250 East 1st Street, Suite 1201; Los Angeles, California 90012 213.336.5900 betterneighborsla.org
January 28, 2025
Via E-mail: [email protected]
Costa Mesa City Council
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
RE: Comment Letter – Item 1: Temporary Suspension of Short-Term Rental Prohibition – Oppose (25-167)
Dear Mayor Stephens and Councilmembers,
Better Neighbors LA (“BNLA”) and UNITE HERE Local 11 write in opposition to the proposed temporary suspension of short-term rental prohibition (the “Suspension”) due to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County. BNLA is a coalition of tenants, housing activists, and community members working to curb illegal short-term rental activity with the intent to protect long-term housing.1 We conduct data analysis and research on the short-term rental industry and its impact on affordable housing.
Displaced Los Angeles County residents are now in dire need of long-term housing, not short-term stays of fewer than 30 days (“STRs”). Costa Mesa originally prohibited unhosted STR bans to ensure housing remains available for residents and families and not dedicated to STR operators. Costa Mesa should uphold its ban on unhosted STRs to make sure housing is available for community members impacted by the wildfires. Now, more than ever, local governments should take every step possible to protect housing units for displaced residents and families, not for STR businesses to turn a profit. STR rentals of fewer than 30 days offer a temporary stop gap, at best, but at the risk of supporting the conversion of long-term housing units into dedicated STRs. A whole home rental represents housing that can be offered to a displaced long-term resident.
BNLA and UNITE HERE Local 11 urge the Council to oppose the suspension of the STR ban, which will ensure long-term housing, not STRs, is available to meet displaced residents’ housing needs. Should you have any questions, please contact Maura O’Neill at [email protected]
.
Sincerely,
Better Neighbors LA & UNITE HERE Local 11
1 https://www.betterneighborsla.org/
From: Priscilla Rocco
To: CITY CLERK
Subject: Desecration of Nature"s Cathedral
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 12:06:55 PM
City Council,
Welcome new council members, and a belated thank you to the council for the bee ordinance and the traffic calming measures throughout the city.
Fairview Park is a unique jewel, which adds Nature's art to the performing and fine arts venues within Costa Mesa. As the Fairview Indian Site on the National Register of Historic Places, when children tread the paths, they are actually stepping back thousands of years into the footsteps of the Acjachemen and Tongva tribes. The cultural and spiritual home of these tribes is more than the ancestral artifacts buried beneath. It is the biodiverse native habitats and the rare vernal pool complex that sustained them and hundreds of species of birds, butterflies, amphibians, lizards, snakes, and fairy shrimp. These biodiverse ecosystems are not just the edifice in which they worship, they are the entities of their worship - a cathedral of Nature and Spirit.
Yet, while the council is spending $100,000 of our tax dollars to restore and monitor three of the vernal pools in the park, they are also allowing less than a dozen hobbyists to destroy the watershed that feeds these vernal pools.
This vernal pool complex is so rare that scientists from the federal and state Departments of Fish and Wildlife have repeatedly told Costa Mesa to stop this destruction. As have biologists you’ve hired; the Fairview Park Steering Committee you appointed; the Fairivew Park Administrator; over 800 members of the Fairview Park Alliance; 70.9% of residents that voted Measure AA into law to protect Fairview Park; and California Administrative Code, Title 14, Section 4308c, which states, "No person shall remove, injure, deface or destroy any object of paleontological, archaeological, or historical interest or value."
On November 8th, 2024 at a master plan update meeting - which no council members attended - Travis Brooks, a restoration ecologist, showed 100 years of aerial photos documenting the damage done to the vernal pool watershed by the Harbor Soaring Society. Whereupon, a leader of HSS - who doesn't live in Costa Mesa - rose to his feet. Despite the fact that this small group's operations and much of their flying occurs in Newport Beach, he threatened to oust from office any member of our city council who votes to oust them from the park. The council then voted to allow them to continue flying. When that extension ended, they circumvented the council by having a secret meeting with the city manager - with no public notice - who also extended their access. And now you have extended their access to the watershed until May, through the vital nesting and migration season.
