COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

CYBER CAFES

The City Council tonight will consider classifying cyber cafes as

amusement-based businesses, instead of research facilities, in order to

retain more regulatory power over them.

Cyber cafes, previously regarded as research facilities by city

planners, garnered a second look after a gang-related murder in December

at a similar venue in Fountain Valley. The Costa Mesa Police Department

was concerned with the two existing cyber cafes in the city: Cyber City

at 3033 Bristol St. and 3rd Dimension Online at 1525 Mesa Verde Drive

East.

Planning commissioners voted to change the wording of the existing

ordinance to classify cyber cafes as amusement, therefore forcing the

businesses to apply for a conditional-use permit, which carries more

stringent requirements. Last month, commissioners unanimously endorsed

that plan and forwarded their recommendation to the council.

What to expect:

Council members are expected to approve the change in classification.

TRANSPORTATION DEMAND

If the city wants to receive future funding from local traffic

authorities, it must impose new transportation requirements on new

commercial, industrial or mixed-use developments.

The Orange County Traffic Authority is requiring cities that wish to

receive future funding to change existing transportation demand

strategies for businesses of 100 employees or more.

The existing strategy, adopted in 1991, encourages carpools, vanpools

and park-and-ride facilities as ways to manage traffic. It effects

various businesses with 250 to 1,000 employees. New standards would be

for any commercial, industrial or mixed-use business of 100 or more

employees.

Costa Mesa must also offer the affected businesses two transportation

improvement options and provide them with information on how to implement

both.

Planning commissioners approved the transportation demand requirements

last month.

What to expect:

The council is expected to approve the changes in order to continue

receiving funds from local transportation authorities.

POLICE RADIO EQUIPMENT

Police are asking the City Council to approve the purchase of a

$626,288 antenna system for South Coast Plaza so that the area will have

reception for the department radio.

Last year, the Costa Mesa Police Department changed to the new 800-MHz

radio system but certain areas of the city had poor or little reception.

Most of the affected areas could be fixed using existing equipment but

the area surrounding South Coast Plaza -- on Bristol and Bear streets --

did not improve.

According to a staff report, mall officials have agreed to share the

cost of installation of the radio system within the common areas and

parking garages of South Coast Plaza and Plaza Bear Street shopping

locations. South Coast Plaza will contribute $200,000, the report states.

What to expect:

Staff has recommended the council approve the funding

FYI

* WHAT: Costa Mesa City Council meeting

* WHEN: 6:30 p.m. tonight

* WHERE: Council Chambers at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.

* INFORMATION: (714) 754-5225

* Compiled by Lolita Harper