On Friday, June 5, the City of Costa Mesa approved greater use of some City parks to allow for expanded passive activities in addition to the current approved uses of walking, jogging and biking.

Individuals and members of the same household may relax, read, engage in other passive recreation, and picnic, subject to maintaining at least six feet of distance from others who are not members of the same household.

Areas that will remain closed to the public include playgrounds, restrooms, picnic shelter areas, sports courts, and all amenities that have touch points.  There can be no gathering, including team sports at this time.

Park visitors still need to adhere to the physical distancing of six feet or more from those not a member of their households, wear face coverings, and limit contact to people in the same household only.

Pet owners are encouraged to continue to be responsible and maintain dogs on a leash at all times, and waste bags should be carried to ensure that pet owners pick up after their pets.

The City of Costa Mesa on Tuesday June 2 received approximately $2.7 million from the County of Orange that will be earmarked to businesses operating within the city that have been financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic that forced the shutdown of the economy.

“We are grateful for the strong partnerships with our business community during this unprecedented pandemic,” Mayor Katrina Foley said. “Working together we will reopen safely so that customers return as the crisis looms on.  Our small businesses need our help now more than ever. These funds will help them offset the costs of reopening and all the new safety equipment and protocols. We remain confident that we will come back better than before and reStore Costa Mesa’s vibrant economy.”

The money the city will receive comes from $75 million in funding the county received from the federal CARES act relief fund that is being distributed to the five districts in the county, with each district receiving $15 million.

Second District Board Member and Board Chairwoman Michelle Steel committed to allocating $15 million directly to the cities in her District and presented the money to Mayor Foley at the County Administration offices on June 2.

City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison echoed Foley’s remarks.

“We are grateful to the county for allocating these funds to our businesses,” Farrell Harrison said. “Our Costa Mesa business community needs resources to recover and this money comes at a critical time as they prepare to reopen fully. Special thanks to Chairwoman Steel and County CEO Frank Kim for their leadership in helping businesses in Costa Mesa and the county get back on their feet.”

Chairwoman Steel issued this statement.

“I trust that city governments have a better understanding of the needs of their local business community,” said Chairwoman Steel.  “For that reason, I will be allocating my share of the $15 million directly to the cities in my district.”

The Costa Mesa City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison has issued a curfew for today, Monday, June 1, 2020, that begin at 7:00 p.m. PST and end Tuesday, June 2, at 5:30 a.m. PST.

This order is in response to recent civil unrest in the region and bordering cities that could potentially affect the City of Costa Mesa. CMPD is aware of social media posts supporting vandalism and looting in the city.

“The City of Costa Mesa supports the public’s right to peaceably assemble and hold non-violent demonstrations outside the curfew hours. Vandalism, rioting, and looting; however, will not be tolerated and those engaging in criminal acts will be subject to arrest,” said Police Chief Bryan Glass.

During the curfew, all persons are prohibited from traveling on public streets, alleys, parks, or any public place. Traveling for purposes that include seeking emergency care, going to and from work, religious services, seeking or giving emergency care are exempt. All law enforcement, fire and medical personnel, as well as other personnel authorized by the CMPD and credentialed members of the armed services, are also exempt.

“We are aware of a flier that is circulating on social media regarding a protest being planned in Costa Mesa,” Mayor Katrina Foley said.  “I have complete confidence that our Police Department will be ready as always to keep our residents and businesses safe as we maneuver through these troubling times.“

At the beginning of the 7:00 p.m. curfew, the following Costa Mesa streets will be closed until deemed safe to reopen:

• Sunflower Avenue will be closed between Bear and Bristol Streets
• Bear will be closed between Sunflower Avenue and Paularino Avenue
• Southbound Bristol Street between Sunflower Avenue and the 405 Freeway
• South Coast Drive between Bear Street and the 405 Freeway off ramp
• Plaza Drive at Sunflower Avenue

The California Department of Public Health has announced that counties, including Orange County, that have met the criteria to reopen hair salons and barbershops can now do so with safety measures such as mandatory face coverings for stylists and clients.

