Economic and Development Services
Department and Major Projects Update
City Council Study Session
February 15, 2023
2 Overview
• Budget and staffing overview
• Department operations and divisions
• High-priority projects
• Challenges and opportunities
• Next steps
3 Mission
Serve the community in every stage of the development process
SEIZING
OPPORTUNITIES
• Attracting new
investments
• Retaining existing
businesses
Promote Costa
Mesa as place to
do business
ADOPTING PLANS
• Ensuring
development plans
reflect community
standards
established in the
General Plan and
Zoning Code
GETTING IT BUILT
• Ensuring new
construction is safe
and meets Building
standards
ENSURING
COMPLIANCE
• Ensuring facilities
keep up to code
• Connecting
residents and
businesses with
City programs that
can help
Housing and
Community
Development
Planning and
Zoning
Economic
Development
Building Safety
Community
Improvement
IMROVING HOUSING
OPPORTUNITIES
• Administering
grant funds and
programs to
improve housing
opportunities and
provide housing
related community
services
4 Teams and Positions
Administration
5 FTs
Building &
Safety
18 FTs
Permits & Plan
Checks Inspections
Community
Improvement
12 FTs
Code
Enforcement
Special
Projects
Economic
Development
1 FT
Planning
11 FTs
Housing &
Community
Development
3 FTs
• 48 full-time positions and 2.75 full-time equivalent (part-time) staff. • In the past three years alone, over 40% of the Department’s positions have turned over. Enhanced compensation has significantly decreased vacancies. • The Department’s overall budget in FY 2022-2023 is $8.5 million in General Fund plus $1.5 million in restricted Federal funds
Development
Review
Long Range
Planning
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DEPARTMENT
OPERATIONS
6 A Banner Year
The City’s Economic and Development Services
Department is processing more permits, plan
checks, inspections than ever.
The day-to-day tasks are on target to exceed our
previous record setting year in FY 2021/22.
There are State mandates and City Council
priorities that will further require staff resources.
7 • Coordinates with State and Regional Entities
• Updates and implements the City’s General Plan
and Zoning Code
• Updates and implements specific plans and urban
plans
Planning Long Range Planning
8 • Maintain and update land use plans based on State law and community needs General Plan Overlays – Urban Plans – Specific Plans Zoning Ordinance Planning Long Range Planning
9 Planning Projects Approved
30 Expedited projects
approved by Zoning
Administrator
42 Projects guided through public hearing process 16
Code
amendments and
presentations to
City Council20
Planning Commission
Public Hearings
Supported
2.5 Average projects
heard per public
hearing
100+
Staff Reports produced
10 Planning Projects Approved
17 26
82 20
54 Cannabis approvals
Outdoor dining approvals Deviations from
parking requirements
New or expanded
business usesResidential units
2,000+ Building permits reviewed first
for zoning compliance
11 Planning Spotlight: Accessory
Dwelling Units
• Since 2020, 144 ADUs approved
• Approved 68 ADU permits in 2022
• Approved 14 ADU permits since the
beginning of 2023
• Ordinances updated per State law
12 Planning Day-to-Day Operations
Within the last three years
• 4,865 customers were served
• Average time serving each customer is 21 minutes
Within the last year:
• 3,342 customers were served
• Average time serving each customer is 7 minutes (3x faster) • Average Wait Time is 16.5 minutes
This does not include the 50,000+ phone calls and emails we receive throughout the year.
13 • Provides permit issuance for projects.
• Implements and enforces State building codes
and standards, and Costa Mesa Municipal
Code standards.
• Recently adopted the new 2022 California Building
Codes.
• Provides plan check services, coordinates
review of construction plans with other
departments.
Building & Safety Plan Check & Permitting
14 • The number of building permits issued from this FY to date:
• BC (building combination) = 583
• BX (building miscellaneous) = 661
• E (electrical) = 289
• M ( mechanical) = 162
• P (plumbing) = 106
• SB ( signage) = 62
• Roofing = 219
Building & Safety Plan Check & Permitting
15 Within the last three years
• 12,483 customers were served
• Average time serving each customer is 29 minutes
• Average Wait Time is 30 minutes
Within the last year:
• 8,988 customers were served
• Average time serving each customer is 28 minutes
• Average Wait Time is 32 minutes
Building & Safety Day-to-Day Operations
16 • Building Safety inspectors protect Costa Mesa residents and businesses by enforcing codes that establish minimum
requirements:
• To safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare; • To provide access to persons with disabilities;
• To promote energy conservation; and
• Ensure a reasonable level of safety to emergency responders during emergency operations.
City of Costa Mesa Inspectors average workload:
Building & Safety Inspection Services
60 Site visits per inspector
per day 12
Inspections per
inspector per day
17 • The division conducts damage assessments
and determines building safety following a
major disaster.
