The Costa Mesa Community Bike Ride is back!

Fifth District Council Member Arlis Reynolds kicked off the new year with an eight-mile community bike ride through the five parks of District 5, followed by a safe streets social at Moongoat Coffee.

Council Member Reynolds was joined by Parks & Community Services Commissioners Kelly Brown (District 5), Shayanne Wright (at-large), and Terry Wall (District 3) and Active Transportation Committee member David Martinez, among other community members.

Reynolds will be hosting monthly community bike rides and socials this year to explore different areas of the city, celebrate new safe streets infrastructure, and support local businesses.

Email arlis.reynolds@costamesaca.gov if you are interested in future rides.

Mayor John Stephens was a guest Tuesday morning, Jan. 24, on the Let's Talk Real Estate podcast with longtime local real estate executive Barry Saywitz.

Mayor Stephens discussed some of the recent voter initiatives and projects that are happening under the City Council leadership.

Listen to the podcast here https://youtu.be/teJ5eAnq1is.

The City of Costa Mesa is accepting applications from interested, tax-exempt nonprofit organizations operating within its jurisdiction that provide public services that benefit low- and moderate-income Costa Mesa residents, who are eligible for grant funding under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.

Click here for more.

The City of Costa Mesa is collaborating once again with Caltrans, the offices of Assembly Member Cottie Petrie Norris, Sen. Dave Min and Goodwill on a Dump Day and Shredding Event on Saturday, March 4, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Estancia High School.

The event will also include shredding services for Costa Mesa residents who want to get rid of confidential documents.

Residents can dispose of bulky waste items that are too big to fit in residential garbage bins - including mattresses, furniture and toys.

No hazardous material will be accepted.

This event is free of cost for all OC residents and no appointment is necessary. It is first-come, first-serve and items will be accepted until full capacity is reached.

“If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.”

To apply for this job and others click here.

Did you know that there are on-site and off-site volunteer opportunities available at the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter?

You can sign-up to volunteer with Mercy House and Bracken’s Kitchen.

Use the QR codes to learn more!

The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) is proud to share a story of the teamwork and lifesaving measures taken this week to save a life. On Monday morning, Jan. 23, Communications Supervisor Marquez took a 911 call of the baby who was in distress and choking.

She calmly walked the parents through lifesaving measures and CPR while officers and Fire personnel responded to the scene. Officers and Fire personnel were immediately dispatched to the home.

The two officers who responded are Officer Frankle and Officer Garcia, who got there first. This type of call always involves some level of panic, any parent would agree. Officer Garcia was met by the mother outside the residence before he walked into the home to find a 1-year-old choking and exhibiting signs of distress.

Officer Garcia sprang into action, took the baby, and performed back blows until the baby spit out food and began breathing. As this was happening, Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue and Officer Frankle had arrived to assist.

Officer Garcia ran outside and placed the baby on the gurney for transport to a local children’s hospital out of an abundance of caution, to make sure the baby was okay.

The baby was quickly transported with his father, and Officer Frankle drove the mother to the hospital. Officer Garcia’s quick action saved a life. Officer Frankle’s calming presence and swift action did not go unnoticed. Thanks to them and our Fire partners, the baby is now OK.

CMPD wants to thank their partners at Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue for their quick arrival and outstanding assistance at the scene and during transport.

On Saturday, Jan. 14, members of the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) attended Riverside County Sheriff's Department Deputy Darnell Calhoun’s funeral to support his family, our law enforcement family, and to honor Deputy Calhoun’s legacy of service.

CMPD continues to keep his family and his department in our thoughts and prayers; this is the second funeral for a fallen Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputy in the span of weeks.

They stand with their brothers and sisters through this difficult time.

USPS blue collection mailboxes continue to be a target for thieves stealing mail through a technique known as mailbox fishing.

It is highly recommended if you plan on mailing checks, gift cards or anything else of value or importance that you drop your mail off inside the post office during business hours rather than using the blue collection mailboxes located outside or around the city.

Following these simple tips will increase the chances that your mail will be delivered to its intended recipient.

If you suspect your mail has been stolen, you can contact the US Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.

You can also visit USPS online on their official website at www.uspsoig.gov for more information or to file an online complaint.

Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue recently began its annual Comprehensive Wellness Program, which is facilitated and managed through the Santa Ana College’s Wellness & Fitness Division.

The comprehensive program includes informative training and lectures on best practices for proper health, fitness and wellness for those in the fire service and also provides an annual health and fitness assessment of each member.

“There is no compromise when it comes to our commitment to the health and safety of each and every member of our fire family,” said Fire Chief Dan Stefano. “The Santa Ana College Wellness Program remains a highly valued program for us and is an outstanding example of the thoughtful efforts our collective team places on wellness, fitness, behavioral health, peer support, and cancer prevention.”

