As Jimmy Stewart Moments go this one wasn't exactly Oscar Worthy, but what do ya expect when you haven't attended a City Council meeting in 20 years?
Last night I attended my very 1st Costa Mesa City Council meeting.
I had absolutely no intention of speaking but, right from the start, events conspired against me, and I got up to open my yap 3, count 'em, THREE times!
So now everyone in town who either attended the meeting, or watched it ( live or in later re-runs ) on Public Access TV knows of Sneakeasy's Joint, The Cycling Dude, and their URLS.
The also now know what I look like ( visions of parents shielding the eyes of young, impressionable, skulls full of mush, dance through my head )!
CMTV says 20,000 Comcast Cable subscribers have access to the channel, but you know damn well, only maybe 5% ( to be generous ) watch the council meetings every 2 weeks.
The Council Players: Allan Mansoor ( Mayor ), Gary Monahan ( Mayor Pro tem ), Eric Bever, Linda Dixon, and Katrina Foley.
Now to the show!
The 1st thing that needs to be said is that if a bunch of bicyclists showed up for a meeting they would find no bike racks, and would have to settle for locking their bikes to various stair rails, and other nearby poles, and columns.
***We interupt this story for an important, March 14, 2005, update involving the above observation!***
Upon going inside I collected copies of the agenda, and summaries of all the nights business, and settled into a comfy, cushioned seat.
It's 630pm, and the place is packed ( for a reason it turns out ).
Our esteemed High Poobahs all sit on a wooden dias, under the glare of TV camersa, with stations for the recording clerk, and anyone else making presentations, spread in front, and below them.
On either side of this are podiums for anyone making comments to stand, and of course there is a camera aimed at them as well.
Above all this, on either side, and focused on the audience ( but so the council can see as well, are 2 movie screens, on which slide presentations are shown.
After the pledge, and an invocation ( Dear God, please, PLEASE, do yer damndest to see to it we don't make asses of ourselves while considering what's best for the city! AMEN! Oh, and protect our cops, and the troops overseas, too, AMEN! ), the evening began in ernest.
There was a 5 minute presentation by a member of the Historical Preservation Committee which discussed its budget, and goals such as a speakers program, revising an old book called A Children's History of Costa Mesa, and a new, soon to be released, brochure ( with map ) bragging about the numerous historical building spread around town.
When the speaker extolled the last, especially its map, as a peachy keen way for folks to take a walking... well, um, maybe not cuz it IS a bit far to walk for most folks... so make that DRIVING tour, I knew I just HAD to say something.
So when the Public Comment came next, I got out of my seat, and lumbered over to take my place in line, and give my 3 minutes worth.
I introduced myself as being relatively new in town ( 1 1/2 yrs. ), and a first timer to the meeting.
I also mentioned being the publisher of 2 weblogs, and gave their names and URLS.
I talked of how I would hope that any publicity for the tour also extol the virtues of doing the tour by bicycle, especially if there are either dedicated bike trails, bike lanes, signed bike routes, or any combination thereof, along the way.
I made the point that I'd love to publicize such a route on The Cycling Dude as soon as I got hold of the map.
I noticed several council members nodding, and writing down notes, but never got a chance to talk to the presenter afterward because he soon left.
From a comment made later I think the council had a vague idea who I was, already, since I sent e-mails about my Triangle Square piece to them earlier in the morning.
I smiled, and sat down, thinking... "Well, that went ok!".
The other commenters brought up issues that were quite varied, including:
1. A Person on the Street survey of 32 unsuspecting souls regarding the operation of a soup kitchen on the lower west side.
2. A beligerant complaint about a city employee speeing at a community meeting at a restuarant concerning re-developement along 19th street, on the west side.
3. A little old lady sweetly imploring the council to stop pet shops from selling animals from puppy mills.
4. Chastising the Mayor concerning past, and/or present cronyism, or the lack of it, I couldn't be sure which from the ranting.
A look at a few things under discussion:
1. Approval of extending the term of mayor, and mayor pro tem, from 1 to 2 yrs.
2. A dispute over a conditional use permit for an old gas station, in a dangerous part of town, that seems to be resolved with the possible moving on of the establishment, opening the way soon for consideration of new uses for the location.
