At the Tuesday, March 18 meeting, the City Council will hear a presentation by Travel Costa Mesa.

In addition, the Council will consider the following two new business items:

1. An ordinance to Amend the Costa Mesa Municipal Code pertaining to accessory dwelling units to conform to recent revisions to State law.
2. A development agreement/affordable housing agreement and ground lease for the development of a 70-unit senior affordable multi-family residential project located on a portion of the Senior Center parking lot at 695 West 19th Street. 

Council meeting starts at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers.

Members of the public can view the City Council meetings in person, or live on Costa Mesa TV (Spectrum Channel 3 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99), on the City’s YouTube Channel, via Zoom or on the City website www.costamesaca.gov. On the website, click the yellow Watch CMTV live button at the top of the page to view the meeting.

Mayor John Stephens and Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez attended the Orange County Hispanic Bar Association’s 47th Annual Gala Scholarship Fundraiser and Installation Dinner on Saturday March 8, at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, 

The goal of the association is to continue the Mission of promoting education, unity, and excellence in the Latinx Community of Orange County. 

The association has awarded more than $275,000 in scholarships to Latinx law students who have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to helping the Latinx community. 

On Wednesday, March 12, at Davis Magnet School, the City hosted its second community outreach meeting regarding the Costa Mesa Skatepark expansion. 

Members of the public, including the skating community, were invited to share their thoughts and ideas for the new concept renderings of the skatepark expansion. An interactive video presented the new features of the skatepark that included a clover pool, pump track, snake run, and street area.

The City’s consultant, David Volz Design along with Spohn Ranch, helped coordinate this outreach meeting along with City staff.

The community provided valuable feedback, and it was an opportunity for active engagement between City staff and elected officials.

In attendance from the City were Mayor John Stephens, Councilmember Andrea Marr (3rd District), Parks and Community Services Committee Chairperson Kelly Brown, Fairview Park Steering Committee Vice-Chairperson Kohl Crecelius, Deputy City Manager Alma Reyes, Public Works Director Raja Sethuraman, and Parks and Community Services Director Brian Gruner.

Also in attendance was Orange County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair Katrina Foley (5th District) whose office helped to provide $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the design and construction of the Costa Mesa Skatepark expansion.

Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez and District 5 Council Member Arlis Reynolds proudly presented Diane Beach and her family with a commendation in recognition of Side Street Café’s 32 years of service to the Costa Mesa community.

The heartfelt presentation took place at the beloved restaurant, where a full house of friends, loyal customers, and Newport-Mesa residents gathered to celebrate Diane’s incredible journey.

Diane, joined by her daughters Christy and Kelly and her grandchildren, was visibly moved by the surprise recognition. The commendation acknowledged Side Street Café’s impact as a treasured part of the community, where generations of residents have shared meals, memories, and connections.

The event was a heartfelt celebration, with longtime customers and friends expressing their gratitude for Diane’s dedication over the years. As she prepares to move to Colorado to begin her next chapter, the overwhelming outpouring of love and appreciation was a true testament to the legacy of Side Street Café and the Beach family.

Costa Mesa bids farewell to a cherished local favorite but carries forward the warmth, authenticity, and community spirit that Diane and her family have fostered for over three decades.

Thank you, Diane Beach and the Beach Family, for 32 wonderful years!

St. Patrick’s Day is a time to celebrate with friends, family and good cheer. However, as the festivities often include alcohol, the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) is urging everyone to prioritize safety and avoid driving under the influence.

Don’t rely on luck—plan ahead and make sure you have a sober way to get home.

In 2022 alone, there were 74 drunk-driving fatalities during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). More than 13,500 preventable deaths throughout 2022 involved drunk driving, representing 32% of all traffic fatalities in the United States that year.

Additional officers will be on patrol this weekend and March 17 looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

“Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day responsibly is about protecting not just yourself but everyone on the road,” said Sgt. Jared Barnes. “Let’s work together to make this holiday memorable for all the right reasons. Make a plan for a safe ride home.”

Plan for a Safe Celebration. Before heading out for St. Patrick’s Day festivities, follow these tips to stay safe:

• Designate a Sober Driver: Choose someone ahead of time who will stay alcohol-free and make sure everyone gets home safely.
• Use Ride-Sharing Services or Public Transportation: Apps and transit options are great alternatives to driving if you've been drinking.
• Look Out for Others: Don’t let friends or family members drive impaired. Take their keys and help arrange a safe, sober ride.
• Stay Alert: Watch for impaired drivers on the road and report them to local law enforcement by calling 911.

CMPD reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, cannabis products and other drugs may also cause impairment. If you plan on drinking or taking medications with a driving warning label, let someone who is sober drive.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Have a happy and safe St. Patrick’s Day!

More than 150 residents and families from the Westside joined Public Works and Police Department staff for a Community Bike Skills Workshop on Saturday, March 8 at Iglesia Harbor Church.

Held in conjunction with the City’s partner “Walk ‘n Rollers”, the event’s goal was to equip community members with essential safety skills, free helmets, and bike repairs in hopes of encouraging alternative methods of transportation and greater exploration of the City’s extensive bike path network. Participants who may not own a bike made use of the loaner bikes made available for the workshop.

