Costa Mesa Ca Finances

Cities may withhold federal grant money from programs that serve illegal aliens without violating anti-discrimination laws, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said Thursday in a letter to officials of this Orange County city. In a long-awaited ruling that could have broad impact on illegal immigrants and attempts to regulate them, HUD lawyers agreed that Costa Mesa can deny funds to charities and other groups unless they pledge to not knowingly serve illegals.

In a move aimed at keeping a major congestion-relief project on schedule, the Costa Mesa City Council voted 4 to 1 Monday to make up a shortfall of nearly $8 million promised for construction on the overtaxed interchange of the San Diego and Costa Mesa freeways. The approval to spend $7.7 million in developer fees came as Orange County Transportation Authority planners put pressure on the city to pledge its share of the money to untangle freeway ramps in the South Coast Metro area.

The City Council, or what was left of it at 2 a.m. Tuesday, voted down a proposal to pay $20,000 for a performance by the Pacific Symphony at a black-tie, VIP reception for the John Wayne Airport dedication. Citing budget constraints and the event's exclusivity, Councilwoman Sandra L. Genis presented what she called "the Marie Antoinette Memorial Let 'em Eat Cake Award" and handed out spongecake snacks to council members.

Costa Mesa city officials were to vote Monday night on funding that would allow work to begin on an ambitious $107-million project to unclog the interchange between the San Diego and Costa Mesa freeways. The city lacks about $7 million of the $20.2 million it had promised for untangling the snarled freeway ramps near South Coast Plaza.

The City Council last week unanimously approved providing $12,250 in matching funds for a $222,772 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. A police sergeant will be hired using $103,000 of the grant money, and software for mobile computers will be purchased with the remaining funding.

Planning to offer tax incentives for those who make donations to city projects, council members this week gave final approval to a proposal to start a community foundation. The City Council agreed to file a request with the secretary of state's office to start a nonprofit, tax-free business in the city's name. If approval is given, council members will appoint a board of directors that can make recommendations on what to do with funding, said Ann C.

Costa Mesa city officials were to vote Monday night on funding that would allow work to begin on an ambitious $107-million project to unclog the interchange between the San Diego and Costa Mesa freeways. The city lacks about $7 million of the $20.2 million it had promised for untangling the snarled freeway ramps near South Coast Plaza.

In a move aimed at keeping a major congestion-relief project on schedule, the Costa Mesa City Council voted 4 to 1 Monday to make up a shortfall of nearly $8 million promised for construction on the overtaxed interchange of the San Diego and Costa Mesa freeways. The approval to spend $7.7 million in developer fees came as Orange County Transportation Authority planners put pressure on the city to pledge its share of the money to untangle freeway ramps in the South Coast Metro area.

The city's downtown and Mesa Verde library branches have announced an increase in their hours of operation, made possible by additional county funding after negotiations with the city. The branches are open Sundays--for the first time since 1978--from 1 to 5 p.m. The branches also are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 1 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

An ambitious $107-million plan to unclog the interchange of the San Diego and Costa Mesa freeways--one of the busiest in the state--may be scaled back because of problems the city of Costa Mesa has had in funding its portion, transportation officials said Friday. City officials are about $7 million short of the $20.2 million they have promised for untangling the freeway ramps where traffic weaves dangerously near South Coast Plaza.

The Police Department will have better access to drug-fighting resources--and add to city revenues--if it joins a coalition of anti-drug agencies, police officials say. But City Manager Allan Roeder counters that the Police Department report, which says the city would generate more revenue from assets seized in drug busts if it joins the Southern California Drug Task Force, lacks important information. The council will discuss the issue at its March 30 meeting.