[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6327798,"mediaKeyId","2322035-85f4be0e2669f6d6a2378da2c838eabf","parentId",2322035,"title","Residents and commissioners press for collaborative capital‑project planning as grant‑funded park work faces deadlines","audioSeconds",3357,"startMs",1720000,"endMs",5077000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322035-85f4be0e2669f6d6a2378da2c838eabf&start=1720&end=5077","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322035-85f4be0e2669f6d6a2378da2c838eabf/thumbnail_1720000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6327798/Costa-Mesa/Orange-County/California/Residents-and-commissioners-press-for-collaborative-capitalproject-planning-as-grantfunded-park-work-faces-deadlines","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327798-e9087ab66a62c280ec8faad6f8e94228/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671016&Signature=krM4PxdR39jxfvoMZ0cGBDpMEffbZCw2eT-rNT8FSuEF62wMiBXrVxZJ1AnATfge0Pak9F7HXHZBBbkedB6F4kGiqRlgQ5oS8Qj9HDZoP4mJqrE3S3tXyPkp5cCfkAPNbdcx2C4ceegAge1dmVOYMoZMkHyd6i-uHilwBhVmgXltVuhrMJLSoY6qVBu9xleX-XWKG5rmHFNN5qQDeQBVY0NQYDN0X9hs4WqHfTsecF5sN~8lEN2CRbhSbv1Q1eBqAM7DZNIAd5xV8Np-BPJx3x2txSpKGdVNFAWSsomTe7xFLnoqWwiNenkZ~zed-MRBtZs~dNigKj4uem~iWDmbSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Costa Mesa","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","Public commenters and multiple commissioners urged the Parks and Community Services Commission to take a more active role in capital planning and grant tracking, and several speakers flagged specific projects and deadlines that they said need commission oversight.

Resident Ralph Tabota told the commission the capital improvement process has been “top down” and urged a bottoms‑up, collaborative approach that would tap commission members’ local knowledge when updating the five‑year capital improvement program (CIP). Jen Tanaka, a resident and attorney, said city minutes and agenda materials were not always up to date on Legistar and urged the commission to review a master fee schedule and resident vs. nonresident fee policies. Tanaka also warned that some grant‑funded projects tied to roughly $10 million in local funds have completion deadlines (she cited a January 2026 deadline for certain projects on the list) and that projects not yet bid could jeopardize drawing the grant money.

Commissioner Liz Wright (speaking about the wider CIP context) said recent years brought an unusually large number of grants, including LED retrofits and multi‑million‑dollar park reconstruction projects, and said commissioners should study the CIP and master plans to understand priorities and deadlines. Director Gruner and the city engineer provided project updates: Ketchum remains in design at roughly 90% completion and Shalimar Park design is about 80–85% complete; staff said both projects will proceed to bid and construction when final reviews and procurement steps are completed. Staff also said the TeWinkle Lakes bid had a single responsive bid that is under review and that the Mesa restoration project is awaiting a California Fish and Wildlife take permit after an endangered bumblebee (referred to as the crotch's bumblebee) was identified.

Commissioners and commenters urged the commission to be included in CIP updates and to consider holding a dedicated session before the May budget update to build commission expertise. Several speakers recommended better public tracking of CIP status on Legistar and improved transparency about schedules and grant deadlines. Director Gruner said staff will bring a deeper CIP briefing at a future meeting and coordinate with public works and finance on grant timelines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Costa Mesa Parks and Community Services Commission Meeting February 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters and commissioners urged greater commission involvement in capital improvement planning and pushed staff to track grant deadlines and provide a dedicated CIP briefing before the budget process.","taxTitle","Costa Mesa, Orange County, California","taxId",3682,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327803,"Police lieutenant outlines ranger patrols, drone plan; commissioners and public push for regular, park‑level reports",394,5400000,5794000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322035-85f4be0e2669f6d6a2378da2c838eabf&start=5400&end=5794","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322035-85f4be0e2669f6d6a2378da2c838eabf/thumbnail_5400000.jpg","/articles/6327803/Costa-Mesa/Orange-County/California/Police-lieutenant-outlines-ranger-patrols-drone-plan-commissioners-and-public-push-for-regular-parklevel-reports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327803-723909dc5bca82d9b27a201e059ee29a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671016&Signature=YXu3YtKKVxy1HJXW0F18iYIdGukQnQmWxpKVm~wVYYvORGHCnTd2oqeVZWwtgXZ5mWmehTpuI0Q5b3RhbI9mhpKCTUiUtj5oFyIbO4kw3itkE26x3MogjVV-9Ul4R3zktkfO8Yi~Ob5vfyNGnDQOLyQrI0cM8lLYfm6giID0gVyIRS8tacGHaWmiEsGu-yM8ZKtjj9hfBIFtqqWxFNoXHJJUSP1RgdFz4A6HfV12vrUnb01oJgw2CuSKxoyQiSdNVqOFo1TJIfFlf0UtruDknVn1ep5VkdBrjx7eKfvkKed5mF6xwj-qd1B2TEDA1tK-cW918s6ggtTqk3l2JS0XyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lieutenant Carlos Diaz, area 1 commander with the Costa Mesa Police Department, presented the park ranger unit’s role and data at the Parks and Community Services Commission meeting and answered commissioners’ questions about patrol coverage, enforcement and new tools.

