Costa Mesa council forces commissioners to reapply

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- After several failed attempts at finding a new way to

appoint commissioners, the City Council this week finally -- but

tentatively -- decided to end all commission terms in February.

Two planning commissioners and three parks commissioners will have

their terms cut short by two years and will be forced to reapply if they

want to keep their posts.

On Monday, the council discussed each member handpicking appointees to

the commissions but then abandoned the idea. Traditionally, the council

as a whole has voted on commission appointments.

Monday’s decision will give the council a chance to bring the parks

and planning commissions in line with the new council, which includes two

new members, who were sworn in earlier this month.

“I wanted to keep open the possibility that we could appoint people

more updated on the issues that got [Karen] Robinson and I elected,”

Councilman Chris Steel said. “I also want to have different views and

diversity on the commissions. I would like to have everyone on the

council share my view, but as far as the lower commissions, I appreciate

diversity because the buck stops with me on the City Council.”

However, after reflecting on the action, Councilwoman Linda Dixon said

Tuesday she wants the council to try again to find a way to allow

individual council members to choose commissioners.

“I think that making commissions council-appointed will allow council

members to have representation on the commissions,” she said. “It would

give the council member and commissioner an opportunity to exchange ideas

and move forward on matters that the person who is elected would like to

see done, changed or continued in the city. The commissioners’ decisions

should be a reflection of the council members’ views and feelings.”

Both Mayor Libby Cowan and Councilwoman Karen Robinson proposed

allowing each council member to choose one commissioner to each of the

city’s two commissions, but disagreed on the appointment process.

Although Dixon supported both suggestions, neither Cowan nor Robinson

supported the other’s suggestion.

Councilman Gary Monahan suggested leaving the commission appointment

process as is, but he didn’t receive support from his colleagues.

“The majority of the council has apparently said that we believe both

commissions need to be revamped,” Monahan said. “I think this is

politically motivated action that is going to lead to cronyism and favors

being returned. It’s a slap in the face for folks who have put a lot of

time and energy into bettering the city to call them to reapply when

they’re in the middle of their terms.”

Planning Commissioners Katrina Foley and Walt Davenport, as well as

Parks Commissioners Jonathan Zich, Mark Harris and Chris Sarris, had been

scheduled to step down in 2003. Foley and Sarris said they would reapply,

while Davenport said he will not disclose his decision until he has told

the council.

“It is the council’s decision and discretion to change the process,

and I will abide by their decision,” Foley said.

Neither Zich nor Harris could be reached for comment, but Planning

Commissioners Katie Wilson and Tom Sutro, whose terms are scheduled to

end in March, said they plan to reapply for second terms.

Sutro said the appointment of all the commissioners by council vote

could lead to a reduction in diversity on the commissions.

“If we have a council leaning more to no growth, the council majority

may want a Planning Commission that thinks that way too,” he said. “They

can really pick and choose who they want. I don’t know if it’s a good

thing because you always want diversity, people looking at things in a

different way so you can get the big picture and make sure you do what’s

right for the city. The commissioners would be people who represent only

the majority of this council.”