Here are a few items the council...
Here are a few items the council considered Tuesday.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SUBSCRIPTION
The council delayed final approval of a new program that would
charge a subscription fee for emergency medical services. Under the
program, Costa Mesa residents could pay an annual fee that would
cover them for any emergency medical service calls they make; those
who don’t subscribe would be billed at a much higher rate for getting
emergency medical assistance from the city.
The emergency medical subscription program was suggested as a way
to generate more revenue so the city can stop relying on carry-over
funds to balance the budget.
The council approved a first reading of the measure on March 15
but still has to formally adopt it and set the amount of fees.
WHAT IT MEANS
The council will discuss the emergency medical subscription
program again at its April 19 meeting.
HOME FURNISHINGS CENTER
The former State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance office building on
Hyland Avenue can be bulldozed to make way for a 312,540-square-foot
home furnishings complex with 860 parking spaces, if the council
approves a second reading of an ordinance to rezone the 21-acre
property. Council members agreed to a master plan for the South Coast
Home Furnishings Center, which will include a mix of home decor and
furniture stores as well as some fast food outlets and other retail
uses.
The proposal did raise some concerns Tuesday -- one resident
complained that bicyclists will have no way to trip the traffic
signal so they can cross streets that will be made busier by the home
furnishings plaza. Councilwoman Linda Dixon wanted to hear more
specifics of the proposal before voting on it.
WHAT IT MEANS
The home furnishings center’s master plan doesn’t require another
vote by the council, but the property rezoning needs a second
affirmative vote to become official.
The council will discuss the rezoning again April 19.
WHAT WAS SAID
“I think rezoning this area will set a precedent for the other
areas around it,” Dixon said. “We don’t know what stores are going in
there, we have questions about parking; we have questions about
traffic.”
WALNUT STREET PARKING RESTRICTIONS
Parking on Walnut Street between Orange and Westminster avenues
won’t be restricted to residents with permits. The council voted to
deny a request for resident-only parking after a number of homeowners
who initially asked for parking restrictions reversed their position.
At a Feb. 22 meeting the council heard about parking shortages
when visitors to St. Joachim Catholic Church fill up street parking
spaces. But some residents who signed a petition asking for permit
parking said on Tuesday they felt misled when they were encouraged to
sign and that they wanted to withdraw the request.
WHAT IT MEANS
No permit parking program will be put in place, and the church has
agreed to work with residents to solve complaints about Sunday
traffic.
SAFE SURRENDER SITES
The council voted to urge the Orange County supervisors to
designate Costa Mesa’s fire stations as part of the “safe surrender”
program, which allows people to drop off unwanted newborns without
fear of prosecution. The program, designed to prevent infants from
ending up in trash bins, is in place in Los Angeles County. In Orange
County infants can be left at hospital emergency rooms.
WHAT IT MEANS
If county supervisors approve fire stations as designated drop-off
sites, newborn babies could safely be left at fire stations around
the county.
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