• Investigations include:
• Building construction
• Illegal conversions
• Disabled access
• Other building safety-related complaints
generated by the public
• This year, the Inspection Division has Red
tagged 6 buildings and Yellow tagged 7
buildings.
Building & Safety Inspection Services
18 Community Improvement Day-to-Day Operations
Promotes a safe living
and working
environment
Issues civil citations
Issues entertainment
permits for restaurant
and bars
Assures compliance
with short-term rental
regulations
10-15
permits
per
year
10-15
locations
shut down
in past 3
years
Approx.
$200k
in civil
fines
Responds to concerns
from the public
Ensures quality of life
19 • Strategic enforcement of:
• City’s Municipal Code
• Local, State, and Federal Health & Safety codes
• International Property Maintenance
• Daily work is related to:
• Land Use Violations
• Housing Violations
• Illegal construction without Approvals/Permits
• Illegal building occupancy
• Private property maintenance
• Noise regulations
• Signage
• Vacant property conditions
Community Improvement Day-to-Day Operations
BEFORE
AFTER
20 • On average staff investigates
approximately 1,000-1,200
concerns per year.
• Concerns can be submitted by the
public and or prioritized as part of
the implementation of City council
priorities.
Community Improvement Day-to-Day Operations
21 • Illegal dispensaries
• Coordinates with CMPD to conduct investigations to
shut down illegal dispensaries
• 30 illegal operations were shut down and fines levied in the past three years
• Permitted locations
• Collaborates with CMPD and State’s Bureau of
Cannabis Control to ensure compliance with
regulations
• Leads cannabis employee background checks/ live
scan efforts
• 700 badges issued by the team since implementation
Community Improvement Cannabis Enforcement
22 • Conducts Citywide outreach programs in addition to daily operations:
• Conducting neighborhood clean-ups
• Shalimar/James
• Fillmore/Coolidge
• Mission/Mendoza
• Setting up informational booths at public events
• Volunteering
• Outreach helps educate residents on hot topics:
• City links to report nuisance issues/ MyCostaMesa App • Fair housing
• City HCD grants
• Waste hauling
Community Improvement Quality of Life
23 • The program’s major objectives include:
Streamlining application and approval processes
Marketing Costa Mesa on a regional and nationwide basis Improving the business climate within the City and encouraging Shop Local
Attraction and retention of key businesses in Costa Mesa Facilitating the expansion of existing companies
Increasing job opportunities and job training
Assisting new companies with relocating to Costa Mesa
Economic Development About
24 Expedited review for high
volume shopping centers
Flexibility and Regular Meetings for
large developments
Direct line for top employers &
established industries in Costa Mesa
Pre-application support and insight
for revenue generating businesses
Dedicated staff from application
submittal to end of construction
Support to businesses that have been
attracted to Costa Mesa through ICSC
Economic Development Concierge Services to
Expand & Attract
25 Business Insight Tool:
Provides comparative analytics to any
business looking to operate in Costa Mesa.
The tool is free and has almost 1,000
businesses who use its data monthly.
Site Selection Tool:
Find an office, retail, or industrial space for
your business in Costa Mesa
Economic Development Support Existing
Businesses
26 Temporary Outdoor Use Permits
expedited, including 1 parklet
Worth of grants distributed
to 450 local businesses
80 reStore Costa Mesa meetings
coordinated
40+
2,500 Businesses contacted
$5
million
Bus stop billboards advertising Shop Local campaign3
Economic Development Flashback: COVID
Recovery
27 Recent Modernizations
Queuing App
Customer
Satisfaction
E- Plan Review
Customer Satisfaction
Decreased Review Time
Eco-Friendly
Improved GIS Data
Efficiency
Increase
Real Estate Analytics
Informed
Staff
Market Analytics Mobilytics
Land Management System
Improved
Advanced
Planning
Improved
Advanced
Planning
Increase to:
Customer Satisfaction
Efficiency
Transparency
Access
Sustainability
Decrease to:
Application Review
Times
28 These partnerships have facilitated the distribution of grant funds, assisted important community projects like Vanguard University and Orange County Museum of Art in obtaining necessary financing, and assisted the City in seeking after funding and launching programs of our own.
