Costa Mesa council appoints commissioners

The Costa Mesa City Council made appointments to municipal commissions Tuesday night that prompted one councilwoman to question why no women were appointed to two high-profile panels.

For the Planning Commission, the council reappointed incumbent commissioners Robert Dickson and Jeff Mathews. Stephan Andranian, an attorney and former county parks commissioner, was also chosen.

The planning seats are four-year terms. The panel’s chairman, Jim Fitzpatrick, did not reapply.

For Parks and Recreation, Chairman Byron de Arakal and Commissioner Bob Graham were reappointed. The third open seat went to Brett Eckles, a construction contractor and youth sports advocate. The terms are for four years.

Eckles also sits on the Fairview Park Citizens Advisory Committee and served on the Costa Mesa Charter Committee. Incumbent parks Commissioner Dean Abernathy did not reapply for his seat.

Councilwoman Katrina Foley said she was disappointed that no women were appointed to either panel. She also noted that many appointees were donors to Councilman Jim Righeimer’s and Mayor Steve Mensinger’s campaigns.

“I’m not aware of that,” Mensinger said. “But I’ll stipulate that it’s correct.”

For the newly established Senior Commission, four-year terms went to Stella Adkins, Janet Krochman and Kirk Bauermeister. Ernie Feeney and John McGlinn received two-year terms.

Adkins and Feeney served on the Costa Mesa Senior Center’s board of directors before the city took over earlier this year. Bauermeister is principal of Estancia High School. McGlinn is a retired business executive and consultant, and Krochman is a certified public accountant.