3. The Harbor Blvd. Improvement Project, and work near the 405 fwy. between Gisler Avenue on the south, and Sunflower Ave. on the north:
A lot of work has been done in the past year to improve the access to and from the 405, yet traffic levels on Harbor are still nearing capacity.
The fact that therre are 4, count 'em 4 signalized intersections between Gisler, and South Coast Dr. ( before even getting to Sunflower ) adds to peak period challenges.
This has led to discussions, and plans for a tieback wall, 4 lanes of traffic north, and south, and a bus turnout.
The results of various environmental impact studies are discussed.
Then a call for Public comment is made, and I had my 2nd excuse to speak up.
I talk about being a bike commuter, and how construction and, final results so far, impacted bicyclists using Harbor.
Most cyclists are not familiar with safe vehicular cycling methods such as taking a lane, and find congested intersections, and stretches of road intimidating.
Add to the mix the difficulty of navigating a complicated freeway interchange such a this one without either getting run over, or ending up on the 405, not to mention construction projects, then my concern is that the interests, and safety, of bicylists be taken into account during the work, and in the the final results of said work.
More head nodding, and note taking ensued, and much laughter by all in the room when I mention that, as a cyclist, I had even less interest in getting on the 405 than the average OC car driver.
4. The big event for the evening-- Appointing 5 members each to the Planning Commission, and the Parks and Rec Commission:
On these boards 2 members are chosen for 2 yr. terms, and 3 are chosen for 4 yr. terms.
21 worthies were up for Planning consideration, and 14 for Parks.
In short order nominations were made, and voted on, and the winners were chosen, and announced.
Oh, and a similar process occurred for the less contentious Access, Building, Fire, and Housing Board of Appeal.
The noisy stampede for the exits once this was all done was amusing to behold.
Less than 10 people were left in the room to witness the rest of the proceedings.
Planning: Bruce Garlich (4), Donn Hall (4), Eleanor Egan (4), Bill Perkins (2), James Fisler (2).
Parks: Byron de Arakal (2), Wendy leece (4), Mark Harris (4), Dave Stiller (2), Robert Graham (4).
5. A discussion on whether to consider reducing Community Developement Block Grant funded homeless services from the current 25% to 10, or 15 included debate on the types of uses for Public Services funds, and whether groups getting the funds use it on Costa Mesa residents or not.
Questions of how much latitude the council has to use the funds for street repair in low income areas, and how to allocate funds and make sure HUD is mollified.
6. A discussion on whether to change the day of the week on which to hold city council meetings, and whether to change the order of business, especially where Public Comment is concerned.
Lots of talk about the need for comments at the meetings end, especially if a meeting went after midnight, the use of cards to expedite who gets to speak on a 1st come basis, and to help the clerk with info on each speaker, and whether filling out such cards is good or bad.
A resolution by the mayor that would have split the comments section, with a 30 minute time limit in the beginning, and the remaining speakers speaking at the end of the meeting , if time permitted was wisely withdrawn when Foley, and Bever, raised questions.
The final decision was not to change the way Comments are handled during the course of the meeting.
No limits on time of the opening Public Comment period, or the number of speakers, was set, though the long winded will still be hampered by the 3 minute limit.
The mayor's mention of residents being able to e-mail the council led me to rise yet again during Comment to ask for clarification on who actually gets the e-mail when sent to the single, general, address on the website.
I wanted to know if the e-mail I sent that morning was disseminated to all the council members, or not.
Everyone laughed when Foley smiled, and said, "We got your e-mail".
There is also the possibility of eventually moving the meetings to Tuesdays, and of the use of info cards, especially as a way to cut down on the lining up of people to get to the podium ( call the persons name on a card so they can then get up, and go to a podium ).
The meeting over ( at around 1030pm no less! ) I got on my bike and headed home.
All in all, and interesting evening.
But did you mention about no bike rack?? ;)
Posted by: Susan | 02/10/2005 at 02:41 AM
LOL!
Trust me, I plan on getting to that soon. :-D
Posted by: Kiril Kundurazieff | 02/12/2005 at 09:46 AM