Estancia Adobe officially recognized as historical site by city and county historical commissions

Morning rain cleared way for clear sunny skies just in time for the unveiling of bronze plaque, commemorating the Diego Sepulveda Adobe’s historic and cultural significance to Costa Mesa.

The Costa Mesa Historical Society, Costa Mesa Historical Preservation Committee, and the Orange County Historical Commission all worked in collaboration on the County’s Historical Site Plaque Program to designate the Adobe as Orange County Historical Site No. 56.

More than 75 community members were joined by Mayor Katrina Foley, Mayor Pro Tem John Stephens, Council member Sandy Genis, members from the Orange County Board of Supervisors, and a representative from the office of US Congressman Harley Rouda and Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Liz McNabb, also a representative for Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris.

The event opened with a Native American blessing given by Adelia Sandoval and was followed by Anthropologist Steven O’Neil who gave a historical talk on the Adobe. Docents provided guided tours of the Adobe as guests enjoyed refreshments provided by Raising Cane’s.




Costa Mesa residents sought to serve on city committees

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

Animal Services Committee: This committee meets monthly and assists with the planning of animal related events, explores and provides recommendations to improve animal services, and promotes pet licensing within the City. The City is recruiting for a 2-year term for three regular members. For further information, please contact Recreation Coordinator Tracy Habiger at (714) 754-5128.

Bikeway & Walkability Committee: This committee meets monthly and assists with the review, update and implementation of the city’s Master Plan of Bikeways and pedestrian pathways in order to make recommendations for their improvement to the City Council. The City is recruiting for a 2-year term for eight regular members. For further information, please contact Transportation Services Manager Jennifer Rosales at (714) 754-5180.

Cultural Arts Committee: This committee meets monthly and works to promote the City motto, “City of the Arts.” The committee works to establish programs, events and information that help residents access the arts in many different venues. The City is recruiting for a 2-year term for five regular members and two alternate members. For further information, please contact Recreation Supervisor Ashley Thomas at (714) 754-5052.

Fairview Park Steering Committee: This committee meets every other month and provides advice to the City Council regarding the implementation of the Fairview Park Master plan and impacts of Measure AA on Capital Improvement Program projects, maintenance and activities. The City is recruiting for a 4-year term for three regular members and one alternate member. For further information, please contact Fairview Park Administrator Cynthia D’Agosta at (714) 754-5135.

Finance and Pension Advisory Committee: This committee meets monthly and provides advice to the City Council regarding events and issues which may affect the financial status of the City.  It also evaluates annual and long-term pension and financial impacts from changes in CalPERS contribution rates and/or actuarial schedule changes.  The City is recruiting for a 2-year term for five regular members and a 1-year term for two regular members. 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, please contact Management Analyst Amber Haston at (714) 754-5227.

Historical Preservation Committee: This committee meets monthly and serves to maintain, preserve, educate and promote the city’s historical resources. The City is recruiting for a 2-year term for five regular members and a 1-year term for one regular member and two alternate members. For further information, please contact Assistant Recreation Supervisor William Lund at (714) 754-5083.

Housing & Public Service Grants Committee: This committee meets on an as-needed basis and helps to promote community 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) with a focus on social service grants. The City is recruiting for a 2-year term for five regular members.  For further information, please contact CDBG Consultant Mike Linares at (714) 754-5678.

Mobile Home Park Advisory Committee: This newly created committee will meet quarterly and address mobile home park issues and concerns in Costa Mesa.  The City is recruiting for a 2-year term for two park owners or their representatives, two mobile home resident owners and one independent citizen at-large who has no affiliations or relationships with mobile home parks; and a 1-year term for one park owner or his/her representative, two mobile home resident owners and one independent citizen at-large.  For further information, please contact City Clerk Brenda Green at (714) 754-5225.

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; faxed to (714) 754-4942; 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., Wednesday, March 6, 2019.  Appointments are tentatively scheduled for the March 19, 2019 City Council meeting.




Council votes to contract with Mercy House to operate planned bridge shelters

On Tuesday Feb. 5, the Costa Mesa City Council approved a $1.45 million annual agreement with Mercy House for professional shelter operator services at both the City’s temporary interim  and long-term bridge shelters.

