NEW CODE REGULATIONS
The Costa Mesa City Council approved a number of code revisions
earlier this year in response to residents' complaints about property
maintenance. The city distributed a flier last month detailing the
changes, which include prohibitions for dead or dying landscaping, and is
enforcing the new rules.
Somers said she is very proud of the new regulations, as they "give
code enforcement the teeth they have needed to really make a difference
in cleaning up the city."
WEST SIDE SPECIFIC PLAN
Since 1998, the city has targeted the West Side for intense
revitalization. The aging area has for years lacked economic vitality and
has become rundown.
The newly revised plan to improve the West Side includes making the
neighborhood more pedestrian-friendly, replacing some existing apartments
with townhomes or smaller home developments, and cleaning up businesses.
Somers said the plan is just a framework that still needs the "how to"
directions.
17TH STREET IMPROVEMENT PLAN
The city has proposed widening 17th Street from four to six lanes and
making improvements on the street to reduce traffic, but residents and
merchants say adding lanes would devastate business and ruin the
character and viability of the street.
The plan also includes bus turnouts and turn lanes.
Somers has said she is against widening the street, but supports
better turn lanes and bus turnouts.
"We need to get all the traffic information before we can make
educated decisions on how to improve the East 17th Street corridor," she
said.
CITY BUDGET
Somers said the city has a "reasonable, well-outlined budget, but I
feel we always have room for better response to some of the city's
needs."
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
Somers said the City Council has outlined its goals and objectives to
improve traffic by using grants and Measure M money to improve
intersections, roads and freeway access.