Since last summer, Costa Mesa’s Bicycle Safety Education Program has provided bike safety and riding skills to thousands of students at 16 elementary schools in the Newport Mesa Unified School District and hosted community events in Council Districts 1, 4, 5, and 6.

However, there’s still a chance for community members who wish to participate in the two remaining events scheduled for Saturday, April 5 at Harbor Trinity Church (Council District 2) and Saturday, May 10 at TeWinkle Park (parking lot next to Angels Playground – Council District 3). Check out the flyer below for details.

Public Works is excited to welcome, Paul Martin, a seasoned transportation professional, as the City’s new Transportation Services Manager. 

With over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sectors, Martin brings extensive expertise in all areas of Transportation, including Active Transportation, Planning and Operations. 

In his new role, Martin will oversee the City’s traffic operations, transportation planning and active transportation programs.

Prior to joining Costa Mesa, Paul served as the first Active Transportation Coordinator for the Orange County Transportation Authority. 

He also worked as the Transportation Manager at City of Placentia and Active Transportation Manager at Mark Thomas.

Paul is registered as a Civil Engineer and Traffic Engineer with the State of California. 

Martin holds a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from UC Irvine.

Join us in welcoming him as he steps into this important role!

This week, the Costa Mesa Police Department observed a sad day in their history. Monday, March 10, marked the anniversary of the line of duty deaths of CMPD Senior Officer Dave Ketchum and Senior Officer Mike Libolt, then both 39 and 15-year veterans of the department and EAGLE II pilots.

On the night of March 10, 1987, at 10:20 p.m., Ketchum and Libolt were flying a helicopter in pursuit of a stolen vehicle suspect. They had a civilian ride-along with them who also lost his life that night when they collided with another police helicopter from Newport Beach and crashed beside Bonita Canyon Road, east of MacArthur.

They will never be forgotten. Today, and every day, we honor the ultimate sacrifice made by Ketchum and Libolt.

The Costa Mesa Police Department South Coast Metro Detail held a training for about 25 attendees including vendors, loss prevention, and law enforcement from Costa Mesa South Coast Plaza, Irvine Spectrum, and Newport Beach Fashion Island.

Officer Davis discussed organized retail theft, various fraud schemes, distraction thefts and pickpocketing.

Stopping these crimes takes teamwork and the sharing of knowledge and information.

Costa Mesa Police Chief Ron Lawrence was invited by Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris’ office to participate on an expert panel for the “Young Legislators Program” in Tustin.

He joined UCI Dean Gould, Michael Shepherd from the Orange County United Way, and Director of the OC Health Care Agency, Dr. Veronica Kelley to engage with young students.

High school juniors and seniors discussed the different levels of government and the various roles and responsibilities.

The students heard from the panel including Chief Lawrence, who spoke about public safety and policing in 2025. The “young legislators” had the opportunity to ask the panelists questions about recent projects and social issues, and what collaboration looks like in their positions.

“It was rewarding to see so many young people interested in government and politics, with a true desire to develop solutions for the future,” said Chief Lawrence.

Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue’s newest recruits continue to move forward in the 2025 academy and this week concluded curriculum and training in fire control. 

The recruits were put through the State Fire Training Fire Control 3 curriculum over the course of three days. 

This multi-day class included one full day of lecture followed by two days of live burns. The lecture portion of the course began with the basics of fire behavior and progressed to the more advanced concept of fire flow path.

Fire flow path explains how fire will grow and spread based on air flow in and out of a structure. The basic concept is that the more openings in a building during a fire, the greater the fire will be and spread. The recruits learned the importance of controlling openings in structures fires to limit the flow of air.  

Day two and three of Fire Control 3 the recruits were able to see the concepts in real fire conditions. The instructors manipulated the doors and windows of the training structure to demonstrate fire flow path. CMFR has developed our own Fire Control 3 instructor cadre. Over the past decade the department has supported members through the instructor certification process.

During this week’s Fire Control 3 training, we continued to build upon the departments’ current cadre as additional CMFR personnel are working towards the State Fire Training certification.

CMFR Firefighter/Paramedics Omar Amaya and Taylor Scavo are our two newest members to be added to the cadre, with Omar also serving a dual role as part of the Academy Cadre.

They are all focused on their certification process, which includes the two of them to work through a task book, pass a successful evaluation by their peers, and to show fluid competency in the areas required per the State Fire Training Certificate. This ultimately translates in providing the highest quality of uncompromised training for our newest recruits and the department as a whole. 

The Fire Control 3 Cadre is an impressive group, led by Captain Kevin Reddy, Captain Mark Geiger and Battalion Chief Chris Coates, who are currently our Certified instructors.

In addition, this most recent training for our probationary firefighters included strong support and leadership by the other FC3 Cadre Members.

Those leaders include Engineer Paul Kim, Firefighter/Paramedics Amaya and Scavo, as well the Academy Cadre leadership of Captain Andrew Harris, Engineer Luke Andersen and Firefighter Dylan Unger, Training Captain Steve Airey and Training Captain Travis Johnson.