“This is another step to restoring the safety and security to families and businesses in Costa Mesa,” Mayor Katrina Foley said. “And those families include people who are experiencing homelessness in Costa Mesa.”

District 5 Council Member Arlis Reynolds was also in support of contracting with Mercy House to operate the shelter.

“I’m confident we can make this work and I’m really proud of everyone, the staff, council and public who has contributed to this and shaping what can be a robust plan,” she said. “The fact that this operator is someone that many members of the community trusts is very important to going forward.”

Establishing this bridge shelter option for those experiencing homelessness will provide the additional 50 shelter beds that the City of Costa Mesa is expected to create based on a proposed settlement agreement in the OC Catholic Worker lawsuit.

On Tuesday Jan. 15, the City Council also directed staff to enter into negotiations with the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene to operate a temporary interim bridge shelter on a portion of their property located at 1885 Anaheim Avenue.  This would expand what is an already existing inclement weather shelter into a reservation-based, high-security temporary solution to offer shelter beds to those in need.

The City sought operator proposals from Mercy House, Salvation Army and the Illumination Foundation, but it was only Mercy House who submitted a proposal to Costa Mesa.

Established in 1989, Mercy House Mercy House provides housing and comprehensive supportive services to homeless populations and is a long-respected shelter operator. Mercy House currently operates the county’s Bridges at Kraemer shelter that has a similar security and reservation-based model.

Mercy House operators will work in tandem with the city’s existing community outreach staff members to manage the shelter on a 24-hour basis.




OCTA postpones Fairview Road lane closures that are part of 405 Improvement project

The Fairview Road traffic shift, which was previously anticipated to begin Saturday Feb. 2, will not take place this weekend due to rain and is now scheduled to begin as early as Saturday Feb. 9 through Sunday Feb. 10 (weather permitting).

The traffic shift, which will move traffic to the westside lanes only,  is anticipated to occur under a 12-hour closure from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.

The work is part of the broader 405 Improvement Project in which OCTA, in cooperation with The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), is widening the San Diego Freeway (I-405) between State Route 73 (SR-73) and Interstate 605 (I-605).

Click here to read more information on this project.

The project will improve 16 miles of I-405 between the SR-73 freeway in Costa Mesa and I-605 near the L.A. County line. The project includes adding one regular lane in each direction between Euclid Street and I-605 and making improvements to freeway entrances, exits and bridges. In addition, the project will add the 405 Express Lanes, incorporating the existing carpool lanes and a new lane in each direction between SR-73 and I-605.

The 405 Express Lanes will give solo drivers the choice to speed up their commute for a toll and give options for carpoolers to use the lanes for free. When the express lanes open, two-person carpools will pay a toll only during peak hours and carpools of three or more will be free at all times.

For an interactive map of the project go to www.octa.net/405map.




Public encouraged to attend Open House to learn more about proposed bridge shelter

The City of Costa Mesa is inviting the public to attend a special Open House on Wednesday Jan. 30 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Senior Center to discuss a temporary bridge shelter at the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene at 1885 Anaheim Ave. Participants will have the opportunity to review proposed bridge shelter plans, share thoughts and provide input, and hear from City staff, public safety, community partners and shelter operation experts.

The meeting is a result of the Costa Mesa City Council voting unanimously on Tuesday, Jan. 15 to move forward with a plan to partner with the Lighthouse Church and expand what is an already existing inclement weather shelter into a high-security, temporary facility.

Establishing this bridge shelter option for those experiencing homelessness will provide the 50 shelter beds that the City of Costa Mesa is expected to create based on a proposed settlement agreement in the OC Catholic Worker lawsuit that in turn would restore the city’s powers to enforce trespassing and anti-encampment ordinances.

The Lighthouse Church shelter will be run by a combination of city outreach staff and an experienced, well-respected operator who will ensure the facility is a reservation-based model along with 24-hour security and management covering a half-mile radius.

Through this temporary shelter arrangement with the Lighthouse Church, the city will invest in the property creating security fencing around the church, and adding portable buildings for restrooms, storage of personal belongings, offices and space for shelter beds.

Unsheltered individuals will be offered job training and placement services, mental health assessments, health and dental care, substance abuse treatment and connections to permanent housing.

