At a recent City Council meeting a resident inquired as to how the City uses recycled water in parks and landscaped areas and whether the use of recycled water could be expanded to more facilities to achieve greater water savings.

Costa Mesa has been a leader in the use of recycled water for years and has been taking part in the Orange County Water District’s (OCWD) “Green Acres” project since 1991. The City currently uses recycled water at four large parks, two golf courses, a bike trail, several medians on arterial streets and riparian areas.

They include: Jack Hammett Sports Complex, TeWinkle Park, Fairview Park and Wetlands, Civic Center Park, the Costa Mesa Golf Courses (Los Lagos and Mesa Linda), the Joann Street Bike Trail, including Harbor Boulevard segment and medians on Harbor Boulevard, Fairview Road, and Sunflower Avenue.

Recycled water accounts for approximately 75% of the total irrigation water used by the City. Currently, there does not appear to be any plans by OCWD to expand the distribution system or add additional customers to the system. There is a limited supply of recycled water available. The City does use recycled water on new landscape installations or renovation projects whenever there is an opportunity.

Joann Street and Harbor Boulevard bike trails are an example of this, as well as the conversion of several turf medians on Harbor Boulevard to water efficient plant materials. All of these projects are connected to existing recycled water sources.

Currently, there are no plans to connect additional parks, medians, or roadway landscapes to reclaimed water sources due to limited supplies and costs.

On Aug. 24 from 4:30 to 7 p.m., the Costa Mesa Senior Center will offer a free screening of the movie “The Age of Love,” which was produced and directed by Steven Loring. The film, which aired at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2014, follows 30 seniors in Rochester New York who sign up for a first-of-its-kind speed dating event exclusively for 70- to 90-year-olds. Loring, who will answer questions from the Senior Center crowd afterward, via satellite, answered some questions we had about the film.

Director Steven Loring

 Where did you get the idea for The Age of Love?

This project was actually a personal journey for me. Just before I began, my dad suddenly passed away, and my mom, who was nearing 70, was left without the partner and the emotional intimacy she’d counted on during a half-century of marriage.

That same year, my 78-year-old uncle met an 80-year-old woman, and they fell madly in love. They basically locked the bedroom door—as if they were in high school again. Trying to understand the hearts of people so close to me, I was surprised to find almost nothing in popular media that looked honestly into the emotional lives and needs of that generation. TV and movies were filled with dated stereotypes and jokes about older adults’ desires. So when I heard about speed dating for people over 70—and especially when I heard everyone’s laughter at the idea—I thought, wow, what a perfect hook for a film into the hearts of that generation. Who knows what I might find?

What do you hope to accomplish with the film?
To break old stereotypes and attitudes about aging, and to bring new opportunity and growth to our booming older population worldwide. The film, being about our lifelong search for love, seems to speak to all generations. Older people find the film empowering and validating, in that it brings their true, overlooked voices and feelings to the screen for the first time. Baby Boomers tell me they watch and think about talks they should have with aging, single parents, who are rarely asked about their hearts and emotional needs.

Also, with people living so much longer, Boomers wonder what the future holds for them in terms of love, with perhaps 40 or more years to look forward to. And younger people, suddenly realizing that the 70 plus generation can feel the same hopes and fears when it comes to seeking companionship, tell me, ‘I’ll never look at my grandparents the same way again!’

Tell us a little bit about the directing process and how you decided who and what you were going to film?
The speed dating event I followed in the film was a real event for people 70 and older, and everyone had signed up without imagining they’d be part of a documentary. No one was ‘cast’, they were all real people from the World War II generation who decided to take a chance and enter the trendy dating scene of the new millennium.

I actually came to the project with my own preconceptions and assumed the speed daters would probably be embarrassed and not want to be in a film. After all, they might not have told their friends or children, and they certainly wouldn’t want their faces on movie screens all over the world.

