COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

Lolita Harper

COUNTY LIGHT RAIL

New transportation ideas like an Orange County light rail line will be

presented to the City Council tonight.

The council will vote to support a joint letter to the Orange County

Transportation Authority urging the agency to begin engineering a revised

Centerline Project.

The letter is to be signed by the mayors of Irvine, Santa Ana and

Costa Mesa, upon approval.

Costa Mesa has diligently planned for the possibility of a light rail

project by setting aside stations and working with property owners to

ensure compatibility with the system in the future. Mayor Libby Cowan and

Councilwoman Linda Dixon are in favor of a light rail transportation

system but will reviewthe details of the proposal before supporting it.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The City Council is expected to approve the joint letter and authorize

the mayor to sign it.

FAIRVIEW PARK

The City Council will review requirements for a full-time naturalist

for Fairview Park Monday.

Proposed responsibilities for the position -- titled Fairview Park

Plan Administrator -- include supervising the development of Fairview

Park, acting as an advocate for the park and its master plan and

fostering effective relationships with the community, city staff and

council.

A college degree with a focus in land development and a background in

parks and recreation are being recommended. Staff would also like to see

the position filled by someone experienced in grant acquisition.

Proposed annual salary for the new position ranges from $62,820 to

$84,180, a staff report showed.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council is expected to approve the job description, authorize the

position and approve the salary pay range.

CITY NEWSLETTER

The city may be one step closer to publishing its own newsletter.

After more than a year of planning and budgeting, the council will

review a plan to contract with Ideal Printing Co. in order to provide its

constituents with a quarterly newsletter. According to a staff report,

the newsletter will cost the city $58,590 per year.

In February 2000, the council made a newsletter one of theircommunity

objectives. A year later, city staff presented the council with options

for its creation and distribution.

Upon further review, the city decided it would be more cost effective

to contract with an outside vendor and opened the bidding process.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Council members are expected to approve the selection of Ideal

Printing Co. and designate $58,590 for the newsletter.

FYI

What: Costa Mesa City Council meeting

When: 6:30 p.m. today

Where: City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa

Information: (714) 754-5223