155 million.  Read the staff report HERE.

SENIOR COMMISSION ALSO TUESDAY

Tuesday morning there will be a meeting of the unnecessary (in my opinion) Senior Commission meeting at the Senior Center at 9:00 a.m. HERE.

COUNCIL MEETING ON THE 16TH

The following Tuesday - the 16th - there will likely be another council meeting.  

COMMUNITY BUDGET MEETING ON THE 18TH

On Thursday, the 18th, there will be a Community Budget meeting at 5:30 in Conference Room 1A - a time for residents to hear about the budget in a casual, participative atmosphere.  These have been sparsely-attended in past years, but represent an opportunity for residents to get up close and personal with the budget process, ask questions and take away a much clearer understanding of how spending our tax money is prioritized.

YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN... BUT THERE IS HELP

Since I will no longer be reporting about these meetings for you in the future, I suggest you visit the City website, HERE,  frequently and check the Calendar to see what’s happening.  And, click on the Costa Mesa Minute on the left side of the page for the latest information, presented by Dane Bora and the CMTV team.  Also, click HERE to be taken to the “e-notification” page (there’s also a link at the top of the City Home Page) where you can sign up for any and all city communications and meeting announcements.  I suggest you just check the box at the bottom to subscribe to them all.  Public Information Officer Tony Dodero is doing a good job of pumping out information - particularly in his Costa Mesa Snapshot each week.  If you can’t make it to meetings, be sure you watch them on live CMTV or live streamed on the City web site or view them later.  Another GREAT community resource is Diane Hill’s United Neighbors Newsletter.  To subscribe, write to her at unitedneighbors@cmprepared.com. and include a telephone number so she can contact you before including you on one of her subscription lists.

READ THE LOCAL COVERAGE

And please do avail yourselves of the excellent Costa Mesa reporting being done by Luke Money in the Daily Pilot and Louis Casiano, Jr. in the Orange County Register.  Both do a fine job of covering the most important issues, and do so without the burden of having to provide an opinion - just the facts.

BEWARE OF SOCIAL MEDIA SITES

Don’t be swayed by the bogus social media sites that have evolved in our city over the past couple years.  The Costa Mesa Public Square (CMPS), for example, was created by a resident, then was taken over by out-of-towners  intent on influencing the last election.  They failed, despite the fact that several elected officials and their appointed surrogates commented long and loud.  Some of the same folks swept in and snatched one site of reason and civilized discussion - Dennis Barton’s Costa Mesa site - when he passed away, and have turned it into a kind of Costa Mesa Public Square Annex.  Tom Johnson, mentioned above, opined when I was a guest on his radio show a year ago that the CMPS site was specifically created to counter the influence this blog was having on city issues.  I have no idea if that’s true or not, but others have attempted to defame the efforts that appeared here by creating blogs to compete - and they are long gone.

NOT AN EASY DECISION, BUT...

It is with very strong mixed emotions, and a lot of consultation and contemplation, that I’ve decided to stop blogging.  The site will remain open for your reference and, maybe, the occasional entry.  It has not been an easy decision, but is one I felt was necessary at this point in my life for the reasons mentioned above.  I wish you all well.  I will miss our interaction.  You probably have not heard the last of me, but - at least for awhile - this is adios.  Thanks, one more time, for your loyalty, friendship and your enthusiastic willingness to joust on issues.  You will always occupy a warm spot in my heart.  It’s been one of the great joys of my life to serve you.

ADIOS, AMIGOS...

Friction On The Dais At Costa Mesa Council Meeting

SPARKS FLEW...
The Costa Mesa City Council meeting last night was marked by a couple "spirited" discussions on the dais from unexpected combatants.  Mayor Katrina Foley and Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Genis sparred a couple of times as Genis took offense at perceived slights.  We saw Genis flailing her arms and nearly jumping out of her seat.  It was interesting, and more than a little disappointing.  But, lets begin elsewhere...

NATIONAL ANTHEM AND PLEDGE
The meeting began with the playing/singing of the National Anthem by Mariachi Herencia Michoacana Group and, following a moment of solemn expression, Councilman Allan Mansoor led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

ANOTHER LAWSUIT IN THE BOOKS
Foley asked City Attorney Tom Duarte if he had any report out of the earlier Closed Session and he told us that, on a unanimous vote, the council had agreed to settle a lawsuit - number 5 on the agenda, HERE, for $250,000.  One more dip into the self-insurance fund.

PRESENTATIONS
Back on a positive note, Foley announced the City Manager's Leadership Award to Firefighter/Paramedic Givoanni La Placa.  This was a very well-received, uplifting report.  What a great young man!

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB REPORT
The City was then presented with the Boys and Girls Club Annual Report by Robert Santana, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Orange County.  Much progress has been made since several organizations have been folded into one.

ACCESS BUILDING, FIRE AND HOUSING BOARD OF APPEAL REPORT
Then the Interim Building Official presented the annual report from the Access Building, Fire and Housing Board of Appeal Committee.  The following slides tell you what he said.

PUBLIC COMMENTS
Several people spoke during Public Comments - non-agendized items.

