COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

-- Compiled by Andrew Glazer

ISSUE: Rate increases for city services

VOTE: 5-0 to continue until next council meeting on Feb. 7.

SUMMARY: The city’s finance department submitted a report to the council

outlining a proposal for new rates and fees for city services. The

services include use of city baseball fields, applying for dog licenses

and purchasing permits for fireworks stands. The reason for the delay:

Mayor Gary Monahan pointed out the report did not include last year’s

rates.

“Normally, this is routinely approved,” Monahan said. “But without last

year’s rates, we can’t get a handle as to how they came up with the new

fees.”

ISSUE: Extend the moratorium on certain uses within boundaries of West

Side Specific Plan.

VOTE: 4-1, with Monahan casting the dissenting vote.

SUMMARY: The council voted to extend a moratorium on approving new liquor

stores, bars and convenience stores selling primarily alcohol on the West

Side to 10 1/2 months.

The City Council originally approved a 45-day moratorium as a part of a

larger plan to revitalize the neighborhood. The council voted for the

temporary moratorium to prevent businesses it feels may be bad for the

neighborhood from moving there while independent planners draft a more

comprehensive revitalization plan.

ISSUE: 1999-2000 community objectives

VOTE: 5-0 to approve

SUMMARY: By approving the Community Objectives -- a list of issues each

council member wants the council to address -- the council authorized

staff to assign a project manager, estimate a budget and come up with a

strategy to carry out the projects.

This quarter’s objectives included allowing city artists to exhibit their

work in City Hall and assisting the Orange County Fairgrounds in its

efforts to replan the grounds and create a city newsletter which would

include special events and newsworthy items.

ISSUE: Approve planning, designing and building contracts for the

downtown recreation facility

VOTE: 5-0 to approve the contracts

SUMMARY: The council approved a contract for more than $3.3 million with

Old Hickory Construction, Inc. to build the facility. The council awarded

a $335,000 contract with Analytical Planning Services, Inc. to be the

project’s engineers. It also signed on Martinez and Amador Architects,

Inc. for $50,000 to review the center’s architectural design. The

construction crew is scheduled to break ground today.