Foley

Orange Coast College has named Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley its 2010 Citizen of the Year for her service to the community and to the college district. Foley attended OCC before continuing on at UCLA to study English with a specialization in women's studies. She then earned her law degree from Seattle University School of Law. She will be recognized at Thursday's graduation ceremonies, OCC's 62nd. "Katrina was the person the community felt was most deserving of the honor for just all of the various things that she's done in the community, and especially those related to Coast Community College [District]

Judy Franco, an incumbent of 30 years, held a commanding lead over challenger Loretta Zimmerman in the Newport-Mesa Unified school board race for Trustee Area 5, according to preliminary election returns released late Tuesday evening. "The budget is going to be our biggest issue," Franco said. Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley was also ahead of four-year incumbent Michael Collier in her bid for Trustee Area 2. Foley's attempt to become a school board member has left many wondering whether she will hold two seats simultaneously or give one of them up. Foley indicated Tuesday night that she was not sure what she would do if she emerged the victor in the school board race, but in the past she pointed out that many politicians hold two seats.

Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley has taken out paperwork to run for reelection this year, while Mayor Eric Bever and three other prospective candidates have announced an intention to run. City Clerk Julie Folcik said Foley is the first candidate to take out paperwork for this year’s race. To officially get on the ballot, contenders must file a number of forms with the city and gather signatures from 20 registered voters who live in Costa Mesa. In addition to Foley and Bever, three people — Gary Monahan, James Fisler and Chris Bunyan — have filed statements of interest in running.

Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley, skiing with her family during the City Council’s meeting Wednesday night, shrugged off concerns that the board elected Eric Bever as the city’s new mayor in her absence. While noting her appreciation of the support expressed by fellow Councilwoman Linda Dixon, Foley said Bever’s ascension wouldn’t prompt any serious policy changes on the council. “I don’t think it really matters if you’re in the position of mayor or not, if you’re going out and doing good work for the community,” she said.

Costa Mesa City Councilwoman Katrina Foley was recognized Tuesday for her work to help the city’s children and families. Foley received the John Upton award from the Childs-Pace Foundation, a nonprofit group that runs after-school programs for children from low- to moderate-income families. Childs-Pace board members said they chose Foley for the award because she has long been a volunteer for programs serving domestic violence victims and local schools, and as a council member she has proposed new bike trails, neighborhood clean-ups and a program to eliminate gangs.

The UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans are gearing up for a huge battle Saturday. And as many in Orange County are aware, the county is SC fan territory. But the Bruins refuse to sit on the sidelines in this crosstown rivalry. So in the name of healthy competition, Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley, a UCLA alumna and a devout Bruins fan, helped her two young boys and their friends get back at their music teacher. Nick St. Royal, Sonora Elementary School’s music teacher and band director, is a die-hard Trojan fan. Foley said that on the first day of class, St. Royal told his students: “I graduated from the greatest university on the planet, do you know which one that is?

Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley lashed out at Martin Millard, a regular City Hall critic, after he lectured the council about spending. Millard spoke during the public comments session about why Newport Beach’s wealth isn’t rubbing off on Costa Mesa, despite the cities’ shared border. He said the problem is that the council, and its predecessors, took actions that allowed slum-like housing to go unchecked, attracting illegal immigrants. Millard’s comments didn’t go over well with Foley.

Clean up and beautification Costa Mesa needs a citywide plan to accelerate street improvements, clean up litter and add landscaping, Foley said. More trash containers, landscaped medians, parkway trees and better lighting are necessary along with the removal of utility poles on major streets, she said. Foley said she will insist on greater focus throughout the city but will put an emphasis on the Westside, which is long overdue for its share of improvement, and plans to aggressively seek grant funding to accomplish that goal.

City Council elections will be hot this year in Newport Beach, but they aren't until November. Meanwhile, the city's registered Republicans ? 60% of Newport voters ? can vote for local candidates on June 6 if they choose. Two familiar Newport figures, City Councilman Dick Nichols and former council candidate Dolores Otting, are seeking spots on the Orange County Republican Central Committee, a body that votes on party endorsements, sets policy, raises money for the party and encourages Republicans to vote.

Attorney John Stephens will run for Costa Mesa City Council in November, school Trustee Katrina Foley confirmed Thursday. "I can tell he'll do a great job, he's community-minded, he's smart," she said. Stephens, who practices law in Newport Beach, could not be reached for comment. Stephens, 49, raised his political profile in March when he teamed up with Foley, a friend, to legally challenge Costa Mesa's push to get a proposed city charter on the June ballot after it missed the filing deadline.

