Stories To Watch In 2009:

One point of contention is the salary of the executive director, which the board votes on and doesn’t feel it should have to reveal to the public because the center is a private corporation.

Leece, however, says that even though the center is not owned or operated by the city it should have to disclose the information like a city-owned agency would because city money makes up part of the budget.

In exchange for some taxpayer support, two of the center’s voting board members are picked by the City Council.

Right now they are Costa Mesa residents who donate to the center and volunteer their time. Leece acts as a nonvoting liaison to the board.

She wants to change that, though, to give a council member a vote on the board. The two current council-appointed board members come up for reappointment in April, at which point Leece could propose replacing one or both of them with council members.

The center’s management says it’s fine with giving a council member a vote on the board, just not Leece.