Costa Mesa Mayor Sandy Genis presented longtime Freedom Committee member Scott Williams with the Mayor’s Award at the June 19 City Council meeting.

Williams is a retired first lieutenant in the US Army and Vietnam veteran and an active volunteer in Costa Mesa and Orange County on the Freedom Committee of Orange County.

“For your years of service to this community, your extraordinary leadership, and your passion for sharing stories of military service to the youth of Orange County, it is my honor and privilege to present you with the Mayor’s Award,” Mayor Genis said.

Members of the Freedom Committee share their personal stories of service to more than 10,000 students and community members a year.

“We want veterans to continue to give back to the community,” Williams said. “That’s what we do by telling our stories and hoping that those who hear our stories pick up the character traits like responsibility, teamwork and getting there first.”

City Manager Tom Hatch presented Public Services Office Specialist Karla Gonzalez with the City Manager Leadership Award at the monthly Meet and Greet on Thursday June 21.

“Karla exemplifies the customer service that we expect from our city staff and she sets the example for all of us,” City Manager Hatch said. “I know her co-workers in the Public Services Department appreciate her positive attitude and I am grateful to have her on our team.”

Gonzalez joined the Costa Mesa’s Public Services team in December 2016 as an Office Specialist.

Her responsibilities are centered in providing excellent customer service to the public who visit Public Services. She assists in the permit process related to construction projects and private developments. Her daily interaction with contractors provided valuable input that was later used in the creation of the new waste hauling system.

Additionally, Gonzalez has mastered the Department’s inspection procedures and serves as a liaison between contractors and City inspectors. She has built a good relationship with her fellow coworkers and her versatility, willingness to learn and hands-on approach allows her to adapt to the different areas in the department.

In her two and a half years with Costa Mesa, Gonzalez has worked with every Division in Public Services. She has provided support in Construction Management, the Corporation Yard, Engineering Design and she helps Transportation with resident parking permits.

Gonzalez graduated from Cal State University Long Beach in 2015 with a dual-degree in Psychology and Consumer Affairs. She is currently pursuing her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Finance from Cal State Fullerton.

In addition to honoring Gonzalez, City Manager Hatch welcome Steve Winter, a Plan Checker in Economic and Development Services and in the Parks & Community Services Department

Nathan Adkins and Clarissa Lopez, both  new Recreation Leader II and Eulalia Weed a Recreation Leader I.

In the Police Department, new Communication Officers Madison Munguia and Darlene Serrano were recognized as well as the Fire Department’s Andrew Harris who was promoted to Fire Captain.

The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) submitted a supplemental memo today to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to oppose the Orange County Needle Exchange Program (OCNEP).

On May 1, 2018, CMPD sent a response to CDPH expressing concern about OCNEP’s application to operate a needle exchange in the City of Costa Mesa. As a follow-up, today, June 21, 2018, a supplemental memo of opposition was sent to CDPH, citing analysis and expressed community and CMPD concerns about OCNEP.

“We thought it was imperative to explain our chief concerns and risks to public health and safety should OCNEP operate in Costa Mesa,” said Capt. Bryan Glass. “We oppose the needle exchange program as proposed to the California Department of Public Health in the interest of protecting the community.”

The CDPH is currently accepting public comments on the needle exchange program application by email, SEPApplication@cdph.ca.gov, through June 25, 2018.

Click here to read the full memo, titled “OCNEP Supplemental Information Memo,”  which is available at www.costamesaca.gov/police, by selecting Police Information on the homepage.

The City of Costa Mesa is pleased to announce that Kelly Telford, a 15-year veteran of municipal government finance with experience in accounting, budgeting and operations management, has been named as the city’s Finance Department Director.

Telford, a certified public accountant, is currently the Director of Financial Management for the Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles and she has worked in the public accounting firm industry consulting for state and local governments her entire career.

“We are very pleased to have found someone like Kelly to manage the city’s finances,” City Manager Tom Hatch said. “Her knowledge of budgeting at the local government level and her ability to handle large municipal budgets makes her a perfect fit for our Finance Department. We look forward to her joining the Costa Mesa team.”

