LIBBY COWAN ON:

NEW CODE REGULATIONS

The Costa Mesa City Council approved a number of new code regulations

earlier this year in response to residents’ complaints about the

maintenance of their properties. Cowan said she is “proud to be a part”

of developing these new regulations, adding that the city codes can help

clean up Costa Mesa.

WEST SIDE PLAN

Since 1998, the city has focused on the West Side for intense

revitalization efforts. The aged part of the city has lacked economic

progress and has become dilapidated.

The newly revised plan to improve the area includes making the

neighborhoods pedestrian friendly, replacing some apartment complexes

with townhomes and cleaning up the businesses.

Cowan said she has not yet formed an opinion on the plan, but said she

“fully supports the use of our city’s Redevelopment Agency in the efforts

to improve the quality of life on the West Side.”

EAST 17TH STREET

The city has proposed a plan that would widen East 17th Street from four to six lanes and make improvements on the street to relieve traffic.

However, residents and merchants feel that adding the extra lanes would

reduce the “mom and pop” feel of the street.

Although Cowan does not support having grant funding “dictate what we

do on 17th Street,” she said the area is “ripe for beautification and

other improvements.”

CITY BUDGET

This year, there was a $14.5-million surplus in the city’s budget.

Cowan said the budget is “an efficient and effective use” for the various

revenue sources and for the services that the voters and taxpayers

desire.

TRAFFIC PROBLEMS

Cowan supports the Centerline Rail Project and said she believes that

traffic can be resolved only “with regional collaborative efforts.”