Costa Mesa has been a leader on this issue since 2013, with the inception of the Network for Homeless Solutions – which includes City staff and representatives of faith-based organizations and local non-profits. The network meets weekly to discuss specific cases and developments in our efforts to reduce homelessness in Costa Mesa and has helped to house more than 300 individuals as well as reconnected about 90 with family or loved ones.

To learn more, please join us at the Open House or visit our website at www.costamesaca.gov/homelessness.




Doug Lovell receives the City Manager Leadership Award for January

Acting City Manager Tammy Letourneau presented Maintenance Superintendent Doug Lovell with the City Manager Leadership Award at the monthly Meet and Greet event on Thursday Jan. 24.

“Doug is a hard worker and highly respected by all who work with him,” Letourneau said. “He always puts the interests and safety of Costa Mesa employees and residents above himself. We are so fortunate to have him on our team.”

Lovell joined the Costa Mesa team in 2003 as the Lead Maintenance Technician in the Facilities Section of the Public Services Department. He was quickly promoted to Maintenance Supervisor in 2007 where he began managing large projects, organizing building modifications and running the Facilities Sections daily operations.

In 2015, Lovell was promoted to Maintenance Superintendent, where he has continued to grow and provide the City with a high level of service.

Lovell works tirelessly to keep projects, contractors and staff on schedule and in line. Some of his recent accomplishments include: the emergency generator installation project and the replacement of the cooling towers at City Hall. He is currently working on are the 2nd floor remodel, the 5th floor remodel, the new community room, resurfacing and fencing project, the elevator modernization project while preparing the Facilities Section’s budget, building modifications and Capital Improvement Project requests.

And recently, he willingly worked days and nights through the holiday closure, moving projects forward while limiting the impact of the construction on Costa Mesa residents and staff.

Prior to joining the city, Lovell was the Chief Operating Engineer at the Westin South Coast Plaza.

In addition to honoring Lovell, Letourneau welcomed several newly hired employees and congratulated several who received promotions.

The new hires include Kevin Do, a new Recreation Leader III in the Parks & Community Services Department.

Also newly hired are David Brito and Jorge Patino, two new Maintenance Assistants working in the Public Services Department.

Also new to public services is Carlos Henriquez, an Equipment Mechanic II and Alejandro Lopez Alejandro and Jose Solis-Ponce are new Senior Maintenance Workers.

Those newly promoted include Ashley Armenta, Taylor Stack and Julie Suguitan who move to Recreation Leader III and Joseph Loubet to Senior Lifeguard.

In the Police Department, 28-Year CMPD Veteran Keith Davis has been promoted to Police Captain. And Christopher Walk has been promoted to Police Sergeant




Building activities continue brisk pace in Costa Mesa

Building activities continue to boom in the City of Costa Mesa.

During the calendar year 2018, permits issued, plan checks and inspections performed by the Building Division are at about the same level as 2017 and 2016 with no sign of slowing down in Costa Mesa, even with national concerns over a recession and slowdown in real estate markets overall in Orange County.

During 2018, the Building Division issued 3,031 permits compared with 2,991 in 2017. The most common permits were for commercial alterations, alterations and additions of single family dwellings, re-roofs and new single family dwellings.

The Building Division performed 28,024 building inspections and served 10,544 customers at the counter with an average wait time of less than 15 minutes.

Even with the persistent heavy workload for the last several years, the Building Division continues to perform inspections within one business day of request and turns around most plan checks in less than five working days.




Council takes historic vote to address homelessness with new bridge shelter at Lighthouse Church

The Costa Mesa City Council voted unanimously at its Tuesday Jan. 15 meeting to move forward with a plan to partner with the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene and expand what is an already existing inclement weather shelter into a high-security temporary solution to offer shelter beds to those in need.

In addition, the council announced to a packed house gathered at the Costa Mesa Senior Center for the meeting that it will explore the possibility of a permanent shelter and is already looking at one location at 3115 Redhill Avenue.

“In a move to protect the residents and taxpayers of Costa Mesa, last night we authorized a temporary bridge shelter at Lighthouse Church and directed staff to work with the county on a permanent shelter near the airport,” Mayor Katrina Foley said. “This means, we will be able to clear parks and residential areas from the impacts of homelessness while offering a humane response to this growing crisis.”

