Statewide transportation policy and funding commissioners visited the City of Costa Mesa on Feb. 26 to tour Newport Boulevard.

The California Transportation Commission is responsible for programming and allocating funds for the construction of highway, passenger rail, transit and active transportation improvements throughout California. 

Three commissioners, Chair Clarissa Reyes Falcon, Lee Ann Eager, and Dr. Adonia Lugo joined Council Member Arlis Reynolds, City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly, Assistant City Manager Alma Reyes, City staff, and Caltrans for a discussion at the Norma Hertzog Community Center.

Also attending were representatives from State Senator Steven Choi’s office, and Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris.

The group then walked to Newport Boulevard to discuss safety for people walking along and across the Caltrans-managed roadway. 

City staff organized the tour to continue collaboration with our state partners to address important needs for our community.

The Costa Mesa City Council is currently seeking residents to serve on the following City Committees:

Animal Services Committee: The Committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. except for August and December and provides advice and recommendations to the City Council on animal services issues and to promote pet licensing, assist with planning and execution of animal-related events. The City is recruiting for four members (Appointments by Mayor John Stephens, Council Member Jeff Pettis, Council Member Loren Gameros, and Council Member Mike Buley), each for a term expiration of April 2028 and one member (Appointment by Council Member Andrea Marr) with a term expiration of April 2027. For further information, contact Animal Services Coordinator Jessica Torrejon at (714) 754-5128 or visit www.costamesaca.gov/ASC. 

Active Transportation Committee: The Committee meets on the first Wednesday of the month and helps plan and implement an Active Transportation network for the City by improving bicycle and pedestrian connectivity throughout the City, and also assists with the review, update and implementation of the city’s Active Transportation Plan. The City is recruiting for six members (Appointments by Mayor Stephens, Council Member Gameros, Council Member Buley, Council Member Pettis, and the Council Liaison), each for a term expiration of April 2028. For further information, contact Active Transportation Coordinator Brett Atencio Thomas at (714) 754-5275 or visit www.costamesaca.gov/ATC.

Finance and Pension Advisory Committee: The Committee meets on the second Wednesday of the month and provides advice to the City Council on issues related to significant financial matters and advises annually on the adoption of the City’s budget, the allocation of any budget surpluses, and the City’s investment performance and policies. The City is recruiting for one member (Appointment by Council Member Pettis) for a term expiration of April 2028. Applicants shall have pension knowledge or shall be residents or individuals that conduct business within the City and have a background that includes experience in securities trading, financial planning, banking, auditing, accounting, or a closely related and relevant field. For further information, contact Executive Assistant Dina Wild at (714) 754-5243 or visit www.costamesaca.gov/FIPAC.

Housing and Public Service Grants Committee: The committee meets twice a year and helps to promote understanding of the community development process and activities funded by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Additionally, the committee rates and ranks applications for CDBG public service grants, ultimately developing funding recommendations for City Council recommendations. The City is recruiting for four members (Appointments by Mayor Stephens, Council Member Pettis, Council Member Gameros, and Council Member Buley), each for a term expiration of April 2028. For further information, contact Grant Administrator Nancy Sa at (714) 754-5678 or visit www.costamesaca.gov/HPSGC. 

Mobile Home Park Advisory Committee: The committee meets quarterly and addresses issues that will help improve the quality of life in mobile home parks and review matters concerning mobile home parks in the City. The City is recruiting for two (members; one Mobile Home Park Resident and one Independent Citizen At-large (Appointments by Council Member Pettis and Council Member Buley), each for a term expiration of April 2028. For further information, contact Grant Administrator Nancy Sa at (714) 754-5678 or visit www.costamesaca.gov/MHPAC. 

Application Process – Residents who are interested in getting involved in local government are encouraged to complete a Committee Application Form from the City Clerk’s Office or from the City’s website (www.costamesaca.gov/apply). The completed application may be submitted online; mailed to Costa Mesa City Clerk at Post Office Box 1200, Costa Mesa, California, 92628-1200; emailed to cityclerk@costamesaca.gov; or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. The deadline is 5 p.m., Thursday, March 26, 2026. The appointments are tentatively scheduled for the April 7, 2026 City Council meeting. 

