Community Commentary -- Jim Carnett

Much has been written about Orange Coast College’s swap meet in recent

days (“OCC swap meet gained previous city approval,” Wednesday). This

communique is designed to establish some important facts about the

situation.

The swap meet came into existence 20 years ago, in 1982. At that time,

OCC applied for a conditional use permit from the city of Costa Mesa to

place a Sunday-only swap meet in the college’s parking lot at the corner

of Fairview Road and Merrimac Way. Two hundred and five selling spaces

were authorized.

The swap meet quickly outgrew its location. In 1984, OCC applied for a

275-space permit to move the Sunday-only event to the larger Adams

Parking Lot, on the northern perimeter of the campus.

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission recommended the maximum number of

sellers be increased from 205 to 400. The city renewed the permit,

leaving the maximum number of 275, and adding the statement: “With an

ultimate increase to 400 sellers to be approved by the developmental

services director upon request of the applicant, if it is found that no

problems have been created by the increase to 275 sellers.”

In succeeding years, the college encouraged the swap meet’s dynamic

growth. The Adams lot was enlarged, and the swap meet became a weekend

event, expanding to Saturdays more than 15 years ago. The swap meet has

recently been operating with about 400 vendors on Saturday and 500 on

Sunday.

Throughout the past 18 years, the college has operated under the

authority of the 1984 city permit. That permit, on file with the city,

came up for renewal every two years and, after reviewing the matter, was

renewed on each occasion by the city. The most recent renewal occurred in

June 2000. The city issued a formal written notice of compliance and an

extension of the permit for two additional years.

That notice states: “The property was found to satisfy the conditions

of approval of the subject permit and to be in compliance with all

applicable ordinance requirements. In addition, no complaints have been

received regarding property or use.”

The college therefore believes it was in full compliance and that the

city was completely satisfied with the swap meet, including the expansion

of the number of vendors, given the lack of complaints.

The swap meet was scheduled to be inspected again on April 13, 2002.

Last February, OCC President Margaret Gratton received a letter from

Costa Mesa Mayor Linda Dixon and Councilwoman Libby Cowan. The letter

stated that, in recent months, the city and several residents had “noted

a marked increase in weekend traffic and parking congestion on the

streets bordering Orange Coast College.”

The city further expressed the opinion that the swap meet had been

allowed to “overrun the surrounding streets and neighborhoods.” The

letter said “It is with this in mind that we seek your support and

cooperation in reining in the swap meet’s operation so that it may once

again be considered an asset to the college and the community.”

The letter also accurately stated that several agencies contribute to

weekend traffic congestion along Fairview Road and Adams Avenue,

including: OCC’s swap meet; the Orange County Fairgrounds’ Market Place;

Costa Mesa High School; and the city’s Farm Sports Complex.

Orange Coast College has always endeavored to be a good resident of

the city of Costa Mesa. We’ve been here six years longer than the city

has been incorporated, and it’s our intention to do our best to continue

to be a good neighbor to all who live and work beside us.

Jim McIlwain, OCC’s vice president of administrative services, met

with city officials March 22 to discuss the swap meet’s future status. In

that meeting, it was determined that the swap meet was out of compliance

with the 1984 conditional use permit.

The college, per the city’s demand, agreed to heed the language of the

permit and reduce the swap meet to Sundays only. Because sellers reserve

their swap meet locations one month in advance, the city agreed to delay

required compliance until the first weekend in May.

During the month of May, the city has promised to take a close look at

Saturday and Sunday traffic patterns on the streets adjacent to the

campus. OCC will not be completely deserted on Saturdays, however, as

many credit classes and non-credit community education courses and

programs are offered at that time during the fall and spring semesters.

The college anticipates that Sunday attendance could grow considerably

after the swap meet is reduced to a single weekend day. Many buyers do

their shopping every weekend at the swap meet. Instead of being dispersed

over a two-day period, roughly the same number of patrons might attempt

to shop on Sunday alone. That situation will be monitored closely.

Later this spring, Orange Coast College will make an application to

the Planning Commission for a redesigned swap meet. OCC will apply for

two weekend days, with the number of sellers to be determined by the

joint study conducted by the college and the city. The college has

retained the law firm of Rutan and Tucker to facilitate the permit

application process. What are the economics of OCC’s swap meet?

The swap meet grosses between $1.5 and $2 million in revenue annually.

Orange Coast College nets about $750,000 each year.

What are the funds used for? All funds are used to support campus and

community education projects.

The state of California has assigned its 108 community colleges a

three-fold mission:

1. To transfer students to four-year universities;

2. To provide career and technical education; and

3. To encourage economic development.

The swap meet subsidizes OCC’s economic development function, thus

freeing state funds to be extensively used for transfer and career

education.

OCC’s swap meet money goes to support fee-based community education

classes and programs that are not otherwise independently financially

viable. Last year, 62,000 patrons were attracted to OCC community

education and performing arts events.

Swap meet funds underwrite the college’s extensive -- and affordable

-- performing arts season. The 2001-02 season featured more than 60

productions, including visits by such performers as Debbie Reynolds,

Frankie Avalon, Suzanne Somers, Diahann Carroll, the Kingston Trio, the

Peking Acrobats and Red Buttons.

Discount tickets for all productions are available to students, senior

citizens and children 12 and under. Without swap meet support, a season

would be an impossibility.

Productions by OCC’s Fine Arts Division are also supported by the swap

meet, and the swap meet contributes annually to scholarships for OCC

students.

About 8,000 elementary school children are invited each year to view

live entertainment on OCC’s campus. Some children pay a nominal fee of $5

per performance, while others are admitted free of charge. The program is

subsidized by the swap meet.

About 4,000 youngsters, between ages 6 and 12, take part each summer

in the College for Kids Program on campus. The program is partially

subsidized by the swap meet, and scholarships are provided to youngsters

whose parents are unable to pay.

OCC’s Small Business Assistance Center, which has offered free

assistance to more than 700 local small business owners over the past two

years -- positively benefiting the local economy -- is subsidized by the

swap meet.

Each of these programs will be in jeopardy, in whole or in part,

should the city refuse Orange Coast College the right to continue

operating the swap meet on Saturdays and Sundays.

Orange Coast College pledges to work closely with the city of Costa

Mesa in the coming weeks to resolve issues relating to its swap meet.

All factors will be carefully considered as we determine the swap

meet’s ultimate disposition and the disposition of the community

programs.

* JIM CARNETT is OCC’s director of community relations.