I worked to elect many of you, and this desecration is deplorable.
Priscilla Rocco
From: Mike Jimenez
To: CITY CLERK
Subject: Written Public Comment for 01/28/2025 City Council Special Meeting Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 8:00:50 AM
City Clerk,
Please include the following as a written comment for tonight's special meeting on the topic of the fairview park master plan revision.
Thank You,
Mike Jimenez
Good evening, members of the Costa Mesa City Council, My name is Mike Jimenez, I am 23 years old and a lifetime Costa Mesa resident. I am also a proud hobbyist and member of the Harbor Soaring Society, or HSS, which has been an integral part of my personal and professional journey. I stand before you today to advocate for keeping the airfield in Fairview Park open and included in the Fairview Park Master Plan Revision, as it is not just a space for flying RC gliders—it’s a space for education, mentorship, and community building.
I was introduced to HSS by Mary Cappellini of SOY, the Save Our Youth (SOY) organization. SOY played a significant role in my life when I was in high school, providing me with guidance and opportunities that have shaped the person I am today. My connection with HSS led to a transformative internship at a local technology company, where I gained hands-on engineering experience. That experience, combined with my education as a mechanical engineer from Cal State Long Beach, has set me on a successful career path.
HSS and the airfield at Fairview Park offer others the same opportunities I’ve had. Beyond the joy of flying gliders, HSS fosters a space for learning and growth. Here, individuals can explore the fascinating world of remote-controlled soaring gliders, learning to build, fly, and repair them. These activities naturally introduce principles of physics, aerodynamics, and thermodynamics in an engaging, hands-on way.
But it’s not just about science or flying; it’s about connection. At the airfield, people of all ages and backgrounds come together to share a passion, exchange knowledge, and build relationships. For me, those connections have been life-changing. Closing this airfield would strip the community of a valuable resource that inspires creativity, curiosity, and camaraderie.
I strongly believe that keeping the airfield open ensures that others, especially youth, can have access to the same unique opportunities I’ve been so fortunate to experience.
Thank you for your time and for considering the profound impact that this airfield has on lives like mine and countless others in our community. I urge you to support keeping it open and located in the same location for future generations.
From: Mathew Garcia
To: CITY CLERK
Subject: Written Public Comment for 1/28/2025 City Council Special Meeting Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 8:47:27 AM
Attachments: City Council Update from HSS 2025-01-21.pdf Hi City Clerk,
Please include the attached PDF as a public comment for Item 2 of the Special Meeting tonight.
City Council Members,
My name is Mat Garcia and I have been a Costa Mesa resident since 2012. I am also the 2025 Harbor Soaring Society, or HSS, President.
HSS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and an Academy of Model Aircraft chartered club. HSS is the oldest soaring club in AMA. The organization was formed in 1964 and has flown in Fairview Park since that year. Last year, our 2024 president, David Tecker, celebrated HSS’ 60th anniversary. This year we celebrate 61 years of flying at Fairview Park.
The attachment includes a map of the current runway and flying field. The runway is approximately 345ft by 80ft as measured by the City. Also included is the City’s map from March of 2016. This was the official City map when Measure AA passed in 2016, and it shows a significant amount of infrastructure in existence at the flying field. While relocating the flying field to the east side of Fairview Park may seem like a reasonable trade, there are major elements of the current flying field location that will be lost at alternate flying sites. For example, the current field is:
1. Largest open space with the most amount of buffer zone between homes and major streets
2. Wheelchair accessible from multiple parking lots with ADA compliant parking
3. Electrical infrastructure/power at the flying area (runway) which is used to recharge batteries and power our flight simulator
4. Electrical infrastructure/power at the HSS storage container
5. Has a USFWS approved storage container
6. The location has unique thermal and slope-lift characteristics that do not exist in any other location in Costa Mesa
7. The pit area is fenced
8. Has public restrooms
9. Located on highly trafficked pathway which maximizes activity exposure to the community and leads to higher participation levels
10. Has existed in this location for 61 years and is an existing use for the area This same location was used for gas model aircraft in the 60’s, 70’s, and early 80’s as well as gliders. In the 80’s, electric powered planes and motor-gliders became prevalent. Flying occurred in this location as well as on the slope. This activity is an existing use of this area, and
it has been for decades. The activity and infrastructure is clearly defined in the current Fairview Park Master Plan Revision from 2008 and in Measure AA.