Additionally, the health department announced the statewide reopening of places of worship for religious services with strict guidelines.

According to the state, to reopen, salons and barbers must:

• Implement measures to ensure physical distancing of at least six feet between and among workers and customers, except when providing haircutting and other close contact services.
• Provide temperature and/or symptom screenings for all workers at the beginning of their shift and any vendors, contractors, or other workers entering the establishment.
• Encourage workers and customers who are sick or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 to stay home.
• Screen customers upon arrival and be prepared to cancel or reschedule customers who indicate they have any signs of illness.
• Require workers and customers to use face coverings during the entire haircutting and other close contact hair services.

Click here for the full guidance on barbershops and hair salons.

According to the state, to reopen for religious services and funerals, places of worship must:

• Establish and implement a COVID-19 prevention plan for every location, train staff on the plan, and regularly evaluate workplaces for compliance.
• Train employees and volunteers on COVID-19, including how to prevent it from spreading and which underlying health conditions may make individuals more susceptible to contracting the virus.
• Implement cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
• Set physical distancing guidelines.
• Recommend that staff and guests wear cloth face coverings, and screen staff for temperature and symptoms at the beginning of their shifts.
• Set parameters around or consider eliminating singing and group recitations. These activities dramatically increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission. For this reason, congregants engaging in singing, particularly in the choir, and group recitation should wear face coverings at all times and when possible, these activities should be conducted outside with greater than 6-foot distancing.

Click here for the full guidance on places of worship.

The County of Orange has been approved to reopen to Stage 2 of the state’s resiliency roadmap.  This approval means in-person dining and retail shopping, with restrictions, now have the state’s greenlight in the City of Costa Mesa and all of Orange County.

Click here to read the county’s release.

Click here for the public health order from Dr. Quick at OC Health.

“The news today from our Governor is encouraging. The last two months have been unprecedented, but all of our sacrifices and hard work truly paid off,” Mayor Katrina Foley said.  “I am optimistic that together we can enter a new phase of reopening our local economy in a way that is safe and restores the vitality of our amazing local businesses.”

“Our reStore Costa Mesa initiative, a public private partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Travel Costa Mesa, the South Coast Metro Alliance, and many other businesses, has been working for weeks to ensure Costa Mesa’s businesses are ready to reopen with safety in mind,” she continued. “I am grateful for the excellent partnership with our local business community and proud of their resilience. I would also like to thank Mayor Pro Tem, John Stephens, and Council Member Andrea Marr for leading the Council’s efforts to help reopen office workplaces and community services, respectively.  We all share a collective commitment to safety as we move into this new stage of our economic recovery.”

The state’s approval for the county to go to the next phase of Stage 2 means that Costa Mesa’s multitude of restaurants and fine dining, as well as shopping centers such as South Coast Plaza, the Camp, the Lab and SoCo and hundreds of smaller retail establishments can offer, with restrictions, in-person experience to diners and shoppers in addition to curbside deliveries.

Additionally, the approval allows other businesses to also reopen including:

• Personal services, limited to: car washes, pet grooming, tanning facilities and landscape gardening
• Office-based businesses (telework remains strongly encouraged)
• Outdoor museums and open gallery spaces
• Schools

Other amenities like gyms, bars, gaming areas, barbers, hair and nail salons, professional sporting events, theme parks, movie theaters, and performing arts theaters are still not permitted.  Those businesses and establishments are addressed in Stage 3. The governor indicated he would provide guidance for churches to open this coming Monday May 25.

As businesses plan to reopen, they need to complete a detailed risk assessment and implement a site-specific protection plan to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19.

These plans include social distancing, sanitation, screening and prevention, minimizing physical contact during transactions and employee training.

