CM PRESS # 606

NEW PLANNING COMMISSIONER FAILS TO ATTEND FIRST MEETING

Last night was the first meeting of the Planning Commission with the two new commissioners, Colin McCarthy and Stephen Mensinger.

McCarthy was there, but Mensinger was a no-show, and no explanation was given to the audience.

The CM PRESS was there.

Hey Mensinger, you're no more busy that we are. If we can show up to see what you guys are doing, you should also show up.

We go to these meetings for free, because we want a nicer city. You're getting paid to be there. Not only did we never see you at meetings before you were appointed to Planning, but now that you've been appointed you still don't show up?

Of course there could be some valid reason why Mensinger didn't show up. We'd accept something such as a serious family illness or a business trip that absolutely had to be made, and which couldn't be rescheduled, but short of really good reasons for his absence we're not buying excuses.

And, if this guy pulled a Katrina Foley routine and was skiing, we're going to be really pissed.

As a result of Mensinger's absence, the four Commissioners who did show up couldn't agree on who was going to be the new Chair and Vice Chair. The four deadlocked several times. And, this is interesting in itself. They finally put off the vote until the next meeting when all five members will supposedly be there.

Our guess is that the Chair is going to end up being Jim Righeimer, since Mensinger is an ally of Righeimer.

This should anger James Fisler, since Fisler is the old Vice Chair and is seemingly next up to be Chair.

We'll keep you informed.

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SOME MORE ON LAST NIGHT'S PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

Since the Commission has two new members, the CM PRESS wanted to start things off right by giving a brief overview of where we are in Costa Mesa and why it's important to have an activist Planning Commission.

We're pretty sure McCarthy is aware of things since he has been active, but we wanted to give some stats to Mensinger (the no-show).

Here's what we told the Commission:

The national average of renters vs. homeowners is 34% to 66%.

The average in Costa Mesa as a whole is 60% renters vs. 40% homeowners.

The figures on the Westside are 81% renters vs. 19% homeowners.

Costa Mesa would be better off if we could get our percentages in the range of 60% homeowners and 40% renters citywide (including the Westside).

We also told them that Newport Beach has 2% of its land zoned industrial while Costa Mesa has a whopping 14% zoned industrial and that this is only exceeded in our area by Santa Ana which has 18% of its land zoned industrial.

Costa Mesa would be better off if we could get our industrial zoning down to around 7%.

We also pointed out that Costa Mesa has 60 acres of the best land in the City--the Westside Bluffs--zoned industrial, but that if some executive homes were built there with ocean views the Westside would start improving.

We also pointed out that CRAC and WROC decided some time ago about the best direction for the Westside, so the Commission doesn't have to reinvent the wheel. The commissioners just have to read the reports of the two committees.

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CITY MAY BE IN THE HOLE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $4.5 MILLION

The City has already cut about $ 8.4 million from the budget, but new projections indicate an additional $ 4.5 million may need to be cut.

Mayor Pro Tem Leece told the Daily Pilot that the City will have to cut expenditures and that each department will have to look for additional savings. LINK

The CM PRESS agrees with Ms. Leece. We think there are many places where money can be saved and we think it can be done without laying off any employees--not a single one.

We'll try to be at the study session today when the Council will discuss what to do, and we'll let you know what we learn--maybe later tonight as an update to this issue of the CM PRESS.

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Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.