Improve the Westside committee’s efficiency

While we applaud the Costa Mesa City Council’s efforts last week

to narrow the focus of the Community Redevelopment Action Committee,

more must be done to ensure the group’s efficiency and effectiveness.

We suggested, in an August editorial, that the 80-member committee

appears much too large to accomplish its goals in 18 months, as is intended.

While we would never want to limit anyone’s voice or opinion, a

paring down of the group must occur. People will still be more than

welcome to share their thoughts, concerns, etc., but the advisory

group’s final decision -- or suggestion to the City Council -- should

come from a much smaller group.

This way, real, in-depth debates can take place on the dais. It

was very noble for the council to create a large committee that

everyone interested in Westside improvement could join. But as noble

as it was, it wasn’t wise. It’s better late than never to amend that

decision. Make it now.

Paring down the committee membership would be best for the group

as well as the Westside and those truly interested in making progress

toward Westside improvement would be willing to step aside to create

a more effective commission.

In the previous editorial, we also pushed for specific goals

toward Westside improvement. These were outlined in an “action plan”

on Monday by the City Council, acting as the city’s redevelopment

agency. That was a great first step toward making the redevelopment

committee purposeful.

It would also be wise for the council, acting as the redevelopment

agency, to check in on the committee’s progress about once every two

months and provide additional direction to continue to ensure the

group’s effectiveness.

We all want to see Westside improvement.

There is no doubt it needs it. But there are right ways to do it

and more efficient ways to do it. This must continue to occur and, if

it doesn’t, it must be revisited.