HSS operates under three principles, always operate safely, minimize impact to the environment, and maximize community benefit. Since July 2023, HSS has demonstrated 18 months of well managed operations. We want to thank the City Council for the trust you placed in us when you re-opened the flying field following the COVID shutdown.
HSS membership is required to fly at Fairview Park and this is important because it allows HSS to enforce flying field rules. This has only been the case since the field re-opened in 2023.
HSS works with City staff and follows USFWS recommendations to minimize our impact on the sensitive wildlife that we share space with at Fairview Park. We take this very seriously and as a result, we have not had any incidences over the past 18 months that we are aware of.
Historically, HSS has interacted with USFWS through City staff and directly in meetings organized by the City. USFWS concerns have focused on three major threads:
1. Minimize intrusions into the vernal pools when they are wet
2. Study the noise of powered electric planes as they may be an impact to birds, and consider setting a noise threshold
3. Manage the flying field with rules that can be enforced and use badges like are used for fishing
In the last 18 months, HSS has demonstrated excellent compliance with all three of the above concerns. While the vernal pools were wet, no flying took place at Fairview Park. Therefore, no intrusions into the vernal pools while they were wet occurred. Once the pools dried, flying of silent gliders resumed. No landings or crashes occurred in the vernal pools while they were dry in the past 18 months as well. Additionally, field maintenance was conducted only a handful of times and was done in close coordination with City staff in order to minimize impact to the sensitive wildlife. As requested by City staff, field maintenance was adjusted or not done at times in order to ensure proper care of the environment was exercised.
Finally, HSS works to maximize the benefit to the community. We support Lisa Snowden and teachers at Newport-Mesa US. Some of the places or events we have been at in the last 18 months: Scarecrow festival, Rea Elementary’s AVID academy, Victoria Elementary’s Spring Fling, East Bluff Elementary’s STEM Expo, Lion’s Club Fish Fry, SOY events, Think Together events, Vital Link events. This is not even the whole list.
HSS has demonstrated we can work together with the City and USFWS to achieve a balanced result in the current flying field location.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Thank you,
Mat Garcia
Harbor Soaring Society Updateto the Costa Mesa City Council January 21, 2025Presented by: Mat Garcia, 2025 HSS President Introduction•Harbor Soaring Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to the public good•AMA's Oldest Radio-Controlled Soaring Club established as an organization in 1964•Have flown all types of model aircraft at the current location in Fairview Park since 1963•The flying field was closed due to COVID in 2020•The flying field was re-opened in July of 2023 Current City of CM Map - July 2023
This map was created in July of 2023 by the City of Costa Mesa Parks Department and is posted on the City website as guidance for current flying field operations. It was created for the re-opening of the flying field after the COVID shutdown. It was created after the field was measured on July 11, 2023.
Flying Field Map – March 2016This map was created in March of 2016 and showed the size and flight operations of the flying field when Measure AA was passed in November of 2016. This map was previously posted on the City of CM website. [in 2016]
Operating Principles1. Always operate safely2. Minimize impact to the environment3. Maximize community benefit HSS has demonstrated 18-months of well managedoperations.
Safety•HSS membership is required to fly at Fairview Park. This allows HSS to enforce flying field rules. •Zero injuries have occurred in 18-months of operations.•Safety training is provided to all pilots flying soloand additional safety training is provided to all flight instructors.