Diaz said the ranger unit staffs parks seven days a week in two shifts, adjusts hours seasonally and patrols Fairview Park daily with two‑person teams. He reported that in 2024 park rangers issued 16 citations, arrested 41 individuals and initiated 541 calls for service; those figures included ranger activity and some work by field operations. Diaz said rangers spend substantial time on trail patrols, encampment clearance, e‑bike enforcement and dog‑leash violations.

Diaz also described steps to expand aerial support: the department has selected two park rangers for FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification and is formalizing a drone program to supplement patrols and “extend our view” at large parks. He said drone deployment will follow protocols to minimize wildlife impacts and noted a 400‑foot ceiling as a planning parameter.

Commissioners and multiple public speakers urged more frequent and clearer reporting. Several speakers (including residents and civic commenters) said prior monthly ranger reports that listed violations by municipal code were difficult to interpret; they asked for park‑level statistics presented in plain language (for example, counts of dog‑leash violations, encampment removals, e‑bike incidents, fires and after‑hours vehicle parking) and for a pattern‑focused summary to guide prevention and budget requests.

Commissioners suggested the report should show whether incidents were patrol‑initiated (outbound) or the result of public calls (inbound), seasonality, and other contextual details that support prevention planning (for example, fencing, better trail design or targeted outreach). Diaz said preparing a verified patterned report requires staff time — roughly two to eight man‑hours depending on verification — but welcomed the dialogue and offered ride‑along opportunities so commissioners can see ranger work firsthand.

Commissioners and staff said they will work with the police department to develop a reporting cadence and format to balance operational workload and the commission’s need for usable data. Members suggested quarterly pattern summaries with underlying monthly raw data available for analysis by the commission and public.","Lieutenant Carlos Diaz and Costa Mesa Park Rangers described daily park patrols, 2024 enforcement figures and a planned drone program. Commissioners and residents urged monthly, park‑specific reporting and clearer data to guide prevention and resource decisions for Fairview Park, Lions Park and others.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327807,"Parks department holds full-day staff leadership training dubbed 'Camp Costa Mesa'",569,887000,1456000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322035-85f4be0e2669f6d6a2378da2c838eabf&start=887&end=1456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322035-85f4be0e2669f6d6a2378da2c838eabf/thumbnail_887000.jpg","/articles/6327807/Costa-Mesa/Orange-County/California/Parks-department-holds-full-day-staff-leadership-training-dubbed-Camp-Costa-Mesa","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327807-9ba7ddcffb4c9e012536c296fc6eb713/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671016&Signature=nlcAmKUY0S~CbmLVHqodLv1LHGuC7hX4lU4aDkxEqt0c07aSygvQbW3QsJSW2WbqqHJYqHlFQ7T318Wo4Zgfn39EATWG4ldiZgR~04Sg28z8TT0GfbPBwWiAxHhcXNOMf4O2Pfck56lmjuNQjgSIKPrB0KCzaV16heFkP3vpTKpK9sRav0G9~RPyHEpxg7pCu-ztJ-w6al8Vfiivd0nrBQ9-tKpO0u3YN5VP8CqALjEEmzMw0JnLuAHXbHgWIfM4fIVNB-P29ar1PmBbSq08jggOAYDKqgUsvrAqlh87FVxujTAl4lxyAuSFVZ7D9siXABfGOf0m6Qb0JwCd0ksAJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Parks and Community Services Department held an all‑staff leadership training on Saturday, Feb. 1, bringing roughly 200 employees together at the Costa Mesa Senior Center in a program leaders described as a one‑day, team‑building retreat billed “Camp Costa Mesa.”

