The most recent draft maps for redrawing Costa Mesa City Council Districts are available for public review here or click here to view this slideshow.

The last day to submit a map for review is Thursday Jan. 27.

The new City district maps will define the six district borders for electing Council Members for the next 10 years.

The next public hearing for City Council to review and consider the draft maps is Feb. 15.

For more information about the process, how you can be involved, and the schedule of events, check out at www.redistrictcostamesa.org.

Costa Mesa Public Services Director Raja Sethuraman announced that on Monday Jan. 10, Brett Atencio Thomas became the City’s first Active Transportation Coordinator, where he will oversee projects and initiatives to improve biking and walkability.

“This new position fulfills several of our council goals and helps us serve a growing need in the community to make Costa Mesa more biking and walking friendly,” Mayor John Stephens said. “We are fortunate that Director Sethuraman found someone with Brett Atencio’s background and experience to lead these efforts.”

Fifth District Council Member Arlis Reynolds and an advocate for Active Transportation is also happy to welcome Thomas to the team.

“Adding Brett Atencio to our team elevates Active Transportation from a council goal to a reality,” said Reynolds, who is also a board member with America Walks, a national organization focused on improving walkability in communities. “I’m thrilled that we have added someone with his expertise and education and I look forward to working with him to make Costa Mesa a safer place for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike.”

Sethuraman agreed he will be a valuable member of the Public Services team.

“Brett Atencio brings unique capabilities and ideas to the Public Services Department to provide further focus to and promote Active Transportation for the City,” Sethuraman said.

Thomas previously worked at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority where he managed the $13 million Open Streets Grant Program, which funds CicLAvia and other similar programs.

He oversaw the implementation of over 200 Metro Bike Share stations, and developed the Metro Adopt-a-Bike Program. Thomas is also experienced in Federal, State, and Regional competitive grant application and management processes, and he has successfully applied and secured grant funding for active transportation projects and programs.

In addition to working for the MTA, Thomas’ experience includes working in public service for the Pasadena Department of Transportation, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and the City of Alameda.

Thomas has a Bachelor’s Degree from San Francisco State University and a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of California Los Angeles.

The City of Costa Mesa’s Housing Ad Hoc Committee will be hosting a Community Forum virtually via Zoom on Tuesday Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. to discuss the Housing Element and Measure Y. The Ad Hoc Committee will take public input, understand the purpose and challenges of Measure Y, and discuss a viable path forward for the city’s Housing Element and housing goals.

Click this link to Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85499111325?pwd=dlExYkVZVURDTGhkSGR2ZFdUMXJ6dz09

Or, go to www.zoom.com and type in the Meeting ID: 854 9911 1325. The Passcode is 259267. Or join the meeting by phone by dialing 1 669 900 6833 and use the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

In October, the City Council created an Housing Ad Hoc Committee, whose members are Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Marr, Council Members Arlis Reynolds and Jeff Harlan, to participate and advise on City activities and actions pertaining to the Housing Element implementation and ongoing compliance with State housing element law.

Since then, the State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) determined that Costa Mesa’s Measure Y is a constraint to the development of housing and conflicts with State law.

Measure Y requires a vote of the people for certain types of development in the City, including housing projects.

The City of Costa Mesa will hold its final redistricting community workshop on Saturday Jan. 8 at 10 a.m. virtually via Zoom to seek the public’s help to review and revise the City districts as required by state law and discuss the currently proposed draft maps.

Click this link to Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81538927650?pwd=Z1dVNnljYzBUcHk5UFkzRW4vWG9LQT09

Or, go to www.zoom.us and type in the Meeting ID: 815 3892 7650. The Passcode is 612756. Or join the meeting by phone by dialing 1 669 900 6833 and use the same Meeting ID and Passcode.

The primary goal when developing election districts is to draw lines that respect neighborhoods, history and geographical elements. The City of Costa Mesa is seeking the public’s help to plan and draw new City district maps that will define the six City of Costa Mesa district borders.

The city’s demographer will review all submissions and make revisions as necessary, based on Council direction and community input.

Every 10 years, local governments use new data from the Census to redraw their district lines to reflect how local populations have changed. State law requires cities to engage communities in the redistricting process by holding public hearings and doing public outreach.

More information about the process, how you can be involved, and the schedule of events is available at www.redistrictcostamesa.org.

Due to the observation of the New Year’s holiday, there will be no residential street sweeping Friday Dec. 31.

No citations should be written on that day.

Street sweeping will resume back to normal schedule, starting the week of  Jan. 3 2022.

Have a great holiday weekend and Happy New Year!

In October, the City Council created a Housing Ad Hoc Committee, whose members are Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Marr, Council Members Arlis Reynolds and Jeff Harlan, to participate and advise on City activities and actions pertaining to Housing Element implementation and ongoing compliance with State housing element law.

The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has recently determined that Costa Mesa’s Measure Y (approved by voters in 2016) is a constraint to the development of housing and conflicts with State law. Measure Y requires a vote of the people for certain types of development in the City, including housing projects.

The Housing Ad Hoc Committee will be hosting a public meeting on Jan. 11 to take public input, understand the purpose and challenges of Measure Y, and discuss a viable path forward for the city’s Housing Element and housing goals.

We want to hear from you. Please save the date, spread the word, and plan to attend! The meeting will also be available on Zoom for remote participation.

Due to the observation of Christmas Holiday, there will be no residential street sweeping Friday Dec. 24.

No citations should be written on that day.

Street sweeping will resume back to normal schedule, starting the week of  Dec. 27 2021.

Have a great holiday!

The deadline for submitting maps is this Thursday Dec. 16 by 5 p.m. in order to be considered for the upcoming Jan. 8 Community Workshop.

