Costa Mesa Continues Measure M Opposition

City of Costa Mesa continues to oppose use of Measure M funds for 405 Freeway toll lanes

For the past several years, the City of Costa Mesa has strongly opposed any attempt to fund toll lanes on the 405 Freeway with the use of Measure M revenues.

However, Caltrans officials recently proposed to add toll lanes to a 14-mile stretch of the San Diego Freeway in Orange County (from the Los Angeles County line to the 73 Freeway), ignoring opposition from Costa Mesa, seven neighboring cities along the 405 Corridor and the Orange County Transportation Authority.

The Caltrans plan would use approximately $1.3 billion in Measure M revenues to build the toll lanes. In 1990 and again in 2006, Orange County residents approved a half-percent county sales tax to fund local transportation improvements such as widening freeways, expanding bridges, building interchanges and improving intersections.

On Aug. 5, staff will ask the Costa Mesa City Council to pass a resolution confirming the city’s opposition to the use of Measure M funds in building toll lanes on the 405 Freeway without voter approval.

Costa Mesa Wins for Financial Reporting

City of Costa Mesa wins top award for financial reporting

The City of Costa Mesa has recently been awarded the highest award for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR).

The Government Finance Officers Assn. of the United States and Canada awarded Costa Mesa the prestigious Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

In addition, Asst. Finance Director Colleen O'Donoghue received an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement for being primarily responsible for preparing the award-winning financial report.

According to a statement by the association, Costa Mesa's annual financial report "has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, including demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the CAFR."

"Congratulations to our finance department for this high honor," City CEO Tom Hatch said. "This award is another demonstration of the city's commitment to transparency and citizen engagement."

City of Costa Mesa Earns Award for Saving Tax-Payer Dollars

Costa Mesa captures top award for its "Costa Mesa Minute" show

 

The City of Costa Mesa earned a “Golden Hub of Innovation” award for the “Costa Mesa Minute” daily news and information video last week from the Assn. of California Cities – Orange County.
The Golden Hub of Innovation awards honor local agencies that successfully implement the programs and policies that save tax-payer dollars and improve services for residents. Local and regional governments submitted nearly 60 applications in nine different categories.

Costa Mesa captured first place in the Technology and E-Government category.

“Local governments are the laboratories of innovation,” said Lacy Kelly, CEO of the Assn. of California Cities – Orange County. “We are proud to honor these leaders, whose innovations are saving taxpayer dollars and creating efficiencies in government.”

The Costa Mesa Minute is a daily video designed to give Costa Mesa residents city-related news and information in a high-quality, entertaining and easily digestible format.

The content focuses heavily in government news, including previews of upcoming public meetings, traffic delays, details of city-sponsored events and has a special focus on schools, youth sports, arts and nonprofits.

The program airs weekdays and is available on the City’s website and all city social media platforms resulting in increased transparency, information sharing, and public engagement. The show is produced by Dane Bora, Brad Long and Bill Lobdell.

“We are proud that this Costa Mesa innovation has been recognized as a the best new technology and e-government initiative for the past year in all of Orange County,” City CEO Tom Hatch said.