WHAT HAPPENED: The City Council reduced...

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council reduced the number of Planning Commission

meetings each month from two to one.

WHAT IT MEANS:

To cut costs, the council directed the seven-member commission to

shave one meeting off its monthly calendar.

In one year, the Community Development Department will save

between $33,300 and $48,300 a year.

After a spirited discussion about whether the reduced schedule

would lead to a glut of projects on the commission’s plate, council

members narrowly approved the move.

Mayor Connie Boardman joined council members Debbie Cook, a former

planning commissioner, Pam Houchen and Dave Sullivan in the approval.

New council members Jill Hardy, who sat on the Planning Commission

before her November election, Gil Coerper and Cathy Green opposed the

decision.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“Major projects tend to stack up. It would take a lot more effort

on behalf of the staff to space out large projects.” -- Jill Hardy

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council named Jim Engle to the permanent position of

community services director. Jim Engle, naming him to the post.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Engle steps into the top post in a department where he has spent

the last three decades of his professional life.

The council approved a recommendation by City Administrator Ray

Silver to install Engle, who replaces departing director Ron Hagan.

Engle has been interim director since October, when Hagan announced

his retirement.

Engle, 53, has been a deputy director in the department since

1993.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved six new transportation projects, which

will be eligible for $2.9 million in grant funds from the Orange

County Transportation Authority.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The council launched the new projects, including widening Heil

Avenue between Silver Lane and Beach Boulevard and installing a

transit center on Pacific Coast Highway.

The city will also coordinate traffic signals along Adams Avenue

and at the intersection of Brookhurst and Victoria streets. The city

would chip in $9,000 to the project, which is being overseen by Costa

Mesa.

Other projects include bus benches in the city’s coastal areas,

the installation of closed-circuit cameras at four points along

Pacific Coast Highway and a realignment of sections of five

“arterial” streets -- Warner, Edinger and Garfield avenues and

Brookhurst and Goldenwest streets.