o7Here are a few items the council...

o7Here are a few items the council considered Tuesday.

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RED-LIGHT CAMERAS

The council voted to send a response to a May 31 Orange County

Grand Jury report on the effectiveness of red-light cameras. The

response said the city will begin matching state Department of Motor

Vehicles photos to pictures taken by the cameras to help collect

fines. City officials also said the cameras have helped reduce

broadside collisions in the city.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city will send the response to the county, and more cameras

could be added in Costa Mesa, pending the results of a financial

analysis of revenue from the cameras.

FIREFIGHTERS’ PAY

The city will spend an additional $969,234 beyond the roughly $10

million budgeted for firefighter salaries for the 2005-06 fiscal

year. The added funds pay for a 7.9% raise firefighters will receive

this year as part of an agreement the city negotiated in 2004.

The raise was based on a recent report on economic conditions in

Orange County. But it wipes out much of the $1.5 million the city set

aside for annual employee salary adjustments, and raises must still

be doled out to two other groups of employees.

WHAT IT MEANS

The city will likely have to dip into carry-over funds when the

annual review of agreements with police and other city employees

takes place in September.

TEWINKLE ATHLETIC FIELDS

The city will spend $3.18 million to improve athletic facilities

at TeWinkle Park, the council decided. The cost was a slight

reduction from what was proposed because a scoreboard was cut from

the plans.

The much-anticipated improvements will include reconstructing

three softball fields and a baseball diamond, building a new restroom

and concession facility, and adding sports lighting.

WHAT IT MEANS

Construction of new athletic fields at TeWinkle Park will begin

once the summer game season ends and will be finished by fall 2006.

STORAGE CONTAINERS

The council agreed not to allow industrial storage containers on

residential properties after residents complained the containers are

eyesores and could draw crime. Storage containers are already

forbidden in the city, but the council considered allowing their

temporary use by people who are remodeling their homes and need to

store household items.

One resident noted that although people would be allowed to use

the containers only for furniture and other household items, the city

couldn’t legally check what’s inside. Others said the containers are

ugly and might attract

potential thieves.

WHAT IT MEANS

Storage containers will remain illegal in the city.

FYI

WHAT: Next City Council meeting

WHEN: 6 p.m., Sept. 6

WHERE: Council chambers, City Hall, 77 Fair Drive

INFO: Call (714)754-5221 or visit www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us for

agendas and staff reports

o7 -- Compiled by

Alicia Robinson

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