But, when I called the first woman on the list and explained I was filming a doc on older people’s search for love, she stopped me and said, “Let me tell you something: I’m 74 and my children love me; they take care of me; we celebrate birthdays; we talk every day. But even my own children never ask me what’s in my heart at this stage in my life. It’s like I’ve become invisible to the world. So I’d be happy to talk with you.” I was really amazed that all 30 people gave me permission to film.

So then I plunged in and filmed all 30 participants during the preparation period, at the speed dating event, when they received their results and then on several real-world dates that resulted. I ended up with over 168 hours of footage that were edited down into a 78-minute film.

Do you think these people were looking for the same kind of love as they had when they were younger?
A big question on my mind throughout filming was: Does love change as we age? And, if so, how? There’s a general assumption, when we talk about older people, that they’re only looking for ‘companionship’, as if that’s some sort of diminished form of true, youthful love.

But, over the course of filming, it became clear to me that the need to connect with another person, to be truly ‘seen’ and appreciated, and to have someone who ‘sees’ and appreciates you, is the essence of love regardless of age. When we’re young, we’re thinking about building a home and career and family and how the kids will be brought up and physical beauty and cars and money and whatever else goes into selecting a partner. But, if you take all that away, isn’t what’s left essentially companionship? Having someone who will look at you and listen to you and understand you so that you’re not alone? I think love when you’re older is the same, just with the youthful concerns of creating a family and career stripped away.

What was the outcome for the seniors who attended the event?
Every speed dater who marked “Interested” on their card for at least one other person got a date – there were 48 follow-up dates that resulted from the event – and it was fun to see how open and excited everyone was. There wasn’t anyone involved who didn’t come up to the organizers afterward and ask, “When can we do this again?”

Even better, everyone who came left empowered to see themselves as someone with the potential to find new love. One character says near the end, “I haven’t found the love of my life yet, but I haven’t stopped looking — and I feel more aggressive now.” These people gave themselves permission to see themselves as potential lovers in a way that they hadn’t before. That’s a big message of the film: Regardless of age, given the opportunity, people still have the desire to be wanted and to connect in a deep emotional way.

Last week the Association of California Cities, Orange County, announced a new partnership with UC Irvine to study and quantify the costs of homelessness on cities in the county.

The study comes on the heels of a collaborative meeting Assistant CEO Rick Francis participated in with the ACC-OC Working Group on Homeless Issues in which he unveiled Five Pillars, including State Advocacy, Research and Data, Outreach and Sharing, Housing Options and Communications to Constituents, to combat the problem of homelessness. These Five Pillars were later shared with a countywide group of city leaders in May. Costa Mesa is viewed by many county leaders as a model approach in addressing the complexities of homelessness, and the city has already been using many facets of the Five Pillars.

The UCI study falls under the Research and Data pillar and will analyze a comprehensive set of costs and services provided to the homeless population by cities, agencies, and hospitals. This includes emergency health care services, public safety, administrative services, parks and recreation, mental health services, and a number of other elements along the continuum of care.

The study is expected to be completed by next year and will be a helpful tool in the effort to understand existing costs and that data can be used to better deploy public resources.

The Costa Mesa City Council is accepting applications to fill one vacancy on the Senior Commission.

Applicants must live in Costa Mesa.

The Senior Commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council in matters related to the operation of the Costa Mesa Senior Center.

There is one vacancy with a term expiration of February 2021.

For further information on the commission, please contact Parks and Community Services Recreation Manager Justin Martin at (714) 754-5065.

Those interested must 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; or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

The deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 2, 2016. Appointment is tentatively scheduled for the Sept. 20, 2016 City Council meeting.

For further information, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (714) 754-5225 or cityclerk@costamesaca.gov.

The Costa Mesa Conference and Visitor Bureau announced this week that it has officially changed its name to Travel Costa Mesa, and the organization relocated to a new and updated office across the street from South Coast Plaza.

