Topping this week’s actions in local government, Santa Ana moves toward a new downtown business improvement model, and Costa Mesa buys ambulances to help reshape its fire department.
A hearing is set Monday before Santa Ana City Council members on forming a downtown business improvement district and tax, part of a yearslong controversy over how best to attract customers to the city’s core.
Funding for Downtown Inc. — which promotes, cleans and provides security for the city’s downtown core — used to come from a property business improvement district, which levied a special tax.
But the earlier district died after local Latino business owners complained that it was too costly and mostly benefited the burgeoning night scene.
Under a new agreement, proceeds of the new district would be equally split between two groups — Downtown Inc. and the Santa Ana Business Council, a group composed of merchants who opposed the special property tax and are likely to conduct more Latino-oriented promotions.
On Tuesday in Costa Mesa, council members are set to approve the purchase of six rescue ambulances as part of a reorganization of the city’s Fire Department toward lower-cost responses to medical calls.
Only 2 percent of the Fire Department’s calls are for fires, according to a staff report. About 70 percent are for medical aid and rescue.
Together, the vehicles cost $1.3 million or about $222,000 each. Gurneys will cost another $91,000 or about $15,000 each.
Here’s a rundown of agendas this week across Orange County:
Monday, July 1
Santa Ana City Council — 5:45 p.m.
- Public hearing on forming a downtown business improvement district and tax.
- Agreement with Matchpoint Tennis Academy for operation of the Cabrillo Tennis Center.
- Establishment of a 2013 fiestas ad hoc committee.
Irvine City Council Special Closed Session — 1 p.m.
- Labor negotiations with various city employees groups.
Huntington Beach City Council — 6 p.m.
- Overview presentation of the Senior Center project in Central Park.
- Presentation on plans to redesign the commercial portion of the Pacific City site.
- Establishing new requirements for future downtown businesses that sell alcohol.
- Directing the city attorney to draft an ordinance doubling fines for alcohol-related violations of municipal code during major holidays and on the beach during the U.S. Open of Surfing.
Tuesday, July 2
Anaheim City Council Workshop — 3 p.m.
- Convention Center expansion.
Anaheim City Council Regular Meeting — 5 p.m.
- Appointment of Michael Houston as city attorney and employment agreement.
- Requiring city charter committee appointees to file statements of economic interest.
- Placing on the June 2014 ballot changing the City Council’s electoral system so that council candidates have residency requirements and increasing the number of council members from four to six, with a mayor elected at large.
- Placing on the June 2014 ballot changing the City Council’s electoral system so that council candidates are elected by districts.
Costa Mesa City Council — 6 p.m.
- Purchasing six rescue ambulances as part of a reorganization of the city’s Fire Department toward lower-cost responses to medical calls.
- Approving a revised Emergency Operations Plan.
Lake Forest City Council — 7 p.m.
- Approving a three-year contract with U.S. Bank to provide banking services.
- Approving a three-year contract with SIGMAnet for information technology support services.
- Discussing a possible ballot ordinance for residents to approve term limits for council members.
- Discussing the process to directly elect the mayor.
Adam Elmahrek and Brendan Wiles contributed to this report.
You can reach Nick Gerda at ngerda@gmail.com, and follow him on Twitter: @nicholasgerda.