The County of Orange Back2Business Initiative will provide up to 1,000 small businesses with free access to floor plan software to help them meet the latest social distancing requirements. For more information, click here.

Our reStore Costa Mesa and Costa Mesa’s BAC initiatives offer helpful information on preparing businesses for reopening and contain the guidelines for each industry’s state approved guidelines and checklists for reopening.  Guidelines from Federal regulatory agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Cal OSHA for reopening are included on the City’s website as well.  Click www.costamesabac.com to learn more.

For more information on the City of Costa Mesa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, go to www.costamesaca.gov/covid19.

In anticipation of the Memorial Day weekend, local and state government leaders are urging the public to avoid large crowds and gatherings and take safe precautions during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Further, the California State Parks is asking residents who are planning to head for the outdoors this Memorial Day weekend to heed this advice:

• Plan Ahead – Before leaving home, visit the webpage of your local destination to find out if it is open, if parking is available and to learn about the new visitor guidelines. Click here for the latest guidance on Costa Mesa parks and businesses
• Stay Local – Stay close to home. Do not take road trips to parks and beaches.  Park parking lots in Costa Mesa remain closed
• Stay Safer at Six Feet – Always maintain a physical distance from others. Visitors are being asked to leave if there are too many people to allow for the required physical distance.
• Keep it Moving – Picnicking, lounging, or gatherings remain prohibited.  Walk, jog, or bike through open parks to get outside and enjoy the warm weather.
• Keep Clean – Be prepared. Not all restrooms are open to the public. Bring soap/sanitizer and pick up all trash.
• Keep Your Pets Leashed – Obey leash laws and pick up after your pet.  Avoid petting animals that aren’t yours, and avoid letting people pet your animals.
• Avoid Playgrounds – In Costa Mesa, playgrounds remain closed, as do all amenities.  Avoid frequently touched surfaces.
• Obey signs – Temporary signage with safety guidelines are posted at parks.  Please adhere to the rules and help keep everyone safe.
• Stay Home if You are Sick – If you are not feeling well, stay home.

Click here for more information.

The City of Costa Mesa Tennis Center will reopen effective May 19, 2020.   The Tennis Center had been shuttered along with all City parks on March 24.

The Tennis Center, which has been managed by longtime Orange County tennis professional Hank Lloyd since 1999, will open with guidelines in place that strictly limit touch points, prohibit gatherings, and keep the pro shop closed.

“We are working diligently to ensure that the phased reopening of public spaces is compliant with the Governor’s orders and maintains the health and safety of our community,”  said Acting Director of Parks and Community Services Yvette Aguilar.

The reopening of the Tennis Center comes after the city opened most City parks for passive use and reopened the Costa Mesa Golf Course with guidelines.

Given the uncertainty over when large gatherings will be able to resume, the organizers of both the Concerts in the Park and the annual Fish Fry events, the Costa Mesa Foundation and Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club respectively, have decided to cancel their community events this year.

The Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club board members decided to cancel their signature Fish Fry event, tentatively scheduled for Oct. 2 through Oct. 4.

“After much discussion, the Costa Mesa Newport Harbor Lions Club decided to cancel this year’s Fish Fry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and in an abundance of caution and to protect members of the public,” said Lions Club President Phil Marsh. “This would have been our 73rd annual event and this was a very difficult decision. But we look forward to being back in 2021 when the Fish Fry will return to Lions Park.”

The popular Concerts in the Park series typically takes place each Tuesday evening in July at Fairview Park. The free event is sponsored by the Costa Mesa Foundation and is supported by City staff.  The series routinely draws between 2,500 to 3,000 people to each concert.

“The City of Costa Mesa and the Costa Mesa Foundation are heartbroken to announce that the Concerts in the Park has to be cancelled this year,” said Costa Mesa Foundation President Nichole Scott. “COVID 19 has shown to be extremely contagious and having concerts with very large crowds would endanger the public and this is something both the Costa Mesa Foundation and the City are trying to prevent. Be safe and we look forward to seeing you again at our 2021 concert series.”

