Week in review

Local police officials said last week that they do not believe razor

blade discoveries in South County parks are linked to similar incidents

that shocked this community last spring, but they aren’t entirely ruling

out the possibility. Between March 23 and May 30, 2001, 13 incidents were

reported in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach parks and playgrounds. In most

cases, razor blades and sharp glass pieces were either planted on

playground equipment or buried in the sand.

The latest finding locally was reported in October, when razor blades

were found in Heller Park in Costa Mesa. Investigators said they did not

know if any of those incidents could be linked and that they believed

some could have been “copycats.”

The findings over the last few weeks in Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel

and Mission Viejo don’t appear to be connected to the Newport-Mesa

incidents, but both Costa Mesa and Newport Beach officials said they are

still investigating the cases.

In other news, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach police departments

received $25,000 and $76,160 respectively as part of Gov. Gray Davis’

$30.3 million traffic safety grants. Newport Beach plans to use the money

to pay overtime for DUI officers, especially during holidays and weekends

while Costa Mesa will install a crosswalk safety light at the

intersection of Placentia Avenue and and 20th Street that will alert

motorists when people are crossing the road.

The Newport Beach Public Works Department, which received $50,000,

will start updating its computerized traffic accident records system to

help identify trends in traffic accidents.

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .

Parents take library campaign online

A group of parents has jumped on the information superhighway to share

their concerns about children interacting with the public at a proposed

joint-use library at Mariners Park in Newport Beach.

The group is concerned that pedophiles have easy access to

pornographic material on library computers.

Every time you go to Fashion Island, you should thank Daniel Donahue

and Thomas Schriber for turning it into a shopper’s paradise.

On Tuesday, the UC Irvine Graduate School of Management thanked the

two real-estate moguls with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The two, who

own Donahue Schriber in Costa Mesa, were honored for their work

redesigning Fashion Island and developing and managing other shopping

centers throughout the county.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .

Checking for the budget’s pulse

Costa Mesa opened its collective mouth and said “ahhh,” as city

financial gurus examined various vital signs and finally announced a

“healthy” fiscal budget.

Last week, City Manager Allan Roeder presented the City Council with a

$101.8-million budget for fiscal year 2002-03. The 500-plus page document

outlines the city’s economic condition for the upcoming fiscal year,

which starts July 1.

The favorable prognosis is credited to the city’s strong sale and use

tax revenue, which has been able to keep Costa Mesa in good shape despite

a nationwide economic downturn.

The 2002-03 budget presents a $7.2-million increase -- or 7.64% --

over the 2001-02 budget. No programs are scheduled to be cut and the city

has even added a few more police and fire department positions.

Sales tax and use are, again, anticipated as the largest revenue

source in 2002-03 at $36 million. Property taxes are expected to go up 3%

and tourist driven revenues are to be up 5.8%, the report states.* Lolita

Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or by

e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .

Growth needs to grow, mayor says

Economic growth remains the name of the game for Newport Beach Mayor

Tod Ridgeway. In his “State of the City” speech at a Newport Beach

Chamber of Commerce meeting, the mayor emphasized his position that some

growth is necessary and good for the city.

City Council members are getting their first crack at the city’s

budget -- a $142.1 million spending plan that foreshadows a lean 2002-03

fiscal year, but contains not spending cutbacks.

Cable subscribers will have a chance to chime in at a series of city

workshops. The meetings are designed to get residents’ input on what

programming and other changes they want to see when the city renews its

contracts for cable service.

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .

The not-so friendly skies

Meetings between Newport Beach leaders and two environmental groups

continue to pave the way for extending flight restrictions at John Wayne

Airport. The groups may work together with the Federal Aviation

Administration to avert some airlines’ threat that they will sue if the

restrictions are extended.

And the Costa Mesa City Council refused last week to join in a lawsuit

against the anti-El Toro Measure W, stating the city’s resources are

better spent fighting the expansion of John Wayne.

* Daily Pilot staff. To contact the newsroom, call (949) 642-5680 or

by e-mail at o7 dailypilot@latimes.comf7 .