Top issues on this week’s public meeting agendas include Costa Mesa voting to outsource some city services and opportunities for public comment on next year’s budgets.
More than a year after Costa Mesa city leaders announced plans to strongly consider outsourcing many city services to the private sector, the first proposed contracts will come up for a vote on Tuesday.
City management has recommended that the city outsource its jail services and street sweeping to private companies, while determining that building inspection, animal control and video production should remain in-house.
Even if city leaders approve the contracts, however, Costa Mesa can’t outsource to the private sector until a lawsuit challenging its legality is resolved.
But that’s not all that’s going on this week in Orange County’s cities.
Tustin is set to consider a ban on solicitation — such as gathering petition signatures or asking for money —– in residential areas unless the person soliciting provides fingerprint scans and obtains a permit from the city.
And budget season is now in full swing, with several cities — including Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley and La Palma — set to receive presentations this week on proposed budgets for next fiscal year.
The workshops are an opportunity for the public to hear what new priorities their city leaders may be placing on spending and for council members to tell city staff what changes they’d like to see. As part of public meeting rules, cities are required to open the discussion to comments from the public during a designated time.
Budgets must be adopted by July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
Here’s a sample of items on this week’s agendas:
Costa Mesa City Council, Tuesday, May 15, at 6 p.m.
- Approval of outsourcing jail services to G4S Secure Solutions (USA) andstreet sweeping to Arakelian Enterprises.
- Approving a $135,000 contract with Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C. for financial auditing of the city over three years.
- Approving $95,000 in legal expenses to the Jones Day law firm for work in February on a lawsuit challenging the city’s outsourcing efforts.
- Destruction of unspecified police records.
Closed Session
- Existing litigation: City of Costa Mesa v. D’Alessio Investments LLC, Orange County Directors Association, Herban Elements, Inc., Susan Lester, Medmar Patient Care Collective; Afshin Sharifi v. Julie Folcik, Kimberly Hall Barlow.
Tustin City Council, Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m.
- Adoption of city ordinance banning solicitation — such as gathering petition signatures or asking for money — from cars on major streets and on commercial property. Soliciting in residential neighborhoods would require a permit and submission of fingerprint scans.
- Approval of new contract with Police Chief Scott Jordan, the terms of which won’t be made public until the meeting. In an unusual move, the city only issued a very short staff report that does not explain the background behind the new contract.
Closed Session
- Anticipated litigation: four unspecified cases.
- Existing lawsuits: City of Tustin v. Keybank, N.A.; City of Tustin v. Tustin Unified School District; Mira Properties v. City of Tustin.
- Property negotiations with Vestar/Kimco Tustin, L.P. and Broadcom Corp.
- Performance evaluation of Police Chief Scott Jordan.
- Labor negotiations with Tustin Municipal Employees Association, Tustin Police Officers Association, Tustin Police Support Service Association, Tustin Police Management Association, Part-Time Unrepresented Employees, Unrepresented Confidential Employees, Unrepresented Supervisory, Executive Management and Management.
Laguna Beach City Council Special Meeting, Tuesday, May 15, at 3 p.m.
- Presentation to City Council on a proposed budget for next fiscal year with feedback from council members.
La Palma City Council, Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m.
- Presentation on budget proposal for next fiscal year, with comments from the public and council members.
- Approving unspecified “minor amendments” to salary, benefits and personnel policies.
Closed Session
- Discussion of employment of city manager.
- Existing lawsuit: Michelle V. Kern v. Jason Stone, Roy Stone, City of La Palma, City of Cypress and Does 1 through 25.
Fountain Valley City Council Study Session, Tuesday, May 15, at 5 p.m.
- Presentation on budget proposal for next fiscal year, with comments from the public and council members.
Laguna Niguel City Council, Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m.
- Approving a ban on parking motor homes and other large vehicles on city streets overnight.
Laguna Woods City Council, Wednesday, May 16, at 2 p.m.
- Public hearing on banning foam food containers, and possible approval of a ban.
- Approval of changes to city law on medical marijuana dispensaries.
Closed Session
- Anticipated litigation: two unspecified cases.
- Property negotiation with Golden Rain Foundation over an area “along the east and west sides of Moulton Parkway in the vicinity of Santa Maria Avenue.”
Lake Forest City Council, Tuesday, May 15, at 7 p.m.
- Discussion of anti-bullying campaign in local schools.
Closed Session
- Performance evaluation of City Manager Robert Dunek.
- Property negotiations with Trumark Cos. and Brookfield Homes.
- Anticipated litigation: one unspecified case.