Costa Mesa City Council

DOLLARS AND CENTS

The City Council is continuing its discussion of a resolution to adjust

rates and fees for City services -- including dog licenses, use of City

fields and certain business permits -- for the fiscal year 1999-2000.

Some fees would go up under the proposal, while others would drop.

This measure was also considered at the Jan. 17 meeting, but the debate

was continued because Mayor Gary Monahan wanted to discuss the fees with

the City’s finance department.

What to expect: The council is now unified in its support of the

resolution, Monahan said, so debate is unlikely to be heated.

“It’s completely uncontroversial,” Monahan said of the plan. “The only

one questioning it was me.”

BALLPARK PROPOSAL

A plan to convert the dilapidated TeWinkle Park Athletic Complex into a

four-field softball complex is up for approval.

The plan would see the park, which currently features two softball

fields, a baseball diamond and a “utility” field, converted into a

four-field, softball-only complex.

What to expect: This may be a provocative issue, as TeWinkle, however

rundown it may be, has sentimental value as a baseball field for some

residents.

SANTA ANA HEIGHTS

The Council will discuss sending a resolution to the Orange County Board

of Supervisors requesting support for the annexation of the

unincorporated area of The Santa Ana Heights.

The resolution would not specify what city should annex the area -- both

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa are possible candidates -- but would simply

encourage the County to enter into discussions on the possibility of

annexation.

If the Council goes ahead with the plan, it will request that the City of

Newport Beach file a similar resolution with the County.

What to expect: The question of annexation is one that has many residents

concerned. Some in Santa Ana Heights want the area to be annexed by

Newport Beach, while others in Costa Mesa feel that their city would be

the best fit.

On this issue, however, both sides should be fairly unified, because the

resolution only addresses the possibility of annexation and doesn’t spell

out who should be involved in such an arrangement.

When: 6:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive