At the Tuesday, Feb. 18 meeting, the City Council will conduct a presentation on Black History Month.

In addition, the Council will consider the following New Business items:

• A Professional Services Agreement With Dudek, an environmental, planning and engineering firm, for a Housing Element Rezoning Program And Environmental Impact Report 

• Review the Costa Mesa Finance Authority, and Costa Mesa Housing Authority Financial Statements, and Housing Successor Annual Report for the period ending June 30, 2024.

The 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.

On Monday, Feb. 10, Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens, Assistant City Manager Cecilia Gallardo-Daly, and Deputy City Manager Alma Reyes attended the Save Our Youth (SOY) Youth Council meeting to engage with young leaders about the workings of city government.

During the session, they provided valuable insights into the roles of the City Council and the City Manager’s Office, focusing on how both work together to address the needs and concerns of the community.

Their discussion highlighted the importance of local government in creating meaningful change and fostering civic engagement. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Mayor John Stephens attended the Annual Prayer Breakfast hosted by Santa Ana Mayor Valerie Amezcua.

The event featured a keynote address by Jennifer Friend, CEO of Project Hope Alliance, who highlighted the organization's ongoing efforts to combat homelessness within the community.

Her address shed light on the critical work being done to support and uplift those experiencing homelessness, and the collaborative approach needed to create lasting change locally.

The rainy season has arrived.

💪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.

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 421 people since the establishment of the City's shelter in April 2019 through January of 2025.

Here are some of the highlights:

Housing for the month of January 2025

• Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter: 1 client housed
• Costa Mesa Outreach: 5 clients housed
• Total housed: 6 clients housed in Jan. 2025

Housing since April 2019

• Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter: 189 clients housed
• Costa Mesa Outreach: 232 clients housed
• Total housed: 421 clients
• Average Length of stay (Jan. 2025) at Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter
• 64 days
• 
  

Intake Line Jan. 2025

• Total callers assisted 252 callers
• 83% were individuals experiencing homeless
• 12% were community partners
• 5% family and/or friends seeking support for loved one

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

Are you familiar with California’s new Daylighting Law? Beginning Jan.1, 2025 it is now illegal to park within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk. 

An unmarked crosswalk refers to any intersection where pedestrians can legally cross and there is not a painted crosswalk. “Daylighting” refers to creating open space at intersections to make pedestrians more visible to drivers, thereby creating “daylight” and reducing the chance of an accident or collision.  

To allow residents and commuters time to familiarize themselves with this new law, the Traffic Safety Bureau will not begin issuing citations to vehicles parked within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk until March 1. 

Please familiarize yourself with this new daylighting law and do not drive distracted, always being mindful of pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road.

Check out this special Costa Mesa Minute explaining the new Daylighting law.

On Friday night, Feb. 7, the Costa Mesa Police Department conducted a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint.

Checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by distributing educational information and by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.

“DUI checkpoints are a way to educate our community and our hope is people learn to plan ahead with alternative transportation when out drinking,” said Chief Ron Lawrence.

At CMPD’s DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Baker Street west of Bear Street, a total of 237 drivers were contacted and yielded 19 field evaluations for impairment, 6 DUI arrests, 9 citations issued for driver’s license related violations, and 7 vehicles were impounded.

The department thanks all those that drove through and were patient, a total of 473 vehicles passed through this checkpoint.

CMPD is committed to reducing injuries and fatalities on the road due to impairment. Help us keep the streets safe for everyone, don’t drive under the influence and obey all traffic laws.

CMPD’s Citizens’ Academy starts March 19.

Registration is now open and is first come, first served with only 20 spots available.

As part of the Academy, you’ll meet members of the CMPD team to get an inside look at how they keep the community safe. 

Classes are designed to be inter-active, and participants go on a ride-along with an officer. Don’t wait, click here to complete and submit your online application today.

Join us next Thursday, Feb. 20, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., for a free cup of coffee, conchas, and a friendly chat with officers at La Espiga de Oro Bakery, 805 W. 19th Street.

Hope to see you there!

Si puede pasar por La Espiga de Oro, 805 W. 19th Street, el próximo jueves, 20 de febrero, entre las 7:30 hasta las 9:30 de la mañana, venga a compartir un cafecito y conchas con nosotros. Esperamos verlos ahi!

