THAT’S DEBATABLE:What can the city do to meet the need for lighted sports fields?

Costa Mesa has a widely acknowledged shortage of lighted athletic fields, and current plans to add fields — such as the agreement with Fairview Developmental Center and master planning some school facilities — will take time to put in place. What should the city do right now to increase available field space?

Did not respond.

ERIC BEVER

Costa Mesa

councilman

Did not respond.

LINDA DIXON

Costa Mesa

councilwoman

The city, school district, sports groups, and Costa Mesa Athletic Foundation’s new Youth Sports Council have all met and are working together on short-term and long-term solutions to the field shortages.

The Costa Mesa Sports Complex at Estancia High School is under construction and will add not only a football field, but soccer and track also by fall. Permanent and portable lighting was approved in last year’s budget and additional lighted fields will be available for Pop Warner football and soccer this fall once daylight saving time ends. A concessions and restroom structure is in the works for Costa Mesa High School and TeWinkle. The city and the Newport-Mesa Unified School District are committed to master planning both TeWinkle school and Costa Mesa High School to upgrade and better use the field space available so that we get more fields with less effects on residents.

We also need to plan for the long-term by taking an inventory of available vacant parcels throughout the city, both large and small, so that we as a council can consider buying and building first-class sport complexes and parks.

In the meantime, I support taking another look at elementary school sites for practice fields. Many are underused and could be used for T-ball, soccer and Pop Warner football.

Resolving both the short- and long-term field issues is a priority for me because it makes Costa Mesa a better place for families.

KATRINA FOLEY

Costa Mesa councilwoman

We are making significant progress to increase our inventory of safe, lighted playing fields for Costa Mesa young people. We are committed to making every effort to get the Fairview Development Center fields up and running.

We have discussed the plans for the fields at TeWinkle, Costa Mesa, and Davis schools and it will be coming before the council for a vote soon. I would like to see school district officials work with us on a plan to improve these school fields first.

Costa Mesa residents want Costa Mesa athletes to have priority to be able to play on Costa Mesa fields.

I would like to see Newport Beach officials work to provide more lighted fields for their young people as well. If we are bringing more lighted fields online, Newport should be doing the same.

I am confident that our innovative parks commissioners will be able to make sure that all Costa Mesa athletes — those in AYSO and club soccer, Pop Warner football, baseball and softball — have access to quality fields.

WENDY LEECE

Costa Mesa councilwoman

We are moving forward on all options to bring more lighted fields to Costa Mesa.

The agreement with the Fairview Developmental Center is moving forward to bring at least two additional lighted practice fields online.

Working with the state is not always easy, but an agreement has been reached, and we will begin bringing up the neglected fields to playing condition.

I met with members of the school board and the city, and sports team representatives on Tuesday, and I am hopeful that we will be able to turn discussion into action regarding the revitalization and possible reconfiguration of the fields at TeWinkle School, Costa Mesa High and Davis.

I also believe that as Costa Mesa brings more lighted fields online, Newport Beach should be doing the same if kids from both cities are using the fields.

ALLAN MANSOOR

Costa Mesa mayor