Nonprofit offers money toward Fairview Park project

COSTA MESA — The City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on accepting money from an environmental group that will go toward building a water system for Fairview Park’s Wetlands and Riparian Habitat Project.

Irvine-based nonprofit MiOcean Foundation has set aside $350,000 for Costa Mesa, according to a city staff report. MiOcean implements business models to curb the effects or urban runoff pollution to preserve the county’s coastline, according to its website.

“We’re very excited to accept the grant from MiOcean and to continue the incredible project that we’re doing over at Fairview Park,” Mayor Gary Monahan said. “It’s great for the environment and this grant will enhance this project even more than we already have.”

The money is in addition to the $2 million the city received recently from the Orange County Transportation Authority, which will also go toward the second phase of Fairview Park’s project.

MiOcean’s grant will build a water system at Fairview Park to prevent urban runoff from the Greenville Banning Channel to the Wetlands and Riparian Habitat project, the report states.

The second phase consists of planting 23 acres of riparian habitat, coastal sage scrub, native grasslands, an oak woodland and wetland pond plantings, Peter Naghavi, Costa Mesa public services director, has said.

The council will also be voting to adopt plans for the Wilson Street rehabilitation and award the project to Orange-based R.J. Noble Co. in the amount of $719,000, according to a city staff report. The project would consist of repaving the street from Harbor Boulevard to Anaheim Avenue, and it would include reconstructing the damaged curb, gutter, sidewalks, driveways and traffic control, among others, the report stated.

In May, the city received about $700,000 in federal grants for the project; $300,000 of that came from the Obama Administration’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus package.

The council will also vote on re-appointing Councilwoman Wendy Leece to the Orange County Vector Control District. Leece’s current term will be up Friday. Leece has served on the district, which protects county residents from rats, flies and other vector related issues, since 2007, a city staff report said.

“I think Wendy has done a very good job on the vector control district and I look forward to her continuing her representation of Costa Mesa,” Monahan said.