Mayor Katrina Foley officially accepted a $50,000 check last week from the Los Angeles Chargers that will go toward reviving the city’s Mobile Recreation Program and help pay for a new vehicle.

“We’re thrilled to receive this generous donation to the city,” Mayor Foley said. “The Chargers investment in this program is further proof of owner Dean Spanos’ vow to be partners with us and have his organization immerse itself in the Costa Mesa community. We look forward to many more great things to come.”

The Chargers announced in January that the team would be moving to Los Angeles and then subsequently announced that the team would move its headquarters to the Hive office complex in Costa Mesa.

In March, the team agreed to enter into a 10-year use agreement with the city to practice at the Jack Hammett Sports Complex during the NFL team’s Summer Training Camp. As part of this training camp agreement, the team will provide Costa Mesa with $150,000 a year to use the site for a potential $1.5 million over 10 years and also offered to give the $50,000 to be used for the Mobile Recreation Program.

Costa Mesa Police Department officers arrested Matthew Chima Udechukwu Tuesday after he met a stranger under the guise of purchasing goods but instead pepper sprayed the victim in the face before fleeing with stolen property.

At about 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a report of a robbery that had just taken place. The 18-year-old male victim was selling a pair of designer shoes that he had advertised on a resale app, and Udechukwu had met with the victim to purchase the shoes. After inspecting the shoes, it is suspected that Udechukwu pepper sprayed the victim in the face, incapacitating him, and fled on foot with the stolen shoes.

Costa Mesa officers quickly connected the suspect to a similar, previous incident that occurred on May 12, 2017. At about 12:48 p.m., officers had responded to the parking lot on the 1700 block of Adams Avenue, to take a report from a 24-year-old male victim, who was selling a backpack.

The suspect in that incident had pepper sprayed the victim in the face before fleeing the scene with the victim’s backpack. During the investigation into that first incident, officers identified Udechukwu and obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s home, which officers served after the second incident.

At approximately 1 p.m. on Tuesday, officers went to Udechukwu’s residence at the 2700 block of Mesa Verde Drive East and established a perimeter and observation of his apartment. Detectives subsequently arrived with the search warrant and after knocking on the door with no response and knowing the suspect was home, entry was forced into the apartment and Udechukwu was taken into custody for two counts of robbery.

All stolen property was recovered during the search.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Detective Chamness at (714) 754-5197.

City Manager Tom Hatch named Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Pierce the winner of the May City Manager Leadership Award at the monthly Meet and Greet this Thursday May 25.

“Under Jeff’s supervision, service levels increased in every area of Public Services,” City Manager Hatch said. “That equates to more potholes filled, more catch basins cleaned, more sidewalks ground, more signs installed and more debris removed from the public right of way, making Costa Mesa a safer and more aesthetically pleasing environment for residents and businesses. I want to thank Jeff for his dedication to our residents and the community.”

Pierce joined the City of Costa Mesa as a part time general aide in 2006 and became a a full-time maintenance worker in January 2007. His hard work and dedication resulted in a promotion to Senior Maintenance Worker in May 2009. As a Senior Maintenance Worker Jeff proved to be a team leader and was an integral part of many projects including the creation and installation of the blue and white street names signs and the downtown area custom signs. His affinity for sign design, attention to detail and creativity made him a perfect fit to be promoted to the position of Sign Technician in July 2010. His work as the City Sign Technician can literally be seen on every street corner.

He was promoted to Maintenance Supervisor in May of 2015.

In addition to honoring Pierce, City Manager Hatch welcomed several new employees to the city, including Anthony Nocerino as a new Video Production Aide for the City Manager’s Office, Brontee Stevens, permit processing specialist for Development Services and Christian Valle, recreation leader II in Parks & Community Services.

Also honored were Jenette Martinez, a communications officer with the Police Department and Luis Martinez Mendez, an intern with Public Services.

Five of the 12 new Fire Department recruits were also honored. The recruits are Lucas Anderson, Shant Bartemian, Craig Bates, Kyle Brosamer, Matthew Chavez, Jordan Kiesz, Thomas Foskarino, Maurilio Torres, Angel Ordaz, Kyle Myszka, Bryan McMahon and Nicholas Nihiser.

Hatch also recognized two recent promotions in the Parks & Community Services Department. Laura Gomez has been promoted to Office Specialist and Edgar Rosales to Recreation Specialist.

