Recently, City Council members and City leadership accepted the Orange County Business Council’s 14th Annual Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Award Economic Development Award for the City's implementation of TESSA, the new digital platform that streamlines the City’s land management systems into a single interface.

Mayor John Stephens, Council Members Mike Buley and Pettis, City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, Deputy City Manager Alma Reyes, Economic and Development Services Director Carrie Tai, IT Director Steve Ely, and several members of City staff attended the event.

TESSA makes it easier and more efficient for individuals to navigate permits and approvals—reducing permit processing times by 30%.

TESSA was truly a Citywide effort and every department worked hard to make this come to fruition.Congrats to all involved.

At the Tuesday, March 4 meeting, Mayor John Stephens and the City Council recognized March as Women’s History Month and presented a Proclamation to the Costa Mesa Women’s Club.

The club has been instrumental in the City, advocating for education, social welfare, and cultural enrichment for over 110 years.

Accepting the proclamation was Club President Gay Royer.

Mayor John Stephens, Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez and City Council members Jeff Pettis and Mike Buley and Newport-Mesa School Trustee Michelle Murphy threw out the first pitch for the Costa Mesa Little League Opening Day ceremonies on Saturday March 1.

Fire Chief Dan Stefano and several members of the Fire & Rescue Department along with Police Chief Ron Lawrence and Deputy Chief Joyce LaPointe along with police officers and park rangers were there to celebrate our local athletes and wish them a successful season.

The Council team of Stephens, Chavez, Buley and Pettis also helped kick off the Opening Day ceremonies for Costa Mesa Pony League.

Here's to an unforgettable season ahead for all the teams and leagues!

Mayor John Stephens joined the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, March 1, to celebrate the grand opening of Discount Tire & Service Center at 1596 Newport Blvd. The ribbon-cutting ceremony welcomed the new business to the community and marked its official launch in Costa Mesa.

Replacing the former Goodyear Tire location, Discount Tire & Service Center offers a full range of auto services, including tire sales, oil changes, brake repairs, and engine work. The shop is dedicated to providing quality service to drivers in Costa Mesa and beyond.

Adding to the excitement of the event, seven-time NBA Champion, former Los Angeles Laker, and current sports commentator Robert Horry was in attendance, signing autographs and meeting with fans. Chris Taylor, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and Sergio Andonian, President of Discount Tire & Service Center, were also in attendance.

Discount Tire has over 1,200 stores across the United States, making it the nation's largest independent tire and wheel retailer. With its reputation for exceptional customer service and competitive pricing, the company continues to expand its reach, offering reliable auto services to communities nationwide.

During his remarks, Mayor Stephens expressed his appreciation for Discount Tire & Service Center's investment in Costa Mesa and welcomed the business to the city's thriving commercial community.

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce hosted the ceremony, bringing together local business leaders, city officials, and community members to celebrate the new addition to Newport Boulevard’s business corridor.

Goodwill of Orange County celebrated the grand opening of its newest Donation Center at the Costa Mesa Farmers Market at the OC Fair & Event Center.

The donation center provides a convenient drop-off location for community members to donate gently used items while supporting Goodwill OC’s mission.

The ribbon-cutting event took place on Thursday, March 6, at 88 Fair Drive—Lot D, where local officials, community leaders, and Goodwill OC representatives gathered to mark the occasion.

The community celebration featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, exciting gift card giveaways, and special surprises for attendees.

Distinguished guests included Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez and District 3 Council Member Andrea Marr, as well as OC Fair & Event Center’s CEO Michele Richards, Goodwill OC management and support staff, and representatives from Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie Norris's Office, Senator Steven Choi, and Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley’s Office.

The new donation center will be open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Costa Mesa Farmers, making it easier for Costa Mesa residents to donate clothing, household items, and other gently used goods. Each donation directly contributes to Goodwill OC’s mission of empowering individuals through personal support, work experience, and career development.

