Costa Mesa Council approves towing contracts, waste services plan, senior transit grant, police wellness program and one-year labor deals

Costa Mesa — The Costa Mesa City Council on June 17 approved five staff recommendations in a single meeting, awarding or authorizing contracts and accepting grant funding for city services and employee programs. The council voted to: award three towing operators for city response, approve a professional services agreement for solid-waste collection at city facilities, accept a $237,600 Orange County Transportation Authority grant to expand senior transportation, authorize a multi‑year wellness contract for police personnel and adopt one‑year successor memoranda of understanding (MOUs) covering police and other city employees.

The actions were taken during the regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall. Mayor Stevens moved the towing item and Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez seconded; the tow contracts passed 5‑0. The solid‑waste contract was approved 4‑0 with the mayor recused. The senior transit grant, police wellness contract and the MOUs each passed on unanimous council votes where recorded.

Why it matters: The package touches services that affect day‑to‑day life (towing and trash collection), mobility for older residents, and city operations (employee wellness and pay). Council members and staff emphasized safety, consumer information and service continuity as reasons to act now.

Towing contracts — response, safety language and public information The council approved staff’s recommendation to appoint three towing operators to the city’s rotation: G & W Towing, Metro Pro (as listed in the staff report) and Southside Towing. Council discussion included repeated public concerns about tow‑truck driving behavior and the cost to vehicle owners. Council member Marlys Reynolds pulled the item for discussion; Costa Mesa Police Department staff (noted in the agenda as Lieutenant Slitsky and Captain Watkins) answered questions.

Mayor Stevens moved approval and requested two additions be incorporated: contract language emphasizing safe driving on city streets, and updates to the city website with clear information for residents on how to locate a towed vehicle, the city’s 24/7 release policy and how to request a tow hearing or file a complaint. The council agreed and adopted the item 5‑0.

Representatives from tow vendors spoke during the…