ON THE AGENDA HOME RANCH City...

ON THE AGENDA

HOME RANCH

City leaders will decide tonight how the $2 million from the Home

Ranch development agreement designated for Costa Mesa schools will be

dispensed and who will be charged with the task.

Council members invited the public to Tuesday’s study session so

they could get a better idea of how to disburse the $2-million

payment from the Segerstroms -- who own the 93-acre Home Ranch

development -- for educational purposes.

In July, the Segerstroms sent the city the $2 million, which has

since been sitting in an interest-bearing account while city

officials decide who will manage it. Original suggestions were that

two foundations be formed to manage the interest of each

million-dollar account, while the principle grew.

Councilman Gary Monahan and Councilwoman Karen Robinson

recommended that the City Council form a single, seven-member

foundation to control the money. Members of the foundation, governed

by state open-meeting laws, would include one City Council-appointed

member, two community members, two members from Costa Mesa High

School, one from Estancia High School and another from TeWinkle

Middle School.

Parents, teachers, principals and residents have asked the City

Council to consider two separate foundations: one for Costa Mesa High

School and another for Estancia High and TeWinkle Middle schools.

Each would receive $1 million to start their foundations according to

an idea represented during Home Ranch negotiations a year ago.

PLANNING COMMISSION RECRUITMENT

Council members are expected to initiate recruitment for residents

to fill the upcoming vacancies on the Planning Commission.

All commissioners will be up for reappointment in March and

officials want to open the positions up for other residents to get a

shot at the job.

Councilman Gary Monahan said he wants to create four-year

staggered terms for commissioners, so the council will not be faced

with having to reappoint the entire commission every two years.

“We need that consistency,” Monahan said.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council is expected to officially start recruiting new

planning commissioners for staggered, four-year terms.

-- Compiled by

Lolita Harper