Funding Fairview Park

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- The City Council decided this week to begin work on

renovating Fairview Park, in part to ensure the city doesn’t lose nearly

$200,000 in grant money.

Council members voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to proceed with the design phase

of the project but made sure various options would be considered

regarding the parking lot, trails and habitat restoration. Councilman

Gary Monahan dissented.

David Alkema, Costa Mesa parks project manager, said the city must

spend $388,000 -- $194,000 in grant funding and the same in matching

funds -- on specific design plans in the next nine months, or risk losing

the money.

“We do have a deadline staring us in the face,” Alkema said.

The California Coastal Conservancy agreed in June to fund “the design

of public access and interpretive program improvements” for the west side

of the 210-acre park, according to a staff report. Plans for that area of

the park include an entrance, a 60-car parking lot, trails and habitat

restoration, which involves replacing some of the vegetation with plants

that are “native” to the area.

In August, city officials asked for an extension so they could recruit

a park administrator before moving ahead.

Coastal conservancy officials gave the city until March 31, 2003, and

warned that if the deadline was not met Costa Mesa would lose $194,000

and also not be considered for funding in the future.

The master plan for Fairview Park was approved in December 1998 and

called for 100 acres to be restored with plants that naturally grow in

the area, a parking lot, picnic spots, educational areas, a dog park,

educational areas, and bicycle and pedestrian trials. In the past four

years, items such as the bicycle trails and parking lot have come under

fire.

The council has recently postponed definitive design decisions in an

effort to gather more public feedback.

Councilwoman Libby Cowan said she recognized the need to move forward

Tuesday but insisted two public workshops be held during the design

process.

Monahan disagreed. Design options would ultimately come before the

council for final approval, at which time the public would be more than

welcome to give its input, Monahan said. But his view was not supported

by his colleagues.

Monahan was in the minority on the dais, but audience members agreed

with him.

“I’m always in favor of public participation, but we are kind of

beating a dead horse here,” former mayor Sandra Genis said.

Fairview Park enthusiast Bob Graham agreed, saying public workshops

would only delay the process.

“We keep passing the buck through the concept of community input,”

Graham said. “We [had community input] four years ago and came up with a

great plan.”

Graham was also concerned that council members would consider

eliminating the proposed parking lot because some residents are opposed.

“I don’t even know why this is being debated,” Graham said. “I think

it is time for the five of you to make up your minds and do what is right

for the community. Not just for now, but for the next 10 years.”

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

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