“We felt it was time to make our name more impactful and recognizable,” said Paulette Lombardi- Fries, President of Travel Costa Mesa. “We wanted to ensure that website visitors and readers who saw our name knew exactly what our purpose was, to inform about and encourage travel to the city of Costa Mesa.”

The official name now matches the website address, www.travelcostamesa.com.

“We’ve also added ‘California’ to our updated logo, to let prospective visitors seeing our marketing programs know we are the official City of the Arts, in the amazing state of California,” said Lombardi-Fries.

Travel Costa Mesa’s new and updated address is 940 South Coast Drive, Suite #265, Costa Mesa, California, 92626. The phone number remains unchanged – 888.588.9417.

Visitors to the city are welcome to visit the new office for additional information about attractions and activities in the city of Costa Mesa.

Once again, the City of Costa Mesa and the Costa Mesa Military Affairs team seek donations of “like new” prom dresses, ball gowns, cocktail dresses and accessories for the spouses of 1st Battalion, 5th Marines (1/5), the Camp Pendelton-based infantry battalion that the city has adopted.

The dresses will be worn at the annual Marine Ball, which takes place in October and celebrates the anniversary of the Marines Corps’ founding.

The collection point for the dresses will be the concierge desk in the lobby of City Hall at 77 Fair Drive. Donations will be accepted now through Sept. 10.

For further information, please contact Dan Baker at (714) 754-5156.

UPDATE: Costa Mesa Police Department has found 11-year-old Diego Garcia.

The Costa Mesa Police Department is searching for an 11-year old autistic boy.

Monday August 1, 2016, an 11-year old autistic boy named Diego Garcia was reported missing by his parents in Costa Mesa. Earlier this morning, Garcia’s parents reported to police they noticed him missing from their apartment, located at 1250 Adams Avenue, shortly before 7 a.m.

Garcia  is autistic, however, he has limited communication skills and answers by his first name “Diego.” Garcia is not fearful of police or others.

Garcia has no known history of running away, and there is no indication of suspicious circumstances at this time. Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s helicopter crew, aboard “Duke”, assisted with making public address announcements in the surrounding vicinity to attempt to locate the child.

OCSD’s bloodhound search team also assisted officers on scene at the location.

Diego Garcia is 4 foot 11 inches tall, weighs about 110 pounds and has long brown hair. He was last seen wearing a green shirt, black shorts and red sandals.

He has no immediate means of accessing transportation. CMPD officers and detectives are actively seeking the public’s assistance to help immediately locate Garcia.

Anyone with possible information should contact CMPD Dispatch at 714-754-5252.

The median improvement project at the intersection of Del Mar Avenue and Newport Boulevard is now complete and a new entry monument sign provides a welcoming entryway to Eastside Costa Mesa.

The project included repurposing the unusable paved area in the middle of Del Mar Avenue to a beautifully landscaped median and will provide secondary benefits of traffic calming as it provides for a narrower pavement section and identifies the entry into the residential community.

Drought tolerant shrubs and boulders, signature trees and landscape lighting were installed to complete the colorful landscape pallet.  Additionally, a decorative crosswalk was constructed along the east leg of the intersection.

Costa Mesa Revenue Supervisor Jennifer King was presented with the July 2016 CEO Leadership Award by CEO Tom Hatch  at the monthly meet and greet on Thursday July 28.

Hatch noted that when he informed King of the award she was quick to point out that she is part of a larger team and that she wanted to be sure to acknowledge that the entire team was worthy of the award.

King serves as the Revenue Supervisor in the Finance Department’s Treasury Division, where one of her primary roles is to ensure the City’s revenue collections are accurate and in compliance with laws and regulations. King reviews all payments processed by the Treasury Division before they get recorded in the City’s financial system and her involvement and focus on accuracy has reduced the numbers of revenue journal entries during the year end closing process.