Scott urged members of the community to visit the costamesafoundation.org website and support concert sponsors, who are also hurting financially during this crisis.

The City of Costa Mesa will reopen several select Fairview Park trails beginning Saturday, May 9, as part of a phased-in opening that will allow active park goers access to certain sections of the city’s most treasured open spaces that have been closed since mid-March.

Signage will be posted at Fairview Park for visitors to identify open and closed trails.

“Some of the hardest decisions we had to make as a City Council was to shut down parks and city facilities to stop the spread of COVID-19,” Mayor Katrina Foley said. “But the result has been worth it as we have some of the lowest cases of the disease in the county and after opening most City parks and the golf course last week, I’m pleased to announce we can now open some Fairview Park trails to our residents who have been so patient during this time.”

The park, like other City parks that are open, will be open for active use only, such as walking, running, and biking. No stopping or gatherings will be allowed and the public is required to maintain social distancing on the trails.

Fairview Park encompasses 208 acres, which is larger than all of the City’s other park spaces combined.  In addition, it is home to five different natural habitat environments and more than 30 special species in the open space areas.  Most of these species fall under special protective environmental law and some areas protected by preservation agreements with the City.

“The closure of Fairview Park created a significant change in the environment for the natural inhabitants – the flora and fauna,” said Fairview Park Administrator Cynthia D’Agosta. “You’ve seen the stories of Yosemite Park, Griffith Park, and even the beaches of Catalina, currently seeing species behavior not seen in decades. The Fairview Park environment has had little foot or bicycle traffic, noise, or dogs for weeks, demonstrating some of the same effects.”

The City is hopeful that the methodical, well-planned and organized reopening of this gem in the City will help ensure that the public is able to maintain access to the park and reap the mental, physical, and emotional benefits of being outdoors, while also protecting some of the special characteristics and unique resources of the park.

For a map of the open trails, please click on this link or visit the Fairview Park page on the City’s website at https://www.costamesaca.gov/residents/fairview-park.

Spearheaded by Mayor Katrina Foley, the Costa Mesa City Council has enlisted corporate, labor and government leaders to form a new reStore Costa Mesa Recovery Team with the goal of jump starting the local economy once restrictions are lifted.

The reStore Recovery Team held its first meeting on May Day, Friday, May 1 with more than 40 individuals taking part in a nearly two-hour discussion. Those leaders provided a very detailed and high-level overview on how Costa Mesa can get its business community going in a safe and responsible fashion.

“Our local businesses are struggling right now, and we need to do whatever we can to help them through these difficult times,” Mayor Foley said. “We have recruited a star-studded team of professionals to guide us and allow us to move quickly once we are able to and move into a recovery period. I’m grateful for the dedication of these community leaders who will help us get out of this crisis with a safety-first approach.”

Members of the reStore team include such notables as former State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, local restaurateurs Ivan Calderon and Mario Marovic, auto executive Jim Robbins and longtime developer George Sakioka.

“I am thrilled to be working with such a talented cadre of business professionals from multiple sectors to reopen Costa Mesa,” said City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison. “I look forward to bringing the city’s vibrant economy back as soon as possible.”

The team is made up of economic and public health advisors and representatives from the hospitality, tourism, personal care and fitness and community services sectors. Also represented will be the faith-based and parks and recreation industries.

The Economic Advisors also include Costa Mesa City Manager Farrell Harrison, Eileen Benjamin from the Chamber of Commerce, Michael Harris from the banking industry, Paulette Lombardi Fries of Travel Costa Mesa, Diane Pritchett from South Coast Metro Alliance, Casey Reitz from SCFTA, Paul Sanford from the hospitality sector, Charles Barfield from the OC Employees Association, Jessie Ben-Ron from Orange County Business Council, Todd Smith from Orange County Museum of the Arts, Concert Promoter Tim Taber, Jonathan Hastanan from Steelwave, Anais Tangie from AT Connections and Rick Stein of Arts Orange County.