According to the National Weather Service, rain is in the forecast beginning on Monday March 10 through Thursday March 13. Chance of precipitation is 80%. 

To help with potential flooding issues, the City’s maintenance service crews have made sandbags available for free to Costa Mesa residents in the southeast corner of the City Hall parking lot at 77 Fair Drive. The location is self-service and bringing your own shovel is suggested as supplies could be limited. The number of sandbags is limited to 15 sandbags per household.

❌ No commercial use please.

City crews will patrol potential flooding spots to make sure catch basins are clear of debris and operational.

Crews are also ready to respond to other weather-related incidents. Please report flooding issues to 714-754-5252.

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

• Animal Services Committee
• Active Transportation Committee
• Fairview Park Steering Committee
• Finance and Pension Advisory Committee
• Housing and Public Service Grants Committee
• Traffic Impact Fee Ad Hoc Committee

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; 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, March, 21. The appointments are tentatively scheduled for the April 1, 2025 City Council meeting. 

Join us for a FREE Community Bike Skills Workshop this Saturday March 8 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m  at the Iglesia Harbor Church.

Hope to see you there!

Hey Costa Mesa, ready to see your skate park vision come to life?

On March 12, we’ll be showing off the designs YOU helped shape. Come on down to Davis Magnet School at 1050 Arlington Drive from 6 to 8 p.m. and enjoy a free meal on us.

The Costa Mesa Network for Homeless Solutions continues to help those less fortunate as it has now housed 430 people since the establishment of the City's shelter in April 2019 through February 2025.

Here are some of the highlights:

🏠 Total individuals housed since April 2019: 430

🏠 Outreach team has housed 240 people

🏠 Bridge Shelter has housed 190 people

☎️ Intake line support for February 2025

📞 Total calls for service: 175 

📞 82% of callers were individuals experiencing homelessness.

To reach our #CostaMazing Network For Homeless Solutions staff please visit our website here.

Women In Construction Week traces the history of women in construction, their challenges, and the many ways they’ve been able to overcome them.

This celebration is observed to appreciate the women who have taken the bold step to enter the construction industry, and also to encourage those willing to make similar commitments.

We salute and thank the hard-working women in our Public Works Department for the great work they do to improve Costa Mesa for its residents and businesses.

On March 4, Deputy Chief Joyce LaPointe had the privilege of attending a special retiree luncheon.

She reconnected with former colleagues and reminisced about shared experiences. This luncheon was filled with laughs, memories, and appreciation for those who dedicated their careers to serving our community.

The Costa Mesa Police Department thanks its retirees for their years of service—they will always be part of the Costa Mesa Police family!

The Costa Mesa Police Department appreciates working with local business owners.

On Feb. 27, Costa Mesa Jiu Jitsu provided free training to instructors of the Costa Mesa Police Department Arrest and Control Tactics (ACT) team, who will then provide training to our officers.

This type of training makes officers more effective by using leverage and technique to de-escalate during an arrest. When properly trained to calmly and effectively manage physical encounters, officers can make sound decisions under the most stressful of circumstances. This enhances the safety of both the officers and the public.

This instruction was provided by Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coral belt instructor, Master Waldomiro “Junior” Perez, black belt instructor, Brady Fink, and brown belt instructor, Anthony Misitano.

These instructors are experts in defensive tactics training to professionals and law enforcement. We appreciate this partnership to improve our skills and technique.

On Feb. 28, the Costa Mesa Police Department South Coast Plaza Detail and Bloomingdale’s hosted a Coffee with a Cop.

Store employees and members of the public attended. CMPD appreciates any opportunity to answer questions, talk about personal safety and crime prevention, and what the department is doing to combat organized retail theft.

In 2024, the department used its Organized Retail Theft Grant funding to conduct crime reduction strategies related to retail theft, auto theft, and auto accessory theft, resulting in a 35% reduction in retail theft, 23% reduction in auto theft, and 60% reduction in motor vehicle accessory theft.

For Read Across America, newly appointed School Resource Officer Jimmy Chavez read to second graders at Wilson Elementary School.

