The Fire & Rescue staff has happily reported that 16 community members recently graduated from the CERT training hosted by Greenleaf Mobile Home Park.

Participants learned skills in preparedness, fire safety and utility control, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue techniques, homeland security awareness and disaster emotional first aid.

Members of the instructional team included Fire Capt. Fred McDowell and Costa Mesa Police Lt. Vic Bakkila as well as volunteer instructors, Georgette Quinn, Cindy Brenneman, Dee Chester and program manager Brenda Emrick.

The next CERT class will be offered in March.

City Manager Tom Hatch named Itzia Carvajal as the latest to receive the City Manager Leadership Award during the monthly employee Meet and Greet on Thursday Jan. 26.

A Principal Human Resources Analyst, Carvajal joined the City of Costa Mesa as an HR Analyst in 2014 after working in Santa Ana in Parks & Recreation, Community Development, Planning & Building and Personnel Services.

Carvajal oversees the daily functions of the Risk Management Section, which includes administering the City’s Workers’ Compensation Program as well as Benefits Administration Program, where she has worked to streamline and improve the administrative process.

Carvajal, who was promoted to Principal Analyst nearly a year ago, is recognized by her colleagues as a consummate professional and credible resource who possesses a strong work ethic, a high level of customer service and enhanced organizational skills. She has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Sociology from the University of Riverside and in her spare time enjoys camping with her husband.

In addition to Carvajal, Hatch welcomed two new buyers to the Finance Department, Therese Combs and Nina Naranjo as well as Marianna Pena as a new Recreation Coordinator and Maria Urquiza Sanchez as a new Recreation Leader III for Parks and Community Services.

He also congratulated several employees for being promoted, including Lauren Clark, who was promoted from Recreation Leader to Office Specialist in the Finance Department as well as Matthew Schmelzel, who was promoted to Treasury Specialist.

Also honored were Ashley Ocasio who was promoted to Recreation Supervisor as well as Raja Sethuraman, who was promoted to Public Services Director.

On Tuesday Jan. 18, City Manager Tom Hatch gave a presentation to the Mesa Verde Community Inc. to update the group on several city initiatives.

Hatch brought them up to speed on the Fire Station No. 1 replacement efforts and noted that the groundbreaking for the new station will take place on March 11, 2017 with completion scheduled for the following spring of 2018.

He also told the group what was going on with the Lions Park improvements which includes a new library and community center. Hatch also gave updates on the new City Council, the Mesa Verde medians, city staffing, the homeless and the news that the Chargers are moving the team headquarters here.

Because of scheduling and time constraints, the City Council will now only interview the candidates for Parks and Recreation and Senior commissions during a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday Jan. 24, 2017 in Conference Room 1A at City Hall beginning at 4:15 p.m.

Interviews of candidates for Planning Commission will now take place at a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday Jan. 31, 2017, also in Conference Room 1A.

The City Council will also make the appointments for all three commissions at that time.

A powerful winter storm that whipped through Costa Mesa on Friday knocked down at least two large trees and one tree took out some power lines.  

Crews from Southern California Edison responded and assisted with the power lines.

There were more than 30 calls for service related to issues with smaller trees and two metal plates in the road near Sunflower and Main fell into the hole they were covering as part of some road construction work, forcing the city to close two lanes of traffic.

Who to call?

With another storm coming possibly on Sunday and Monday, residents in need of assistance are encouraged to call the city’s non-emergency line at 714-754-5252.

As always, in the case of emergencies, downed power lines or other life threatening issues, please dial 9-1-1.

Click here to see how to contact Southern California Edison or call 1-800-611-1911 to report power outages.

Sandbags available

Residents are also encouraged to obtain sandbags to deal with potential or real flooding problems.

The city offers a self serve process at the Southeast corner of the parking lot at City Hall located at 77 Fair Drive where residents can get up to 15 sandbags.

There are signs on Fair Drive that will direct you to the location.

Please visit City Hall as our primary location for sandbags, or if we are out of sand, you can obtain sandbags at Fire Station No. 4 located at 2300 Placentia Ave.

Click here for information on how to prepare sand bags.

211 OC

Furthermore, the agency “211 OC” is also poised to help coordinate assistance. 211 OC has an around the clock phone line to help with all types of emergencies and provides regional connection to resources for disasters victims, the homeless, and others needing health and human services.

Information about 211 OC can be found at www.211OC.org or by simply calling 2-1-1.

Residents interested in potential changes in flight paths involving John Wayne and Long Beach airports are encouraged to attend a Southern California Metroplex meeting on Wednesday Feb. 1 at the Oasis Senior Center in Corona del Mar.

The meeting, one of several taking place throughout the Southern California region, will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the center’s Evelyn Hart Event Center at 801 Narcissus Ave.

The Metroplex Project would improve the efficiency of airspace in the Southern California Metroplex by optimizing aircraft arrival and departure procedures at multiple airports and military stations,according to Federal Aviation Commission website.

While the Project may involve changes in aircraft flight paths and altitudes in certain areas, it would not result in any ground disturbance or increase the number of aircraft operations within the Southern California airspace, the FAA website states.

Click here for more information.

