At the Tuesday, July 21 meeting, the City Council will recognize the top teams from Costa Mesa Little League from this past season.

In addition, the council will consider a staff recommendation to continue the use of the Flock Safety ALPR system.

The council will also discuss two potential ballot measures, one pertaining to business license reform and the other pertaining to the Transient Occupancy Tax.

The 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 Stephens and Mayor Pro Tem Chavez joined the González family and community members in celebrating the grand opening of Cenaduría Doña Tere at Mercado González.

Inspired by the life and legacy of Doña Tere González, the new puesto honors the family matriarch and the tradition of gathering around authentic, home-cooked Mexican meals.

The celebration featured the first ceremonial "Ringing of the Bell," mariachi music, and the official first tasting of the cenaduría's signature dishes. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem presented a certificate of recognition to the González family.

Mayor John Stephens attended BakerHostetler's Orange County Office 25th Anniversary Celebration, commemorating the law firm's quarter-century of presence and service in Orange County.

During the event, the Mayor recognized BakerHostetler's longstanding contributions to the local business community by presenting the firm with a Certificate of Recognition in honor of this significant milestone.

The celebration brought together community leaders, clients, and partners to reflect on the firm's history and continued commitment to serving businesses and organizations throughout the region.

With the Orange County Fair set to open this Friday, July 17, and continue through Aug. 16, the Street Maintenance team within Public Works is preparing nearby areas for the large crowds of visitors.

Graffiti removal is a major focus, as crews use pressure washing to thoroughly clean sections of the bike path. They are also repainting streets, signs, and pavement markings to improve visibility and safety, including median noses, traffic messages, bike lanes and crosswalks.

In addition, signage is being installed throughout surrounding neighborhoods to help reduce the impact of parking in neighborhoods and support the Police Department’s traffic management efforts.

Ongoing inspections ensure all work meets high standards, and any damaged items are quickly fixed or replaced. These proactive efforts by Public Works will provide fairgoers with a welcoming, tidy, and well-maintained infrastructure.

Join Economic and Development Services Director Carrie Tai for a town hall-style discussion on the Fairview Development Center Draft Specific Plan, where you'll hear the questions the community is asking — and the answers shaping the conversation.

Together, we'll dive into the big topics and decisions involving housing, open space, mobility, infrastructure, and community benefits and explore what they mean for the future of the site.

An updated Draft Specific Plan responding to public comments received during the March draft release is available at https://fdcplan.com/.

Thursday, July 23

6 – 8 p.m.

Norma Hertzog Community Center

1845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa

Spanish translation, refreshments, and opportunities to connect with City staff will be available.

A General Municipal Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Offices up for election:

• Mayor – Full two-year term

• Three City Council Members – Full four-year terms for Districts 3, 4, and 5

Candidate Nomination Period:

July 13, 2026 – August 7, 2026, at 5 p.m.

For more information about candidate filing and the election, please contact the City Clerk's Office.

Se llevará a cabo una Elección Municipal General el martes 3 de noviembre de 2026.

Cargos en elección:

• Alcalde – Período de 2 años

• Tres (3) Miembros del Concejo Municipal – Período de 4 años para los Distritos 3, 4 y 5

Período de Nominación de Candidatos:

Del 13 de julio de 2026 al 7 de agosto de 2026, hasta las 5:00 p.m.

Para más información sobre cómo presentar candidatura y sobre la elección, por favor contacta con la Oficina del Secretaria de la Ciudad. 

Did you happen to see and hear Costa Mesa’s “Voices In Unity: America 250 Choir” perform at the July 3 Independence Day Celebration at the OC Fairgrounds?

If not, we bring you an encore presentation of them singing “America The Beautiful.”

This all-volunteer multi-generational community choir wowed the crowd, proudly singing patriotic classics along with gospel, folk, and Broadway favorites.

Thank you to everyone who participated with the America 250 Choir…you did a #CostaMazing job!

Watch the Choir’s performance HERE:

Thank you to our #CostaMazing community for joining us for the first night of Concerts in the Park featuring Sega Genecide.

What a great way to kick off the summer concert series—we loved seeing everyone singing, dancing, and enjoying the evening together.

We can’t wait to do it again. Join us next Tuesday, July 21, for another night of live music featuring The Tijuana Dogs.

Grab your friends and family, pack your blankets and lawn chairs, and we’ll see you at the park.

Click here for more.

Last week marked Week 2 of the Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Recruit Academy, as recruits continued building the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in the fire service.

During the week, the recruits completed three days of Driver/Operator 1A training, where they learned the fundamentals of safely operating and positioning fire apparatus.

They also participated in one day of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) instruction, reinforcing the critical skills required to provide high-quality patient care.

With each week of training, the recruits continue to develop the skills, professionalism, and teamwork necessary to proudly serve the Costa Mesa community.

Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Ryan Bohr, Fire Protection Specialist Ben Castillo and Intern Christian Cucinotti recently attended Concerts in the Park, an annual summertime event.

Concerts in the Park is a great community event that CMFR enjoys participating in every year, because it is an opportunity to engage with the members of this great community and provide information about CERT, disaster preparedness, and the skills that are offered throughout the CERT course.

In addition to distributing disaster preparedness booklets and CERT class information, a big initiative for us is to always highlight hands-only CPR, which is a skill that is taught during the general CERT class. 

Installation has been completed for the new fueling facility, including the construction of supporting infrastructure and installation of a 2,000-gallon above-ground diesel fuel tank. 

Coordination with the City's existing fuel management provider, AssetWorks, ensured seamless integration of the new fueling equipment with the existing fuel management network. All electrical and mechanical systems were installed, tested, and verified for proper operation in accordance with project requirements.

This project enhances the Fire Department's fueling infrastructure by providing a reliable, modern fueling facility to support emergency response operations and ensure continued service readiness.

The Public Works Department sincerely appreciates the cooperation of all stakeholders in successfully completing this critical infrastructure improvement project.

Earlier this month, Senior Engineer Ramin Nikoui of City’s Transportation Services Division, presented the award-winning Adams Avenue and Pinecreek Drive intersection improvements at the Institute of Transportation Engineers western region conference in Bellevue, Washington.

The conference was attended by approximately 600 transportation professionals who work on improving safety, mobility and accessibility across the West Coast. 

The presentation highlighted the key engineering aspects and solutions to address the intersection’s safety challenges. Being selected to speak at the conference demonstrates the professional leadership of local City staff, as well as the City’s position as a leader in providing innovative solutions that enhance safety and mobility for all users.

This year, Nikoui presented the project to groups throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties, and the Washington conference was the culmination of speaking roles illustrating the City’s commitment to delivering safety improvements that benefit all of Costa Mesa.

Give your child a strong start in a fun, nurturing, and engaging learning environment! The L.E.A.P. (Learn, Explore, and Play) Program welcomes children ages 3 to 5 for the 2026–2027 school year, running from Aug. 17, 2026 through May 21, 2027.

L.E.A.P. is held Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Balearic Community Center (1975 Balearic Drive). The instructional portion of the program takes place from 9:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., where children build essential early learning skills through language and literacy activities, educational circle time, arts and crafts, active play, and opportunities for social and emotional development.

Registration is now open for Costa Mesa residents and may be completed online at www.cmclassesonline.com or in person at the Balearic Community Center. Open registration begins Tuesday, July 21.

Tuition is $434 per month, with an additional $5 monthly fee for non-residents.

Enrollment is limited, so early registration is encouraged.

For more information, visit bit.ly/CostaMesaLEAP or call (714) 754-5175.

The Recreation on Campus for Kids (R.O.C.K.S) Program is back for the 2026–2027 school year, running from Aug. 17, 2026 through June 3, 2027.

The program is offered at nine Newport-Mesa Unified School District elementary schools: Adams, California, College Park, Davis, Killybrooke, Paularino, Sonora, Victoria, and Whittier.

Designed for students in kindergarten through sixth grade, R.O.C.K.S operates Monday through Friday from school dismissal until 6:00 p.m. Participants enjoy a variety of recreational and educational activities that promote personal growth, teamwork, creativity, and enrichment in a safe, structured environment.

Registration begins on Tuesday, July 21 and is available online at www.cmclassesonline.com or in-person at Costa Mesa City Hall, Third Floor (77 Fair Drive) and the Downtown Recreation Center (1860 Anaheim Ave.).

R.O.C.K.S enrollment remains fully available, with no capacity limits, with monthly sessions totaling to $548 per child for the school year.

For more information about the program and monthly session pricing, visit bit.ly/CostaMesaROCKS or call (714) 754-5013.

The City of Costa Mesa’s Summer Luau is July 17 at the Downtown Aquatic Center.

Don’t miss out on this awesome, island-inspired extravaganza filled with music, face and arm painting, poolside games, and so much more!

Entry and activities are free and drop-in fees ($2 for Juniors/Seniors and $4 for Adults) apply to swim in the pool.

Make sure to bring your friends and family for an evening of sun-soaked fun and don’t forget your Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts, and leis. 

Ike is a 1-year old, male, Pug/Pitbull mix. Ike came into the shelter with his brother, Mike, who has happily found his forever home.

Ike would also love to find his forever home like his brother did! Ike cannot wait to meet his new family.

Ike is up to date on his vaccines. For additional information about Ike, please contact, WAGS via text message at 714-887-6156.

Ike is located at the WAGS Pet Adoption Center | 6621 Westminster Blvd. | Tuesday-Sunday, 1pm-5pm for adoption tours, walk-ins welcome. To view other adoptable pets, visit www.wagspetadoption.org.