Costa Mesa raises user fees, charges

Deirdre Newman

The council voted unanimously on Monday to increase user fees and

charges for things such as recreation, building permits and false

alarms.

The new fees, which were raised to reflect costs, are effective

immediately.

Some residents said they supported the increase in fees.

“I think we do need to increase our fees,” Beth Refakes said.

“They should be in line with some of these costs.”

Refakes and other residents suggested that instead of raising

fees, the council should examine some of the programs and discontinue

them if their use does not justify the cost.

“If there’s not a lot of participation, you should consider

dropping them,” Refakes said. “When we’re in a budget crunch, you

have to look at things realistically.”

Mayor Gary Monahan said that Tuesday was not the time to evaluate

the programs -- that would come later, during budget discussions.

“If there’s something we don’t like, we nix that program,” Monahan

said.

Some of the fee changes are:

* To use the community garden, a resident will now have to pay $30

per year instead of $5. A nonresident will have to pay $60 for one

year instead of $10.

* A conditional-use permit will jump from $770 to $980.

* If an amendment to the general plan for a development is

approved, the applicant will now pay $2,315 instead of $2,245.

* For a resident to rent the gymnasium at the downtown recreation

center, it will now cost $65 instead of $45.

* If a resident wanted to rent the same facility for a nonprofit

organization to use, it would cost $25 instead of $20.

The last increase in fees and charges was made in August 2002.

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

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