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 item. David Padua, owner of Southside Towing, described the event fundraising the company supports and said, “100% of the money goes to CHALK. I don't keep any of it,” when explaining the demolition‑derby fundraiser his company runs for charity. Maris de Vosquale, speaking for G & W Towing, told the council the company maintains a staffed yard “24 7, 365 days a year,” and that a large portion of yard space is used for evidence holds.

Solid‑waste services for city facilities — recycling rollout plan noted The council approved a professional services agreement for solid‑waste collection at city facilities (Ware Disposal was the recommended vendor), with a 4‑0 vote after Mayor Stevens recused himself on that item. Council member Lauren Gumeros had pulled the item to confirm the contractor’s capacity to support recycling at city sites.

Public works staff said the contract as proposed covers landfill and event services now, and that a split‑bin (combined trash/recycling) option and other recycling solutions were included in the vendor’s pricing tables. Staff said they will identify city facilities that need modified enclosures or split bins and then roll out recycling containers, plus backup education for custodial contractors. Staff also noted the city has secured SB 1383 local assistance grant funding for beverage‑container and organics containers to place in front‑of‑house areas.

Senior transportation grant — $237,600 to expand rides for older adults The council accepted a competitive Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities grant of $237,600 to supplement Costa Mesa’s senior transportation program. Monique Villasenor, recreation manager, told council the one‑time award will offset higher ridership and fund the city’s existing two components: local senior trips and county‑wide non‑emergency medical rides managed through a taxi contractor (Orange County Yellow Cooperative, formerly Cabco Yellow).

Staff asked the council to (1) accept the grant, (2) increase the budget by $237,600 funded by grant reimbursements and (3) increase the annual not‑to‑exceed amount of the taxi contract by $200,000 (to a $500,000 annual cap with a 10% contingency) to accommodate increased demand. The council approved those measures 5‑0.

Police wellness program — ongoing physical and mental health services The council approved a professional services agreement with Hogue Executive Health to continue and expand a police wellness program originally funded by a one‑time state grant. Lieutenant Michelle Bradbury described services that include physical wellness assessments (blood panels, cardiovascular and body‑composition testing), a part‑time wellness coordinator and workshops on fitness, stress management and nutrition. The agreement is for a five‑year term that begins July 1, 2025, with an annual not‑to‑exceed amount of $150,000 (funding already incorporated in the department’s operating budget). The motion passed 5‑0.

Union successor agreements — one‑year MOUs and fiscal notes The council adopted successor memoranda of understanding for the Costa Mesa Police Association (CMPA), Costa Mesa Police Management Association (CMPMA), Costa Mesa City Employees Association (CMCEA) and the city’s confidential group. Human Resources Manager Ms. Lee described the agreements as one‑year terms (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) negotiated by the city and the unions. Highlights include:

- CMPA and CMPMA: 4% salary increase effective July 2025; a 2.5% recruitment/retention incentive by tier; and a $300 per month health contribution increase effective July 2025. CMPMA also agreed to eliminate a holiday‑pay benefit in favor of a certification pay program (yielding no base change for lieutenants and a 5% increase for captains, per the staff summary). - CMCEA (and the confidential group): 2% salary increase effective July 2025, another 2% increase effective January 2026 and a further 2% increase effective February 2026; health contribution increases of $50 per month (January 2026) and $100 per month (June 2026).

The agreements were ratified by the bargaining units and approved by the council 5‑0. During public comment, a city resident and budget watcher noted the multi‑year budget implications; staff and council described the agreements as a one‑year settlement chosen in an uncertain economic environment so the city and unions can reassess next year.

Implementation and next steps Council directed staff to include the towing safety language in the executed contracts and to update public webpages with towing and complaint information. Public‑works staff will identify city facilities that need split bins or enclosure modifications and then deploy recycling and organics solutions using the SB 1383 assistance funds. Parks and Transportation staff will execute the OCTA grant amendments with the taxi contractor. The police department will finalize the wellness contract implementation and provide periodic utilization reports as the program grows.

Ending: Several council members and staff framed the approvals as pragmatic steps to maintain essential services, protect public safety and expand access for older residents while managing fiscal risks. The council and staff said they will monitor implementation and report back on service rollouts and program uptake.

Votes at a glance (summary) - Towing contracts (G & W, Metro Pro, Southside) — Motion: approve staff recommendation with added safe‑driving language and web updates; Mover: Mayor Stevens; Second: Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Chavez; Vote: 5‑0 (approved). - Solid‑waste services PSA (city facilities) — Motion: approve staff recommendation; Mover: Council member (motion recorded); Vote: 4‑0 (Mayor recused) (approved). Staff will add recycling rollout steps and use SB 1383 funds for front‑of‑house bins. - OCTA Enhanced Mobility grant acceptance and taxi PSA increase — Motion: accept $237,600 OCTA grant and increase taxi PSA by $200,000 to $500,000 (10% contingency); Vote: 5‑0 (approved). - Police wellness PSA (Hogue Executive Health) — Motion: award five‑year PSA, not to exceed $150,000 annually; Vote: 5‑0 (approved). - Successor MOUs and salary resolutions (CMPA, CMPMA, CMCEA, confidential) — Motion: adopt agreements and salary resolutions as negotiated; Vote: 5‑0 (approved).

Sources and on‑the‑record quotes Quotes and attributions are drawn from the city council meeting transcript for June 17, 2025. Examples include David Padua (owner, Southside Towing): “100% of the money goes to CHALK. I don't keep any of it.” Maris de Vosquale (spokesperson for G & W Towing): “There is someone at that yard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

(End of roundup of formal actions taken by the Costa Mesa City Council on June 17, 2025.)