Official wants gym decision reviewed

Councilman Eric Bever has called up for review a Parks and Recreation Commission decision to allow a Santa Ana-based adult basketball league to use Costa Mesa’s municipal gym on Sundays.

Aztec Basketball Leagues, a quickly growing organization with about 50 teams, wants to use the Costa Mesa gym because its normal gym in Santa Ana is closed for a year for renovation, according to league President Rigoberto Bautista. After initially denying the league’s request, the parks commission approved the request unanimously at its last meeting.

In his letter requesting the hearing, Bever said that gym users and community members were not notified that there would be no more drop-in basketball and volleyball on Sundays.

About 22 people regularly used the gym on Sundays for the two drop-in sports, according to the city’s recreation department, which is less than other days that the drop-in programs will continue to be offered.

Because Aztec Basketball would pay the commercial rate for the facility, the city stands to gain $40,000 per year by letting the league use the gym, officials said.

The city has not yet announced a date for the new hearing.

— Alan Blank