MEDIA CONTACT 
Tony Dodero
(714) 754-5288
tony.dodero@costamesaca.gov 

The City of Costa Mesa invites residents, businesses, and community organizations to participate in community workshops that will consider new opportunities for housing and mixed-use development.

Through interactive exhibits, participants will explore how local regulations can shape the built environment.

These activities are part of the City’s Neighborhoods Where We All Belong initiative to implement Housing Element programs, allow optional housing potential on “Measure K” properties, and increase new housing and mixed-use development opportunities in specific parts of the community.

Public input gathered at the following events will help the City refine draft strategies for regulating new residential and mixed-use buildings. All three workshops will present the same information and include Spanish interpretation.

Simply attend the event that is the most convenient for your schedule. The in-person workshops will include free snacks, refreshments, and children’s activities. Please join this important conversation about the future of housing in Costa Mesa.

Monday, March 2
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Norma Hertzog Community Center
1845 Park Avenue, Costa Mesa

Thursday, March 5
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Virtual Workshop (Zoom)
Join virtually from: www.CostaMesaNeighborhoods.com

Saturday, March 7
10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Costa Mesa Senior Center
695 W. 19th Street, Costa Mesa

For more information about the Neighborhoods Where We All Belong effort, visit www.CostaMesaNeighborhoods.com.

The City has launched a new public, online GIS tool called the Active Development Map, designed to give the public real-time insight into what’s happening across the community.

The map allows anyone to view active development projects throughout the City, from new businesses and tenant improvements to major development projects.

The map also provides building, planning, geological, and assessor information for every property within the City of Costa Mesa.

The tool can be found on the Economic and Development Services homepage here.

This is a powerful planning tool. Whether tracking nearby construction, identifying growth areas, or understanding how public investments may impact customers and operations, the map helps residents and business owners stay informed and proactive.

By centralizing development activity in one easy-to-navigate map, the City is promoting transparency, coordination, and smarter decision-making for the local business community.

On Feb. 24, from 6-8 p.m., Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue will host a special community meeting titled “Meet the Marshal.”

Everyone in the community is welcome—whether you’re a CERT member or simply curious—this is a great chance to connect, learn and strengthen our local preparedness.

The evening will include an opportunity to meet and chat with Costa Mesa’s new Fire Marshal Ryan Bohr and hear from guest speaker Interim Fire Chief Jason Pyle. We’ll also share what’s ahead for the revamped and revitalized 2026 Costa Mesa CERT program.

Discussion will focus on the refreshed training, stronger connections across the program and more opportunities to learn, reconnect, and serve.

We’ll wrap up with practical home-safety and preparedness tips you can use right away—like how to safely shut off utilities, building a simple home plan and practicing EDITH (Exit Drills In The Home) with your household. 

We hope to see you there and hope you will be part of the conversation.

The Public Works Department recently installed a new engineering treatment on Del Mar Avenue between Orange Avenue and Santa Ana Avenue to help mitigate concerns about motorist speeding activity.

The improvements included highly reflective plastic posts installed along edge between the vehicle travel lanes and parking shoulder.

The new posts serve to visually narrow the roadway and encourage appropriate driving behavior.  

Demonstrating cross-department coordination, Public Works staff collaborated closely with Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue staff to refine the engineering layout to serve overlapping goals of strengthening the public’s safety and improving quality of life. 

City staff will evaluate the outcomes of this solution to measure benefits and consider use elsewhere in the City. The Public Works Department remains committed to developing innovative and collaborative solutions that enhance mobility and safety for all road users. 

The City of Costa Mesa was recently awarded a Bicycle Friendly Community Award from the national League of American Bicyclists, recognizing the many safety and mobility improvements made since adoption of the 2018 Active Transportation Plan.

The prestigious Bicycle Friendly America program sets the standard for how communities build and benchmark progress toward making bicycling better, helping raise standards for safety, equity, and accessibility.

Receipt of the Bronze level award is the long-term result of resolve of local leaders, residents, advocates, planners, educators, and City staff to make Costa Mesa safer and more supportive for people who ride bicycles.

