Spearheaded by Mayor Katrina Foley, the Costa Mesa City Council has enlisted corporate, labor and government leaders to form a new reStore Costa Mesa Recovery Team with the goal of jump starting the local economy once restrictions are lifted.
The reStore Recovery Team held its first meeting on May Day, Friday, May 1 with more than 40 individuals taking part in a nearly two-hour discussion. Those leaders provided a very detailed and high-level overview on how Costa Mesa can get its business community going in a safe and responsible fashion.
“Our local businesses are struggling right now, and we need to do whatever we can to help them through these difficult times,” Mayor Foley said. “We have recruited a star-studded team of professionals to guide us and allow us to move quickly once we are able to and move into a recovery period. I’m grateful for the dedication of these community leaders who will help us get out of this crisis with a safety-first approach.”
Members of the reStore team include such notables as former State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, local restaurateurs Ivan Calderon and Mario Marovic, auto executive Jim Robbins and longtime developer George Sakioka.
“I am thrilled to be working with such a talented cadre of business professionals from multiple sectors to reopen Costa Mesa,” said City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison. “I look forward to bringing the city’s vibrant economy back as soon as possible.”
The team is made up of economic and public health advisors and representatives from the hospitality, tourism, personal care and fitness and community services sectors. Also represented will be the faith-based and parks and recreation industries.
The Economic Advisors also include Costa Mesa City Manager Farrell Harrison, Eileen Benjamin from the Chamber of Commerce, Michael Harris from the banking industry, Paulette Lombardi Fries of Travel Costa Mesa, Diane Pritchett from South Coast Metro Alliance, Casey Reitz from SCFTA, Paul Sanford from the hospitality sector, Charles Barfield from the OC Employees Association, Jessie Ben-Ron from Orange County Business Council, Todd Smith from Orange County Museum of the Arts, Concert Promoter Tim Taber, Jonathan Hastanan from Steelwave, Anais Tangie from AT Connections and Rick Stein of Arts Orange County.
The Public Health & Community Advisors include Ellen Olshanksky, Founding Director of the Program of Nursing Science at UCI, Sue Parks from OC United Way, Dr. Iman Bar, Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano, Costa Mesa Economic Development Administrator Dan Inloes, nurse Kimberly St. Laurent, Ian Stevenson of Trellis, Ashley Anderson Newport Mesa School Board, residents and Halecrest Club manager Sharon Comer, Jeremy Samson and Greg Barker of Mesa Verde Country Club and Danny Lane of Costa Mesa Country Club.