With the current winter storms being experienced across the region, Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue has deployed our CMFR/Cal OES Type 3 (Wildland/All Hazard) Fire Engine as part of a countywide and larger regional pre-positioning deployment which is slated to conclude Saturday morning. 

CMFR remains active and well-prepared and will be upstaffing here in Costa Mesa for the peak timeframes of the storm.

For more information on the weather system, please visit: https://www.weather.gov/sgx/.

This past week, Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue officially welcomed our newest eight firefighter recruits and their families with an internal family night, which took place at Fire Station no. 4. 

Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue is rich in tradition and with every new group of new recruits, CMFR has a tradition of officially welcoming our new hires and their families to the Costa Mesa Fire Family.

This family night was established about 10 years ago and serves as a valued opportunity to discuss the journey that is ahead for our eight newest recruits and welcome each one, and their families, into the Costa Mesa Fire Family and the Costa Mesa City Family.

The meeting was to first and foremost meet the families and loved ones of the probationary firefighters, and to talk openly about the life of a probationary firefighter, what the next nine weeks of the CMFR academy looks like and what the entire year of probation will look like, and what the recruits can expect as a probationary firefighter with CMFR.

A thoughtful message was shared from CMFR’s Fire Chief Dan Stefano, and alongside Chief Stefano were Assistant Chiefs Jason Pyle (Operations) & Jon Neal (Fire Marshal/CRR), Battalion Chiefs Tim Vasin and Chris Coates, Training Captain Steve Airey, EMS Captain Justin Horner, CMFA Board Members including Fire Captain Steve Cathey and Firefighter/Paramedics Mark Martinez and Kyle Brosamer, and the academy cadre (Fire Captain Andrew Harris, Engineer Luke Andersen and Firefighter Paramedic Omar Amaya and Firefighter Dylan Unger.  

All speakers provided an impressive range of overview perspectives of being a probationary firefighter and a member of the Costa Mesa Fire Family, while also providing valuable knowledge and insight that will assist them over the next year and beyond.

This was also a time for family to ask questions about the probationary period, the process, and becoming a part of the Costa Mesa Fire Family and Costa Mesa City Family.

Please join us in welcoming probationary Firefighters Sean Bauer, Joshua De Bono, Ridge Durling, Kyle McCarty, Jacob Molinaro, Zachary Phipps, Joseph Pillon and Kaikea Roe.  

This week Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue onboarded eight new firefighters as we began the 2025 Probationary Fire Academy.

The new recruits immediately went to work, training hard and learning, which included finishing their first week with training in a full range of hose lay and fire ground operations, and embracing that CMFR trains as we operate, rain or shine! 

These eight new hires will be put through a nine-week academy where they will train to operate as firefighters with our department. All recruits have already been through a 16-week State Fire Training approved fire academy as a requirement to apply. During the next nine weeks they will learn the Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue way. 

Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue is an all-risk fire department. All risk is a fire service term that describes the extensive nature of our profession. Firefighters are required to have broad knowledge and skills in a number of disciplines. These disciplines include fire suppression, emergency medical services, forcible entry, auto extrication and heavy rescue, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and community risk reduction. 

Our fire academy will train on all of these topics and more. At the end of the nine weeks these recruits will prepared for their probationary year where they will continue to train and be tested on their knowledge, skills and abilities. Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue is FIRED UP for the start of the 2025 Academy, an opportunity to train the future of our organization.

Make an impact behind the scenes!🛠️🏛️

We're currently recruiting for a Lead Facilities Maintenance Technician (full-time) to join our talented Public Works Department. Be a part of a team where we empower employees to create masterpieces every day!✨

We offer competitive pay ($76,644.00 - $102,708.00) and an excellent benefits package.💵

The position is open until filled, but the first application review date is 2/24/25. Apply online today!✅

“Discover the art of working for the City of Costa Mesa!”🎨

On Feb. 8, Fairview Park staff along with the Fairview Park Alliance and volunteers installed 85 native plants in the Coastal Sage Scrub (CSS) buffer of the vernal pool 5, 6, and 7 restoration project. There have been nearly 1,000 native container plants installed in the CSS buffer and several pounds of seeds scattered.

