COSTA MESA CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

Here are some items the council will consider Tuesday:

FREEWAY LANDSCAPING

Costa Mesa officials and businesses weren’t happy with the look of some parts of a Caltrans project to improve the San Diego (405) Freeway, particularly at the Bristol Street offramp, so the city wants more landscaping there. The council will consider an agreement with Caltrans to design the new landscaping for $80,000.

The total cost of the work, estimated at $537,200, will be covered by an Orange County Transportation Authority grant.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council will probably approve the agreement, because the landscaping will beautify the freeway and will be paid for by a grant.

SENIOR HOUSING BONDS

The council must decide whether to form an agreement with a state housing agency and approve the sale of bonds to keep St. John’s Manor an affordable housing project for seniors. The $1.2 million the city would put toward the project would come from federal grants, tax credits and bonds.

To continue to offer low-income housing and rental assistance payments for the next 55 years, the project needs about $5 million. Half of that would come from the sale of tax-exempt bonds, which the city must approve but would not be responsible for repaying.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council is likely to agree to the bond sale.

CITY SERVICE FEES

Every year, the council reviews the list of fees charged to people for city permits and services, such as athletic field rental and dog licenses. The city is allowed to charge fees to cover the costs of the services, and the fees regularly go up along with costs.

The council will vote on an updated list of fees that includes some new charges: $20 for canceling an athletic or recreation facility reservation, $100 for street banners for special events, and $900 per application to amend an area’s master plan or zoning, for example.

A few existing fees could go up: Residential building inspections could jump from $90 a unit to $100; fireworks stand permits could cost $265, a $30 increase; and nonresidents could pay more for paramedic services, with basic life support going up $45 and advanced life support costing $80 more.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The new fee list probably will be approved.

Compiled by Alicia Robinson

IF YOU GO

* WHAT: Costa Mesa City Council meeting

* WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday

* WHERE: City Council chambers, City Hall, 77 Fair Drive

* FYI: (714)754-5221 or www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us