[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6520964,"mediaKeyId","5116015-1fb1070c5d527b1e5d88dbc72ea65e05","parentId",5116015,"title","Resident urges stronger public engagement on Fairview Developmental Center specific plan","audioSeconds",184,"startMs",521680,"endMs",706600,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5116015-1fb1070c5d527b1e5d88dbc72ea65e05&start=521&end=706","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5116015-1fb1070c5d527b1e5d88dbc72ea65e05/thumbnail_521680.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6520964/Costa-Mesa/Orange-County/California/Resident-urges-stronger-public-engagement-on-Fairview-Developmental-Center-specific-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520964-4580465ef867d325e441fa640d030458/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440182&Signature=G0LE3g3Y4rM2X2y6~r3cHIPFQf-g4GMiMcWCtxJ9UbLUY7VXjHs2H32mnVU3lLKDcmlSR9MfQBm5ju-nNGWA2H50tMfv8oSf3igJTF5EkkfD3DnaFNoWw1VgbcB-BgAq5x7tpkqJssclJ0fC2x6zJVdwKCKc6owTmvlwZ2CRIfzGT8L9hIhsnA~iEWRnK5IxwM8Vs6asP51sIwyx~uaJXewPXK4AaWxQc2PcOppyAwYH0W8kzFz7xIy6Qj11SX8GWXW8P1V7ql8Zb3W6VXdQ1m6jhQI8IH8xTFSq6~h~P7DhprnzW3nAbFueA2TTouUFVuiMuD3CKL0fRtZNwCDvZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Costa Mesa","date","2025-07-02T00:14:37Z","article","Cynthia McDonald, a Costa Mesa resident, told the council Tuesday that the city must improve public engagement on the Fairview Developmental Center specific-plan process and urged the council to select a city manager who will prioritize that work.

\"I hope that person has a strong disposition and can stand up to the members of the city council who spend more time chasing political ambitions than they do caring about the needs of the Costa Mesa citizens,\" McDonald said. She urged the council to appoint a city manager with leadership skills to \"turn around the Fairview Developmental Center specific plan fiasco.\"

McDonald said the city allowed the state to take over the planning process after the city signed a $3,500,000 contract with the state for planning of the specific-plan area, producing a draft concept that she said \"does not reflect the ideas that the community voiced in the first two outreach meetings.\" She criticized the draft vision statement and guiding principles as inadequate and urged formation of an advisory committee to produce a concept \"that reflects the desires of all of the community and would engage the public in a meaningful planning process.\"

McDonald said she had been told by former staffer Jennifer Lee that Lee had advocated for an advisory committee before leaving the city. McDonald cited state planning guidance and the state's general-plan guidelines as recommending task forces or advisory committees for broader representation. She added that the city is seeking an extension from the state after nearly three years since the contract signing.

She also asked that \"the city attorney will need to give a report on your vote in the closed session\" and that \"that report should be recorded and televised as part of the public record of this meeting.\" The council opened public comment before recessing to closed session; no attorney report was made at the time of the meeting.

McDonald identified herself on the record as a Costa Mesa resident.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Costa Mesa City Council Closed Session July 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Costa Mesa resident told the council the Fairview Developmental Center specific-plan process failed to reflect community input and urged the new city manager to restore meaningful outreach, including forming an advisory committee; she also requested the city attorney's closed-session report be recorded and televised.","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},6520969,"Costa Mesa council votes to add closed-session item on city manager appointment",33,725525,758529,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5116015-1fb1070c5d527b1e5d88dbc72ea65e05&start=725&end=758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5116015-1fb1070c5d527b1e5d88dbc72ea65e05/thumbnail_725525.jpg","/articles/6520969/Costa-Mesa/Orange-County/California/Costa-Mesa-council-votes-to-add-closed-session-item-on-city-manager-appointment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6520969-42fed749cb6325101634598074687a76/orig.mp4?Expires=1770440182&Signature=kuXcW0tiuNojslL0L2UMCIJx1KieDv-KbuhRf488gro1VcQi8sA0g-VRKzbXhqPCezLzeozba6jMLxk1vMIwsN4iocg-8WtIkvAvNH3Q7BOS3G2I8aWSyy9vQrIUjjGM6cgsclper3iKjkj9FvIweWnNpXV~EBibjgGuD5ZURnB16HT~kmEVWRul47WaZqSAUKXFheVYgDJFnRds0nzRswS3JdHlDukM6GENq-l-HRjetxC2eEUAduiEGRjcyCNa~YfDiHcVePQmxcJ0Q9ogQepBL2abkiymBvA8eT4soJJ7g8~WNxEw14nwJJl2mNy7yOV3T9yUxyw80GXe7r~o5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Costa Mesa City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to walk on a closed-session item to consider the appointment of a city manager, then recessed to a closed session to take up that matter.

The council added the item under the rules for unposted emergency matters, citing California Government Code section 54956.9(d)(1) for existing litigation and the public employee appointment exemption under Government Code section 54957(b)(1). Councilmembers held a roll call and then approved the motion to walk on the item by a 7-0 vote, the four-fifths threshold noted as required for adding the item after the agenda was posted.

The council did not announce any appointment during the meeting. After the vote, a speaker notified the public, \"I do not expect any reporting out this evening,\" and the council recessed to the community room for the closed session. No further public action or decision was reported before the recess.

The vote to add the item was recorded in the meeting minutes as: Reynolds — yes; Perez — yes; Mar — yes; Gameros — yes; Beaulieu — yes; Mayor Pro Tem Chavez — yes; Mayor Stevens — yes. The clerk announced, \"Motion carries 7-0.\" The council read item number 1 on the agenda as \"public employee appointment pursuant to California Government Code section 54957(b)(1), title: city manager.\"

The meeting began with a public comment period before the closed session recess; a resident urged the council to prioritize a city manager who would address concerns about the Fairview Developmental Center specific plan (see separate article). The closed session was convened immediately after the vote and public-notice items were read.","City council unanimously approved a 4/5-required motion to add a closed-session item for a public employee appointment of a city manager and recessed to closed session; no appointment or report was announced at the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

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Resident urges stronger public engagement on Fairview Developmental Center specific plan

Costa Mesa council votes to add closed-session item on city manager appointment