OCC swap meet growth at issue
Lolita Harper
COSTA MESA -- Orange Coast College officials analyzed the effects of a
drastically scaled-back campus swap meet Monday, weighing the loss of
revenue against a mandate for more space.
Jim McIlwain, vice president of administrative services at OCC, said
school officials are deciding whether to ask the city to allow for more
vendors and the return of a two-day weekend swap meet when the issue
comes before the Planning Commission for renewal in the next few weeks.
McIlwain said the college may ask for changes to the existing permit
-- which allows for 275 vendors on Sundays only -- but the campus has an
increasing number of Saturday classes and activities that compete for
space, parking and access.
“There is only so much room, and there are so many activities and all
are expanding,” McIlwain said. “It creates a natural conflict.”
Last month, city officials notified the college that the current
campus swap meet was violating the school’s 1984 agreement with the city.
A study -- prompted by Councilwoman Libby Cowan in November because of an
apparent increase in traffic along Fairview Road -- found the swap meet
was operating with an excess of about 200 vendors and an additional day
not authorized by the city.
City and college officials met to discuss the study, and the school
readily agreed to decrease the size to comply with the existing permit
starting the weekend of May 4. An announcement was sent to vendors,
explaining the cuts.
Slicing the swap meet in half may result in more than a decrease in
traffic, said George Blanc, the college’s administrative dean of economic
development and communication education who also oversees operation of
the swap meet. Reducing the shopping destination may also greatly reduce
the school’s revenue, he said.
The campus swap meet brings in at least $1.5 million every year, less
expenses for sweeping and staffing, Blanc said. The remainder of the
revenue is applied to funding myriad community programs, including a
small-business support center, summer college program for children and
performing arts.
“All these programs are in jeopardy,” Blanc said.
So are the livelihood of the vendors, he added.
Blanc said he was never aware of the terms of the 18-year-old permit
and had no idea the swap meet was violating them. He said the paperwork
was probably received and filed at the district offices in 1984 without
ever crossing his desk.
“I, for one, was not aware that we didn’t have a permit for
Saturdays,” Blanc said. “If I knew, we would have asked for one.”
Blanc added that the two-day operation was no secret. The school
advertised the swap meet on banners along Fairview Road and posted it on
the campus marquee, he said.
He is urging school officials to request permission for a larger venue
and said he would work with the city to eliminate its concerns.
* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)
574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .
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