CITY NEWS:

If you’re a Costa Mesa homeowner like I am, getting around to home repairs and improvement projects often falls somewhere behind work, grocery shopping, walking the dogs, vacuuming the house and probably about 100 other things we do in our daily life.

Unless it’s a crisis like a plugged toilet, broken gas line or the electrical outlet next to the television set on Super Bowl weekend, it’s easy to set aside needed repairs and maintenance.

Costa Mesa officials are offering an incentive for us “I’ll get to it next month” types as well as those who are always on top of their repairs and the latest home improvement.

The Residential Remodeling Incentive Program is underway for the third year in a row through Dec. 14. Designed as a means for the city to partner with residential property owners, the program offers a waiver of Building Plan Check and Permit fees for home repair and remodeling.

But every bit as important as the waiver of permit fees, you get the assistance of a professional building staff member to ensure the work performed to your home is done safely and to code.

No — we can’t be your contractor or resolve the dilemma of whether to go with hardwood flooring or tile — but we can ensure that all work inspected by one of the city’s top-notch building inspectors is done correctly.

So what would you guess has been the single most frequently performed improvement under the program? Believe it or not — roof repairs!

And with the wet stuff bound to return to Southern California, what better opportunity to insure your family and the contents of your home are protected? But even basic repairs and improvements — hot-water heater installations, electrical panel upgrades, window replacements and plumbing for the kitchen sink — may need a permit and inspection.

How much better — and easier — than to consult with your city building staffers to make certain that even the work you do as a homeowner is done correctly and has permits on file.

While taking advantage of the program to complete those home repairs or the remodel of your dreams, “think green.” A visit to the city’s website, www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us, will open the door for access to a wide array of resources to help you save energy, money and protect the environment.

The city’s green team — including Building Safety and Planning staff — has a solid background in the latest design and construction techniques to allow you to maximize energy conservation and preserve our natural resources.

So while you’ll continue to remind the entire household to turn off the lights when they leave the room, investing in green technology will help conserve energy without having to be reminded.

Just a note to us procrastinators responsible for leaky roofs, improper electrical wiring and forever promises of the “kitchen she’s always wanted,” Dec. 14 is the program’s last day.

ALLAN L. ROEDER is Costa Mesa’s city manager.