He also visited with the faculty and had some conversations on the wonderful work the school is doing.

Any opportunity to read to students, is never one we want to miss. “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” -Dr. Seuss

Addressing unlawful encampments requires partnership, like this clean-up which included the Costa Mesa Police Department, Code Enforcement and the Neighborhood Improvement Task Force.

Early on March 4, the police department’s Code Enforcement partners informed officers of an unlawful encampment on Gisler Avenue they were alerted to by an observant resident.

Officers from the Community Policing Unit (CPU) quickly responded to assist in making contact with whomever might be camping but determined the tent was empty.

But no job is too small. The camp and abandoned items were cleared by CPU officers and the Neighborhood Improvement Task Force Officer.

This week concluded week four of the CMFR 2025 Recruit Academy. Week four of the recruit academy consisted of ventilation and an introduction to USAR skills.

The first three days of the week were focused heavily on ventilation tactics and skills. Vertical and horizontal ventilation is used during structure fires to remove heat and smoke from a structure during a fire. Removing heat and smoke creates better conditions for firefighters inside the structure during a fire.

Our recruits trained with chain saws and hand tools used to perform vertical ventilation. The recruits need to know how to cut holes safely and effectively in different styles of roof construction. 

It is important for the recruits to not just understand how to use the tools but also understand what type of roof construction they are working on. Different styles of construction lead to different techniques of cutting holes. 

It has been another great week at the academy and our recruits are continuing to progress.  

Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue personnel recently attended the California Fire Prevention Institute’s annual conference, located in Santa Barbara, which included attendees from throughout California.

Assistant Fire Chief/Fire Marshal Jon Neal, Fire Protection Specialist Ryan Meadors and Code Enforcement Luke Senger attended the multi-day training.

They attended courses and breakout sessions focused on areas of Energy Storage Systems, 2025 Code Changes and Adoption, Engineered Fire Protection and Smoke Control Systems, California Wildland-Urban Interface Codes, Community Risk Reduction and Risk Assessments, and many others. 

This multi-day training offered many instructional courses and keynote speakers to cover a wide range of relevant subject matter that each respective attendee can bring back to the organization and share amongst their colleagues, and utilize within their daily roles and duties. 

Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Fire Chief Dan Stefano will be the guest speaker for the upcoming Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce Rise and Shine networking breakfast and event, slated for Friday, March 21 at 7:30 a.m.

Attendees will join Chamber staff at the Costa Mesa Senior Center for breakfast and for a morning of networking and connecting with Chamber staff and with City leadership. 

Chief Stefano will provide updates occurring within CMFR, inclusive of the amazing work that is carried out every day by the professional men and women of CMFR, also a recognition of celebrating 100 years as a fire department, and some tips on emergency preparedness for your business and home and then time for Q & A. 

More information can be found on the chamber’s website.

Mark your calendar!

The Spring Bark Bash pet adoption event is Saturday, March 22, 2025 from 11am-2pm at TeWinkle Park (970 Arlington Dr. 92626).

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 see the CMPD K-9 Unit put on a demonstration! Come hungry, 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 a ver a la Unidad canina de CMPD hacer una demostración! ¡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.

It’s time to spring into swimming over at the Downtown Aquatic Center.

Whether you or your little one are just starting out or looking to refine your skills, we’ve got the perfect class for you. From building water confidence to mastering technique, our lessons make learning fun, safe, and exciting for all ages!

Registration for all of our spring aquatics classes is still open so make sure to grab your spot before they’re all gone at www.cmclassesonline.com or in-person at 1860 Anaheim Ave, Costa Mesa.

Unsure what level is the right fit for your swimmer? Call (714) 327-7564 to schedule a free and quick Level Placement Test.

The Costa Mesa Senior Center held its monthly Veterans Social Group on March 4.

More than 15 veterans gathered to enjoy fellowship and lunch. The group meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m.

For more information visit Pricelesspetrescue.org.