The Costa Mesa City Council is currently seeking residents to serve on the following city committees:

Access Building, Fire and Housing Board of Appeal: This committee advises on matters pertaining to building construction. The board meets and hears appeals on an as-needed basis. It has five (5) regular member vacancies and two (2) alternate member vacancies, all for four-year terms. Minimum qualifications include: Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers, Fire Protection Engineers, Electrical/Mechanical Engineers, Architects, Certified Access Specialists (CASp), and related state or federal licensed professionals, such as Fire Marshals.  Residents or individuals that conduct business within the City are encouraged to apply.  For further information, please contact Interim Building Official Ron Beehler at (714) 754-5604.

Historical Preservation Committee: This committee, which meets monthly, serves to maintain, preserve, educate and promote the city’s historical resources. It has one (1) regular member vacancy and two (2) alternate member vacancies, all for one-year terms. For further information, please contact Recreation Supervisor Ashley Ocasio at (714) 754-5052.

Housing & Public Service Grants Committee: This committee, which meets on an as-needed basis, helps to promote community understanding of the community development process and activities funded by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD), and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). It has two (2) regular member vacancies and one (1) alternate member vacancy, all for one-year terms. For further information, please contact CDBG Consultant Mike Linares at (714) 754-5678.

Traffic Impact Fee Ad Hoc Committee: This committee, which meets on an as-needed basis, assists staff on all aspects related to the updating and revision of traffic impact fees. It has four (4) vacancies, all for four-year terms: two at-large positions representing Costa Mesa residents, one representing major developers, and one representing small developers. For further information, please contact Public Services Director Raja Sethuraman at (714) 754-5343.

Fairview Park Steering Committee: This newly created committee will meet bi-monthly and provide advice to the City Council regarding the implementation of the Fairview Park Master plan and impacts of Measure AA on Capital Improvement Program projects, maintenance and activities.  It has seven (7) regular member vacancies and two (2) alternate member vacancies, each serving staggered four-year terms. For further information, please contact City Engineer Bart Mejia at (714) 754-5291.

Application Process – Residents who are interested in getting involved in local government are encouraged to complete a Committee 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., June 7, 2017.  Appointments are tentatively scheduled for the June 20, 2017 City Council meeting.

Celebrating May’s National Bike Month, Costa Mesa City Council Member Allan Mansoor continues to show his passion and support for Orange County Foster Care Kids as the Ambassador of the Tour de OC Bike‐a‐Thon, which takes place this Saturday May 20.

Mansoor will join a group of dedicated volunteers who are raising awareness and raising funds to send abused and neglected foster children to a weeklong camp in the San Bernardino Mountains and provide them with a year-long mentorship program.

Join us and Council Member Allan Mansoor at the opening ceremony. The start and finish of the Tour de OC will be at Vanguard University across from the Orange County Fairgrounds on Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. Check in begins at 6:00 am.

Register now to enjoy a fun bike ride through Orange County or sponsor a rider today! http://TourdeOC.org.  Being a 100% volunteer organization, 100% of the proceeds donated will be applied to the charity.

Tour de OC’s difficult 100 mile century ride with relentless hills including Santiago Canyon, Newport Coast, Crown Valley Parkway and lots of rolling hills through south Orange County has over 4,1000 feet of vertical gain and has a five star rating according to the Bicycle Rider Directors Association of America (BRDAA).

There will also be a day long cycling expo on the Vanguard campus near the Tour de OC Start/Finish line. Hosting three rides in one day, Tour de OC offers a Family Fun 25 mile route, a 55 mile intermediate ride and a 100 mile route for the more serious cyclist described above.

All routes take riders on a scenic tour through Orange County.  Our riders are well taken care of all day from morning registration and breakfast. Full SAG support provided by The Motorcycle Amateur Radio Club (MARC), refreshments, strategically placed rest stops, goody bags, raffle and medals provided to all riders.

Make a difference to help our local foster care kids receive hope, love and year-long mentorship to help them deal with the insurmountable odds they face on a daily basis.

Sponsors include  South Coast Toyota, Rack N Road, Two Wheels, One Planet, Performance Bike, The Unlikely Cyclist, Newport Rib Company, Flightdeck, Skosh Monahan’s, The Crown Plaza, South Coast Metro Alliance, The Triangle, Simple Green, MedPost, Charlie’s Chili, Farthing Development, Pasta Connection, Surfside Sports, In & Out Burgers, The Yardhouse, Saddle Ranch, RockStar Tan and El Ranchito.

