ON THE AGENDA Here are a few...

ON THE AGENDA

Here are a few of the items being discussed at tonight’s city

council meeting.

JIM ELLIS DAY

The City Council will proclaim today “Jim Ellis Day,” in honor of

the highly decorated chief of the Costa Mesa Fire Department.

Ellis, who was named Costa Mesa’s fire chief in March 2001,

quickly earned the respect of the community with various

accomplishments, including more fire education resources and the

coveted rescue vehicle Mesa Truck 85.

The chief was selected as president of the Orange County Fire

Chiefs Assn. in January. And in February, Ellis and his son, Kevin,

pulled an unconscious man out of a burning car.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Expect Ellis to accept the award with a dashing smile and humbling

appreciation.

RENEE AND HENRY SEGERSTROM HALL

Council members will consider tonight a request by the city’s

largest and most influential development companies to waive traffic

impact fees required for a new hall at the Performing Arts Center.

C.J. Segerstrom & Sons -- charged with building the Renee and

Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall named after the leader of the

development company -- has asked the city to dismiss fees of about

$660,338, which take into account the average daily trips expected

from the addition of the concert hall and adjoining restaurant,

according to a city staff report.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The City Council is expected to deny the request, opting instead

to stick with the conditions outlined in the development agreement

for the project.

COMMUNITY BLOCK DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

The City Council will decide to what organizations it wishes to

contribute a portion of its federal housing grants.

Costa Mesa will receive $1,655,000 from the U.S. Department of

Housing and Urban Development -- more commonly known as HUD --

according to a city staff report. Fifteen percent of that money can

be used to fund programs that benefit low- to moderate-income people,

who qualify as such.

The city has received applications from 24 programs that want a

portion of that grant money. Costa Mesa’s Redevelopment and

Residential Rehabilitation Committee has interviewed the applicants

and has recommended what allotments of the money be given to whom.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Expect a lot of discussion on the merits of each program and a

consistent push by Councilman Chris Steel to not fund any “charities”

he thinks unintentionally contribute to lowering quality of life.