To create a new map, the public can learn more about the mapping tools that are available here on the City website and draw their own map.

The City of Costa Mesa is seeking the public’s help to review and revise the City districts as required by state law and discuss the currently proposed draft maps.

The primary goal when developing election districts is to draw lines that respect neighborhoods, history and geographical elements. The City of Costa Mesa is seeking the public’s help to plan and draw new City district maps that will define the six City of Costa Mesa district borders. These new districts will impact how to elect Council Members for the next 10 years.

The next Community Workshop will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday Jan. 8, 2022 at the Norma Hertzog Community Center at 1845 Park Ave, Costa Mesa

Every 10 years, local governments use new data from the Census to redraw their district lines to reflect how local populations have changed.

State law requires cities and counties to engage communities in the redistricting process by holding public hearings and doing public outreach, including to underrepresented and non-English-speaking communities.

More information about the process, how you can be involved, and the schedule of events is available at www.redistrictcostamesa.org.

With the first big winter storm approaching Costa Mesa and the region, the city’s maintenance service crews have made sandbags available at City Hall.

Sand bags are available for free to Costa Mesa residents in the southeast corner of the City Hall parking lot at 77 Fair Drive. The location is self-service and bringing your own shovel is suggested as supplies could be limited. The number of sandbags is limited to 15 sandbags per household.

No commercial use please.

Click here for instructions on sandbags.

• In anticipation of the storm, City Staff is out clearing debris from catch basins and the clarifier on Anaheim Avenue and Center Street.
• Flood signs will be placed at certain locations.
• The City will have stand-by personnel patrol the hot spots tonight if we get heavy rains

Please report flooding issues to 714-754-5250.

The City of Costa Mesa is pleased to announce it will provide the Orange County Model Engineers with a matching contribution of $15,000 to help repair the vandalism of the iconic Goat Hill Junction train station that occurred earlier this week.

Inspired by a request from Council Member Loren Gameros, the Model Engineers will be able to expeditiously restore the train facilities back to normal.

“The Model Engineers and Goat Hill Junction is a Costa Mesa treasure that has created so many memories for our local children,” Mayor John Stephens said. “It’s outrageous that someone would vandalize the facility, but I’m happy the City is able to provide this funding to help restore and repair the train station.”

Hank Castignetti, the Model Engineer’s city liaison, said the funding couldn’t come at a better time since they had to deal with the pandemic and loss of all revenue. They also have to repair the trestle bridge that went out after 30 years.

“It’s phenomenal,” Castignetti said of the funding. “We are so grateful for the City’s assistance in a time of great need. In addition, we have also seen a tremendous outpouring of donations from citizens. The citizens of Costa Mesa realize what an incredible public benefit we provide to the children in this community.”

 Officially known as, Mackerel Flats and Goat Hill Junction Railroad, the non-profit Model Engineers club was founded by a group of local railroad buffs in 1988 and has been operating the trains in Costa Mesa’s east Fairview Park area since 1989.

Since then, several improvements have taken place at the facility that included the creation of the train station and an expansion of the train tracks to five miles that wind through the park.

The club engineers conduct public rides on the third Saturday and following Sunday of each month from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. They give approximately 3,000 free rides each month.

For more information, please visit http://www.ocmetrains.org/

On Tuesday Nov. 30, City leaders held a reception to honor local Costa Mesa artist Valerie Mata, a former Back Bay High School student who created the artwork for a mural that is now displayed in the entrance lobby of the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter at 3175 Airway Ave.

On hand for the reception were Mayor John Stephens, Mayor Pro-Tem Andrea Marr, District 2 Council Member Loren Gameros, Assistant City Manager Susan Price and Newport-Mesa School Board Trustee Carol Crane. Also attending were the artist’s family as well as her Back Bay High art teacher Cami Marseille and the school’s principal Mike Wagner.

Click here to watch a video of the reception.

Mayor Stephens talked about the success of the Bridge Shelter and presented Mata with a proclamation to thank her for her efforts.

“We’ve created a bridge from homelessness and living on the streets to a better life,” Mayor Stephens said. “And Valerie you’ve taken this ideal and incorporated the arts. And as you know we are the City of the Arts. Your artistry and your gift will give inspiration and will save lives and save souls.”

In January of this year, the City’s Cultural Arts Committee and City partner Trellis formed a committee to choose a mural for the Bridge Shelter entrance.

The mural committee consisted of Assistant City Manager Susan Price, former Outreach Manager Stacy Lumley, Parks and Community Services Recreation Supervisor Ashley Thomas, Outreach team leaders Natalie Basmaciyan and John Begin), Ian Stevenson of Trellis and Cultural Arts Committee Chair Charlene Ashendorf.

The intent for this piece of art is to convey the message, “we’re better together” and illustrate how people experiencing homelessness, volunteers, donors, city leaders/officials, leaders from various organizations, churches, businesses and non-profits work together to make the shelter successful.

The committee reviewed about a dozen entries and unanimously chose Mata’s artwork, which depicts a bridge to the future. She was awarded $500 for the winning mural, which was sponsored by Trellis.

Both Stevenson from Trellis and Ashendorf also spoke about Mata’s mural and what it meant to them and the committee.

Mata thanked her teacher and counselor at Back Bay High and said she can relate to those at the shelter because she and her family have also experienced hardships.

“We went through some really interesting times,” she said. “But I really appreciate going through all that. I don’t regret it at all. And now I’m here. So people like this can also be in better places.”

The artwork was converted to wallpaper and installed on the Shelter wall by Mouse Graphics, a local Costa Mesa business.