No sure thing among commission applicants

Lolita Harper

A collective sigh of relief, followed by a cloud of curiosity,

overcame City Hall insiders this week with the highly anticipated

release of the names of applicants for the Planning Commission.

The number of applicants -- 17 -- is high compared to years past,

and no one is willing to call any applicant a sure thing, except

veteran Planning Commissioner Walt Davenport, who has served on the

group for more than 22 years. But even Davenport said it’s a tossup.

Some officials blame the large number of applicants on the demise

of four-year staggered terms. This is the first time since the

council changed the terms to two-year coinciding tenures that the

entire commission will be up for reappointment.

The terms expire in March. All five of the current commissioners

-- Davenport, Chairwoman Katrina Foley, Bill Perkins, Eleanor Egan

and Bruce Garlich -- have reapplied.

Garlich said he is certainly anxious and guesses his fellow

commissioners feel the same.

“I think we are all anxious,” Garlich said. “I think we all enjoy

our jobs, take it seriously and work very hard at it. But in the end,

we serve at the pleasure of the City Council and we’ll have to see

what their pleasure is.”

The five-member Planning Commission has the power to act upon or

recommend regulation of growth, development and beautification of the

city. The current commission has been even more active than in the

past, as it has taken an proactive stance on many issues and

introduced some new policies -- with the approval of the council, of

course.

Many view a planning commissioner position as one of great

importance, as those assigned set precedent on the size and massing

of proposed developments. Since the application period closed Jan. 8,

City Hall insiders and sitting commissioners have been on pins and

needles about what the future might hold for the commission.

A politically charged atmosphere left over from the November

elections combined with the established unpredictability of the Costa

Mesa City Council has many guessing who will reign over second-story

additions and conditional use permits.

A group of residents calling themselves improvers, who have proven

their political power in the past two City Council elections, have

strong representation on the list of applicants. Michael Berry, James

Fisler, Michael Clifford and Joel Faris have all been active in the

vocal Westside group, and Fisler, Faris and Clifford have all waged

unsuccessful bids for the City Council.

In general, the “improvers” seek upscale projects for the city

that would raise property taxes and the overall image of the city.

They have targeted charities in the city, as well as the

city-sponsored job center.

Seeing as it was the “improvers” who worked to elect Councilmen

Chris Steel in 2000 and Allan Mansoor in November, their chances for

the commission hinge on finding that third vote.

Another Westside activist -- though of a decidedly different sort

-- is resident Bill Turpit, who is involved with the Latino Community

Network and Latino Business Council. Turpit also considered a run at

the 2002 council, but decided against it after Councilman Gary

Monahan announced his intent to seek reelection. Monahan gained the

overwhelming majority of the votes in November.

Vocal soccer dad Jonathan Zich has also thrown his hat in the

ring. Zich has made his presence known at City Hall during

contentious battles over the shortage of city sports fields.

City officials received six applications for the parks and

recreation committee, which is also very important, but historically

not as political. A familiar name on that list is Wendy Leece, the

former Newport Mesa Unified District School Board trustee, who was

ousted by Tom Egan in the fall election.

* LOLITA HARPER covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.