COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

Compiled by Lolita Harper

Here are some of the decisions that came out of the Costa Mesa City

Council meeting on Tuesday.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council members approved a resolution strongly urging county officials

to extend the John Wayne Airport settlement agreement.

The agreement places a cap on flights at the airport and the times

planes can take off and land. It is scheduled to expire in 2005.

The resolution endorses an agreement adding four gates and 2 million

passengers over the 10 years after the agreement ends.

Audience members expressed frustration with the wording of the

resolution, saying it was too lenient. Many residents said the council

should demand that no flights be added and others charged the city has

taken a back seat on airport issues.

Councilwoman Libby Cowan said Costa Mesa has been involved as much as

possible but was not invited by the county to directly participate in the

negotiations. City Manager Allan Roeder has kept in contact with the

county Board of Supervisors and Newport Beach officials, who are

considered to be the lead negotiators.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Costa Mesa is officially on record as supporting the extension of the

John Wayne Airport settlement agreement.

WHAT THEY SAID:

Councilman Gary Monahan said he understood residents’ frustrations but

needed some room to negotiate with county officials.

“This scenario may not be perfect, but it’s the best we can get right

now,” Monahan said.

SOUNDING OFF:

“You are out of town more than you are in town, and when I try to call

you, you call me back at 2 a.m.,” said Mayor Linda Dixon, responding to

Steel’s concern that he was not properly consulted regarding airport

issues.

Vote: 4-1 in favor of the resolution. Councilman Chris Steel

dissented.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council members allocated about $2.6 million in extra revenue funds to

various capital improvement projects and theimplementation of community

objectives.

The council reviewed the options for the use of $2,596,420, which was

reported as general fund net revenues by an independent auditor. The

finance department is suggesting the council vote to save 35% for next

year’s budget, 50% on various capital improvement projects and 15% on the

recently identified community objectives.

Some of the recommended capital improvement projects include

decorative street lighting on 19th Street from Park to Placentia avenues,

paving of 19th Street from Anaheim to Park avenues, and the design costs

of the Police Department expansion.

Monahan also questioned giving $3,700 to the Orange County Human

Relations Commission, as asked for in one of Councilwoman Karen

Robinson’s community objectives. That issue was voted on separately from

the others.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The net revenue will be earmarked for the designated uses.

Vote: 4-1 in favor of all designations except the Human Relations

Commission funding. Steel dissented.

3-2 in favor of giving $3,700 to the Orange County Human Relations

Commission. Steel and Monahan dissented.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved a change to a city code that allows canopies

to be used at car dealerships and carwashes but bans them from

residential driveways.

The council earlier postponed the canopy issue, saying it needed

better definitions of what constitutes a canopy, tarp or tent before

making changes to the existing ordinance.

Sandi Benson, chief of code enforcement for the city, defined a canopy

as a durable fabric that is custom fitted over a metal frame and is open

on at least one side.

Monahan wanted to ensure the residential ban would not prevent people

from having tents for special events.

Benson assured him that tents or canopies could be used if a special

permit was given by the city.

In December, the Planning Commission recommended that canopies be

allowed at car dealerships and carwashes but not in residential areas.

Despite the recommendation, code enforcement staff suggested the use of

canopies on residential property if the canopies are being used to shade

cars in driveways leading to garages.

In previous meetings, audience members asked council members to ban

canopies, tents or tarps from any residential area, saying it cheapened

the look of the neighborhood.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Car dealerships and carwashes will be able to use canopies to protect

or shade cars but residents will not.

Vote: 5-0 in favor of the changes to the code.

NEXT MEETING

WHAT: Costa Mesa City Council

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. March 4

WHERE: Costa Mesa City Hall, 77 Fair Drive