In Costa Mesa, Telford will lead city’s 23-member finance team, overseeing Treasury Management, Accounting, Budget Research and Purchasing.

“I am honored for the opportunity to serve the city of Costa Mesa and am excited to become a part of the dynamic and innovative team,” Telford said. “I look forward to working with such talent in serving and keeping the city of Costa Mesa among the most desirable cities in the region.”

As the Director of Financial Management for the Los Angeles County’s Community Development Commission, Telford was a member of the Executive Management Team and managed general ledger functions, payroll, accounts receivable/payable, grant accounting and reporting and housing accounting.

She prepared the agency’s $450 million budget and provided financial forecasts of the impacts of labor negotiations and pension liabilities.

Prior to working for the commission, she spent 13 years working as a manager and senior manager at two large public accounting firms, where she developed several new financial management programs and systems and provided consultation to state and local governments on internal audits and special projects.

Telford has a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting and business administration from Cal State University Fullerton. She is a certified public accountant and a member of the Government Finance Officers Association. She will begin her career in the City of Costa Mesa on Monday June 25, 2018.

Due to the observation of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 28, there will be no residential street sweeping the entire week.

This coincides with the Costa Mesa Sanitary District, which also observes this holiday by pushing trash collection back one day.

This results in residential gutter lines being cluttered with trash cans making it impossible for street sweeper operators to do an efficient job.

Street sweeping will resume back to normal schedule starting the week of June 4.

In lieu of sweeping streets, the following are a list of task that clean streets operators will be conducting next week.

• City wide alley street sweeping
• Sweeping of park parking lots and other city owned facilities
• Accident call outs and special request
• Night route sweeping on all arterial streets

 For more information, residents can call the city’s street sweeping hotline at (714) 327-7471, which has been updated with this information.

At the City Council meeting on Tuesday May 15, Costa Mesa Mayor Sandy Genis accepted a check in the amount of $75,000  that was donated by the Friends of the Costa Mesa Libraries to be used for the Community Information Media Wall for the new facility currently being constructed at Lions Park.

Presenting the check was Donna Stapleton, president of the Friends of the Costa Mesa Libraries. She noted that the Friends donate approximately $60,000 a year to the city’s libraries.

“It is with great joy that we present the city another giant check,” Stapleton said.

Stapleton was joined by members Barbara Steck, Charlene Ashendorf, Art and Mary Ellen Goddard, Bob Ooten, Judith and Andy Lamb, Katie Crawford, Darrell and Sherrie Neft, and Kristina Jones, Donald Dungan Branch Manager.

“On behalf of the City of Costa Mesa, I want to thank the Friends of the Costa Mesa Libraries for your generous contribution of $75,000 to the new library,” Mayor Genis said. “Your donation will fund the Media Wall inside the library entrance that will enhance the experience of children, teens, and adults. Thank you for investing in our community and most importantly thank you for your strong support. We truly value your partnership.”

Audi Fletcher Jones has opened a new auto dealership at the former Autoplex site located at 375 Bristol Street in Costa Mesa.

“We welcome Audi Fletcher Jones to our community and are delighted to have them join the many successful auto dealerships who call Costa Mesa home,” Mayor Sandy Genis said.

Audi Fletcher Jones revamped the existing building with a variety of improvements.

The dealership occupies a majority of the site, retaining a few of the existing tenants such as Sandwich World.

The Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Department held a Promotion Ceremony at City Hall to honor three new captains, a new engineer and assistant fire marshal and the historic addition of 10 new firefighter/paramedics.

“Today we come together as a Fire Family to celebrate some very special promotions and the successful completion of probation for 10 of our Firefighters, the largest group to complete probation together in the history of our department,” Fire Chief Dan Stefano said. “Today highlights the extraordinary transformation we are in the midst of and the focused trajectory we are all locked in on.”

