At its Tuesday meeting, the City Council recognized February as Black History Month.

Accepting the proclamation were members of the Orange Coast College Black Student Union that was founded in 2021 to empower and foster unity within this underrepresented community.

The Black Student Union prioritizes unity and inclusion, extending its embrace to non-black allies as well with a focus on mutual learning and embracing the richness of diversity.

The Council also proclaimed the month of February as 2-1-1 OC month.

The Council recognizes that 2-1-1 OC provides community members with free and confidential referrals to needed resources.

Accepting the proclamation on behalf of 2-1-1 OC was Newport-Mesa Unified trustee Michelle Murphy, who is the Senior Director of Public Affairs for 2-1-1 OC’s parent organization, United Way.

Click the link below to see the entire meeting:

Council Member Manuel Chavez led students from Save Our Youth on a tour of Costa Mesa City Hall on Wednesday Feb. 21.

The students, who came from TeWinkle and Ensign Middle Schools, Newport Harbor High and Vanguard University, got to see the City Council Chambers, the CMTV studio and control room.

They visited staff on every floor including Economic and Development Services, Human Resources, Parks & Community Services, Central Services, Public Works, the Fire & Rescue Department and the City Manager's office, including City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison.

They also stopped in the City Council offices and met with Council Member Andrea Marr, who happened to be at City Hall during this time.

Please join the City of Costa Mesa at our next series of community meetings on planning for redevelopment of the Fairview Development Center (FDC) property. 

Two open house format community meetings will provide an opportunity for the public to ask one-on-one questions, obtain information, and provide input on specific topics. There will be a series of stations that will focus on:

🏠 Housing Types

🌳 Site Design and Open Space

🚴‍♀️ Mobility, Traffic, and Parking

✍️ Project Information - What is a specific plan, outreach-to-date, schedule, next steps

🔎 Vision

Community input is an essential part of planning for the future of FDC. The goal of these community meetings is to develop several redevelopment land use options for the community’s input. Free refreshments and childcare will be available.

City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison presented Fire Captain Eliasar Maldonado with the February City Manager Leadership Award.

Maldonado is a Costa Mesa native and a graduate of Estancia High School, where he played basketball for four years.

“I admire Captain Maldonado’s dedication to the youth of this very community where he was raised and attended school,” Farrell Harrison said. He is passionate about the fire profession and has been an outstanding mentor to our Fire Cadets. We are lucky to have him, and I am thrilled to give him this award.”

Click here for more.

National Engineers Week, celebrated February 18-24, 2024, provides a wonderful opportunity for us to spotlight and honor the invaluable contributions of engineers in shaping our daily lives for the better.

Engineers design, build, maintain and inspect the City’s public and private infrastructure on a daily basis. Several talented engineers serve and work for the City of Costa Mesa.

They include City Council members, Committee members and staff in Public Works and Development Services Departments. Let’s celebrate the ingenuity and dedication of engineers during this National Engineers Week.

Do you feel like you have something to offer your community?

If so, the Costa Mesa City Council is currently seeking residents to serve on various City Committees?

Click here to learn more.

Police explorers underwent a rigorous five-day academy, where they engaged in intensive training sessions.

There were 84 Police Explorers who participated in the academy from various agencies. This experience offered them valuable hands-on learning, familiarizing them with law enforcement procedures and protocols.

These academies typically simulate real-world scenarios, allowing participants to develop practical skills and gain insights into the challenges of police work.

Such an intensive program can help explorers build physical endurance, problem-solving capabilities, and teamwork skills essential for a potential future in law enforcement.

In summary, the demanding nature of the five-day academy provides police explorers with a challenging yet enriching opportunity to prepare for careers in law enforcement.

The following Costa Mesa Police Explorers were recipients of awards:

• R. Ruiz  third Place in organization and 4th Place in Drill
• M. Pelayo second Overall Top Explorer and second Physical Fitness
• A. Figueroa fourth Overall Top Explorer and third in Drill
• D. Gandera first in Physical Fitness

The following also underwent the rigorous five-day academy:

• A. Corona
• C. Pedroza
• N. Pelayo
• L. Lopez
• E. Phillips

Join us next Thursday, Feb. 29, from 7 to 9 a.m. for a free cup of coffee, conchas, and a friendly chat with officers at La Espiga de Oro Bakery.

It’s been a while since the last Coffee with a Cop. Hope to see you there!

Si puede pasar por La Espiga de Oro el próximo jueves, 29 de febrero, entre las 7:00 hasta las 9:00 de la mañana, venga a compartir un cafecito y conchas con nosotros. Esperamos verlos ahi!

Beginning Saturday, Feb. 24, early voting for the March 5 Primary Election will open in Costa Mesa at the Costa Mesa Senior Center Vote Center.

In total, there will be six Vote Centers open as of March 2 and six more Ballot Drop Box locations in the City.

The Senior Center and Costa Mesa City Hall will also offer Drive Through services for those wishing to drop off their ballots.

