Council considers experience for city commissions

On the surface, it would seem Costa Mesa City Hall’s front doors

continue to revolve at a record pace, leaving the city with a dearth

of experience at its top. After all, two City Council incumbents lost

their seats last year and three “new” council members were elected.

Of course, one of those three was a former mayor, Linda Dixon, and

the other two, Eric Bever and Katrina Foley, both had been serving on

the Planning Commission.

And then this week, there were more revolutions as the council

picked new members of the Planning and Parks and Recreation

commissions. Of 10 commissioners, half are new -- but it turns out,

only kind of.

On the Planning Commission, in addition to reappointing Bruce

Garlich and Bill Perkins, the council chose Eleanor Egan, James

Fisler and Donn Hall. Egan’s a former commissioner (and married to a

school board member), Hall’s a former mayor, and Fisler had served on

the parks commission.

At the parks level, Byron de Arakal, Mark Harris and Wendy Leece

were all reappointed. Also added to the commission mix were David

Stiller, himself a former parks commissioner, and Robert Graham, best

known as a supporter of a bridge spanning the Santa Ana River at 19th

Street but also a longtime student of how City Hall runs.

With these appointments, the City Council managed to avoid what

could have been a disastrous scenario -- a majority of inexperienced

commission members making tough decisions. The council members showed

their wisdom in choosing knowledgeable community members, who are not

all cut from the same cloth, to help lead the city to better times.

Now, we hope, the equally experienced commissioners will follow

with wise decisions of their own. There certainly are plenty of

issues that will demand their attention: Westside redevelopment;

piecemeal renovation and redevelopment throughout the city; the

future of Triangle Square; the lack of parks and playing fields;

proposals to extend area freeways; the annexation of West Santa Ana

Heights; and John Wayne Airport.

Considering that list, even the most veteran among them might want

to start studying up on what’s to come.