Costa Mesa resident Jeffrey Robert Smith pleaded guilty on Friday May 12, to multiple criminal charges that included burglary, peeping, molestation and indecent exposure.

Costa Mesa police officers arrested Smith in July of 2015 after being alerted to a naked male found by residents on their porch of their apartment complex. Costa Mesa Police Detectives had been investigating Smith, since May of 2015, for several cases involving sexual battery, burglary, indecent exposure, peeping, prowling and trespassing.  Those earlier cases all occurred during early morning hours on the Eastside of Costa Mesa.

In late April of 2015, Smith had been arrested for failing to register as a sex offender with Costa Mesa, and he was sentenced to 60 days in jail.  Approximately one month later, in May, Smith was arrested in Costa Mesa for battery and trespassing charges.  In early July, Smith was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender with Costa Mesa, however, upon formal review of the case by court staff, he was subsequently released from custody.

Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) has teamed up with the City of Costa Mesa and Travel Costa Mesa to expand its public transportation service with a dedicated Costa Mesa-only line beginning June 15, 2017.

The ART Costa Mesa-only line is free to the public and will operate daily on a fixed route schedule. It will offer area businesses, employees, residents and visitors an easy and economical transportation option designed to enhance the dining, shopping and the arts experience in Costa Mesa.

“Costa Mesa is the focal point of the county when it comes to culinary, artistic and shopping experiences,” Mayor Katrina Foley said. “We are grateful for this new partnership with ART that offers those who live, work and shop here a free and convenient way to get to the hubs of creative culture and cuisine.”

ART will transport riders on 30-passenger (CNG) Compressed Natural Gas ART vehicles along South Bristol Street between the South Coast Metro area, South Coast Plaza, The LAB, The Camp, and Costa Mesa’s cultural arts centers.

“ART is designed to provide both locals and visitors with a convenient public transportation option, and the Costa Mesa-only line gives us a new opportunity to showcase this engaging destination,” said Diana Kotler, Anaheim Resort Transportation Executive Director. “Freeing people up with convenient transportation possibilities will give them more time to enjoy this area, from happy hours to shopping sprees. Connecting the dots to Orange County’s, dining, shopping and entertainment is what ART is all about.”

Additionally, the current ART Costa Mesa/South Coast Plaza (line #22) will continue to service guests traveling from Costa Mesa hotels to the Disneyland Resort and from Anaheim area hotels to South Coast Plaza. The rider cost is $5.50 for adults and $2.00 for children per day.

Connect with ART on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn or at rideart.org.

Longtime local news veteran Tom Johnson, the President of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and publisher of StuNewsNewport, will be awarded the Sky Dunlap Award for lifetime achievement in journalism and community service by the Orange County Press Club.

“I’m very pleased and excited that the club will be honoring Tom Johnson for his decades of service to journalism and the Newport-Costa Mesa community,” said Roger Bloom, the Press Club’s president. “Tom is a great man who embodies the spirit of professionalism and service, and countless people’s lives are better because of his efforts.”

The award will be presented to Johnson at the Press Club’s annual Awards Gala on Monday, May 15, at the Balboa Bay Resort. At the event, the club will also present awards to the winners of its annual Best in Journalism Contest and honor high school and college scholarship recipients. Tickets are available at ocpressclub.com.

StuNewsNewport is a twice-weekly online news source that launched in September 2016 to keep the local community informed and engaged. Johnson also currently serves as president of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he is an on-air radio personality on KOCI radio, hosting StuNewsNewport Sunday.

As the long-time publisher of the Daily Pilot from 1991-2008, Johnson oversaw the Los Angeles Times/Times Community News group that included eight community newspapers. During his tenure, the Daily Pilot won numerous awards, including General Excellence, the highest award presented by the California Newspaper Publishers Association.

He also has consulted with clients including Newport Beach Television, the Orange County Register and Firebrand Media/Newport Beach Independent.