The ceremony held in a packed City Council Chambers on Thursday May 3 was attended by friends, family, co-workers, city staff and Council Members Katrina Foley and John Stephens.

In addition to the promotions, the department paid tribute to outgoing Fire Capt. Shawn Brosamer, who is retiring after 30 years with the city. Coincidentally, Brosamer’s son Kyle was one of the 10 new firefighters and Capt. Brosamer pinned his son with his badge during the ceremony.

Those promoted to captain include Jeff Bibler, Andrew Harris and Kevin Reddy. Mike Ruhl is the new engineer and Jon Neal the new assistant fire marshal.

The 10 new firefighters are Luke Anderson, Craig Bates, Kyle Brosamer, Matt Chavez, Thomas Foskarino, Jordan Kiesz, Bryan McMahon, Kyle Myszka, Angel Ordaz and Maurilio Torres.

“We have an absolutely amazing team throughout all ranks and all areas,” Chief Stefano said. “At the end of the day, it is about our people, it is about those we serve, it is about providing the highest quality of service in the most effective and efficient manner we can, and it is about making sure that every single person on our team returns home safely at the end of each shift.”

After conducting a thorough evaluation of a proposal by the Orange County Needle Exchange Program (OCNEP) to distribute syringes in the Westside of Costa Mesa, the Costa Mesa Police Department has issued a response to the California Department of Public Health in opposition to this program.

City and law enforcement officials concluded that the needle exchange program had the potential to increase discarded needles in the city and present a safety risk to residents and others.

“There is a unanimous agreement regarding the potential public safety concerns posed by the OCNEP,” the memorandum stated. “Therefore, CMPD is opposed to implementation of the OCNEP in Costa Mesa at this time.”

To read the Police Department’s full statement click here.

According to the California Department of Public Health’s website, the Orange County Needle Exchange Program has submitted an application to operate its needle exchange program daily in Costa Mesa from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in an area bounded by (N) West 18th Street, (E) Monrovia Avenue, (S) West 16th Street, (W) the outer border of Armstrong Petroleum.

Members of the public who are interested in more information or commenting on this program can visit the California Department of Public Health’s application page here.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DOA/Pages/OA_prev_secpapp.aspx

The Costa Mesa City Council is currently seeking interested individuals to serve the community and to fill a vacant seat on the Planning Commission.

Planning Commission – This Commission meets bi-monthly and derives its power from the provisions of the California Government Code, and has the power, by law, to act upon or recommend to the City Council: 1) the regulation of future growth, development, and beautification of the City in respect to its public and private works; 2) consistency with municipal plans to ensure that future growth and development do not impede upon sanitation, public utilities, and transportation facilities; 3) the location of any proposed buildings, structures or works; and, 4) the design and improvement of proposed subdivisions of the land.

Currently, there is one (1) vacancy with a term expiration of February 2019. Applicants must be registered voters in the City. For further information, please contact Administrative Secretary Julie Colgan at (714) 754-5612.

Application Process – Residents who are interested in getting involved in local government are encouraged to complete a Commission Application Form from the City Clerk’s Office or from the City’s website (www.costamesaca.gov/apply).

The completed application may be submitted online; mailed to Costa Mesa City Clerk at Post Office Box 1200, Costa Mesa, California, 92628-1200; faxed to (714) 754-4942; emailed to cityclerk@costamesaca.gov; or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. The deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, May 18, 2018.  Appointments are tentatively scheduled for the June 5, 2018 City Council meeting.

City Manager Tom Hatch presented Management Analyst Ashley Garcia with the City Manager Leadership Award at the monthly Meet and Greet employee appreciation event on Thursday April 26.

“Ashley is an outstanding utility player in our organization,” City Manager Hatch said. “No matter how big her workload is, she takes on all new assignments with a smile. She is a wonderful member of our team and we appreciate all of her hard work.”

Garcia arrived in Costa Mesa in 2015 and most notably took on the task of re-inventing Youth in Government Day to great success. She far exceeded the goals for this event and she continues to make it even better every year. She leads the city team to create a wonderful day for the high school students who learn about how local government operates.