Key milestones since execution of the Active Transportation Plan include the implementation of a bicycle wayfinding project; the implementation of a bicycle safety education program; a citywide bike parking program; and major bicycle facility upgrades to Adams Avenue, Arlington Drive, Bristol Street, Merrimac Way, Placentia Avenue, and West 19th Street.

The Parks & Community Services Department announced that as of this Sunday, Feb. 15, the operations of the Costa Mesa Tennis Center will temporarily transition to Agape Tennis Academy.

The city will solicit RFP’s to find a permanent operator of the Tennis Center in the coming months.

For more information please visit our website here

City and state leaders took part in groundbreaking ceremony on Monday Feb. 10 as the revitalization of Ketchum-Libolt Park officially began.

In attendance were Mayor John Stephens, Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez, City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly, Public Works Director Raja Sethuraman, Parks & Community Services Director Brian Gruner and Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris, whose secured $1.2 million in state funding for this project.

Also in attendance was Assistant City Manager Alma Reyes, Deputy Police Chief Jason Chamness, Parks & Community Services Commissioners Kelly Brown and Jason Komala and several city staffers.

When completed, this park will serves a community on the Westside that is very much in need of parks and open space. This long-awaited project was shaped by community input and collaboration.

The park continues to honor the legacy of Officers James “Dave” Ketchum and John “Mike” Libolt, the only CMPD officers to lose their lives in the line of duty.

City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly presented the City Manager’s Leadership Award for February to Police Department Detective Sgt. Jake Jacobi.

“Sgt. Jacobi’s integrity, work ethic, and quiet dedication make him not only an outstanding detective sergeant, but also a powerful example of leadership in action,” Gallardo-Daly said. “As our Police Department continues to grow, we need strong leaders like him to take us into the future. I’m honored to present him with this award.”

Sgt. Jacobi joined Costa Mesa as a police recruit in 2013, was hired as a police officer in 2014 and promoted to Sergeant in 2023.

Jacobi routinely takes the initiative to train, mentor, and educate others, ensuring officers are well prepared to deliver high-quality service to the community.

He has played a critical role in addressing a significant backlog of case assignments, greatly improving case progression, and ensuring the department continues to meet the high standards of service expected by our community.

His ability to effectively balance investigative responsibilities with administrative oversight has been exemplary. Beyond case management, Sergeant Jacobi has served as a key leader on both the Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) and the Arrest Control Team (ACT).

During critical incidents, his calm, strategic approach provides stability and clear direction to his team and the department as a whole. He consistently demonstrates professionalism under pressure and maintains a strong focus on safety, coordination, and successful resolution.

What truly distinguishes Sgt. Jacobi is his humility and team-first leadership style.

Despite his accomplishments and the respect, he has earned across the department, he never seeks personal recognition. He embodies the principles of servant leadership by prioritizing the mission and the success of those around him.

Sgt. Jacobi has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Fullerton.

The City of Costa Mesa released the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027 on January 26, 2026, for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations operating within its jurisdiction providing public services that benefit low- and moderate-income Costa Mesa residents.

This year will be the second year that CDBG Public Service Grant applications will be completed and submitted online.

The application and related instructions are available on the City website here: Public Service Grants Program | City of Costa Mesa.

The application deadline is 5 pm on February 25, 2026. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please send an email to amber.miranda@costamesaca.gov prior to the application deadline.

City Public Works staff recently installed a new crosswalk across Tustin Avenue between 21st Street and 22nd Street.

The new designated crossing provides an organized and convenient crossing for youth and adults traveling to Jordan Park, Kaiser Elementary School, and the Boys and Girls Club of Costa Mesa – Argyros Center for Opportunity. 

New pedestrian curb ramps ensure that the crosswalk is accessible while the high visibility crosswalk striping, painted curb extension with flexible plastic posts, and signs serve to bring increased awareness to the crossing.

This improved crossing also includes Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, which use an amber light flashing pattern activated by the pedestrian push button.

The lights further increase driver awareness of the crosswalk and enhance pedestrian visibility during daytime and night conditions.

Research shows the beacons are highly effective and can increase driver yielding compliance.