Department Recreation Manager Monique outlined the session’s purpose at the commission meeting, saying the event followed a department review of mission and core values after Director Brian Gruner joined the city. Monique said the training marked the first all‑staff session since about February 2019 and was intended to strengthen a common culture and customer service approach.

The day included a mayor/city manager overview of local government structure, a high‑level finance briefing from the finance director, a leadership module based on the book The Ideal Team Player and breakout sessions covering HR refreshers and customer‑service methods. Monique said staff were grouped to mix programs so employees who normally work separately — for example after‑school staff, lifeguards and day‑camp staff — could meet and learn colleague roles.

Director Gruner later emphasized the department wants to continue trainings on a recurring basis and said officials will incorporate feedback from a staff survey that was circulated after the event. Monique said the department intends to rotate presenters and tailor future sessions to frontline staff needs, noting some employees requested additional program‑specific training.

Commissioners asked how feedback will shape future sessions and whether the training will include public‑engagement content. Monique said staff will use survey input and leadership team meetings to select future topics and “we definitely want this to be a consistent thing.”

Commissioner Liz Brown (vice chair at the time of the meeting) praised the training and requested the commission be briefed on future plans to align training with public‑engagement priorities. The presentation ended with several commissioners commending the day and department staff for organizing the event.

The department said it will provide a follow‑up report to commissioners with survey results and suggested topics for subsequent trainings.","Costa Mesa Parks and Community Services held a full-day staff leadership training on Feb. 1, attended by about 200 employees, focused on customer service, city government basics and team-building under the theme \"Camp Costa Mesa.\"",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6327793,"Commission elects new chair, vice chair; consent calendar and liaison appointments pass unanimously",5816,3467000,9283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2322035-85f4be0e2669f6d6a2378da2c838eabf&start=3467&end=9283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2322035-85f4be0e2669f6d6a2378da2c838eabf/thumbnail_3467000.jpg","/articles/6327793/Costa-Mesa/Orange-County/California/Commission-elects-new-chair-vice-chair-consent-calendar-and-liaison-appointments-pass-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6327793-a875c13d914c6639eafda795c2c755ca/orig.mp4?Expires=1775671016&Signature=Ouh8uJw0UueFBQLUO~hvfCmqvglf8CJ~MFr-OHTRQss79ZuPcexrgrfG0dTXQWCNy9k3s-atnyyr-cJpvBoGSplRN0k-bWVbnPKM37ABQhzgColL~tVM50n0GuJWswidfAuKgziixrTtHXNaYQ-03H2aGOaIAJMOhLi3qMeW2YmVco4IRQAfZf589jnkRjcmiGUOr2D181NNm1oZSRVKR-cP8MDzH14sAaTXyaDJC51QjjXBDCeXbsg-FA1ePPJ1c4Km2VL2bpHJuSkDyotNPaVTK2LFDBUgZaQOIBrXsDgfssnnJl7e1lPLubFdeqPEln9ld6WUDs37PIwrff87IA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The commission completed routine actions and officer elections during the meeting.

A consent calendar motion to approve minutes and the department report passed 7‑0. Commissioners then nominated and elected officers: Commissioner Liz Brown (title at meeting start: vice chair) was elected chair by a 7‑0 vote, and Commissioner Wright was elected vice chair by the same tally.

The commission also approved liaison assignments: Commissioner Kamala was appointed Fairview Park steering committee liaison and Commissioner Ledger was appointed senior center liaison; that motion carried 7‑0.

No contested ballots were recorded on the dais; votes were announced as unanimous tallies and recorded as \"Motion carries 7‑0\" in the minutes. The new appointments will take effect beginning at the next commission meeting, per staff procedural remarks.","The Parks and Community Services Commission approved the consent calendar 7‑0, elected Commissioner Brown as chair and Commissioner Wright as vice chair (each 7‑0), and approved liaison appointments to Fairview Park and senior programs by the same vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents and commissioners press for collaborative capital‑project planning as grant‑funded park work faces deadlines

Police lieutenant outlines ranger patrols, drone plan; commissioners and public push for regular, park‑level reports

Parks department holds full-day staff leadership training dubbed 'Camp Costa Mesa'

Commission elects new chair, vice chair; consent calendar and liaison appointments pass unanimously