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.

The Costa Mesa Military Affairs team, in support of the Costa Mesa City Council, relaunched its Military Banner Program on Monday July 11 in front of Costa Mesa City Hall.

To kick off to the program, 12 banners were installed along Fair Drive with language that reads “Costa Mesa supports the 1/5 Marines.”  The banners are in reference to the 1^St Battalion 5^th Marine Regiment unit that the City adopted in 2008 and currently supports.

The installation of the banners is designed to encourage support by the community and help to promote the City’s existing Military Banner program, which allows for Costa Mesa citizens to pay for and display a banner along Fair Drive that honors current family members who are active in the military.

The outpouring of support provided by our community through various events and activities brings funds for the troops and their families, evokes good will, inspires civic pride and patriotism, and is encouraging to the men and women of the battalion.

To make a donation or to enquire about supporting one or both programs, please send a check or contribution to the City of Costa Mesa. P.O. Box 1200, Costa Mesa, CA 92628-1200 and designate the gift for either the “1/5 Marine banner fund,” or the “Military Banner Fund.” To discuss contributions or take the steps to apply to have a banner installed to honor an active Military Family member please contact Dan Baker at (714) 754-5156 .

On Tuesday July 5, Mayor Steve Mensinger presented Michael Howard, the founder and executive director of Operation Clean Slate, with the Mayor’s Award to recognize the work his nonprofit has done to deter youths from vandalizing property with graffiti by having them paint murals instead.

“For your years of service to this community, your extraordinary leadership, and your passion for working with youth and providing them with a positive outlet for their creativity, it is my honor and privilege to present you with the Mayor’s Award,” Mensinger said.

Based in Costa Mesa, Operation Clean Slate has partnered with over 25,000 volunteers and produced over 1,000 murals at more than 800 schools throughout Southern California and in six other countries.

Howard started the nonprofit back in 1993 as a solution to graffiti and vandalism while teaching at juvenile hall.

In Costa Mesa, Operation Clean Slate has painted more than 45 murals on 16 different school campuses, including Rea Elementary which now has five, They have also painted murals around town at Bark Park, Mesa Water District, Doria’s Haus of Pizza and New Directions for Women.

“It’s an honor and I’m really excited that the arts are being acknowledged,” Howard said upon receiving the award. “It’s great to have the community recognize what we are doing and we are going to keep doing it.”

The City Council will conduct the final public hearing on the formation of council districts during a special meeting on Tuesday July 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

More information on the voting district proposal can be seen by clicking here to view the city’s official web page.

For questions concerning this public hearing, please contact Brenda Green, City Clerk, City of Costa Mesa, at (714) 754-5225.

Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, in the City Council Chamber, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, California, to consider the formation of council districts and to consider establishing the exact boundaries of the council districts to be reflected in a district map or maps.

If any part of the proposed project is challenged in court, participants may be limited to raising only those issues that were raised during the public hearing, or in written communication delivered to the council at or prior to the public hearing.

Any person with an interest in this matter is invited to attend said hearing and testify.

An informational Open House will be held prior to the public hearing on the same day, Tuesday, July 5, 2016, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall 1^st Floor Conference Room, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, California, for review of proposed district maps.

For questions concerning this open house or public hearing, please contact Brenda Green, City Clerk, City of Costa Mesa, at (714) 754-5225.

In the city’s recent settlement agreement with Solid Landings, the rehab home operator was to close 15 of 33 facilities within 30 days of the settlement agreement date.

City Code Enforcement staff has verified that Solid Landings has closed (left the location/lease) and or sold these locations.

During the monitoring of these locations, code enforcement staff identified four new operations in Solid Landings previously leased locations.

These operators were noticed and cited for running facilities without City approvals.

They were required to terminate their operation within 30 days.

Three of the four facilities agreed to cease their operations and paid the fines.

Only one of the four contested their fines and in a recent citation appeal hearing, the City’s fine was upheld by a third party hearing officer.

The operator was found liable for the violation.

Code Enforcement staff will be following up with all these locations, which includes additional fines and possible civil action if these locations are not in compliance

City CEO Tom Hatch presented Costa Mesa Police Officer Lance Healey with the June CEO Leadership Award at the monthly meet and greet on Thursday June 23.

Healey joined the Costa Mesa Police Department in 2005 after a lengthy and distinguished 20-year career in the Marine Corps, where he held the titles of Team Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Commander and Chief Instructor at Camp Pendleton’s Scout Sniper Basic Course.

Officer Healey currently serves as the Sniper Team Leader for the department’s SWAT team and is responsible for the section’s monthly training. His involvement in the Training Bureau includes serving as a Firearms Instructor, development and execution of the new 16 hour POST-mandated firearms course, and development and administration of the Pre-Academy, as the Lead Instructor, preparing recruits from multiple agencies for the Sheriff’s Academy.  Lance is instrumental in ensuring the success of our Academy recruits.

He also hopes to reestablish Costa Mesa’s K9 program and develop a new standard of excellence to ensure the program’s long-term success.

In addition, Hatch honored seven newly hired employees, namely McKenna Ewing from the CEO’s Office, Victoria Chavez, Ana Cordova, Rohan Ronvelia and Quinn Harter from Parks and Community Services and Kevin Suy and June Jeong from the Police Department. Jeong, the newest police recruit, graduated top of the class from the Orange County Sheriff’s Academy.

Also honored was Bart Mejia from Public Services who was recently promoted to City Engineer.

Since 2006, the home at 276 E. 19th Street had been cited for trash and debris promoting calls to Code Enforcement and several court hearings taking place to address the problem.

Some of the issues were resolved at the time, but in 2013, Code Enforcement Officer Mike Brumbaugh was assigned the case following reports of people living in the home while the ceiling was falling in. After speaking to neighbors and inspecting the property he could see it was in substandard condition.

The city tried to contact the owner to do a walk-through. All of the city’s requests were ignored and walk-through was never scheduled. The city attorney’s office then went to court for an inspections warrant, which was granted. Police and fire personnel accompanied code enforcement on the inspections, where the home was discovered to be unlivable due to health and safety issues.

Ultimately, the home was red-tagged and boarded up. After it was put into receivership, trash and debris was removed. The case was extended by the courts for several years until recently when the home was leveled and is now just a dirt lot. The lot will be sold and money will be divvied up between the receiver and owner.