Inside City Hall

Commission appointments

After a heated discussion, the City Council at its Dec. 18 meeting

decided to end all commission terms in February but to retain its method

of appointments.

All council members now vote on all appointments to the planning and

parks commissions.

Although Mayor Linda Dixon and Councilwoman Karen Robinson agreed with

the idea of having each council member handpick a commission member, the

two could not agree on a process to remove commissioners from office.

WHAT TO EXPECT: If Cowan and Robinson are willing to compromise on a

removal process to push the new appointment process forward, the council

at tonight’s meeting will probably change its previous decision.

Gary Monahan is unmoving in his opposition to the idea.

“This is probably another stab at individual appointments even though

we spent an hour and a half on it at the last meeting,” he said. “I think

it’s the most ridiculous thing. Some people just can’t give up.”

Although he had previously supported the new process, Steel at the

last meeting voted against it, saying he was swayed by Monahan’s

objections the process would become more political.

Use of city property

The City Council will consider approving a revision to the city policy

about waiving fees for using city facilities and equipment.

The new ordinance would allow community groups -- regardless of their

nonprofit status -- to use city facilities for free up to four times a

year as long as at least half of the groups’ members are Costa Mesa

residents.

The current ordinance requires groups to have nonprofit status before

being allowed to use city facilities without charge. The council at the

Dec. 4 meeting asked city staff to draft a revised policy changing the

nonprofit requirement.

The Service Organization Council at the Dec. 4 council meeting

requested be allowed to continue using City Hall for its quarterly

meetings.

The organization council, which began meeting years ago at the request

of the city, also requested postage for an annual mailer. The

organization council is not nonprofit itself but is also made up of

nonprofit groups. It will not be allowed to use City Hall until the

council approves a new ordinance.

WHAT TO EXPECT: City staff did not include a recommended action.

The City Council could decide to approve, deny or change the proposed

ordinance, which would apply to the Service Organization Council.

The City Council will then have to decide whether to allow the

organization council to use city equipment to copy and distribute its

agendas and minutes. That request is not included in the proposed policy.

Council work stations

The council is scheduled to consider converting the mayor’s office

into work stations for all five council members.

The work stations, proposed by Cowan, would include desks with filing

drawers and a telephone for each council member, as well as a small

conference table and chairs for meetings.

The council members would also get a computer that they could choose

to set up at the work station or at home, if the proposal is approved.

The project is expected to cost $19,070.

WHAT TO EXPECT: To move forward with the project, the council will

have to approve plans for the space and allocate money from the city’s

net revenue-special projects budget. The project was not included in the

2000-2001 budget.

NEXT MEETING

WHO: City Council: Mayor Libby Cowan, Linda Dixon, Gary Monahan, Karen

Robinson and Chris Steel

WHAT: regular meeting

WHERE: 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. today

INFORMATION: (714) 754-5223