Pro-Home Ranch group wants time to speak

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- With so much attention on resident groups opposed to the

highly contentious Home Ranch project, those who support it said Monday

they want equal time to be heard.

“There’s a new group in town,” said Doug Sutton, a member of Costa

Mesans United, recently formed to support the Home Ranch project.

Sutton and fellow member Del Heintz asked the City Council about

scheduling a special council meeting in which they could be given an hour

-- or three -- to outline the benefits of the proposed development.

The men said they were asking for the same opportunity that was given

to Costa Mesa Citizens for Responsible Growth and a service employee

labor union that are opposing the project.

At first Mayor Libby Cowan told the group it would not be possible

because a uniformed schedule had already been planned.

Costa Mesa Citizens for Responsible Growth “has been involved in this

the whole time. Tonight is the first time I’ve heard from Costa Mesans

United,” Cowan said.

But the mayor quickly realized the possible ramifications of limiting

speech and opened the question for council comment.

Councilwoman Karen Robinson, who was largely supported by various

members of Costa Mesa Citizens for Responsible Growth in the last

election, said the city must be careful in granting additional time.

There is “substantial danger that everyone watching at home would want

to say they’re a group and get extended time also,” Robinson said, while

adding that it was important to treat all the groups fairly.

Councilman Gary Monahan said the council was heading down a slippery

slope by already agreeing to grant certain groups additional time.

“Icy area when you start trying to separate groups,” Monahan said. “We

started this in the spirit of of giving, but we are going down a

dangerous road.”

Sandy Genis, a member of the Costa Mesa Citizens for Responsible

Growth and a former city mayor, said she could empathize with both sides

of the issue.

As mayor, Genis said, she ran into similar problems but solved them by

not allowing the developer to have unlimited presentation time. And as a

member of a community group, she understands the importance of getting

equal time to present a viewpoint.

She suggested Costa Mesans United work with the Segerstroms and

present their concerns as part of the developer’s portion of the meeting.

“Since nobody ever limits their time to speak,” Genis added.

The council ultimately decided to hand the issue over to City Atty.

Jerry Scheer, who is expected to return with a formal opinion at Monday’s

meeting.

Unable to promise exclusive speaking time, Cowan suggested the new,

pro-Home Ranch group take advantage of the general comment time allotted

to the public.

“You have four minutes. If all 10 of you got up to speak, you would

have 40 minutes total,” Cowan said.

-- Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .