Eleanor Egan named planning commissioner

Deepa Bharath

COSTA MESA -- After three hours of interviews and seven candidates,

the City Council on Saturday took less than 10 minutes to unanimously

select Westside resident and former assistant city attorney Eleanor Egan

to serve on the Planning Commission.

Egan will fill a position left vacant by the resignation of Katie

Wilson, who had to give up her seat last month because she moved to Seal

Beach. Planning commissioners are required to live in the city.

The other six candidates interviewed were Ted Crisell, Agnes Dubberly,

Douglas Golding, Robert Lawson, Thomas Steinfeld and Mark Watkins. One

other candidate, Albert Rasch Jr., was not able to attend the interview.

Egan, whose first meeting as a planning commissioner will be Aug. 6,

said she is “delighted and excited.”

“Our city is built out and we’re entering a new phase,” she said.

“It’s a pivotal time for us, and I’m looking forward to make my

contribution at such a time.”

Egan said she does not have a set vision for the Westside, but does

have a lot of ideas.

“I’ll just say I want the Westside to be clean and green,” she said.

Egan has served as co-chair of the Westside Improvement Assn. since

May, a position she will have to give up to serve on the Planning

Commission.

All council members said they felt Egan, a longtime resident and a

frequent visitor to city meetings and study sessions, is perfect for the

job because of her knowledge and her background.

“She could move into this position very easily,” said Councilwoman

Linda Dixon. “She has been involved in the community for many years. “

Egan is currently a board member of the Costa Mesa Library Foundation

and worked as Costa Mesa’s assistant city attorney between 1982 and 1990.

She was also Culver City’s city attorney for a year and served as

Anaheim’s senior city attorney for five years.

Councilman Chris Steel said he wanted to see a woman fill a position

left vacant by a woman.

“We need that balance in our city,” he said. “Also Katie Wilson was a

Westside resident. So’s Eleanor. There are similarities which I think

worked out really well.”

Mayor Libby Cowan said Egan will bring “good perspective” to the

Planning Commission.

“She is also very well connected with the community and brings genuine

interest and passion for Costa Mesa,” she said. “I think she’ll have a

good working relationship with the council as well.”