What’s the most important issue facing the...

What’s the most important issue facing the city?

I believe there is more than one important issue facing the city

of Costa Mesa. For instance, it is important to move forward with

plans to revitalize and reenergize the Westside. We must make certain

we play more of a role in preventing any further increase in the

agreed number of flights from John Wayne Airport. Our streets

continue to need repair, and there has to be funding to move forward

with repairs. The county and Orange County Transportation Authority

are contemplating a continuation of the Orange Freeway abutting our

Mesa Verde neighborhood. Assemblyman John Campbell has recommended

that the Fairgrounds be moved to Irvine. All of these issues are

detrimental to our city and therefore need the attention of a

committed City Council member.

What do you think of the city’s joint-use agreement with the

schools for use of playing fields?

The joint-use agreement has merit, but both the city and the

school district must clearly understand their roles and take

responsibility. We need to negotiate an agreement that will serve

Costa Mesa’s young people, who should have first priority over the

fields. Additionally, there should be a close examination of any

contract to make sure our high school teams have every opportunity

and right to use their school field for practices and games before

any other organization.

What would be the most effective way to improve the Westside?

The most effective way to improve the Westside is to implement the

recommendations submitted by members of the Westside Revitalization

Oversight Committee, a 30-member group of Westside residents,

business owners and property owners. I think three of their

recommendations will make the greatest improvements:

Create a medium-density residential overlay zone for a portion of

the industrial area south of West 19th Street, along Whittier Avenue.

This will allow housing developers to offer industrial property

owners attractive prices for their properties, in order to convert

them to ownership housing.

Apply a mixed-use (residential/commercial) overlay along West 19th

Street. This would allow some terrific projects to appear along 19th

Street, such as lofts or condos above shops and restaurants.

Support the creation of a Business Improvement District for West

19th Street, made up of the business owners and property owners along

the street, as well as nearby residents, to improve design standards,

help improve code-enforcement compliance and create events such as

art shows and street fairs.

Are city leaders doing a good job handling the budget and the

pressures on it form the state?

Basically, at this point, I believe city leaders are doing a good

job of balancing the budget. Of course, future councils will have to

be aware of potential financial problems that may occur as a result

of outsourcing the legal department. I think the City Council too

often hires consultants, and then either tells them what results they

want or ignores what the consultant says if it isn’t what they want

to hear.