Jay Humphrey - back in the saddle after major back surgery - gave kudos to Public Services Director Raja Sethuraman and his team for rapid response to trip-and-fall hazards reported by Humphrey.  He also opined that the City should be doing everything they can to prosecute the bozo who drove the truck into vernal pool #4 at Fairview Park, and the tow truck driver that pulled him out.

Al Melone spoke negatively about the recent sparsely-attended Coyote Forum conducted by the CMPD.

Wendy Leece, back from her recent hospitalization and ready for battle, praised the City for attempting to rebuild our public safety organizations, then criticized the selection process for the commissions following the election of new council members, observing that the council violated Council Policy.

Bob Cartright launched into a rambling rant about his concern for our children, offering critical comments about how "the building industry owns our city".

An unidentified woman observed that the residents should not have blind trust in the council.  She remarked about the recent Orange County Register article about Costa Mesa being the Capital of Cool and suggested it should also be known as the OC Rehab Riviera.

Richard Russell spoke on the recent Homelessness Forum held by councilmen John Stephens and Allan Mansoor, quoting statistics from that meeting and mis-identifying the cornerstone of our efforts in that regard, Muriel Ullman, as "Murial Berman".

Cindy Brenneman, once again, brought up the appointment process that gave us Carla Navarro Woods on the Planning Commission - obviously still a festering wound for her.

COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS
Mansoor
During Council Comments Mansoor thanked Melone for his comments about the Coyote Forum and told us about a new, easy-to-use app - Coyote Cache - that allows folks to enter their observations to help track coyotes in the city.

Foley
Foley attempted to defend the commission appointment process - and did not succeed.  A remark she made referring to Genis' vote caused the Mayor Pro Tem to fly off the handle.  It was not a pretty sight.  Foley spoke about her Friday Office Hours program that scheduled folks to speak with her.

Genis
Genis spoke about the need to find a solution to the loss of space at Lions Park while the rebuilding project is underway, observing that the gates at Davis Field should be opened so folks could use that green space for play and relaxation.  She also asked about the First Friday Road Show this week and was assured that it was on as scheduled.  She also spoke briefly about the coyote problem, urging folks to keep their cats inside at night.

Stephens
Next up was Stephens, who managed to violate the agreed-upon 4 minute time limit by at least another 10 minutes.  He spoke about his plan for a noiseless July 4th Fireworks program, observing that PETA donated $5,000 to his program.  He then spoke about the trip he, Foley, City Manager Tom Hatch and another city staffer took to San Antonio, Texas to look at a possible solution for our homelessness problem.  While a worthy subject, this is where the time element got to be problematic.  He went on and on - acknowledging that he was exceeding his allotted time - and THEN had an 8 minuted video played to compound the issue.

Righeimer
Righeimer was last and quickly criticized Stephens for his long presentation - not that it wasn't interesting, just too long, per their rules.  He then said we should put the Navarro-Woods issue behind us - then slipped in a little jab about how he understood she was missing meetings.  The man is a snake - I intend to watch to see when he sheds his skin this year.

We were now at 7:24 p.m., twenty-four minutes after the normal start time for Public Hearings - and we had a long way to go.

CONSENT CALENDAR
Next up was the Consent Calendar - those items that could - and probably should - be voted upon in one vote without separate discussion.  Alas, it was not to be.  Four items were pulled from the nine on the list.  The remainder were passed, 5-0.

Sober Living Lawyer Fees
Item #2, the Warrant Resolution, was pulled by an unidentified resident to observe about the money we are paying lawyers to work on Sober Living issues.  It was passed, 5-0.

Linares Contract
Next was Item #6, the renewal of the professional services agreement for the consultant - Mike Lineares - that handles CDBG and HOME grants for us.  The same unidentified person pulled that one and Senior Staffer Willa Bowens-Killeen explained the need.  It passed, 5-0.

Towing Services
Next came Item #8, the Towing Services Contract with Metropro Road Services and G&W Towing, pulled for discussion by a non-winning competitor for the contract.  This should have been a slam-dunk, but it wasn't.  After lengthy interrogation of the City Staff Team, led by CMPD Lieutenant Vic Bakkila, by the City Council they finally voted, 5-0, to approve the contracts, but with a 2-year term with a single 1-year extension.  The discussion took a half-hour.

Finance Lawyers
Item #9, the amendment to the professional services contract with Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth for their work on the Lions Park Project debt financing element.  Wendy Leece pulled this one for discussion.  Celeste Brady - of the law firm - and Interim Finance Director Steve Dunivent presented the City discussion.  It went on and on, degenerating into a technical discussion of bond financing and the people's right to know, during which we saw another cat fight between Genis and Foley.  Finally, at 8:30, the council passed the item, 5-0 and Foley called for a brief bathroom break.  We were now 90 minutes behind the normally-anticipated schedule for Public Hearings.

FEDERAL FUNDS
When the meeting conveined Linares and Bowens-Killen presented Public Hearing #1, the hearing for the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 funding priorities for the CDBG and HOME grants.  The following slides will describe the presentation.  The short version is, we don't know how much money will be available this year and, based on blather coming out of the Trump White House, we may not see this kind of program funded for future years.  The staff presumes $1,000,000 for CDBG funding and $340,000 for the HOME programs.