The announcement Thursday that the Chargers NFL franchise is moving to Los Angeles brings good news to Costa Mesa as the team has confirmed it will make the City of the Arts its official corporate headquarters and training and practice facility.

“While we understand this move was a difficult decision, the city is excited to be the new home for the Chargers,” Mayor Katrina Foley said.

Foley spoke by phone Thursday with Chargers owner Dean Spanos, who said he is also looking forward to moving to Costa Mesa and hopes to have their headquarters operational by July.

“Mr. Spanos said he wants his organization to be part of the fabric of our community,” said Mayor Foley, who looks forward to the energy, excitement and community involvement of having an NFL team make Costa Mesa its home.

She said Spanos told her that many of his players get involved in and support the local community.

In fact, according to the National Football League’s website, “As steward of a sport enjoyed by millions of fans, the NFL has a special responsibility to use its platform to promote causes that improve the health and well-being of its fans and players and support the communities in which they live.”

The city staff continue to work closely with the Chargers organization on the tenant improvements needed for the existing building and to ensure a smooth transition.

With the impending and recurring storms, the city of Costa Mesa is providing up to 15 sandbags for residents who reside in the city.

Residents can obtain sandbags through a self serve process at the Southeast corner of the parking lot at City Hall located at 77 Fair Drive.

There are signs that will direct you to the location.

Please visit City Hall as our primary location for sandbags, or if we are out of sand, you can obtain sandbags at Fire Station No. 4 located at 2300 Placentia Ave.

Click here for information on how to prepare sand bags.

The agency “211 OC” is also poised to help coordinate assistance. 211 OC has an around the clock phone line to help with all types of emergencies and provides regional connection to resources for disasters victims, the homeless, and others needing health and human services.

Information about 211 OC can be found at www.211OC.org or by simply calling 2-1-1.

“On behalf of the Costa Mesa City Council and our entire community, we are elated that the Chargers organization has selected Costa Mesa, the City of the Arts, as their new home if the LA stadium option is exercised. Costa Mesa is uniquely eclectic with wonderful neighborhoods, world-class shopping, exceptional performing arts venues and fairgrounds, the best restaurants in Southern California, and a thriving tourism industry. Costa Mesa is also known for an edgy, trend-setting apparel industry, quality educational institutions, beautiful open spaces and recreational options, and it is full of friendly and creative people. The City understands that this is a difficult and significant decision for Mr. Dean Spanos but Costa Mesa is prepared to graciously welcome his organization and his family of employees as they make us their home for their new headquarters, practice and training facility. Welcome to Costa Mesa.”

Mayor Katrina Foley, Council Member John Stephens and members of the police and fire departments paid a visit to the Westside Boys and Girls Club on Wednesday to deliver 100 donated new coats to the children there.

This is Mayor Foley’s eighth year of holding a coat drive for the city’s low-income community. In addition to the new coats, about about 50 gently used coats and sweatshirts were donated as well as $1,884 raised for the Fire Association charity drive and approximately 40 toys for the OCBA Spark of Love Toy Drive.

Foley and Stephens took questions from the kids in the after school program as did members of police and fire. Emergency coordinator Brenda Emrick urged the children to take a safety pledge and take proper precautions during the holiday season.

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The Costa Mesa City Council is currently seeking interested individuals from the community to serve on the following Commissions:

Parks and Recreation Commission – This Commission assists the City Council and various City departments with issues related to parks and parkways.  Currently, there are five (5) vacancies, two (2) with a term expiration of February 2021 and three (3) with a term expiration of February 2019.  Applicants must be registered voters in the City.  For further information, please contact Recreation Manager Justin Martin at (714) 754-5065.

Planning Commission – This Commission 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 are five (5) vacancies, two (2) with a term expiration of February 2021 and three (3) with a term expiration of February 2019.  Applicants must be registered voters in the City.  For further information, please contact Interim Assistant Development Services Director Peggy Schneble at (714) 754-5182.

Senior Commission – This Commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council in matters related to the operation of the Costa Mesa Senior Center.  Currently, there are seven (7) vacancies, three (3) with a term expiration of February 2021 and four (4) with a term expiration of February 2019. Applicants must be a Costa Mesa resident.  For further information, please contact Recreation Manager Justin Martin at (714) 754-5065.

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, January 18, 2017.  City Council will be holding special meetings on Tuesday, January 24 and Tuesday January 31 at 6:00 p.m. to interview applicants and make appointments to the Commissions.  For further information regarding Commission appointments, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (714) 754-5225 or cityclerk@costamesaca.gov.

Caltrans has announced it is extending the full closure of the 405 Freeway/Red Hill Avenue Overcrossing from Main Street to Pullman Avenue until mid-January of 2017 because of rain saturation to the hillside. This closure is part of a $9 million Embankment Stabilization project in the cities of Irvine and Costa Mesa.

Changeable Message Signs will be used to alert motorists to the closure extension. Motorist may experience delays and are advised to avoid the area, use alternate routes, and check traffic conditions before traveling.

The project benefits are to reinforce the underlying soil embankment as well as construct new retaining walls along the local arterial surface street system. Completion of the project is expected in mid 2018. For more information Caltrans Red Hill project click here.