Parks, planning picks the same

Deirdre Newman

Although Mike Scheafer’s appointment to the City Council was laden

with tension and suspense, his decision on whom to appoint as

commissioners was stress-free.

Scheafer said he will keep both of former mayor Karen Robinson’s

picks -- Bruce Garlich on the Planning Commission and Mark Harris on

the Parks and Recreation Commission. Scheafer was appointed Monday to

replace Robinson, who resigned April 15 to become an Orange County

Superior Court judge.

Scheafer’s satisfaction with the status quo ensures consistency on

the commissions, which were shaken up after the November election

when the council changed the process of filling them to individual

appointments. Commissioners now serve at the will of their council

members and can be replaced at any time.

“I’m not going to change anything that’s in place,” Scheafer said.

“I think if they were good enough to be appointed in the first place

that they should get a chance to continue. I’ve spoken to both of

them and seen both of them in action and think they’re both doing a

fine job.”

Garlich said he was happy to hear he would be staying on the

commission he chairs.

“I like my job. I’m just in my third year, I’m far from tired and

I think I’m pretty good at it,” he said. “I’m looking forward to

continuing as chair and enjoying Costa Mesa’s 50th birthday and

staying involved with the city.”

Harris also expressed pleasure at the opportunity to continue

serving on the commission he has been involved with for nine years.

He and Scheafer served together on the Parks and Recreation

Commission in the late 1990s. Scheafer resigned in August 2000

because he felt he couldn’t express his views freely on a skateboard

park location.

“He saw how I worked on there, and we both have a good

understanding of each other and we think pretty similar,” Harris

said. “He’s really pro-kids programs and our youth sports ... and

he’s very much into the doing right thing for the city where

recreational needs are concerned.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.