Johnson’s involvement in the community has been extensive: Two-time chairman of Hoag Hospital’s 552 Club; Past president of Orange County Youth Sports Foundation;  Past president and long-time board member of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce; Past skipper of the Newport Beach Commodores Club; Past board member and two-time chairman of Visit Newport Beach; Past board member, president and founder of CM 900; Past board member of Costa Mesa United, Newport Harbor Area Boys and Girls Club, Choose Nursing/Choose Hoag, Irrelevant Week and San Diego State University’s Orange County Council.

He was named Newport Beach Citizen of the Year, 2011; Costa Mesa Man of the Year, 1998; Newport Beach Commodore of the Year, 1999; and received the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Silver Anchor Award in 2006, Hoag Hospital’s Presidents Circle Award in 2007 and Visit Newport Beach’s Partners in Progress Award for 2009-10.

Johnson resides in Newport Beach. He has two grown daughters, Ashley and Victoria, and a 6-month-old granddaughter, Kate. In his leisure time, he enjoys golf, reading, and following University of Arizona sports.

On Tuesday May 9, City Manager Tom Hatch presented the City Council with the Fiscal Year 2017-18 Preliminary Budget, which reflects the operating and capital spending plans for the General Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Capital Project Funds, and Internal Service Funds.

The total preliminary budget for all funds is $155.0 million, an increase of $10.4 million, or 7.2% compared to the adopted budget for FY 16-17.

“The objectives used in developing this budget are to submit a balanced budget to the City Council; to do the best job possible of maintaining current excellent levels of service to the community; to implement City Council’s priorities as feasible; and to be prudent in our revenue estimates and cautiously optimistic overall,” City Manager Hatch said in a statement on the budget. “The City’s management team and staff have put together an operating and capital expenditure plan that addresses the City Council’s priorities while fulfilling the service requirements of the people who live, work, and play in our community.”

Click here to see the Preliminary Budget and click here for the Budget in Brief.

For those who couldn’t make the special session meeting, there will be an additional community budget meeting on May 18 at 5:30 p.m. to give members of the public time to ask staff questions about the budget. That meeting will be held in Conference Room 1A.

The council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday June 20 at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting to adopt the budget.

The City’s prior approval of a 224-unit apartment complex was dealt a legal setback Thursday after a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled the development didn’t conform with the State density bonus law.

In the case Kennedy Commission v. City of Costa Mesa, the Court reversed the City Council resolutions and ordinances that approved the apartment project, which would allow Miracle Mile Properties to redevelop the now-closed Costa Mesa Motor Inn on Harbor Boulevard.

The Court fully rejected the Kennedy Commission’s claim that the City engaged in housing discrimination.

However, the allegation by the Kennedy Commission that the City was responsible for relocation payments to previous occupants of the motel was transferred by the Court to another judge for resolution.

The City and its legal counsel are evaluating the options to resolve this matter.

The Costa Mesa Police Department, Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange County Fire Authority  and the Orange County Crime Lab conducted a routine training exercise on May 9, 2017, at South Coast Plaza.

The training exercise is part of a strategic multi-agency plan to stay updated on best practices and mitigate future large-scale incidents with required inter-operational cooperation.

South Coast Plaza officials offered their location, which was chosen by law enforcement for its size and accommodation to carry out a major proactive effort.

The training exercise took place in the evening with various facets of three emergency scenarios put together to improve technique and coordination between all agencies involved. No further information will be provided in regards to the training exercise in order to protect law enforcement and emergency services tactics and operational strategy.

“Police work and emergency response is ever evolving, and it’s important that we keep up with the times and improve our techniques,” said CMPD Chief Rob N. Sharpnack. “I would like to thank everyone involved for all their attention to such an important training and South Coast Plaza for graciously allowing us to use their location.”

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is closing Red Hill Avenue from Main Street to Pullman Avenue to replace bridge joint seals, as part of an ongoing construction project beginning 9 p.m. Friday, May 12, 2017 through 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017.

This closure is part of a $9 million Embankment Stabilization project in the cities of Irvine and Costa Mesa.

Changeable Message Signs will be used to alert motorists. Travel delays may occur and motorist are advised to avoid the area, use alternate routes, and check traffic conditions before their commute.

Once complete in early 2018, the project will reinforce the underlying soil embankment, as well as construct new retaining walls to provide a safe enhancement to the local arterial surface street system.

For real time freeway traffic information, please visit the Caltrans Quickmap www.quickmap.dot.ca.gov or the Caltrans District 12 Website at www.dot.ca.gov/dist12/Red_Hill.