After conducting a thorough evaluation of a proposal by the Orange County Needle Exchange Program (OCNEP) to distribute syringes in the Westside of Costa Mesa, the Costa Mesa Police Department has issued a response to the California Department of Public Health in opposition to this program.

City and law enforcement officials concluded that the needle exchange program had the potential to increase discarded needles in the city and present a safety risk to residents and others.

“There is a unanimous agreement regarding the potential public safety concerns posed by the OCNEP,” the memorandum stated. “Therefore, CMPD is opposed to implementation of the OCNEP in Costa Mesa at this time.”

To read the Police Department’s full statement click here.

According to the California Department of Public Health’s website, the Orange County Needle Exchange Program has submitted an application to operate its needle exchange program daily in Costa Mesa from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in an area bounded by (N) West 18th Street, (E) Monrovia Avenue, (S) West 16th Street, (W) the outer border of Armstrong Petroleum.

Members of the public who are interested in more information or commenting on this program can visit the California Department of Public Health’s application page here.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DOA/Pages/OA_prev_secpapp.aspx

The Arlington Drive Improvement Project is nearly 90% complete.Recently the roadway was paved.

The landscape improvements are underway with all of the trees along the south side planted and the shrubs and ground cover approximately 40% complete.

Next week, the final striping work will be completed throughout the project area. The project is anticipated for completion by May 2018.

The City of Costa Mesa is planning a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on May 18, 2018. Save the Date! More details coming soon.

The Costa Mesa City Council is currently seeking interested individuals to serve the community and to fill a vacant seat on the Planning Commission.

Planning Commission – This Commission meets bi-monthly and derives its power from the provisions of the California Government Code, and has the power, by law, to act upon or recommend to the City Council: 1) the regulation of future growth, development, and beautification of the City in respect to its public and private works; 2) consistency with municipal plans to ensure that future growth and development do not impede upon sanitation, public utilities, and transportation facilities; 3) the location of any proposed buildings, structures or works; and, 4) the design and improvement of proposed subdivisions of the land.

Currently, there is one (1) vacancy with a term expiration of February 2019. Applicants must be registered voters in the City. For further information, please contact Administrative Secretary Julie Colgan at (714) 754-5612.

Application Process – Residents who are interested in getting involved in local government are encouraged to complete a Commission 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., Friday, May 18, 2018.  Appointments are tentatively scheduled for the June 5, 2018 City Council meeting.

City Manager Tom Hatch presented Management Analyst Ashley Garcia with the City Manager Leadership Award at the monthly Meet and Greet employee appreciation event on Thursday April 26.

“Ashley is an outstanding utility player in our organization,” City Manager Hatch said. “No matter how big her workload is, she takes on all new assignments with a smile. She is a wonderful member of our team and we appreciate all of her hard work.”

Garcia arrived in Costa Mesa in 2015 and most notably took on the task of re-inventing Youth in Government Day to great success. She far exceeded the goals for this event and she continues to make it even better every year. She leads the city team to create a wonderful day for the high school students who learn about how local government operates.

Garcia has many roles in the city. In addition to her job as a Management Analyst in the City Manager’s Office, she has been assisting Human Resources with recruitments and she leads the city’s Management Analyst group to address specific citywide projects.

Most recently, when the city became short staffed in Finance, Garcia jumped in on the budget team and dropped everything to help the team get the budget done on time. It required long hours and all of her other important work and deadlines had to be met as well. In addition, to all of her work here she is currently the President of the Municipal Management Association of Southern California.

Garcia holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from USC.

In addition to honoring Garcia, Hatch paid tribute to Kyle Smith a new Recreation Leader III

and he recognized newly promoted employees Gladys Gonzalez, to Office Specialist in the City Clerk’s Office, Mike Ruhl to Fire Engineer, Hugo Contreras and Francine Jiminez to Recreation Specialists

He also recognized Fire Capt. Shawn Brosamer, who is retiring after 30 years with the city Fire Department.

Drill Exploration will occur intermittently throughout the I-405 Improvement Project area from April 23 to April 27.