Minimize Impact to the Environment•Zero intrusions in to the vernal pools in the past 18-months.•Zero interactions between airplanes and birds in the past 18-months.•Pilots receive training to always yield to large raptors. •HSS members have participated in restoration events to ensure an understanding of the sensitive wildlife in Fairview Park.•Flight operations are adjusted as needed due to activenests in the area of the runway.
Maximize Benefit to the Community•Provide access to a STEAM-focused activity at the Fairview Park Flying Field and off the field•Support Newport-Mesa Unified School District•Support Vital Link, OC-based 501(c)(3) non-profit•Support CM City events like Scarecrow Festival•Facilitate internships between Costa Mesa students and local engineering/manufacturing businesses•18 years of exhibiting at Imaginology April - HSS Continues to Support Imaginology – 18thYear “I have had the pleasure of partnering with the Harbor Soaring Society for over 10 years. They have been one of our best and a long-time supporter of the OC Fair’s annual educational youth S.T.E.A.M. event, IMAGINOLOGY (formerly Youth Expo).”“I greatly value Harbor Soaring Society’s participation and commitment to the youth who attend our event. This group goes above and beyond to make Imaginology a meaningful and fun event.”Christine GunstEvent [email protected] HSS Participates in Fairview Park Restoration Events
Harbor Soaring Society Supports Engineering at Estancia High School
HSS is Excited to be Part of the Costa Mesa Community Since 1964•Thank you to all our members and supporters for a great 2024!•Please visit www.harborsoaringsociety.orgfor information about the organization•AMA's Oldest Radio-Controlled Soaring Club•Harbor Soaring Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
From: Jeff Little
To: CITY CLERK
Subject: Special City Council Meeting Comment
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 8:20:52 AM
City Clerk,
Please include this comment in the public record for the Special City Council Meeting tonight.
As a Costa Mesa resident that lives on Canyon Dr just south of Fairview Park, I do not want to see the park turned into a pure nature park. I would like to see the activities we voted on in Measure AA continue. That includes the flying field as defined in the 2008 Fairview Park Master Plan. Please stop City partnerships with the Fairview Park Alliance until they stop bullying HSS and the community members that desire to use the park.
I believe we can have a balanced solution that welcomes all of the community in our Costa Mesa parks.
Thank you,
Jeff Little
Costa Mesa Parks are For People
From: Lizzy
To: CITY CLERK
Subject: Please save the Fairview Park Flying Field!
Date: Monday, January 27, 2025 6:21:03 PM
To whom it may concern:
I'm a mother of two young children, Avery (age 4) and Jack (age 2) living in Costa Mesa. I have such fond childhood memories of my father teaching me about planes at flying fields near our home, and learning alongside my brother how to fly them. I so look forward to sharing the same experiences with my own children in a few years, when they are old enough. Please save the flying field! There are so few places like it and the community of fliers is respectful and kind. I am a HUGE supporter of wildlife conservation and absolutely love that this is being prioritized. I am also very against noisy model planes. If there is a genuine threat to the well-being of wildlife or noise concerns, I wholeheartedly agree that changes must be made. But my understanding is that incidences involving wildlife are rare, with zero incidences in the last 18 months, and that the model aircraft currently permitted are silent radio aircraft.
I know this must be a challenging decision for the city: Wildlife conservation vs a STEM oriented activity that fosters curiosity and inspires young minds to learn about aviation. Please know that there are many parents like me who care about continuing to allow the Flying Field to operate according to wildlife-friendly regulations. Thank you so much for your time and feel free to contact me with any additional questions! Sincerely,
Elizabeth Lafferty
Letter in Support of the Harbor Soaring Society (HSS)
Submitted for review for the January 28, 2025 Costa Mesa City Council Meeting and Fairview Park Master Plan Revision.
Dear Costa Mesa City Council Members, Jan 28, 2025 As a resident of Costa Mesa, and a new member of the Harbor Soaring Society, I fully support the continuation of the organization Flying at Fairview Park.
