Here are some of the issues the...

Here are some of the issues the council considered Tuesday.

MAYOR’S TERM

The city’s mayors will again serve for two years at the helm of

the council, if the council approves a second reading of a measure

doubling the length of the mayor’s term. About four years ago the

council shortened the mayor’s term to one year, but Councilman Gary

Monahan, the immediate past mayor, said a year isn’t long enough to

get up to speed and be effective. The council on Tuesday unanimously

passed a first reading of the ordinance lengthening the mayor’s term.

WHAT IT MEANS

After being chosen as mayor Jan. 3, Allan Mansoor would serve

through 2006. The term of the vice mayor, in this case Monahan, also

would be lengthened to two years.

TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

The city will apply for more than $20 million from the Orange

County Transportation Authority for 38 traffic improvement projects

around Costa Mesa. The council is hoping to net a share of Measure M

funds, which come from the county’s half-cent sales tax.

WHAT IT MEANS

While officials don’t expect to get all they’re asking for, they

are likely to get several million dollars for road improvements. Most

of the proposed projects are repaving, but signal coordination

projects and intersection cameras are also on the list. This is

expected to be the last significant round of Measure M funding before

the sales tax expires in 2011.

CITY FEES

Fees for using city facilities and services go up a little every

year, and this year is no exception. The council voted unanimously to

adopt a new fee schedule for 2005, though they asked for a future

study session on the city’s facilities cost recovery policy.

WHAT IT MEANS

A permit to film in the city jumped from $125 to $300, and a false

fire alarm went up from $245 to $310, but a number of fees remained

the same, such as the $20 charge for a dog license.

The council will be reviewing how the city determines what costs

it can recover from renting out city facilities such as athletic

fields.

-- Compiled by Alicia Robinson