Action Alert - Jan 21, 2020
Hello everyone!
We had a fantastic meeting last night. Projects for Love Costa Mesa Day and Summer Lanes to the Concerts in the Park were sketched out. We’ll send a summary out with our next regular newsletter, but at the meeting several items came up that are of immediate relevance, and those in attendance agreed that sending out a news blast would be worthwhile.
PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN FUNDING ON TONIGHT’S CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: Two years ago Costa Mesa adopted an “Active Transportation Plan,” (ATP) but this plan, despite its name, focused almost entirely on bicycling. To augment the ATP, the city is working with SCAG to fund the creation of a Pedestrian Master Plan for Costa Mesa. This process would involve multiple outreach meetings, study sessions, and data collection, eventually leading to a plan that could help shape walking in our city for decades to come. The City Council will vote tonight to authorize $75,000 in spending to help fund this pedestrian master plan. If you have views on this matter, the City Council always appreciates feedback on items on their agenda, either via e-mail (citycouncil@costamesaca.gov) or in person (meeting starts 6pm at City Hall; this is the 8th agenda item, so it’ll be late).
NEWPORT HEIGHTS: This coming Tuesday (January 28) at 4pm the Newport Beach City Council will be having a study session (at Newport Beach City Hall) to talk about pedestrian and bicycling improvements in the Newport Heights neighborhood. Murphy McCann reports that he would appreciate it if people who are interested attend the meeting to provide feedback or send a letter to the Newport Beach City Council. More information here.
SUNDAY BIKE RIDE: Join Arlis Reynolds and many of your neighbors for the first Sunday Costa Mesa Community Ride of the year: Sunday, January 26. Meetup at 2:00pm in Marina View Park for a 2:30pm departure time. The route will be an easy 7-mile family-friendly route that travels to 5 westside parks; rumor has it there may be a special guest from the State Assembly riding with us!
FAIRVIEW DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER: Also on tonight’s Costa Mesa City Council agenda is a report on the Fairview Developmental Center. Cassius, a member of People for Housing Orange County, has this to say: “Tonight the council is voting on a vision statement/draft plan for what they want to do with the site. Mayor Katrina Foley, Mayor Pro Tem John Stephens, and Councilmember Andrea Marr (who together form the Fairview Development Center Ad Hoc Committee) are pushing a housing first model to help address the regional housing crisis. You can find linked here the letter of support we are sending in from People for Housing OC for housing at all income levels at the site of the Fairview Developmental Center.”
HARLEY ROUDA: Steve, of HB Streets, reports that “Harley Rouda was one of the members of the House of Representatives Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition which sent a letter to the leadership of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that outlines a number of goals that we as local infrastructure and environmental advocates can certainly support. I encourage everyone to read the letter and send a quick note of support to Rep. Rouda.” More information from Steve can be found here.
WEBSITE. As always, these news blasts are cataloged on the site: CMABS.ORG (under News). Check it out!
-The CMABS Team
p.s. Our next meeting will be Monday February 17, 2020 at 7:00pm. We'll be talking about how we can welcome Education First and OCC's Student Housing to Costa Mesa with better streets.
