Here are some of the items the...

Here are some of the items the council considered Monday:

CHURCH RENOVATION APPEAL

The council upheld the Planning Commission’s unanimous approval of

the renovation of St. Joachim Catholic Church, at 1964 Orange Ave.

Councilman Chris Steel brought forward the appeal on behalf of

concerned residents in the area.

The renovation includes the demolition of several buildings on the

site to accommodate a new classroom building and gym/multipurpose

building.

Steel’s appeal contained 13 concerns, including that the square

footage of the new buildings is a “dramatic increase in space” and

that the commission did not act on significant issues regarding

parking, traffic circulation and trash. It also recommended several

other conditions that Steel believes should be imposed on the project

approval, such as requiring all utilities on the site to be placed

underground.

WHAT IT MEANS

The church can go ahead with the renovation.

WHAT WAS SAID

“This project meets all the requirements.... I fully understand

the issues of parking, noise and trash -- we have the same issues on

the Westside. I am willing to address these issues. I think the

police department and code enforcement is willing also,” Councilman

Allan Mansoor said.

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

The council appointed five representatives from diverse agencies

in the city to the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Advisory

Committee.

The committee reviews proposals and makes recommendations to the

City Council with regard to the expenditure of the block grant funds.

WHAT IT MEANS

Five new members will serve on the committee. Those members are:

Lt. Craig Frizzell of the Newport Beach Police Department; Orange

County Deputy District Attorney Mike Fell; Judge Susan Shaw, Harbor

Justice Center; Jane Garland, spokeswoman for the Newport-Mesa

Unified School District; and Leda Albright, the executive director of

Families of Costa Mesa.