The Vote Center locations are as follows:

• Senior Center -- 695 W 19th St.
• Costa Mesa City Hall -- 77 Fair Drive
• Balearic Community Center -- 1975 Balearic Drive
• Coast Community College District -- 1370 Adams Ave.
• Norma Hertzog Community Center -- 1845 Park Ave.
• Sofia University -- 3333 Harbor Blvd.

The Ballot Drop Box locations are as follows:

• Boys & Girls Club of Costa Mesa -- 2131 Tustin Ave.
• Coastal Heights Senior Living -- 2283 Fairview Road
• Mesa Verde Branch Library -- 2969 Mesa Verde Drive
• Mesa Water District -- 1965 Placentia Ave.
• TeWinkle Park Athletic Complex -- 980 Arlington Drive
• The Esplanade -- 3001 Red Hill Avenue

For more information please visit the Orange County Registrar of Voters here.

On Wednesday, Feb 14, Troop 9 of the local Girl Scouts visited Fire Station No. 1 for a tour of the entire station. 

Mesa Engine 81 crew, consisting of Captain Mike Hurd, Engineer John Brock, Firefighter Paramedics Doug Ferguson and Jeff Bibler were on duty with Fire Protection Specialist Ryan Meadors also assisting during the event.

Fire Captain Hurd began the visit by highlighting the different tools and resources that are stored on a fire engine, as well and when and why they use them. Fire Protection Specialist Meadors continued the tour, as ME81 received a call right when the tour started.

This was a great opportunity to highlight the fact that our firefighters are always on call, and they need to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. 

The tour concluded with a brief Q & A from Fire Captain Hurd and his crew.

On Wednesday, Feb. 14, Mesa Engine 83 and crew visited the Boys & Girls Club of Costa Mesa – Argyros Center for Opportunity for a fire safety engine visit. 

The crew consisted of Fire Captain Travis Johnson, Engineer Anthony Mancillas, Firefighter Paramedic Kevin Humphreys, and Firefighter Paramedic Mitch Diamond. Captain Johnson led the presentation and gave a brief overview of general fire safety practices for families. 

Diamond and Mancillas conducted a show and tell of fire uniforms and explaining the different components and how firefighters are protected.

The visit ended with Humphreys and Johnson presenting all the different medical supplies they carry on the rigs and what purpose they serve. 

On Feb. 21, Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshal Jon Neal and Assistant Fire Marshal Nikki Johnson participated in a partnership lunch alongside Costa Mesa PD, Santa Ana PD, neighboring fire departments, and South Coast Metro business owners. 

The primary agenda of the meeting was to discuss crime trends and the introduction of new technology in Costa Mesa. Neal emphasized the implementation of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue's latest inspection software and the newly adopted land management system.

These systems were showcased to underscore the efficient processing times for applicants building within the city. 

This collaborative effort aimed to enhance public safety and streamline administrative procedures within the community.

An HVAC system has recently been installed at the Old Corp Yard, the home of Building and Street Maintenance.

The installation of the HVAC system marks a significant improvement in the overall infrastructure of the Old Corp Yard.

The timing of the installation is crucial, as the winter and spring seasons bring fluctuating temperatures and weather conditions.

The HVAC system will provide consistent heating and cooling, ensuring that employees can focus on their tasks without being affected by external factors.

Overall, the installation of the HVAC system at the Old Corp Yard is a positive development that benefits both the employees and the efficiency of operations.

It reflects a commitment to providing a comfortable and functional work environment, setting the stage for a productive season ahead.

Costa Mesa TV is looking back at some of the recreation programs that have kept our residents moving over the years and continue to do so today as part of our Flashback Friday series.

Want to join the fun? You can access the Costa Mesa Parks & Community Services "Spotlight" brochure which lists community classes and activities happening

 year round online.

With spring and summer ahead why not register for a few activities? Who knows, someday years from now you might even be featured in one of our CMTV "flashback" reels!

Check out the Spotlight at www.costamesaca.gov.

You can watch CMTV’s flashback reel here.

For these jobs and others, please click this link.

Ahoy yer mateys! We invite you to join us at Spring Fest 2024, A Pirate Adventure!

Yo ho, yo ho, it's going to be a fun filled day for family and friends! Calling all pirates to join at SpringFest on Saturday, March 30th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Lions Park Event Lawn located at 1845 Park Ave.

For more details and the treasure egg hunt schedule visit our website www.costamesaca.gov/springfest or call the Parks & Community Services Department at (714) 754-5300.

Bo is a sweet 12-year old, chihuahua/dachshund mix, male, senior dog.

Bo enjoys cuddling and taking naps. Bo is known for his warm and compassionate demeanor and will surely brighten up your day.

Bo would love to find his forever family and to find a comfortable home to spend his golden years in.

Bo is up to date on his vaccines and is neutered. If you would like to meet Bo, he is located at Priceless Pet Rescue – The Orphanage Claremont (665 Foothill Blvd. Unit E Claremont CA, 91711) For other adoptable pets, visit www.pricelesspetrescue.org.