Garcia has many roles in the city. In addition to her job as a Management Analyst in the City Manager’s Office, she has been assisting Human Resources with recruitments and she leads the city’s Management Analyst group to address specific citywide projects.

Most recently, when the city became short staffed in Finance, Garcia jumped in on the budget team and dropped everything to help the team get the budget done on time. It required long hours and all of her other important work and deadlines had to be met as well. In addition, to all of her work here she is currently the President of the Municipal Management Association of Southern California.

Garcia holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from USC.

In addition to honoring Garcia, Hatch paid tribute to Kyle Smith a new Recreation Leader III

and he recognized newly promoted employees Gladys Gonzalez, to Office Specialist in the City Clerk’s Office, Mike Ruhl to Fire Engineer, Hugo Contreras and Francine Jiminez to Recreation Specialists

He also recognized Fire Capt. Shawn Brosamer, who is retiring after 30 years with the city Fire Department.

The City of Costa Mesa and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Go Human campaign invite residents and visitors to bike, walk, skate or roll to Explore Merrimac, a free street festival to be held on Saturday, April 21, from 12 noon to 4 p.m.. The goal of the event is to allow residents and visitors to test out and provide feedback to the City on potential street improvements along Merrimac Way.

Explore Merrimac will bring together friends and neighbors to enjoy family-friendly activities including a bike workshop, bicycle repair stations, food trucks, giveaways, music and more. Residents and visitors can try out temporary street improvements that make walking and biking easier, safer and more enjoyable. The event will feature a protected bike lane and a sidewalk seating area with creative seating, tables and umbrellas.

A kick-off press event will take place at 12:15 p.m., at the event hub located in Orange Coast College’s Parking Lot E, north of Merrimac Way between Harbor Boulevard and Fairview Road. (Merrimac Way, Costa Mesa, CA 92626).

Mayor Sandra Genis, California State Assemblymember Matthew Harper, and SCAG President Margaret Finlay are confirmed to speak at the press event.

“At Explore Merrimac, community members can explore temporary street improvements that make it safer and more enjoyable to walk and bike on Merrimac Way,”said Costa Mesa Mayor Sandra Genis. “This street is an important connector to Orange Coast College and the Campus Bike Loop, and these potential improvements would improve both accessibility and safety. Explore Merrimac gives the City an opportunity to get public input on these potential changes so that we can use resident feedback to create positive, lasting change.”

“Making it safer to bike and walk by investing in active transportation infrastructure has a transformative effect on local communities,” said SCAG President Margaret Finlay. “These are small investments that help increase access to education, jobs and local businesses and improve public health.”

SCAG’s Go Human campaign is working with cities across Southern California to develop open streets events and safety demonstration projects, such as Explore Merrimac, which promote safety while encouraging people to walk and bike more.

Come experience what these proposed changes could be like permanently! Attendees are encouraged to attend this free street event on foot or by bike, scooter or skateboard.

Explore Merrimac is the product of a partnership between the City of Costa Mesa, Clean Transportation Funding – MSRC and SCAG’s Go Human campaign. For more information, visit GoHumanSoCal.org/Explore-Merrimac.

About SCAG

SCAG is the nation’s largest metropolitan planning organization, representing six counties, 191 cities and more than 18 million residents. SCAG undertakes a variety of planning and policy initiatives to plan for a livable and sustainable Southern California now and in the future. For more information about SCAG, please visit: www.scag.ca.gov.

About Go Human

Due to the increase in traffic collisions involving people walking and bicycling, the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), launched Go Human, an active transportation safety and encouragement campaign. Go Human aims to increase the number of people walking and biking and decrease the number of collisions that involve people walking and biking. The campaign is a collaboration between SCAG and the health departments and transportation commissions from six counties in the region; Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura. For more information, visit: www.gohumansocal.org.

Contact: Natalie Cushman, Public Affairs Specialist

(213) 236-1990 / cushman@scag.ca.gov GoHumanSoCal.org/Explore-Merrimac