Prestigious Award for the City of Costa Mesa

City receives prestigious national budget award

The City of Costa Mesa recently received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Assn. (GFOA) for its 2012-13 fiscal year budget document.

The award—the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting—recognized that Costa Mesa’s budget document excelled as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications device.

 “This distinguished honor represents the hard work and dedication of our City staff in striving for transparency by creating a budget document that seeks to enhance understanding,” stated City CEO Tom Hatch. “The budget is the most important policy decision that the City Council makes each year and this award represents our effort to encourage public participation.”

The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving over 17,800 government finance professionals throughout the United States and Canada.

Costa Mesa Launches Smartphone App

The City of Costa Mesa launched a smartphone application on 2/11/14 called Costa Mesa Connect, a civic engagement tool that allows residents to conveniently access city services.

With Costa Mesa Connect, residents can submit, track and view nearby requests for services such as graffiti removal and pothole repairs through the smartphone app, the City’s website (www.costamesaca.gov/connect) or text messages. The free application is available in the Apple app store and Google Play. Type “Costa Mesa Connect” in the search engine of the app store.

When residents submit service requests via smartphones, the app automatically alerts City staff to the precise location of the problem. Residents also have the option of using their smartphone camera to upload a photo to better assist staff.

“This technological innovation harnesses the power of smartphones to allow residents to better engage with their city government,” said City CEO Tom Hatch. “We are excited for residents to see how easy it is to use and get results.”

To help the City reach out to all residents, the application features One Voice Translation to support over 17 languages. When a resident submits a request in another language, the request is automatically translated into English for city staff. Any subsequent updates on the request are automatically translated back into the resident’s preferred language.

App also provides access to Costa Mesa news, calendar listings, public meeting agendas and more.

The City launched the app in partnership with PublicStuff, which has developed similar apps for more than 200 cities.

Costa Mesa Workers' Comp Medical Costs Down 44%

City drives down workers' compensation medical costs by 44% through reforms

Workers' compensation medical costs for Costa Mesa
Year	Cost	Savings
FY 09/10	$1,753,178
FY 10/11	$1,613,542	8.0%
FY 11/12	$1,243,425	22.9%
FY 12/13	$980,661	21.1%

 

A comprehensive program enacted over the past three years to reduce workers’ compensation medical costs in the City of Costa Mesa has resulted in annual savings of approximately $772,000.

The 44% reduction since 2009-10 fiscal year are the result of 14 recommendations that came from workers’ compensation review that was completed in 2011 at the direction of the City Council. The recommendations focused on improvements in processing claims, technology and data tracking, and training and education.

Since then, the Human Resources Division has implemented each recommendation.

“This is local government at its best,” said City CEO Tom Hatch. “We are now operating a more efficient workers’ compensation program for our employees and saving money for taxpayers. The City Council's vision to complete the review and the Human Resources Division's efforts to implement the recommendations has led to this significant, hard-earned achievement.”

As part of the reforms, the City now:

• Retained a new third-party administrator for the workers’ compensation program.
• Handles minor medical injuries as first-aid incidents, when appropriate, to prevent them from becoming workers compensation claims. 
• Brings back, when possible, injured employees on modified or light-duty assignments to keep them engaged and productive.
• Uses nurse triage services, which allow employees and supervisors to call an injury hotline staffed with registered nurses when an injury occurs. The registered nurse who handles the call provides immediate direction to the injured employee as to the best course of medical action. The nurse also reports the injury to Human Resources immediately after phone call.
• Uses a nurse as a liaison between the injured worker and the City who also accompanies injured workers to doctor appointments. This improves efficiency of care and has proven a valuable in returning employees to work more quickly.

Christmas Greetings From Chuck Norris

Godzilla - Trailer - Official Warner Bros.

Looks like this Godzilla move might actually be decent!

City of Costa Mesa: 47th annual Snoopy House to open Dec. 13 with free train rides

A model train ride for children has been added to the 47th annual Snoopy House holiday display at Costa Mesa City Hall. The Southern California tradition will take place from Dec. 13 to Dec. 25.

The iconic display was originally hosted by the Jordan family in Eastside Costa Mesa for 44 years before City Hall became its new location in 2011.

At the Snoopy House this year, Santa will visit on opening night (Dec. 13) and make nightly stops Dec. 18 through Dec. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m.

In addition to train rides offered by the Orange County Model Engineers, visitors to the Snoopy House can hear two performances each evening by local Costa Mesa schools or groups. Past acts have included choirs, bands and dance groups. The 50-minute slots will be given out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

New this year, the city is also offering fundraising opportunities to nonprofit youth groups to sell beverages and snacks. Evenings will be designated on a first-come, first-serve basis, and groups will be limited to one night.

Those interested in performing at the Snoopy House or having their youth-oriented nonprofit sell beverages and snacks there can contact Jennifer Christ, jennifer.christ@costamesaca.gov or (714) 403-7731.

Enhancing Student Safety in Costa Mesa

In the wake of the Connecticut school shooting, the Costa Mesa Police Department is taking several proactive measures to enhance student safety on school campuses, including the hiring of recently retired Police Officer Jess Gilman to work on the City’s two high school campuses.

Gilman’s return to Costa Mesa and Estancia high schools as a reserve officer is one of several steps the City is taking in conjunction with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District to increase student safety. Other measures will include a review of school security practices and security personnel options, drills to simulate emergency situations, daily patrols of school campuses, and the imminent filling of vacant police officer positions, which will allow for added school resource officers as early as the spring.

“While school security remains the responsibility of the District,” said Police Chief Tom Gazsi, “the City will continue to support these endeavors in a collaborative, aggressive and proactive way.”

“We have enjoyed a collaborative relationship with the City,” said Newport Mesa Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Fred Navarro,” the District is excited that Officer Jess Gilman is returning as a Reserve Police Officer and School Resource Officer. We look forward to continue working with the City to design and develop a model that will continue to make our schools the safest possible.”

Officials with the Costa Mesa Police Department and School District are currently meeting to review District security plans. The Police Department regularly trains for a variety of aggressive behaviors in a number of settings, including schools, colleges, shopping centers, theaters and other sites.

The City of Costa Mesa expects to hire four police officers by mid-January and will add additional fulltime and reserve officers shortly thereafter. The positions are budgeted.