COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

NEW MAYOR

The City Council will chose its new leadership tonight, as Mayor Libby

Cowan’s one-year term as mayor has come to an end.

WHAT IT MEANS

The mayoral position is considered to be mostly ceremonial and does

not hold more power, Cowan said. The mayor is expected to run the

meetings and take a leadership position in city business. A mayor pro tem

will also be selected to step in if the mayor is busy or unable to

represent the city on an issue.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Councilwoman Linda Dixon is expected to be voted mayor. Councilwoman

Karen Robinson is expected to be selected the mayor pro tem.

TOWN CENTER EXPANSION

The City Council will review an agreement to finally put an end to a

long-standing dispute between the developer and city attorney’s office.

The 54-acre project has been in the works for months and was again

postponed in July to ensure that final approval of the project was put

off until the development agreement could be worked out.

The project is a collaboration between South Coast Plaza, the Orange

County Performing Arts Center and the Commonwealth Partners LLC. The

proposal includes a pedestrian-oriented cultural arts district bordered

by Bristol Street, Sunflower Avenue, Avenue of the Arts and the San Diego

Freeway.

It also calls for a new symphony hall, expansion of South Coast

Repertory Theater, an art museum or academy, restaurants, an improved

parking area and office space.

Among the chief problems was how to ensure the Isamu Noguchi

California Scenario Garden remain open to the public as long as possible.

Throughout the process, opponents of the project have complained about

the size of the expansion and raised concerns about traffic increases.

WHAT IT MEANS

The new agreement will provide the city with a higher level of

long-term protection for the garden and cancel the rehearing of the

project.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council is expected to approve the new agreement.

CECIL PLACE

The owners of an unusually large plot of land on the Eastside are

asking council members to rehear their request to build two additional

houses on the property.

Michael Schrock and his business partner, Fritz Howser, were denied a

rezone petition on Nov. 19 that would have allowed them to build two

houses behind an existing two-story house in the 200 block of Cecil

Place.

Schrock and Howser claim the hearing on Nov. 19 failed to comply with

state and municipal codes, as well as case law, a staff report said.

City planning staff believes there is no new evidence from the

applicant that would necessitate a rehearing.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Council members are expected to deny a rehearing.

HUSCROFT HOUSE

While the historic Huscroft House sits on blocks at TeWinkle Park, the

City Council is again confronted with options to save it from demolition.

In July ,council members decided not to spend city funds on

restoration of the house, but instead put the house up for sale so it

could be restored privately. After a two-month open bidding period, only

one formal proposal was received, suggesting the house be moved to

Fairview Park where it can be run as a private museum and reception hall.

Staff reports called the bid problematic, saying it did not conform with

the Fairview Park Master Plan.

On Nov. 19, the City Council preliminary approved a development

agreement with C.J. Segerstrom & Sons for the Home Ranch project, which

included $200,000 to be used for relocation of the house. The money will

not be allocated to the city until 90 days after the first building

permit is granted for the Home Ranch site. The development is currently

being challenged by vocal opponents.

Public services staff is suggesting the council use the money from the

Segerstroms to move the house to Fairview Park where it would serve as a

museum. An additional $200,000 would then be required to restore the

house and about $18,000 would be used for maintenance and staffing, a

report stated. Staff also suggested council members approve $2,000 to buy

a cover for the house to protect it from the winter weather.

Demolition of the house would cost about $12,000.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city council is really no closer to having a definitive solution

for the Huscroft House dilemma. Council members have already expressed

disinterest in spending taxpayer funds on restoration of the house but

also feel strongly against its demolition. Because of the lack of private

interest, the council may feel pressure to move forward with previous

plans to move the house to Fairview Park, where it would serve as a

cultural museum.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The City Council is expected to return the one formal bid and approve

the Huscroft House’s move to Fairview Park.

COUNSELING CENTER APPEAL

Councilwoman Karen Robinson has requested an appeal of the Planning

Commission’s approval for a conditional use permit for a counseling

center.

Planning commissioners approved a permit for the counseling center in

an industrial building at 2950 Airway Ave. Conditions were placed on the

facility, however, including a mandatory staff member to supervise

building and parking lot activities.

Discussions were heated about whether the counseling center should be

allowed to stay in the building on Airway Avenue.

People with businesses in the same building asked the commission not

to support the center, saying the clients were a nuisance. They said the

counseling center’s patrons were often drunk and urinated in the parking

lot. One owner suggested the commission require a security guard -- paid

for by the owner of the center -- to supervise the actions of the

clients.