Infighting, controversy dominate headlines

Costa Mesa’s city leaders split decisions, 3-2, on many issues, often the most charged and the most attention-grabbing.For the Costa Mesa City Council, it’s been a turbulent, memorable year that included decisions about Westside improvements, illegal immigration and bickering on the dais.

First, the council had to adjust to three new members, who were elected in November 2004 and so far have not always been able to get along. Council members Eric Bever and Katrina Foley moved up from the planning commission, and Councilwoman Linda Dixon returned to a seat after being unseated in 2002 by Allan Mansoor.

In January, Mansoor became mayor and Gary Monahan began his next-to-last year on the dais. He’ll be termed out in 2006 after 12 years on the council.

Perhaps hoping to go out with a bang, Monahan in March proposed closing the city’s Job Center, which has been a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over how to address illegal immigration. Many believe workers who use the center are, for the most part, undocumented immigrants and shouldn’t get help finding jobs on the city’s dime.

The council decided to close the Job Center, but it wasn’t unanimous. The vote was a 3-2 split, the first of several in 2005, that left Foley and Dixon on the losing side.

The council again split in July with the decision to abolish its human relations committee, on which Mansoor was serving when he was elected in 2002.

“I simply don’t believe this is a function of government,” Mansoor said at the time. “I believe it is best handled through private organizations, working through private means.”

Controversy struck again in December, when Mansoor proposed training city police to enforce immigration laws, a plan he said will target only dangerous criminals. Others fear it’s part of a larger effort to move Latinos out of the Westside.

“This is a step-by-step process of trying to alienate our citizens,” Costa Mesa resident Richard Gillock told the council. “We want you to treat everyone in the city with respect and with dignity -- and to provide for their safety.”

As if those hot-button issues weren’t enough, there was also the fighting. Council members’ arguments made the front page several times -- most notably in June, when Dixon alleged her three male colleagues violated the state’s open-meetings law by passing a note on the dais. She filed a complaint, which the council later addressed by revoting on two items being discussed when the note was passed.

In October, Bever took Foley on, challenging her use of the discretionary funds council members can spend as they choose. After Foley gave money to local organizations, such as Little League, Bever requested an investigation, arguing that the money is intended for council members’ education.

A study session on the issue led to raised voices and name calling. The council in November adopted a policy limiting how discretionary funds can be spent.

But despite those problems, there were some momentous decisions that the full council could agree on. A blueprint to bring more residential development to the Westside was unanimously approved in March, though some worried it was moving ahead too fast. And a pilot program to encourage home improvements by waiving city fees, approved by the council in July, has been successful, with people scrambling to participate by the Dec. 31 deadline.

The city’s financial picture also improved in 2005, with a budget report in February showing Costa Mesa would spend $2.2 million less than expected from the general fund because of a sales tax influx and budget adjustments.

But the council will face more financial challenges and continue to struggle with how to improve the city in 2006. Eric Bever20051231iodyemkn(LA)Allan Mansoor 20051231i65y5ikf(LA)Katrina Foley 20051231h69nhwkf(LA)Linda Dixon 20051231iels0ukf(LA)Gary Monahan 20051231i6mvrmkf(LA)