They all served in different roles to directly support this vitally important and higher risk training, which is absolutely critical to developing and strengthening the skill sets of our professional firefighters.  

Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue was requested and subsequently deployed the Type 3 (Wildland/All Hazard) Cal OES Fire Engine and crew, as part of a county-wide Metro Cities

“Pre-Positioning” Strike Team assignment.  

This deployment began earlier this week and is currently anticipated to stay in place through the end of the week, with a focus on the higher risk areas for potential flooding, landslides, and debris flows. These areas include the canyons, mountains, and burn scar areas of Orange County and the larger regional Southern California areas as well.

More noteworthy information will be provided as it becomes available. As always, for more information and real time updates, please visit the National Weather Service: https://www.weather.gov.

This week, members of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue had the privilege of visiting Whittier Elementary School for Read Across America. 

Fire Chief Dan Stefano, Battalion Chief Chris Coates, Fire Captain Chuck Torres, Assistant Fire Marshal Nikki Johnson, Fire Engineer Anthony Vitello, Firefighter Brandon Raissdana, and Fire Protection Specialist Ben Castillo all had the honor to join students in sharing stories of inspiration and love for reading, all followed with some valued time for Q & A for the young students.

We are always honored and proud to connect with our community, especially our elementary schools, students, teachers and staff, including our future leaders!

Thank you, Whittier Elementary School and Newport-Mesa Unified School District - NMUSD for welcoming us for one of our favorite annual events.

Join us on Wednesday, March 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Halecrest Park Social Room to discuss the proposed new traffic signal at the Fairview Road and Belfast Avenue intersection.

Public Works staff will be there to walk you through the project details and answer your questions. Let’s work together to improve our neighborhood’s traffic! 

Help! We’re in a pickle. Among the plans to improve the paved recreation area at Balearic Community Center are two proposed pickleball courts.

Join us to learn more about the improvements and let us know how you feel about including pickleball.

We relish the idea of creating a space that brings us all together.

Mark your calendar!

The Spring Bark Bash pet adoption event is Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at TeWinkle Park (970 Arlington Drrive).

Enjoy a sunny day with your family and meet some wonderful adoptable animals! Enjoy music by the very popular, DJ Kaboom! and other activities provided to you by the Animal Services Unit such as the change to get your portrait drawn with your furry friend by a caricature artist, photo areas, and more.

Come and enjoy food from the Salsa Grill food truck which will be available at the event! (Dogs are welcomed to attend the event, but must be on a non-retractable 6-foot leash at all times)

Need to update your pets vaccines? You’re in luck! The City of Costa Mesa Animal Shelter provider (Priceless Pet Rescue) will be providing on-site vaccines for dogs and cats. All vaccines offered will cost $25 each. (cats must be in a carrier)

Interested in being a vendor or rescue at this event? Need more information on the event? Call Animal Services at (714) 754-5128.

¡Marque sus calendarios!

El evento de adopción de mascotas Spring Bark Bash es el sábado 22 de marzo de 2025 de 11 a. m. a 2 p. m. en TeWinkle Park (970 Arlington Dr. 92626).

¡Disfrute de un día soleado con su familia y conozca algunos maravillosos animales adoptables! ¡Disfrute de la música del muy popular DJ Kaboom! y otras actividades ofrecidas por la Unidad de Servicios para Animales, como la oportunidad de que un caricaturista dibuje su retrato con su amigo peludo, áreas para fotografías y más.

¡Venga con hambre y disfrute de la comida del la lonchera, Salsa Grill que estará disponible en el evento! (Los perros son bienvenidos a asistir al evento, pero deben estar sujetos con una correa no retráctil de 6 pies en todo momento).

¿Necesita actualizar las vacunas de sus mascotas? ¡Está de suerte! El proveedor del refugio de animales de la ciudad de Costa Mesa (Priceless Pet Rescue) proporcionará vacunas en el lugar para perros y gatos. Todas las vacunas ofrecidas tendrán un costo de $25.00 cada una. (los gatos deben estar en un transportador)

¿Está interesado en ser vendedor o grupo de rescate de animales en este evento? ¿Necesita más información sobre el evento? Llame a Servicios para Animales al (714) 754-5128.

On Saturday, March 8, 47 volunteers gathered at the Del Mar and Hamilton Community Gardens for a work party, tackling tasks like weeding, tree trimming, and raised bed installations.

These quarterly events not only beautify the gardens but also help build community and new friendships.

To volunteer at future work parties, email us at CMGardens@costamesaca.gov.

Due to field conditions the action-packed afternoon teen event Color Rush: Capture the Flag! Has been postponed to Sunday, March 30,, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at the Downtown Recreation Center located at 1860 Anaheim Ave.

Color Rush: Capture the Flag isn’t your typical game—it’s a thrilling experience where participants dodge, weave, and sprint their way toward victory, all while embracing bursts of vibrant color.

Teens work together in teams to outmaneuver their opponents, showcasing their speed, agility, and problem-solving skills in a lively, engaging atmosphere.

No event is complete without great food! Thanks to Chick-fil-A on Harbor Boulevard snacks and refreshments will be provided to keep teens fueled and energized throughout the afternoon.