City of Costa Mesa Seeks Volunteers

City Seeks Volunteers To Sit On Parks And Recreation, Planning And Senior Commissions

The Costa Mesa City Council is currently seeking interested individuals from the community to serve on the following Commissions:

Parks and Recreation Commission – This Commission assists the City Council and various City departments with issues related to parks and parkways.  There are 2 vacancies each for four-year terms.  Applicants must be registered voters in the City.  For further information, please contact Recreation Manager Justin Martin at (714) 754-5065.

Planning Commission – This Commission derives its power from the provisions of the California Government Code, and has the power, by law, to act upon or recommend to the City Council: 1) the regulation of future growth, development, and beautification of the City in respect to its public and private works; 2) consistency with municipal plans to ensure that future growth and development do not impede upon sanitation, public utilities, and transportation facilities; 3) the location of any proposed buildings, structures or works; and, 4) the design and improvement of proposed subdivisions of the land.  There are 2 vacancies each for four-year terms.  Applicants must be registered voters in the City.  For further information, please contact Interim Assistant Development Services Director Peggy Schneble at (714) 754-5182.

Senior Commission – This Commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council in matters related to the operation of the Costa Mesa Senior Center.  There are 2 vacancies each for four-year terms and 1 vacancy for two-year terms. Applicants must be a Costa Mesa resident.  For further information, please contact Recreation Manager Justin Martin at (714) 754-5065.

Application Process – Residents who are interested in getting involved in local government are encouraged to complete a Committee Application Form from the City Clerk’s Office or from the City’s website (www.costamesaca.gov/apply).  The completed application may be submitted online; mailed to Costa Mesa City Clerk at Post Office Box 1200, Costa Mesa, California, 92628-1200; faxed to (714) 754-4942; emailed to cityclerk@costamesaca.gov; or hand-delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.  The deadline is 5 p.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2017.  Appointments are tentatively scheduled for the February 7, 2017 City Council meeting.   For further information regarding commission appointments, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (714) 754-5225 or cityclerk@costamesaca.gov.

50 Years for Costa Mesa Snoopy House

Costa Mesa’s Snoopy House Hits 50 Years Of Making Families Merry For The Holiday Season

This year, the iconic Snoopy House will mark its 50-year anniversary in Costa Mesa and fifth year at City Hall with an expanded holiday display that will feature a new Main Street look and three nights of snow.

Snoopy House, which features holiday scenes populated by “Peanuts” characters, is a free event available for viewing at City Hall from 5:30 to 9 p.m. nightly from Dec. 10 through Dec. 23.

“It has been an honor to have Snoopy House here these past five years,” Costa Mesa Mayor Steve Mensinger said. “It’s a wonderful tradition that now further connects the community to City Hall.”

The opening night of Snoopy House will begin with a formal presentation by the mayor and City Council members at 5:30 p.m.

In addition, Jim Jordan, whose family started the display at their Eastside Costa Mesa home in 1966, will be honored for the 50-year tradition.

The Jordan family members and friends put together a series of Christmas scenes that eventually took up most of their front yard, side yard and even the roof of their home.

Since its inception, the display has attracted an estimated 80,000 visitors annually.

Snoopy House moved to Costa Mesa City Hall in 2011, when city officials learned the fate of the annual tradition was in jeopardy.

The city of Costa Mesa agreed to host the display and provide other assistance and has been doing so every year since with the help of devoted staff members as well as Jim Jordan and his wife Linda, who have worked to help create the City Hall display for the last five years.

Over the last five years, Snoopy House has added several new features including nightly live music, snow, free apple cider, free photos with Santa and free train rides for children.

To complement the Snoopy House, the city also puts on a nightly light show on the façade of City Hall.

The Santa visits take place each night between 7 to 9 p.m. beginning opening night, Dec. 10, through Dec. 23. Children and their families will have opportunities to receive free photos with Santa.

In addition, several youth nonprofit groups will have booths at the Snoopy House display each night selling beverages and snacks.