“Three main reasons exist to move forward with the bridge shelter and permanent sheltering plan,” Foley said. “One, a federal judge mandated this so we can again enforce our anti-camping ordinance and other laws to move people off the streets. Two, it costs less to shelter individuals than to manage the impacts of people living on the streets, in our parks and even on private property; and finally, it’s morally right.”

Mayor Foley said the goal is to restore the safety and security of the neighborhoods. She noted the plan for the temporary and permanent shelters will be to operate them in such a clean, safe, secure, and responsible manner, that it’s hard to tell they even exist.

Establishing this bridge shelter option for those experiencing homelessness will provide the 50 shelter beds that the City of Costa Mesa is expected to create based on a proposed settlement agreement in the OC Catholic Worker lawsuit that in turn would restore the city’s powers to enforce trespassing and anti-encampment ordinances.

The Lighthouse Church shelter at 1885 Anaheim Ave. will be run by a combination of city outreach staff and an experienced, well-respected operator who will ensure the facility is a reservation-based model along with 24-hour security and management covering a half-mile radius.

“The approved temporary bridge shelter at Lighthouse Church is part of an overall Westside Restoration Plan, including many infrastructure improvements and the opening of our new library in April 2019,” Foley said. “These infrastructure improvements, coupled with reduced homelessness and its impacts, should improve the quality of life and property values on the Westside. In addition to the infrastructure projects already planned, additional lighting and fencing at the Church, we are soliciting input from the community for additional needed improvements to restore the safety and character of the neighborhood.”

Through this temporary shelter arrangement with the Lighthouse Church, the city will invest in the property creating security fencing around the church, and adding portable buildings for restrooms, storage of personal belongings, offices and space for shelter beds.

Unsheltered individuals will be offered job training and placement services, mental health assessments, health and dental care, substance abuse treatment and connections to permanent housing.

By embarking on this solution to homelessness, Costa Mesa joins the broader efforts of the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange, Tustin, Fullerton and Buena Park and the county of Orange in taking an active solution to combatting the crisis of homelessness throughout the county and beyond.

A 2017 study conducted by the University of California Irvine, United Way and Jamboree Housing estimated the annual cost of homelessness in Orange County to be $299 million, $120 million of which is shouldered by cities.

Costa Mesa has been a leader on this issue. Since 2013, the Network for Homeless Solutions – which includes City staff and representatives of faith-based organizations and local non-profits – meets weekly to discuss specific cases and developments in our efforts to reduce homelessness in Costa Mesa.

Costa Mesa outreach workers make contact daily with individuals experiencing homelessness and the city spends approximately $1 million each year on this effort. Funds are expended on outreach workers as well as police officers assigned to our Community Policing Unit.

Since its inception, the Network for Homeless Solutions has helped to house more than 300 individuals as well as reconnected about 90 with family or loved ones.




Costa Mesa restarts K-9 program with newest member of department Bodi

The Costa Mesa Police Department has restarted the K-9 program and has filled two positions in the K-9 Unit, with one team already deployed.

The department has been rebuilding over the last couple of years and reestablishing the K-9 Unit has been a priority because of the benefits and elevated service it provides. K-9 Units are a force multiplier and valuable resource for police department personnel on a daily basis. The police service dogs are instrumental in building searches, article searches, and apprehension.

Additionally, police service dogs can receive specialized training in narcotics and explosive detection based on the needs of the K-9 Unit.

In 2018, CMPD took steps to reestablish the K-9 Unit by selecting its first K-9 handler, Officer Nick Dempkowski. He has been a police officer for the past six and a half years, the past two and a half years with Costa Mesa.

Dempkowski’s new partner is Bodi, a 3-year-old, brindle, Dutch Shepherd from Holland. After training, the two officially went into service and began handling calls for service on Dec. 26, 2018.

Officer Candice McMorris has been selected as the department’s second K-9 handler. She has been a police officer with Costa Mesa for three and a half years and is the department’s first female handler. McMorris is already preparing and is waiting to select her K-9 partner sometime in March 2019, with the intent for both to be in service by May 2019.

In 1988, Costa Mesa deployed its first police service dog. Since the K-9 Unit’s inception, there have been 10 K-9 handlers and twelve police service dogs, which provided a valuable resource to the department and community by assisting with the apprehension of hundreds of wanted suspects and recovering thousands of pounds of illicit narcotics. In 2011, the K-9 Unit dissolved due to a departmental contraction at the time.