Drill Exploration is performed to obtain information on the soil and rock around a site in order to design structures. Crews will be on the northbound (NB) and southbound (SB) lanes of the I-405 freeway.

Click here for a map of construction locations and times.

The City of Costa Mesa and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Go Human campaign invite residents and visitors to bike, walk, skate or roll to Explore Merrimac, a free street festival to be held on Saturday, April 21, from 12 noon to 4 p.m.. The goal of the event is to allow residents and visitors to test out and provide feedback to the City on potential street improvements along Merrimac Way.

Explore Merrimac will bring together friends and neighbors to enjoy family-friendly activities including a bike workshop, bicycle repair stations, food trucks, giveaways, music and more. Residents and visitors can try out temporary street improvements that make walking and biking easier, safer and more enjoyable. The event will feature a protected bike lane and a sidewalk seating area with creative seating, tables and umbrellas.

A kick-off press event will take place at 12:15 p.m., at the event hub located in Orange Coast College’s Parking Lot E, north of Merrimac Way between Harbor Boulevard and Fairview Road. (Merrimac Way, Costa Mesa, CA 92626).

Mayor Sandra Genis, California State Assemblymember Matthew Harper, and SCAG President Margaret Finlay are confirmed to speak at the press event.

“At Explore Merrimac, community members can explore temporary street improvements that make it safer and more enjoyable to walk and bike on Merrimac Way,”said Costa Mesa Mayor Sandra Genis. “This street is an important connector to Orange Coast College and the Campus Bike Loop, and these potential improvements would improve both accessibility and safety. Explore Merrimac gives the City an opportunity to get public input on these potential changes so that we can use resident feedback to create positive, lasting change.”

“Making it safer to bike and walk by investing in active transportation infrastructure has a transformative effect on local communities,” said SCAG President Margaret Finlay. “These are small investments that help increase access to education, jobs and local businesses and improve public health.”

SCAG’s Go Human campaign is working with cities across Southern California to develop open streets events and safety demonstration projects, such as Explore Merrimac, which promote safety while encouraging people to walk and bike more.

Come experience what these proposed changes could be like permanently! Attendees are encouraged to attend this free street event on foot or by bike, scooter or skateboard.

Explore Merrimac is the product of a partnership between the City of Costa Mesa, Clean Transportation Funding – MSRC and SCAG’s Go Human campaign. For more information, visit GoHumanSoCal.org/Explore-Merrimac.

About SCAG

SCAG is the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization, representing six counties, 191 cities and more than 18 million residents. SCAG undertakes a variety of planning and policy initiatives to plan for a livable and sustainable Southern California now and in the future. For more information about SCAG, please visit: www.scag.ca.gov.

About Go Human

Due to the increase in traffic collisions involving people walking and bicycling, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), launched Go Human, an active transportation safety and encouragement campaign. Go Human aims to increase the number of people walking and biking and decrease the number of collisions that involve people walking and biking. The campaign is a collaboration between SCAG and the health departments and transportation commissions from six counties in the region; Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura. For more information, visit: www.gohumansocal.org.

Contact: Natalie Cushman, Public Affairs Specialist

(213) 236-1990 / cushman@scag.ca.gov GoHumanSoCal.org/Explore-Merrimac

On April 16, 2018 Ganahl Lumber moved to its new Costa Mesa location adjacent to its current facility.

Ganahl Lumber is a family and employee-owned company that has been in business for over 100 years.

Relocating the store will allow Ganahl Lumber to operate a new 65,000 square foot facility adjacent to its former site.

The new location will include larger storage areas to support a greater inventory and product mix, be more energy efficient and require less maintenance.

Additionally, the new hardware store would provide an opportunity to expand the home design showroom space.

Foster programs are an important part of animal care and increase the number of happy endings.

City staff is currently working with Priceless Pet Rescue to organize local volunteer and foster orientations.

Priceless Pet Rescue has recently partnered with Costa Mesa pet stores to give residents the opportunity to adopt pets locally.

