Group that will combat ‘negative effects’ from rehab homes is named

Mayor Jim Righeimer announced appointments this week for a group that will address the “negative impacts” some rehabilitation homes have on Costa Mesa neighborhoods.

The Preserve Our Neighborhoods Task Force will meet for the first time in a few weeks and establish a regular meeting schedule, city spokesman Bill Lobdell said.

Its members are Planning Commissioner Tim Sesler, an attorney who also serves on the city’s Pension Oversight Committee; Charter Committee member Kerry McCarthy, an account manager for a national food provider company; Larry Weichman, a local real estate agent; Jeremy Broderick, founder of the Costa Mesa-based Windward Way group home; Scott McClane; Joe McGreevy; and Lisa Morlan.

Additional information about McClane, McGreevy and Morlan was not immediately available.

“The city is committed to spending the resources needed to maintain the character of our Costa Mesa neighborhoods and their safety ... we are looking to the task force [to] come up with other solutions that keeps the integrity of our neighborhoods without discriminating against any group,” Righeimer said in a prepared statement.

He chose the members based on public input and his fellow council members.

According to city officials’ data from November, there were about 124 known rehab homes containing about 1,000 beds in Costa Mesa. About half the homes had state-issued licenses.

Recent steps in Costa Mesa to combat negative effects from the homes include a “public nuisance” ordinance, which could issue fines in an attempt to address “chronic” problems, and zoning code changes that may help the city’s enforcement efforts.