I would also fully support the Flying Field being opened on a daily basis. Closing, limiting or moving the field would severely and negatively impact the hobby as this currently established Flying Field is a unique area that is ideal for this use.
I recently had a renewed interest in flying RC planes and gliders. After an online search for flying locations and organizations I found HSS. To my surprise, the flying field is very close to my home and I am now a new member. Upon arriving on my first visit I was immediately greeted and offered a flight with and instructor. I was blown away by the openness and friendliness of the group and the pilots, as well as the concern and respect for the local environment.
That day was the first time flying a glider after my father and I built a glider decades ago, when I was 12 years old. Unfortunately we never learned to fly that plane. So imagine the excitement when I found out the airplane I flew at HSS that first day was the exact same brand and model as the one build as a child! Wow! Besides my personal flying experience, I have noticed the same openness and offers for a training flight to anyone who shows interest. This organization is an enormous benefit to the Community!
In closing, I will reiterate that I am in full support of the continuation of the Harbor Soaring Society to operate at Fairview Park. Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Robert Haney
From: Breanna Najera
To: CITY CLERK
Subject: Public Comment for Special City Council Meeting 1/28 Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 7:44:39 AM
Good morning,
This email is for the special city council meeting today at 5:00 PM.
To Costa Mesa City Council:
My name is Breanna Najera and I am the Engineering Design teacher at Estancia High School. I am writing this email to share that HSS has played an important role in mentoring students at our high school throughout the past years. HSS has been able to pull in industry members to advise and support our Engineering students as needed during our class design projects and the competitions that we participate in. HSS has been a vital support in helping students develop their engineering skills.
The Flying Field at Fairview Park has provided a great out-of-school fun experience for all students of all grade levels. As an Engineering Design teacher, my students and I seek to participate in hands-on activities like these which allow students to learn new skills that they can use in their future careers. By participating in the free flight lessons by HSS, high school students are able to gain experience in model aviation and this is very beneficial to students by helping them determine if they are interested in learning more about Aerospace Engineering or a related field.
Thank you for your time.
Best,
Breanna Najera
Breanna Najera
Math/Engineering Design Teacher
Estancia High School
Newport-Mesa Unified School District
From: Angus Boundy
To: TERAN, STACY
Subject: Re: Support of Harbor Soaring Society
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 12:08:40 PM
Attachments: image001.png
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Can you please put in this edited version, I made a mistake on the original Dear City Council
I hope this email finds you well. My name is Angus Boundy, and I am reaching out to share my support for the Harbor Soaring Society at Fairview Park. As someone who has personally benefited from the opportunities the club provides, I want to highlight the critical role it plays not only in individual lives but in the broader Costa Mesa community.
The Harbor Soaring Society is much more than a gliding club—it’s a hub for connection, education, and inspiration. Through the flying lessons I’ve completed with the club, I’ve gained practical skills, broadened my horizons, and even begun exploring how aviation might play a role in my future career. Yet, my story is just one of many. The club brings together people of all ages, from young students curious about science and engineering to older members looking to share their passion for flight.
I’ve seen firsthand how the Harbor Soaring Society creates a positive ripple effect in Costa Mesa. It hosts outreach programs, sparks interest in STEM fields, and fosters a spirit of community engagement. The club opens its doors to everyone—residents, families, and visitors alike—inviting them to experience something unique and exciting. It’s a place where curiosity and creativity thrive, and it reflects the innovative and inclusive spirit of Costa Mesa.
Fairview Park is the ideal home for this organization, not just because of its open spaces but because it offers a natural setting where the community can gather, learn, and grow. By preserving the Harbor Soaring Society’s presence in the park, you’re supporting a resource that provides immeasurable benefits to the people of Costa Mesa, from educational opportunities to fostering lifelong connections.
I respectfully urge you to continue supporting the Harbor Soaring Society at Fairview Park.
It’s a shining example of how a local organization can bring people together, inspire dreams, and strengthen the fabric of a community.
Thank you for your time and your dedication to making Costa Mesa a vibrant and thriving city. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to discuss this further or hear more about my personal experiences with the club.
