In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Costa Mesa TV is highlighting our Council Members with Hispanic heritage.

In this, our third in a series of videos, we get more acquainted with District 5 Council Member Arlis Reynolds.

Este mes, aprenderemos más sobre nuestros Miembros del Consejo con herencia hispana o latina. ¡Aprenda más sobre Miembro Arlis Reynolds!

See this latest video in the series here.

The Power of One Foundation was recognized with the Mayor’s Award at Tuesday Oct. 6 City Council meeting.

Through their hard work and partnership development the Costa Mesa based organization has been able to make a significant impact not only in this community, but throughout Orange County, benefitting hundreds of families first hand through their food distribution events and ongoing charitable outreach.

“Congratulations for being recognized as the Mayor’s Award recipients,” Foley said. “The Power of One Foundation identified a need and dedicated themselves to help feed the most vulnerable families in our communities, by creating a network of community partners, supporters and volunteers to feed over 1.3 million people across Orange County.”

Watch the video here.

Costa Mesa Television highlighted the Love Costa Mesa Day event last Saturday Oct. 3 as hundreds of volunteers rolled up their sleeves for a day of service and beautification.

Mayor Katrina Foley, Council Members Andrea Marr and Arlis Reynolds and City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, Public Service Director Raja Sethuraman and other city staff joined local volunteers contributed to over 50 projects throughout the City of Costa Mesa, with additional

Orange County communities organizing their own similar service events.

These local projects were all made possible by our faith-based partner Trellis.

Click here to watch a video of the day.

Costa Mesa’s Measure Q, the Retail Cannabis Tax and Regulation Measure, is on the Nov. 3 ballot.

If approved by a majority of Costa Mesa voters, Measure Q would allow the City Council to adopt rules permitting cannabis retail uses within the City and would require the Council to enact a gross receipts tax on recreational cannabis sales, from four-to-seven percent, which could generate up to $3 million annually to help ensure funding for core public services.

Any tax imposed by Measure Q would only be levied on those retailers who are selling cannabis in or from the City.

 

While Costa Mesa voters approved Measure X in 2016, which allowed certain non-retail cannabis uses in the Green Zone, Measure Q would allow the City to develop regulations for cannabis storefront dispensaries and non-storefront delivery services that best serve the residents of Costa Mesa.

These regulations must include restricting all retail uses to commercially-zoned properties, as well as in the Green Zone for delivery only. Retail cannabis storefront dispensaries would be prohibited from being located within 1,000 feet of schools, playgrounds, child care centers or homeless shelters and would be required to utilize exterior building lighting, video monitoring, and security guards.

 

The potential revenue from Measure Q would help the City to address serious maintenance needs, keeping our community and open spaces clean and well-preserved, and better address the homelessness epidemic. The support for essential services would help preserve Costa Mesa as the ideal place to live, raise a family, and run a business for generations to come. 

 

To learn more about Measure Q, the Retail Cannabis Tax and Regulation Measure, please visit our website www.CostaMesaMeasureQ.com.  

The City of Costa Mesa is urging residents and business owners to take part in the California ShakeOut Day Thursday Oct. 15.

While COVID-19 has brought many uncertainties and challenges, one thing's for sure: ShakeOut is still happening this year!

During the self-led earthquake drill, participants practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”

Endorsed by emergency officials and first responders, the safe response to an earthquake is to:  

DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.

COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand

• If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter 

• If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows) 

• Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs

HOLD ON until shaking stops

• Under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts

• No shelter: hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.

For more information go to shakeout.org.

Visit the  City of Costa Mesa's website here to the learn the latest news and information from the city, county, state and federal governments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information includes tips on safety, emergency orders and status of facilities and community services. The site is updated regularly.

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Oct. 7 is National Coffee with a Cop Day and it would have been the Costa Mesa Police Department’s chance to host an event at a local coffee shop.

Most local police agencies have cancelled Coffee with a Cop events this year due to the pandemic including Costa Mesa Police. Although they could not host their own event, members of the department made it a point to engage residents they encountered when they went out for a coffee on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Chief Bryan Glass and Public Affairs Manager Roxi Fyad went to the Starbucks on Fairview and Baker and had a chat with the store manager and some residents. Captain Vic Bakkila, Officer Kha Bao, and Crime Prevention Specialist Jenette Martinez stopped by Shirley’s Bagels and spoke to some residents. 

Captain Keith Davis and Lt. Joyce LaPointe, took some time to chat with residents while getting coffee at the Starbucks on Harbor and Wilson. Community engagement, interaction, and partnerships are important to the department and they appreciate small opportunities like this.

October is National Crime Prevention Month.

In 1984, October was designated as Crime Prevention Month through a Presidential proclamation and since then, local law enforcement has made it part of their mission to spread the word about crime prevention and personal safety. The role that each of us can play in preventing crime is more important than ever.

 

Costa Mesa residents can get involved or renew their commitment to help keep their communities safe by joining or creating a Neighborhood Watch group. Neighborhood Watch is the most successful crime prevention program.

By working with your neighbors and the Costa Mesa Police Department, you can help fight crime in the community in the most effective way – before it begins. Visit www.costamesapolice.org for more information on how to sign up. 

Stay connected by following the Costa Mesa Police Department on social media including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and by signing up for Nixle alerts.

On Oct. 3, Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue joined our brothers and sisters across the nation to remember and honor our fallen firefighters. 

