Job Center’s cost should not rest on Costa Mesa alone

Costa Mesa’s Job Center was created to serve a purpose: to keep day

laborers off the city’s streets and out of the parks. It succeeded

and continues to.

But there are still residents in the community who have problems

with the center that need addressing.

On Monday, the City Council, per Councilman Allan Mansoor’s

request, considered whether it should limit the day laborers to Costa

Mesa residents. In a 3-2 vote, the council decided to continue to

accept residents of all cities.

If the City Council had opted to require residency, those from

other cities would congregate in those streets and parks and, in

turn, defeat the purpose of the Job Center.

Mayor Gary Monahan, who with Mansoor was on the losing end of that

vote, suggested that the city work harder to ensure that the Job

Center be self-supporting. That, too, hasn’t gone his way.

It seems this is something at which the city can succeed.

In March, city staffers found that 37% of the day laborers and 49%

of the employers come from outside Costa Mesa. The city already

charges nonresident dayworkers a higher fee to use the Job Center.

The same could be done with the employers.

However, Costa Mesa can really be compensated if it determines the

cities of residence of those day laborers and employers. In doing so,

the city can look to those cities to ante up.

Some cities, such as Laguna Beach, have locations designated as

job centers. Others do not, yet they have residents who either need

work or need to hire help.

Residents of Newport Beach, which doesn’t have a job center,

account for 31% of the employer base that uses the Costa Mesa Job

Center. Since employers account for half of the center’s users,

perhaps Newport can pay Costa Mesa 15.5% of the center’s operating

costs.

Neighboring Huntington Beach, meanwhile, can pay about 3% for its

employers.

The cities should also pay the percentage that corresponds to the

number of residents who use the center.

In other words, Costa Mesa is relieving more than its own burden.

The other cities without job centers can also do their part.

Otherwise, they should build their own job centers or Costa Mesa

will eventually decide not to allow nonresidents -- employers or

employees -- to use the center. As often as the Job Center has ended

up on the Costa Mesa City Council agenda, it wouldn’t be too

surprising if this is the outcome at some point.