The Public Health & Community Advisors include Ellen Olshanksky, Founding Director of the Program of Nursing Science at UCI, Sue Parks from OC United Way, Dr. Iman Bar, Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano, Costa Mesa Economic Development Administrator Dan Inloes, nurse Kimberly St. Laurent, Ian Stevenson of Trellis, Ashley Anderson Newport Mesa School Board, residents and Halecrest Club manager Sharon Comer, Jeremy Samson and Greg Barker of Mesa Verde Country Club and Danny Lane of Costa Mesa Country Club.

While the city-owned golf course and most Costa Mesa parks reopened on April 28 for passive use, the skate park, Bark Park and Fairview Park were not on the open list.

City staff, with the guidance of selected council members, commissioners, and community partners, are working to develop guidelines to change that and reopen specific areas and trails within Fairview Park, which is home to the largest and most popular open space in Costa Mesa.

Fairview Park has not been reopened because of the need to ensure proper assessment for safe access to trails due to overgrowth and maintenance needs and proper surveying of endangered species and protected habitat.

Additionally, due to the sensitive nature of the parks environment the City has legal stewardship obligations and agreements with various local and state agencies that require additional steps be taken before Fairview Park fully is reopened. City parks and maintenance staff are hoping to have the park open soon.

The City of Costa Mesa began its initial phase of allowing golfing on public and private courses to resume with strict no-touch rules and adherence to social distancing, and the reopening of certain city parks for passive use such as walking and biking.

The new rules go into effect at midnight Tuesday April 28. Click here to read the resolution.

Golfing restrictions apply to the city-owned Costa Mesa Country Club and the private Mesa Verde Country Club.  The park reopening guidelines apply to all City parks with the exception of Fairview Park, Bark Park, and the Skate Park, which will remain closed at this time.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the nation and our economy, and our City Council will continue to follow the guidance of our public health, safety and medical experts, as we make critical decisions,” Mayor Katrina Foley said. “We may pivot and regroup many times during this process, but we will always be guided by science. Slow, cautious and thoughtfully planned relaxation of some restrictions is appropriate at this time. Together we partnered to develop safe play plans to reopen golf courses and some parks for passive use, such as walking and biking, for free access for families who need some space to move after six weeks at home.”

All tee times must be made in advance and scheduled at least 10 minutes apart to ensure social distancing on the course and in other areas. The golfing rules restrict the courses to walking only.  Carts will not be available for rent.

Ancillary golf operations will remain closed, including the pro shop, and no food or beverages will be served or available for purchase at this time. All golfers will be required to wear face coverings while checking in, at tee boxes and on greens and course employees will be required to wear face coverings and gloves at all times.

“Golf courses are places where our residents derive great peace and joy,” Mayor Pro-Tem John Stephens said.  “While it was necessary to close them temporarily for public health reasons, we have now established protocols for safe play.  Thank you to the golf course operators and our golfers for being such responsible and patient community partners.”

City parks will be open during normally posted times. Parking lots and amenities, such as tot lots and play equipment, will remain closed at this time.  The guidelines prohibit gathering, stopping or picnicking in the parks, and social distancing must be maintained.  A face covering must be worn, except for children under age 2 or individuals who have difficulty breathing.

City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison stated, “I would like to personally thank Council Members Reynolds, Chavez and Genis for their assistance in developing the new park guidelines. Enjoying our City parks safely will help maintain the health and well-being of our families and residents.”

Mayor Foley said relaxation of the rules could be an indicator of what’s to come.

“This is a critical time of cooperation and unity, and the collaboration to reopen the golf courses offers a model for successfully restoring other Costa Mesa businesses safely,” Foley said.  “We cleared the water on hole 8 and are heading to the turn on Mesa Linda, but we’re still a long way to the clubhouse.”