Costa Mesa City Councilman Steve Mensinger will run for election in November to keep the seat he was appointed to last year, he told the Daily Pilot on Wednesday. "I want to make a difference," Mensinger said. Mensinger, 50, an Orange County businessman, was appointed to the council in January 2010. He took over the seat vacated by Newport-Mesa school board trustee Katrina Foley, who stepped down when she was elected to the previous November. Mensinger will likely face stiff opposition from community activists, and possibly public employee organizations, both of which have been heavily critical of the city's austerity measures over the last 16 months.

In last week's column about the enhancements to Newport-Mesa Unified Supt. Jeffrey Hubbard's contract prior to its original four-year termination date, I referred to the school board as the group responsible for approving Hubbard's contract details ("City Life: School board enhanced Hubbard's compensation mid-contract," Nov. 23). I should have excluded Katrina Foley, who was elected to the school board only a year ago and has had no involvement in awarding Hubbard any of his contract extensions or any other additional compensation.

COSTA MESA — A small group of parents this week urged the Newport-Mesa Unified school board to cover the expense of sixth-grade science camp. One presented trustees with a petition urging the district to continue absorbing the costs. "I know you are strapped for money, but can't you find the money this year to provide for the sixth-graders that want to go this year?" said Martha O'Mara, a fifth-grade teacher. After a staff report on funding the camp, school board Trustee Katrina Foley made a motion to put the issue on the next meeting's agenda for discussion, but the motion was met with silence.

School board member Katrina Foley wants Newport-Mesa Unified to reallocate $200,000 from its administrative budget to help fund sixth-grade science camp programs. "This is an example of when we need to provide supplemental funding," said Foley. "Otherwise there are several schools in Costa Mesa that won't be able to attend, and that's a disparity in the district that we can't allow. " In particular, Wilson, California, Adams and Pomona elementary schools have expressed concerns about raising the money, said Susan Astarita, assistant superintendent of secondary education.

The OC Skateboarding League hopes to raise $10,000 at an awards dinner Thursday evening to continue and expand its programs. Newport-Mesa Unified school board Trustee Katrina Foley founded the nonprofit last year to support local middle- and high-school skating teams. More than 150 students skate for 20 teams across the county. Costa Mesa, Estancia and Newport Harbor high schools are among the participants. The awards dinner at the Los Caballeros Racquet & Sports Club in Fountain Valley will feature a silent auction, skate videos and guest appearances by as-yet-unnamed industry pros.

COSTA MESA — The city executive's still-developing plans to restructure the Costa Mesa Police Department will be presented to police officers Wednesday, interim Police Chief Steve Staveley said. Staveley said police staffing levels would be addressed in some form, but he could not elaborate. City Chief Executive Tom Hatch declined to comment on aspects of the proposal that have to do with police staffing levels. However, a report made by an independent firm hired by the city to study the department, Management Partners Inc., makes recommendations about "providing the same level of customer service with a reduced workforce.

COSTA MESA — Former Councilwoman Katrina Foley said Monday that she expects Planning Commissioner Steve Mensinger to replace her on the City Council. Foley, who stepped down Friday to take a seat on the Newport-Mesa school board, believes the council will appoint Mensinger, a planning commissioner, when it convenes Tuesday night. But if Foley had her druthers, the appointment would go to high school math teacher Chris McEvoy. He was the third-highest vote-getter in the November election for two open seats, which were filled by incumbent Wendy Leece and Planning Commission veteran Jim Righeimer.

Katrina Foley, who has sat on the Costa Mesa City Council and the Newport-Mesa school board for almost three weeks, officially resigned her council seat Thursday. The resignation, which Foley e-mailed to City Manager Allan Roeder and City Atty. Kimberly Hall Barlow, will take effect Friday. "I had some unfinished council business to attend to, including weighing in on the appointment of Tom Hatch as the new city manager," she wrote in an e-mail to the Daily Pilot. "I'm ready to move on in my new role as school board trustee.

COSTA MESA — City commissioners, a former councilwoman and a grandmother of 14 are among the eight people who have turned in applications to replace outgoing Councilwoman Katrina Foley on the City Council. Parks and Recreation Commissioner Mike Brumbaugh was the first to turn in his application for the two-year appointment to be made by the council. He has been on the commission for four years. "I want to be on the front-line team working to make Costa Mesa the best city in California," he wrote in his application.