Several applicants for the funding presented themselves to the council to introduce their programs.  Finally, at 9:15, the council approved the staff recommendations, including the provision for the staff to make proportional modifications to the grants once the actual total dollars are known, 5-0.

MEASURE Z ORDINANCES
Next, led by Deputy City Attorney Tarquin Preziosi and consultant Sherry Vander Duessen, came Public Hearing #2, the Measure Z discussions - the creation of a fee structure for developments in the far northwest corner of the City, to be used for open space and park land - and the creation of a 17-member committee to oversee and advise the council on these issues.  The Planning Commission had earlier recommended to delete this committee from the discussion and place the responsibility for this activity in the hands of the Parks and Recreation Commission.

DON'T NEED IT
Councilmember Jim Righeimer led off by observing that this committee would actually have no funds to work with for one or two years, so he was concerned about the rush to create this new committee to do basically nothing.

COMMITTEE TOP-HEAVY WITH YOUTH SPORTS FANS
Resident Cynthia McDonald observed that, while youth sports are great, the configuration of the proposed committee would be heavily-weighted in that direction, leaving advocates of open space poorly represented.  She observed that we don't need another stacked committee, like the failed Fairview Park Citizen Advisory Committee - particularly when the median age of Costa Mesans is increasing.

An unidentified resident agreed with her and commented on the outstanding competence of the new Parks and Recreation Commission.

STEPHENS MOVES THE ITEM
Stephens moved the recommended action, citing the opportunity for greater citizen involvement.  Genis observed that it had too great an emphasis on youth sports, and that she feared it would take away responsibilities from the Parks and Recreation Commission - which it would.  She asked to have the "youth sports" language deleted, to which Stephens replied it could be replaced with "recreation".

Righeimer made a sarcastic remark that whenever  a committee had an acronym of seven or more letters it was a sign of "government run amok".  He said it's a level of government that we don't need.  He defended the existing, private Youth Sports Council over seen by Costa Mesa United.

After a 30 minute discussion the council finally voted the staff recommendation, with the language changes, 3-2, with Righeimer and Mansoor voting NO.

BIG MISTAKE!
My observation here is that this council made a big mistake.  The duties described in the resolution are clearly those that could, and should, fall under the umbrella of the Parks and Recreation Commission, not a large, unwieldy, committee.  From the beginning this has seemed to be a power play, to emasculate the influence of Costa Mesa United in recreational issues in our City.  Whether that is good or bad is another discussion.  However, a much more satisfactory solution to this would have been to change the ordinance to abandon the proposed committee and allow the Parks and Recreation Commission to perform this work - it's a natural!  Certain members of the City Council seem, for whatever reason, to be in a tug-of-war over youth sports with Costa Mesa United.  I believe it has clouded their judgment on this issue.  We'll find out soon enough, as the recruitment for those 17 positions on the committee begins, probably within the next week or so.  It's very possible that some of groups will boycott this effort, which would be a shame.

152 EAST 19TH STREET
Next on the agenda was Public Hearing #3, the resolution to vacate a portion of  East 19th Street at 152 East 19th Street.  This was a no-brainer and passed quickly on a 5-0 vote.

"PEG" FEES FOR CMTV
As did Old Business #1, the ordinance reauthorizing the collection of "PEG" fees for CMTV.  That also passed on a 5-0 vote.

GROUP HOME ORDINANCES
We were now at 9:50 p.m. and about to hear Old Business #2, the second reading of two ordinances regarding Group Homes, as amended by the council at a previous meeting.  Again Preziozi and Vander Dussen led this discussion.  Twenty minutes later, after a discussion that included public comments questioning the process and asking for clarification of the distinction of the Conditional Use Permit vs. Special Use Permit and how the ordinances would be enforced.  One speaker described the process as being "outta control", indicating that the sober living home operators have control in the city and are willing to spend a lot of money to get their way.  The issues passed, 3-2, with Mansoor and Righeimer voting NO.

RE-AUTHORIZING THE BIA
The final item on the agenda, New Business #1, was the re-authorization of the Business Improvement Area (BIA) and the review of the annual report.  President of Travel Costa Mesa, formerly the Conference and Visitor's Bureau, Paulette Lombardi-Fries, made a presentation and showed a glitzy video clip to dazzle the council.  The council voted to follow the staff recommendation on a 5-0 vote at 10:22 p.m.

GENIS DISAPPOINTED
In final comments Genis expressed "profound disappointment" that her peers seemed willing to not follow the rules they had established - referring to the earlier 4-minute violation by Stephens.

ROAD SHOW CLOSING?  NOT MY FAULT!
Foley apologized for letting Stephens run so long, then observed that she had heard a rumor that the First Friday Roadshow was shutting down and said "it was not me!"  She also wanted a report from Duarte or head of Code Enforcement Fidel Gamboa on code enforcement activities with sober living homes.

SEEMED LIKE MIDNIGHT!
The meeting ended at 10:30, but it seemed much longer.  And we have not even begun to hear all the pent-up appeals for Sober Living Homes yet.  It's going to be a long summer...