Here are some of the decisions...

Here are some of the decisions coming out of the Costa Mesa City

Council meeting Tuesday.

CROSSING GUARDS

The City Council increased the pay for crossing guards by 6%

Tuesday by changing its contract with a Los Angeles-based staffing

company.

The hourly rate for guards will increase from $11.79 to $12.49, so

the city will adjust its contract with All City Management to reflect

the raise.

Last summer, council members decided to go beyond city boundaries

and contract with the private company to provide crossing guards at

18 locations throughout the city.

Despite expensive recruitment strategies such as increased

advertising, salary adjustments and fliers, the city had been unable

to fill vacant crossing guard positions. City leaders said crossing

guards are a crucial safety element and the positions must be filled.

To solve both problems of recruitment and retention, staff

suggested a contract with All City Management Services. All existing

crossing guards for the city were also hired on by the company.

WHAT IT MEANS:

City crossing guards will get a raise.

SECOND-STORY ADDITION

City Council members postponed Tuesday a decision to decide if

they would rehear the issue of a contentious second-story addition to

a Westside home.

The owners of an Aviemore Terrace home who were previously denied

permission to add on to their ocean-view home had asked the council

to reconsider the decision based on new evidence they wanted to

present, but city leaders said the council was not ready to consider

new evidence until all the paperwork was complete on the original

denial.

John and Debbie Clark had asked to build a second-floor master

suite and expansion of the ground floor for a breakfast nook, kitchen

and study -- designs that would create their dream home, they say.

The proposed addition raised the ire of neighbors who said the

resulting home would not only block their view of the ocean but would

create a “monster home” that would be out of character with the

surrounding neighborhood. Residents urged council members to deny the

project on the basis that city codes mandate additions to be

“harmonious” and “compatible” with the neighborhood. The proposed

home would not be, they argued.

City Council members agreed and unanimously denied a two-story

home addition last month, saying the anticipated lawsuit from the

Clarks would finally test city codes that require developments to be

“harmonious” and “compatible” with the surrounding neighborhood.

WHAT IT MEANS

The Clarks will be back Sept. 16 to ask that the council at least

consider a rehearing on the project, saying they will present new

facts to encourage approval.