Since 2011, CMPD has relied on neighboring police departments to provide K-9 services when needed.




Council looks to take historic step to address homelessness in Costa Mesa

The Costa Mesa City Council on Tuesday Jan. 15 is poised to take a historic step forward by both providing shelter beds for individuals experiencing homelessness and restoring the safety and well-being of communities and residents.

Homelessness has been one of the most pressing issues in Costa Mesa, and by establishing the next phase of a comprehensive Westside Restoration Plan, the City Council can embrace both short-term and long-term solutions to providing unsheltered individuals a place to live while developing plans for permanent housing.

“The fact is that our first responders are spending more and more time grappling with the issue of homelessness, which as a result, is putting the rest of our community’s public safety at greater risk,” Mayor Katrina Foley said. “Additionally, homelessness costs our county’s hospitals $77 million annually, making health care more expensive for all of us. We must resolve homelessness – not only because it is so costly to taxpayers and erodes our local quality of life – but also because it leads to profound human suffering in our community. Solving this challenge is the humane and right thing to do.”

Up for approval Tuesday will be a plan for the city to engage in a partnership with the Lighthouse Church of the Nazarene to make improvements and expand what is an already existing inclement weather shelter and homeless check-in center as well as to purchase a 12,000-square-foot office building at 1040 W. 17th Street that will be redeveloped into a permanent solution to offer shelter beds to those in need. Property improvements would include exterior fencing, lighting and landscaping.

Click here to read the staff report.

“Finding permanent solutions to homelessness, improving public safety, and re-investing in our Westside neighborhoods were key priorities in the recent election,” Council Member Arlis Reynolds said. “Staff’s proposal is designed to address all of these issues while meeting our city’s legal obligations. It is very important to hear from our residents and businesses, and I encourage the public to read the staff report and share their input with council members ahead of our Tuesday meeting.”

Through this temporary shelter arrangement with the Lighthouse Church, the city would invest in the property in order to provide the 50 shelter beds that it is expected to create based on a proposed settlement agreement in the OC Catholic Worker lawsuit that in turn would restore the city’s powers to enforce trespassing and anti-encampment ordinances.

Additionally, the purchase of this $4 million facility would allow the council to create a bridge shelter, where unsheltered individuals could also receive job training and placement, mental health assessment, health and dental care, substance abuse treatment and connections to permanent housing.

Both of these facilities would be run by a combination of city outreach staff and an experienced well-respected operator who will ensure the facility is a reservation-based model along with 24-hour security and management covering a half-mile radius.

This proposal is part of a broader Westside Restoration Plan, a commitment by the council to restore public safety and the character of Westside neighborhoods. Recent enhancements to the Westside include the Lions Park Project, Lions Park Playground Improvements, Street Rehabilitation Projects, the Harbor Median Improvement Project, the West 19th Street Bicycle Facility Improvements, Anaheim Avenue and West 18th Street Parkway Improvements, the Senior Center Fence Project and Shalimar Park Improvements.

By embarking on this solution to homelessness, Costa Mesa joins the broader efforts of the cities of Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange, Tustin, Fullerton and Buena Park and the county of Orange in taking an active solution to combatting the crisis of homelessness throughout the county and beyond.

A 2017 study conducted by the University of California Irvine, United Way and Jamboree Housing estimated the annual cost of homelessness in Orange County to be $299 million, $120 million of which is shouldered by cities.

Costa Mesa has been a leader on this issue. Since 2013, the Network for Homeless Solutions – which includes City staff and representatives of faith-based organizations and local non-profits – meets weekly to discuss specific cases and developments in our efforts to reduce homelessness in Costa Mesa.

Costa Mesa outreach workers make contact daily with individuals experiencing homelessness and the city spends approximately $1 million each year on this effort. Funds are expended on outreach workers as well as police officers assigned to our Community Policing Unit.

In addition, Mayor Pro-Tem John Stephens is currently the Chairman of the ACC-OC Homelessness Task Force, an advocacy group for Orange County cities.

“It is my goal to substantially reduce homelessness in Costa Mesa,” said Council Member Stephens. “I am proud that we as a city are pursuing the creation of this Bridge Shelter and I hope this will be a first step in providing permanent supportive housing to those in need.”

