Minutes – Special Study Session Meeting March 31, 2026 Page 1 of 3
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
MARCH 31, 2026 - MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER – The Special Study Session meeting was called to order by Mayor Stephens at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Buley, Council Member Gameros, Council Member Pettis, Council Member Marr, Council Member Reynolds, Mayor Pro Tem Chavez, and Mayor Stephens.
Absent: None.
SPECIAL STUDY SESSION ITEM:
1. FISCAL YEAR 2026 -27 PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) BUDGET AND FIVE-YEAR (2026-27 TO 2030-31) CIP STUDY SESSION
Presentation by Mr. Sethuraman, Public Works Director.
Ms. Brown, Chair and Ms . Wright, Vice Chair of the Parks and Community Services Commission presented Capital Improvement Project recommendations.
Public Comments:
Speaker, spoke on creating moonparkfunding.com and the need to invest in Moon Park, spoke on the need for a direct line of site between the two playgrounds at the park, and that there is no barrier separating it from the bike trail.
Sonia Tr iana, Costa Mesa, spoke in support of improvements at Moon Park and on better maintenance at the park.
David Martinez, spoke in support of projects for street safety, citywide neighborhood improvement programs, traffic calming measures, implementing the daylighting law, and on speed zone reductions.
Minutes – Special Study Session Meeting March 31, 2026 Page 2 of 3
Ralph Taboada, Costa Mesa, spoke in support of the Parks and Community Services Commission presentation and encouraged all committees to provide similar presentations. Expressed a preference for a five- year amortization period for the CAN rather than ten y ears. Also emphasized the need for a long- term strategic plan and questioned whether the current sustainability plan is meeting Council goals. Additionally, spoke about improving bike lanes and crosswalks to make them more accessible.
Carla Stagman spoke in support of prioritizing Moon Park improvements.
Speaker, spoke in support of prioritizing Moon Park improvements.
Mat Garcia, Costa Mesa, spoke on the amount of funding for Fairview Park projects, and requested more details in the staff reports.
ACTION:
City Council provide d the following feedback on the FY 2026- 27 Proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget and the Five-Year (FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31) CIP including:
• Funding for additional parks and upgrading facilities at all parks. • A potential art project at Moon Park.
• Options for sharing expenses with other public entities for projects. • Options for additional community gardens.
• A long-term plan to maintain City facilities.
• A dedicated park improvement fund.
• Accounting of staff time in the CIP.
• The costs of the local road safety plan.
• Private/public partnerships i.e. Skate Park.
• Revisit the CAN ordinance and payments.
• Solar projects.
• School sites for more space for free play.
• The Open Space Master Plan
ADJOURNMENT – Mayor Stephens adjourned the Study Session at 7:55 p.m.
Minutes – Special Study Session Meeting March 31, 2026 Page 3 of 3
Minutes adopted on this 19
th day of May, 2026.
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John Stephens, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Brenda Green, City Clerk