Council to chose mayor, look at freeway plans

The Costa Mesa City Council will likely choose a new mayor Wednesday.

The council meeting was scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month instead of Tuesday as usual because of the New Year’s holiday.

Mayor Allan Mansoor announced last week that he will step down as mayor and let someone else take a turn as the council’s main parliamentarian. Mansoor, who is in the middle of the second of his two-year terms as mayor, will remain on the council.

The next mayor could be Councilman Eric Bever who now serves as the mayor pro tem. So if he ascends to the mayor’s spot, the council will also have to pick a new mayor pro tem.

Plans to widen the Fairview Road/405 Freeway interchange will also be discussed at the council meeting. The Griffith Company is angling to win the nearly $5.6 million contract. Also on the agenda will be the commendation and retirement of Robbie, a Costa Mesa police service dog who has served the city for four years.

The meeting will start in closed session to discuss pending litigation at 5 p.m. The general meeting convenes at 6 p.m. in the council chambers, 77 Fair Drive.

— Josh Aden