MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES Dispensaries that distribute marijuana...

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

DISPENSARIES

Dispensaries that distribute marijuana for medical use have been a

hot topic in Southern California lately.

The Costa Mesa Planning Commission had recommended the council

come up with rules by which people could apply to open the

facilities, but the council instead chose an outright ban last month.

The second reading of the ban got a tie vote July 5, with

Councilwomen Linda Dixon and Katrina Foley voting against it and

Mayor Allan Mansoor and Councilman Eric Bever supporting the ban.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Unless a member misses the meeting, expect the marijuana

dispensary ban to pass on a 3-2 vote with the split along gender

lines.

Monahan voted for the ban when it came up June 21, and he’s the

third vote needed to approve a second reading.

SKATE PARK

CHANGES

About $150,000 is available for improvements to the city’s

skateboard park, which opened June 29 at TeWinkle Park. The planned

addition was a shade shelter, but park users and residents have

suggested other possibilities, such as screens to keep skaters’ arms

from going through the bars of the fence around the park, a bench and

bleachers for park users and spectators, and lockers for skaters’

gear.

WHAT TO EXPECT

It’s uncertain which improvements the council will choose, but

anything it decides to do will take at least a few months because the

city will have to collect bids for the work.

FIELD USE

COMMITTEE

The council will decide whether to appoint an ad hoc committee to

look at how time on city athletic fields is doled out. Currently,

groups that serve youth and Costa Mesa residents get first priority.

The city’s Parks and Recreation Commission wants to hear from the

community about the best way to divide up field time among groups

that mainly serve people who don’t live in the city. With a chronic

shortage of athletic field space, determining who gets to use fields

is an evolving science.

WHAT TO EXPECT

the council is likely to set up a committee to research it

further.

-- Compiled by

Alicia Robinson