Sincerely,
Angus Boundy
From: Jared Jimenez
To: CITY CLERK
Subject: Flying Field at Fairview Park
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 11:59:25 AM
Dear Council Members,
I'd like to share my experiences with the Harbor Soaring Society (HSS) in the hopes that you will take them into consideration when deciding on the use of the flying field in Fairview Park. I was introduced to the HSS by my engineering teacher in my senior year at Estancia High School where they helped me get an internship with Overair Inc. Through that internship I have made industry connections that have been, and continue to be, incredibly valuable to my professional and academic development. As a resident of Costa Mesa I value the support provided to the community by organizations like HSS because I have seen and received the benefits of that support. I remember seeing the planes flying in Fairview Park and talking to one of the pilots when I was in middle school and being excited to see them take off. That and similar experiences motivated me to pursue Engineering as a career and I am now in my third year of an Electromechanical Systems Engineering Technology degree at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The proximity to Estancia High School and the increased chance for community interaction at Fairview Park make that location ideal for community interaction, like my own experience, which took place during an after school running club by chance. I also think the existing access to power and the storage container in the Fairview Park flying field is important because it allows for the charging of batteries and the easy access to spare parts and repair materials in the shed without the need to change or build anything. I understand the concerns for the wildlife and the desire to preserve the park in its current state and I believe HSS has taken the proper precautions and procedures to minimize the disturbance of wildlife and damage done to the environment. These precautions include the careful choice of landing areas, continued observation of wildlife and the subsequent pause of activities if sensitive wildlife is present, and the changes to flyable models that minimize noise. With all that being said I hope you can consider these points when deciding on the use of the Fairview Park flying field.
Thank you for your time,
Jared Jimenez.
From: Benjamin Tigner
To: CITY CLERK
Subject: Fairview Park Master Plan update: Support for Harbor Soaring Society continued access to Fairview Park flying field
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 7:53:45 AM
Dear Ms. Green-
As the City considers updates to the Fairview Park Master Plan, I'd like to voice my strong support for the Harbor Soaring Society's continued access to the flying field at Fairview Park. The glider models they fly are completely silent and emission-free, and are compatible with the Park's peaceful environment. HSS's presence at the park, and the important STEM mentoring activities they provide, represent an important asset for Costa Mesa. Thank you. -Ben Tigner
949-813-9405
From: Daniel R
To: CITY CLERK
Subject: Fairview Park Flying Field Support - Jan 28 2025 City Council Special Meeting Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 10:44:12 AM
Costa Mesa City Council Members,
I am writing to express my support for the Harbor Soaring Society (HSS) and the importance of the flying field at Fairview Park. I have seen first hand the passion for engineering ignited and nurtured at the flying field. Additionally, I can confidently say that the positive impact of HSS extends far beyond the field itself. They participate in many community outreach activities every year.
Fairview Park has been a place of growth, learning, and inspiration for me and countless others. Seeing new fliers take control of an aircraft for the first time and watching their eyes light up with fascination captures the joy and wonder that fuels lifelong interests and careers in aviation and aerospace. This club provides an unparalleled environment that combines hands- on experience with an emphasis on safety and regulations—values that are fundamental to both aviation and aerospace design.
Moreover, HSS represents the essence of community, which research consistently links to improved happiness and health. The camaraderie and shared passion among members create a space where individuals, young and old, can connect, learn, and grow. Few places foster this sense of belonging and purpose as effectively as HSS does at Fairview Park.
The club has also made significant efforts to preserve the natural habitat and ensure the safety of wildlife during flying operations. These measures reflect a commitment to being responsible stewards of the environment while still providing an invaluable space for education and recreation.
Fairview Park and the Harbor Soaring Society are irreplaceable assets to the community. Few places offer such a positive, enriching, and inclusive impact on their members. I urge you to support the efforts to maintain this space, so it can continue to inspire future generations and strengthen our community for years to come.
Best regards,
Daniel Rossovsky