COSTA MESA Construction moves forward on hall...

COSTA MESA

Construction moves forward on hall to end them all

The Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall is about 13% complete,

on schedule and on budget since the $200-million project broke ground

in February 2003. The project is scheduled to be finished in June

2006 with a September 2006 opening planned.

* City Manager Allan Roeder released the proposed budget for the

2004-05 fiscal year. The $109-million budget was balanced without

increasing taxes or fees. But for the first time in his tenure as

city manager, Roeder is suggesting the city dip into the general fund

reserves as one way of compensating for a $2-million take-away from

the state.

* On Monday, the council tweaked the restrictions on the sale of

fireworks it approved earlier this month. It decided to allow high

schools to have six stands to sell fireworks and youth athletic

organizations will be limited to four stands.

-- Deirdre Newman