They had a great turn out during their first event recently and have the next one scheduled at PetSmart in Costa Mesa for April 28.

Those who have found homes include: Derek, a senior cat who stole the heart of his foster mom and now gets be a part of her family forever. Citrus the kitten who was also in the Priceless Pet foster care program where she became healthy and well socialized before being old enough for adoption.

Thomas and Wishbone the cats along with Rudy the Cairn Terrier Mix, Manny the Manchester Terrier and Lewie the Jack Russell Mix also were all adopted.

Public Services contractor Eagle Paving is well underway with the city’s Street Rehabilitation project.

While the improvements on Newport Boulevard Frontage Road continue, work has also now started on Nutmeg Place. The improvements include new sidewalks, wheelchair ramps, curbs and gutter, catch basin, and other improvements, which are currently under construction.

This will provide a new sidewalk connection along the south side of Nutmeg Place to Harbor Boulevard. The next phase of the project includes roadway resurfacing improvements on Nutmeg Place as well as approximately 15 streets on the upper Eastside of Costa Mesa.

The roadway resurfacing work includes grinding and placing a new layer of asphalt on top of the existing roadway surface. Prior to resurfacing each street, Eagle Paving will provide advanced notice of construction by way of door hangers and signage reflecting applicable parking restrictions for the duration of the work.

The Costa Mesa City Council is currently seeking interested individuals from the community to serve on the Parks and Recreation and Senior Commissions.

Parks and Recreation Commission – The Commission meets monthly and assists the City Council and various City departments with issues related to parks, parkways recreation programs and community services.  Currently, there is one (1) vacancy, with a term expiration of February 2021. Applicants must be registered voters in the City.  For further information, please contact Administrative Secretary Allison Burch at (714) 754-5009.

Senior Commission: The Commission meets every other month and functions as an advisory body to the City Council on issues related to the Costa Mesa Senior Center and senior programs and services within the community.  Currently, there is one (1) vacancy, with a term expiration of February 2021. For further information, please contact Administrative Secretary Allison Burch at (714) 754-5009.

Application Process – Residents who are interested in getting involved in local government are encouraged to complete a Commission 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, May 2, 2018.

Appointments are tentatively scheduled for the June 5, 2018 City Council meeting.

Mayor Sandy Genis presented longtime Parks and Recreation Commissioner Kim Pederson with the Mayor’s Award to commend him for his years of service to the community and youth sports.

“For your years of service to this community, your extraordinary leadership, and your passion for serving on the Parks Commission, it is my honor and privilege to present you with the Mayor’s Award.”

Pederson, who spent 30 years a Newport Beach city employee, served on the Parks and Recreation Commission beginning in 1999 and only recently announced he was resigning from the commission to spend more leisure time with his family at a summer home he recently purchased in northern Minnesota, where he was born and raised.

He said he was very humbled by the Mayor’s Award recognition.

“There are so many other people who deserve this, but I appreciate you to take the time to honor me this way,” he said.

He credited his wife Carolyn for supporting him in his endeavors and he cited his sons and all the kids in the city as what motivated and drove him to be involved. He also paid special tribute to those who take the time to voice their opinions at public meetings and thanked City Council members and city staff for their dedication.

To see more about Pederson, watch the video below:

Grinding operations and drill exploration work will occur intermittently throughout the project area from April 2 to April 7. Grinding operations involve the formation of joints or breaks in a concrete slab by the use of mechanical cutting tools.

Drill exploration is performed to obtain information on the soil and rock around a site in order to design structures. Crews will be on the northbound (NB) and southbound (SB) lanes of the I-405 freeway and on- and off-ramps.

Please see below for specific work locations.

• NB 405 from SR-73 to Fair View Road. *
• NB 405 from Fairview Road. to Harbor Boulevard.*
• NB 405 Harbor Boulevard. On-Ramp
• SB 405 Harbor Boulevard. On-Ramp and Off-Ramp
• NB 405 Fairview Road. On-Ramp
• SB 405 Fairview Road. Off-Ramp