Costa Mesa working to eliminate abandoned carts

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- A meeting on Wednesday designed to coordinate efforts to

rid city streets of abandoned shopping carts served to educate grocers

and city officials and forge commitments to work together in the future.

Although no clear-cut solution was agreed upon, retail store

representatives said they have a better understanding of the severity of

the shopping cart dilemma and are willing to work with the city to

alleviate the problem.

“If we all work together to find a solution, we will all walk away

winners,” Mayor Linda Dixon said.

Sandi Benson, the code enforcement manager for the city, invited 32

retail companies, including grocers, drug stores, clothing and lumber

stores. Representatives from 10 of them showed up.

In August, the council unanimously agreed to solicit a company to pick

up abandoned carts around the city. The city could spend up to $7,000 a

month for a retrieval service. Rather than spend taxpayer money,

residents said they wanted grocery store officials to take responsibility

for their own carts.

It was that City Council meeting that prompted Wednesday’s meeting at

the Neighborhood Community Center.

Representatives from eight of the companies said they already had

agreements with a cart retrieval agency -- California Cart Retrieval --

to pick up errant carts.

“We have a guy [from California Cart Retrieval] who works for us seven

days a week. He’s our guy, and we pay him good money,” said Alfred

Espinoza, the district manager for Stater Bros.

Nick Ellena, from Growers Direct, said he had a deal with the same

company but that his carts were less likely to be picked up because his

business is small.

“They would be more willing to get [the carts from a big business]

because they’ll get paid for 30 than pick up one of my carts,” Ellena

said.

After some back and forth, everyone decided to hold another meeting

and agreed to invite a representative from the cart retrieval company to

join the discussion.

“I think we need to get them involved also,” said David Kokx, the

manager of Vons on 17th Street.

Councilwoman Libby Cowan said she agreed it would take a group effort

to solve the problem but reiterated that the city should not be expected

to bear the brunt of the cost.

“It’s not a financial burden that should be taken on by only the

city,” Cowan said. “If we’re not getting reimbursed, then we don’t think

it is fair.”

Cowan suggested the city take over the individual contracts for cart

removal, so it can demand that all carts be picked up regardless of the

store name emblazoned on them. Once retrieved, the number of carts would

be recorded and the owners would be charged a fee, Cowan suggested.

City Maintenance Manager Bruce Hartley said consolidating the

contracts could have cost-saving benefits.

Retailers questioned the amount that would be charged and who would

make up for the carts that were not marked. Although details were

missing, store representatives said they would be willing to consider the

possibility.

Police Capt. Tom Warnack said arresting anyone who removed shopping

carts from a store’s property would require cooperation from store

managers.

“My staff has told me that they haven’t received a lot of support from

managers who are willing to be victims in this crime,” Warnack said.

When asked by city officials if store managers would be willing to

prosecute such cases, there was no response.

“It doesn’t mean we are not willing to enforce the law,” Warnack said.

“But arrests just aren’t the primary way to combat the problem. Law

enforcement can only serve as a supplement, not a solution.”

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

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