Economic Development Partners & Programs
29 Department Operations Summary
• Permits and inspections are at an all time high
• Staffing turnover stabilized
• Modernization projects are underway
• Completed Council priorities and special
projects including:
• COVID business recovery programs
• Two significant ballot measures in 24 months
• Housing Element adoption
• Cannabis retail program launch
• Accessory dwellings units
• Temporary ordinances for outdoor dining and short
term rentals
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HIGH PRIORITY
PROJECTS
31 HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS
State Law Mandates
Community Visioning
Inclusionary Housing
Ordinance
Short-Term Rentals
Ordinance
Senior Center Housing
Project
Housing Element
Update
Fairview Developmental
Center
First-Time Home Buyers
Permanent Outdoor
Dining
32 STATE LAW MANDATES
Safety Element Update*
• SB 379 - Integrate Climate Adaptation
and Resiliency Strategies
• SB 1035 - Address Flood and Fire
Hazards
• AB 747 - Evacuation routes
• SB 99 – Emergency routes for
residential developments
Environmental Justice - New Element or
General Plan policies throughout**
Circulation Element (update by January 1,
2025)
• SB 932 - Include Bicycle, Pedestrian and
Traffic Calming Plans
Open Space Element (update by January
1, 2026)
• SB 1425 - Review and update local open
space plan to address climate resilience,
correlated with the safety element
*Required upon revision of Housing Element or beginning on or before January 1, 2022 ** Required upon adoption or revision of two general plan elements • General Plan Updates
33 STATE LAW MANDATES
• Municipal Code Updates
Update Parking Standards (January 2023)
• AB 2097, AB 916, AB 2244
Update Residential Development Standards for
Multifamily Housing in Commercial/Industrial
areas (January 2023)
• AB 2011, SB 6
Update Development Process (January 2023)
• SB 1214, SB 1291, SB 1194
Density Bonus Updates (January 2022 and
beyond)
• AB 2345, AB 2334, AB 1551, AB 682
34 • Community Outreach
City-wide Townhall
District Specific Townhalls
Stakeholder Meetings
• 3 Planning Commission and 3 City
Council public hearings
• Local adoption in February and
November 2022
• 47 Housing Element programs;
three year deadline
• Awaiting HCD certifications
HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE
35 COMMUNITY VISIONING AND
ZONING UPDATES
• Measure K was passed by voters in
November 2022
• Objective: Provide for affordable
housing opportunities and revitalized
key commercial and industrial
corridors
• Community engagement and visioning
forums
• General Plan Update
• Multiple Specific Plan and Urban Plan
Updates
• Zoning Code Update
• Environmental Impact Report
36 COMMUNITY VISIONING AND
ZONING UPDATES
• Newport Boulevard
• Harbor Boulevard
• Areas north of the I-405
• SoBECA area
• 17th, 19th, Placentia, Baker, and
Bristol Street corridors
37 • Secured $3.5 Million in State funds to
plan and zone FDC for housing within
three years
• City- State Agreement – December
2022
• Request for Proposals – February
2023
• Community outreach and visioning forums
• General Plan Update
• FDC Specific Plan
• Environmental Impact Report
• Coordinating with the State regarding a
Cal-OES facility at FDC
FAIRVIEW DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER
38 INCLUSIONARY HOUSING ORDINANCE
• Draft Feasibility Analysis complete
• Community outreach
• Council Housing Ad Hoc Meeting
• Policy Study Sessions
• Prepare Ordinance and Program
Guidelines
• Planning Commission public
hearings
• City Council public hearings
39 SENIOR CENTER HOUSING PROJECT
• 60 affordable senior housing
units on the City’s Senior
Center property
• Senior Center use, access and
parking study complete
• Underway:
• Urban Plan Screening/Master
Plan
• Land Division
• Affordable Housing Agreement
• Lease Agreement
• Planning Commission/City
Council hearings
40 SHORT-TERM RENTALS PROGRAM
• STR demand analysis and
revenue projections are
underway
• Next Steps:
Community outreach
Policy Study Session
Prepare Ordinance and
Program Guidelines
Planning Commission/City
Council public hearings
Pursue third-party
implementation options
41 FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS PROGRAM
• City Council approved 0.5%
of cannabis retail sales tax to
be allocated to first-time
homebuyers
• Next steps:
• Community outreach
• Develop program guidelines
42 PERMANENT OUTDOOR DINING
PROGRAM
• Temporary outdoor dining
provisions remain in place
through December 31, 2023.
• Next Steps:
Community outreach
Prepare Ordinance and
Program Guidelines
Planning Commission/City
Council public hearings
43 Economic Development Strategic Plan
Kick-off
Analysis of
Economic
Context
Vision
Investigate
Potential
Actions
Strategic
Plan
Assess… Envision… Pursue … Thrive
44 Opportunities & Challenges
Challenges
• Large proportion of the Department staff joined the City team within the last few years and are entry or journey level.
• Volume of complex projects with overlapping deadlines, in addition to the extensive day-to-day operations
Needed Resources
• Two positions in the Planning Division
Planning Manager – Oversee day-to-day operations
Senior Planner
• Additional funds for contract project managers and multiple experienced consultant teams working concurrently
45 Conclusion
• The Economic and Development Services is processing
more day-to-day permits, plan checks, inspections, etc. than ever before.
• Multiple high-priority projects and overlapping
deadlines, in addition to the day-to-day operations will require additional resources:
• The Department needs two full-time positions in the Planning Division, and additional funding for contract project managers. • Staff is seeking feedback regarding Council priorities to allow Department leadership to schedule projects and
plan for appropriate staff and consultant resources.
46 Questions?