Fairview Park staff had been working to prepare the site for plant installation prior to the event. Preparation included digging and irrigating holes and selecting a plant layout to ensure the successful establishment of the plants.

These species of plants support a wide variety of wildlife including birds, reptiles, insects, and more. The plants also create habitat for the Federally Threatened California Gnatcatcher, which exclusively nests in CSS plants.

Stop by Fairview Park to check out this unique habitat!

Looking for something fun for your Teen to do during Presidents’ Week? Look no further, join the Costa Mesa Teen Program for an action-packed week of activities!

Enjoy a day at the mall and a movie, an exciting trip to Knott’s Berry Farm, bowling fun, and a chill day at the Teen Center.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to hang out with friends and make lasting memories. Here are the details:

• Feb. 18-21, 2025 from 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
• Downtown Recreation Center, 1860 Anaheim Ave
• $132 for students in 7th-12th grade

For more information please visit us at costamesaca.gov/teens or call 714-327-7562.

Get ready to dive into a sea of colors as the City of Costa Mesa’s Teen Program is hosts Color Rush! a free Capture the Flag competition!

Embrace competition and conquer the flag with your squad. Afterwards, enjoy some delicious food provided by Chick Fil A.

Where: Downtown Recreation Center (1860 Anaheim Ave)

When: March 15, 2025 from 12 – 3 p.m.

Who: Teens in grades 7 - 12

Pre-registration is required. Sign up online using the QR code on the flyer (Activity #19966) or give us a call at (714) 754-7562.

Space is limited to the first 75 teens so sign up soon!

It feels like the perfect night to dance with your bestie. Access Costa Mesa is hosting a free, all abilities friendly Friendship Dance.

When: Friday, Feb. 21

Where: Costa Mesa Senior Center 695 West 19th St. 92627.

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Ages: 16 plus (Do not need to be a Costa Mesa Resident)

Attire: Fun outfits are encouraged but not required.

No registration required. Call 714-754-5300 for more information.

*Please request all rides to arrive by 8:45 p.m.

We cannot wait to dance with you!

Ahoy matey, take a look, there’s an important Springfest event update!

We’ve updated the calendar, and we want YOU to join us at Spring Fest on our new date: April 19.

Please share this with your friends and let’s make sure no one misses out. 🙌 We invite you to join us at Springfest 2025, A Pirate Adventure on Saturday, April 19th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Lions Park Event Lawn located at 1845 Park Ave!

Let’s set sail for: Treasure Egg Hunts, Photos with the Pirate Bunny, Live Entertainment, Arm Painting, Games, and so much more!

For more information call the Parks and Community Services Department at (714) 754-5300 or visit our website at www.costamesaca.gov/springfest.

Please Join Us for a Special Open House at the Norma Hertzog Community Center.

Sip on refreshing mocktails and enjoy tasty light snacks while you tour our beautiful facility.

Whether you’re planning an event, or searching for community programs, or just curious we’d love to welcome you. Mark your calendars and bring a friend. We hope to see you there!

Where: Norma Hertzog Community Center (1845 Park Ave.)

When: March 8, 2025 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

No registration is required.

Meet Percy – Your Future Furry Best Friend!

Percy is a stunning Persian cat with the fluffiest, softest fur you’ll ever run your fingers through. He may be a little reserved at first, but once you earn his trust, he’ll be by your side seeking gentle pets and cuddles.

Percy's a one eyed cutie. He navigates life with confidence and curiosity. Whether he’s lounging in a sunny spot or playfully exploring his surroundings, he’s always full of charm.

Percy is looking for a loving forever home where he can feel safe and adored. Could that be with you? Adopt this sweet boy and let him show you just how much love he has to give!

For more information please visit Priceless Pets Rescue.

Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris is accepting nominations for her annual Women of the Year awards.

You are invited to nominate a women who has made a significant or meaningful difference this past year, or throughout her lifetime.

The Assemblywoman will be selecting one honoree from each city in the 73rd Assembly District – Costa Mesa, Irvine and Tustin – as our Women of the Year.

The honorees will be recognized at a ceremony on March 27, 2025 at the Norma Hertzog Community Center in Costa Mesa.

Nominate a Woman of the Year by clicking here.