Inside CITY HALL

Jennifer Kho

WHAT HAPPENED:

City Council members agreed Monday to hold a public hearing to discuss

the future of the Huscroft House, an 85-year-old, two-story house that

was donated to the city in 1998.

The house -- infested with fleas and dead rodents -- is boarded up and

stands on blocks, said Don Lamm, the deputy city manager and director of

development services.

Councilman Gary Monahan said he wants an estimate of how much it would

cost the city to restore the house before it pays to relocate it.

WHAT IT MEANS:

On Dec. 9, council members unanimously approved the restoration and

development of Huscroft House to the early 1900 period for use as a

cultural museum at Fairview Park. The public hearing has not yet been

scheduled.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“I think we have to spend money to bring some culture to the

community,” Councilwoman Linda Dixon said. “This is a piece of Costa Mesa

history you are just talking about cutting up and using for firewood.”

Vote:

IN FAVOR

3 / 2, with Dixon and Mayor Libby Cowan dissenting.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council members gave preliminary approval for a new revision to the

massage ordinance.

The previous ordinance, passed two years ago in an attempt to

eliminate prostitution houses fronting as massage parlors, requires

masseuses to go through a rigorous licensing process to practice in the

city.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The first revision to the ordinance, unanimously approved Jan. 15, was

replaced instead of getting its final approval Monday. The revision would

have expanded the licensing process to include employees practicing

massage for state-licensed practitioners, as well as including

acupuncturists and chiropractors.

Licensed masseuses said they were concerned the new ordinance -- which

also would have required brighter lights and allow massage rooms to have

only partial, hinged doors or curtains -- would hurt legitimate business.

City staff drafted a new revision, approved Monday, that will not

require employees to take the test but will increase the training hours.

It will also restrict massage parlors to using only white lights -- but

not necessarily brighter ones than the original ordinance -- and allow

them to continue to use unlockable doors.

The final approval for the second revision is scheduled for March 5.

Vote:

IN FAVOR

5 / 0

NEXT MEETING

6:30 p.m. Feb. 20, City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.