The timing is right for these efforts. Last February, with Stephens at the helm of the Homelessness Task Force, ACC-OC rolled out a plan to develop 2,700 permanent supportive housing units throughout Orange County over the next seven years.

Both private and public funding would be used to achieve this goal, and existing legislation has established the Orange County Housing Trust, which may be used to pool public (i.e., state grants) and private funds to provide financing for the permanent supportive housing projects.

Other cities are also making great strides in this area. The Orchard, developed by Community Development Partners and operated by Mercy House, is a successful example of a permanent supportive housing project in Santa Ana. Formerly a dilapidated, abandoned motel, most of the residents of the 71-unit project were relocated from the Civic Center encampment.

These individuals are now permanently off the streets. Another noteworthy example is the Cove in Newport Beach, recently launched by Community Development Partners and Mercy House. The Cove is a permanent supportive apartment complex serving formerly homeless veterans and seniors.

To reach the City Council please click here to access each individual council member’s page or email the entire council at citycouncil@costamesaca.gov.




CMPD Veteran Keith Davis promoted to captain

The Costa Mesa Police Department is proud to announce the promotion of one of its six lieutenants to the position of police captain. After a competitive promotion process, Keith Davis was selected to serve as captain and will oversee the Support Services Division.

This includes the Investigative Services Bureau, Records and Evidence Bureau, Telecommunications Bureau, and the Office of Emergency Management.

Davis, a 28-year veteran of the department, began his career at CMPD in 1991 and worked patrol until he promoted to sergeant in 2005. Davis’ supervisory responsibilities through his tenure as sergeant included patrol, gang enforcement, SWAT, and Emergency Services.

In 2013, Davis promoted to lieutenant and for the first two years served as Area Commander for one of two geographic deployment areas. Meanwhile, Davis kept his SWAT assignment and would remain in that detail for 24 years, the last seven serving as SWAT Commander. He went on to serve as the Telecommunications Bureau Lieutenant until his recent promotion to captain, effective Dec. 23, 2018. Davis fills a vacancy left by former Captain Mark Manley after his departure in September 2018.

Davis has a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University, and he has accrued certifications from the California Peace Officers Standards and Training. He also graduated from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute in 2012. Davis has been recognized as Officer of the Year and Supervisor of the Year, among other recognitions.

He is affiliated with a number of law enforcement associations, including the National Association of Tactical Officers and the Orange County Emergency Managers Organization.

“Captain Davis brings 28 years of dedicated service to this critical position,” said Chief Sharpnack. “He has amassed an exceptional background through a breadth of assignments and operations. Throughout his career, Captain Davis has served us well as a successful and respected leader. It is my privilege to see Captain Davis earn this significant professional achievement.”

“I’m honored and truly appreciative of this opportunity,” said Captain Davis. “I thank Chief Sharpnack for recognizing my accomplishments during my career and affording me the chance to continue serving the community and Department as a Captain. I am blessed to have worked with and learned from some of the brightest and most professional public safety personnel, and for this I am truly grateful. I would be seriously remiss if I didn’t thank the most important people in my life my family, who have had to sacrifice in some ways more than I during the last 28 years. Their support and understanding has been invaluable. I am proud to serve as Captain of Support Services and I look forward to the continued success of our team.”




Library at Lions Park to temporarily close Friday Jan. 11

The County of Orange is planning to close the current Donald Dungan Library in Lions Park this Friday Jan. 11, 2019 in order to prepare the new building to be ready for opening day on Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m.

During this closure, the Costa Mesa Senior Center will offer limited, temporary, computer lab hours to members of the public during the closure of the Donald Dungan Library.

Temporary Hours:
• Monday and Wednesday – 9:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Saturday – 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Here are the library services that will still be available to the public:

• A book share cart at the Downtown Recreation Center where library patrons can return and check-out books during the closure.
• The Rec Center Book Club will continue at the Senior Center.
• The Children’s Librarian will continue offering story time three mornings a week, (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday).

Lastly, the County will be permanently closing the Technology Library located at 2263 Fairview Road on Jan. 31, 2019. The County’s staff at the Technology Library will be moving to the new Library when it opens in April.

These times are subject to change without prior notice and not offered on holidays. We thank you for your patience during these exciting times as we prepare to open the new library.