CMFR personnel recently completed the comprehensive fitness testing, which includes detailed assessments on flexibility, pulmonary capacity, body composition, strength and conditioning, highlighted by an intensive treadmill stress test, which evaluates cardiovascular health and capacity, while identifying any potential heart related risks and/or irregularities.

The program is year-round and during the course of the year, there will be addition training and lectures, a blood test and a stretching and mobility class.

Recently Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue personnel attended the Cal Chiefs Technology Summit at the ESRI Headquarters in Redlands.

ESRI is the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping.

This two-day seminar partnered ESRI and the California Fire Chiefs Association’s (CalChiefs) Operations Section, and was attended by fire service and IT professionals from throughout the region and state.

The seminar allowed the attendees to bring back valuable information, and current technologies and practices, and share throughout their respective departments.

Attendees engaged in presentations from technology industry leaders on data collection, GIS, mapping, fire prediction programs and weather prediction modules.

CMFR was represented by Fire Captain/EMS Manager Justin Horner, Training & Safety Fire Captain Chuck Torres, and Battalion Chief Chris Coates, who also serves as CalChiefs Operations Southern California Division Director and was the lead moderator for one of the afternoon breakout sessions.

Reminder that Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue’s next CERT Class will be held Feb. 24-26, 2023. Please be sure to register ahead of time, as classes fill up quick.

Join fellow community members and learn about emergency awareness and preparedness, disaster fire suppression techniques, team organization and management and much more.

You can visit the City of Costa Mesa’s website for further information: https://www.costamesaca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/40573/637854655588670000.

Contact CMFR CERT coordinator Brenda Emrick for more information via email at brenda.emrick@costamesaca.gov.

Public Works is pleased to announce that the recent Engineering & Traffic Survey for Speed Limits resulted in lowering the posted speed limits on 17 segments throughout the City.

These speed limit reductions take into account recent laws governing speed limits, where applicable. Additional reduction measures will be available in June 2024, and Public Works staff will review locations Citywide for any further speed reductions at that time.

The speed limits will be lowered on the following 17 street segments:

The signage changes to the posted speed limits on the 17 segments are underway by Maintenance Services Division staff. Staff will be communicating this to our community through a press release, social media posts and using digital message boards on selected major arterials.

These speed limit reductions will benefit all travel modes by improving safety and operations along several major corridors throughout the City.

For any questions, please contact Raja Sethuraman, Public Works Director, or Jennifer Rosales, Transportation Services Manager at 714-754-5343.

The City of Costa Mesa prepares a Consolidated Plan every five years to identify housing and community needs and strategies to address those needs. The Plan is updated every year with an Annual Action Plan.

The Action Plan identifies activities (such as rental assistance) to be funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) CDBG and HOME programs to address the City’s needs as outlined in the Consolidated Plan. A copy of the City’s 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan and current Annual Action Plan are posted on the City website: Housing and Community Development | City of Costa Mesa.

Your participation in this survey will help the City evaluate housing affordability for residents who are renting a unit in the City of Costa Mesa and will inform the recommended funding decisions for the Annual Action Plan in 2023-24.

Survey link English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/JN3QZ7B.

Survey link Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HVS9MHR.

Come join our Junior Lifeguards Preparation.

The Downtown Aquatic Center is offering classes for those getting ready for the try outs. Classes are being offered for participants between the ages of 9 to 15.

The next session begin Feb. 7, 2023 through March 2, 2023.

There will be one instructor with a class of 12 participants. It is required that each participant has the ability to swim freestyle competently.

Please visit our webpage for more information.

The highly interactive BEST sport classes will teach kids ages 2 - 9 the basics of soccer, softball, baseball, and Track.

Students will learn how to maintain stamina through an energetic program that will encourage and advance young players in their sport skills.

Classes are held at Shiffer Park and Balearic Community Center.

For more information and to register today, visit: cmclassesonline.com.

The Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce announced Ken Karns will be joining the organization’s Executive Committee.

Karns is the Chief Operating Officer of the OC Fair and Event Center and serves on the Board of the International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE).

“We are excited Ken will be joining the Executive Committee of the Chamber. He has been an active member of the Chamber Board for many years, and we look forward to having his talent and knowledge as part of our leadership team,” said Jennifer Farrell, Chair of the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce.

Karns manages Master Site Planning and Capital Projects, Admissions, Security & Traffic, Event Operations, Facility Operations, and Technology & Production at the OC Fair and Eventer Centers. Karns joined the OC Fair and Event Center in 2016.

“The Chamber plays a critical role in the business and economic vitality of Costa Mesa and our region," Karns said. "Our city is home to numerous world-class entertainment and employment venues. I’m looking forward to contributing to their continued success, helping to ensure that Costa Mesa remains the preeminent location in which to work, play, and raise a family.”