King also oversees the City’s business and animal licensing programs which to date, has approximately 12,000 business licenses and 5,000 animal licenses. She also coordinates the City’s special events permit process and works closely with city departments and outside agencies to ensure compliance with the City’s Special Events Permit Ordinance.

In her spare time, King loves to hike with her family and enjoys reading a good book.

In addition, Hatch welcomed ten newly hired employees, Huong Ly and Katie Angel from Development Services, Dustin Birn from Finance, Kelly Dowell from Parks and Community Services, Denny Bak, Kristofer Moore, Jennifer Rosenberg, Sara Nguyen, and Sally Ortiz from the Police Department and Nicholas Deutsch from Public Services.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckus told a Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce breakfast crowd that state laws that make it harder for law enforcement to put criminals in jail are bad news for communities where crime is now on the rise and he warned that similar laws could be passed in November.

Speaking to chamber members gathered at the Costa Mesa Country Club, Rackauckus decried the passage of AB 109, which allows early release of those convicted of so-called victimless crimes and Proposition 47, a statewide measure that reclassified a whole list of felonies to misdemeanors.

“It’s a big problem and it’s a growing problem,” Rackauckus said of the spike in the number of offenders who are either back on the street or getting slaps on the wrists for burglary and robbery. “Crime is on the increase.”

The district attorney said tougher laws passed in the 1990s, like the Three Strikes law that sent criminals to jail for life after three major offenses, had brought the crime rate down to historic lows. But he said the latest measures are making it harder for law enforcement to do its job and reversing those years of progress.

“The Three Strikes law was great and put a lot of career criminals in prison,” he said. “It was part of a national wave to reduce crime.”

Rackauckus told the crowd that in 2015 his staff of 800 prosecutors and investigators reviewed 70,000 cases. Of those cases, 58,000 charges were filed with a 92% felony conviction rate. 

He also said he has worked with other DAs to get a measure on the ballot, Proposition 66, that would make the death penalty more efficient.

But he warned of a competing measure, Proposition 62, that would eliminate the death penalty and Propositon 57, which if passed would make parole hearings easier to get for those behind bars.

That measure would potentially make 35,000 to 45,000 criminals eligible for parole. 

The city is making plans to cancel the regularly scheduled July 19 City Council meeting this Tuesday because it is anticipated that there will not be the mandated quorum of three council members in attendance.

As a courtesy to residents, the city is distributing a courtesy notice.

Alley reconstruction, street rehabilitation and slurry seal projects awarded by the City Council are currently under construction. Work has begun and this month is going to be a busy one for Public Services staff.

These projects will construct 800 cubic yards of concrete alleyway, repair 573,700 square feet of roadway utilizing 17,500 tons of new asphalt concrete and apply 1,200 extra-long tons of slurry seal. Work also involves adjustment of utility manholes and valves to new grade, replacement of traffic signal loop detectors, lane markings, striping and new pavement legends.

The following areas are scheduled for improvements:

• Flower Street Alley (Alley No. 81) located between Flower Street and Broadway, from Tustin Avenue to Irvine Avenue and 18th Street Alley (Alley No. 96) located between 18th Street and Abbie Way, from 18th Street to Irvine Avenue will be reconstructed.

In addition, 36 streets located within the following neighborhoods will be rehabilitated:

• Freedom Homes Neighborhood bounded by Victoria Street to the North, 19th Street to the South, Aviemore Terrace to the West, and Placentia Avenue to the East.
• Eastside Neighborhood bounded by Santa Isabel Avenue to the North, 21st Street to the South, Newport Boulevard to the West, and Tustin Avenue to the East.
• Bristol East Neighborhood bounded by I-405 Freeway to the North, Baker Street to the South, Bristol Street to the West, and SR-55 Freeway to the East.
• Halecrest Neighborhood bounded by I-405 Freeway to the North, Adams Avenue to the South, Harbor Boulevard to the West, and Fairview Road to the East.

Work on these projects is expected to be completed over the next four to six weeks.