CMFR Fire Station flags were all lowered to half staff on Sunday, Oct. 4, from sunrise to sunset, in observance of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service – America’s Tribute to Our Fallen Firefighters.

 

Please visit the website for additional information: https://www.firehero.org/

Fire Prevention Week (October 4-10) has begun and Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue is doing things a little different this year.

Because of the COVID restrictions and City facilities being closed to the public at this time, CMFR has taken Fire Prevention Week, and our annual Open House event and has got creative.  

Throughout the week we have been hosting a variety of fun, energetic and informative videos through our social media and the City’s website.

We are virtually touring each fire station, hosting a virtual turnout challenge, firehouse food recipes and on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020 we will have our first ever “Observe from the Curb” Neighborhood Tour. 

Further, at the last City Council meeting, Mayor Katrina Foley officially proclaimed Oct. 4-10 as National Fire Prevention Week.

Maps and times are available on our Facebook page, found at: https://www.facebook.com/CostaMesaFireRescue/ 

On Thursday, Oct. 1, Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue units, with support from our neighboring agencies including Huntington Beach and Newport Beach Fire Departments and the Orange County Fire Authority, responded to a brush fire shortly after 4 p.m. in Fairview Park. 

The fire began in a recreational area of the park along the border of city and county property and consisted of moderate brush fuel type, assisting the fire to grow to an acre. 

It took approximately 30 firefighters and three hours to fully suppress and overhaul the fire because of the ample fuel types, high temperatures and wind conditions.

An Orange County water dropping helicopter and Huntington Beach police helicopter assisted CMFR crews with an aggressive fire attack through provisions of aerial view reconnaissance. 

A single individual was found and CMFR paramedics assessed and treated the patient for burns. An origin and cause of the fire in ongoing. 

OCTA is planning full closures of Northbound and Southbound Harbor Boulevard between the I-405 loop off-ramps are planned nightly beginning Monday, Oct. 12, for approximately 3 weeks as work continues on the I-405 Improvement Project.

 

Nightly closures are scheduled for 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sundays - Thursdays and 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

All SR-55 Freeway Ramp Connectors to Southbound I-405 will be closed nightly, through Saturday morning. This work is to allow Caltrans Orange County District 12 crews to complete the Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) for ALL connectors that tie-into the Southbound I-405 and the Off-Ramp to the Orange County/Santa Ana Airport.

These closures will occur each night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Oct. 5 through Saturday Morning Oct. 10.

Electronic Freeway Changeable Message signs will notify drivers and work updates are also available via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using Caltrans handle: @CaltransOC

This schedule is subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or materials, and/or construction-related issues. For more information, you may contact the District 12 Public Information Office at (657) 328-6000.

The California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CACEO) has proclaimed the second week of October is celebrated as Code Enforcement Officers Appreciation Week.

 

The City of Costa Mesa's Community Improvement Division team is dedicated to protecting the health, safety, and welfare of our community through a variety of programs as directed by the City Council's top priorities. 

It is always our goal to obtain voluntarily compliance, whenever possible, by administering a fair and unbiased enforcement program, especially now as we all work through the difficulties of the pandemic.

So please join us in saying thanking Code Enforcement officers. 

Join us as we celebrate this year’s virtual scarecrow event.

Build and display your scarecrow at home, submit a picture of your application at; https://www.costamesaca.gov/city-hall/city-departments/parks-and-community-services/scarecrow-festival businesses and residents are both welcome to compete.

Residents will be competing for Spookiest, Most Creative and Best in Show. Businesses will compete in Best Representation of the Business. Deadline to submit your application will be Friday October 23 and winners will be announced Thursday October 29.

Judy is a young, female, domestic American rabbit who is estimated to be about seven months old.

She is currently hopping along with Priceless Pet Rescue, making new friends with her neighbors, and greeting people as they enter the adoption center.

Judy is eager to show you what a delight she is and is currently accepting visitors. Judy is available at The Orphanage-Costa Mesa located at 1536 Newport Blvd. and you can also apply for adoption online. If Judy isn’t the pet you’re looking for, please take a look at other adoptable animals at www.pricelesspetrescue.org.

Join the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) to learn how it is planning for the future by exploring express bus service options on Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Route 55 (SR-55).

OCTA will be holding a virtual public meeting for the Bus Rapid Transit on Freeways Study, and the public is invited to meet the team and ask questions.

Can't make the meeting? Watch a pre-recorded presentation anytime through November 16th at FreewayBRTVideo.com.

Eager to share your opinions? Help OCTA improve public transit needs by taking our survey, either online at FreewayBusSurvey.com or by phone at (909) 494-2900 in English, Spanish or Vietnamese.

Virtual Public Meeting

Wednesday,

October 14, 2020

5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Click to register for

the webinar.

 

Project Information

OCTA and the State of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), District 12 are conducting the study to look at the development of freeway BRT routes on the I-5 from the Fullerton Park and Ride to the Metrolink Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo Station and on the SR-55 from the Santa Ana Regional Transit Center to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach. For more information, visit octa.net/freewaybrt.

What is Freeway BRT?

Freeway BRT is express bus service that travels mostly on the freeway network, taking advantage of carpool lanes, express lanes, toll lanes or even shoulder lanes to serve key destinations. Stations will be along the freeway and will connect to key destinations using local bus service and shuttles.