Municipal elections in Costa Mesa, California
Following the passage of Measure EE in 2016, Costa Mesa moved from a system of electing either two or three councilmembers at-large every two years, to a seven member city council with a directly elected mayor, with a two-year term, and six city councilmembers with four year terms.
On March 25, 1947, a petition was presented to the Orange County Board of Supervisors to incorporate Costa Mesa as a city.
At a special election, held on June 16, Costa Mesans voted to incorporate as a general law city.
[8] The City Council also approved placing Proposition 1 on the ballot, which asked voters whether councilmembers should receive fifty dollars ($50) per month.
On September 24, 1957, the City held a special bond election to acquire and construct a water storage reservoir and other water-related infrastructure.
Following the resignation of Charles TeWinkle in December 1955, Arthur Meyers was unanimously appointed to serve the remainder of his term.
Following the resignation of Councilmember Bruce Martin on July 1, 1957, John Smith was unanimously appointed to fill the unexpired term.
[23] Due to the number of issues on the ballot, the City Council adopted a resolution urging participation in the election.
[36] On December 1, 1969, the City Council passed a resolution calling for a special election to annex a territory named "Back Bay No.
On March 1, the City Council passed Ordinance 76-11, which rezoned a parcel of land from single-family residential to commercial, by a 3-2 vote.
The initiative was to zone all land bounded roughly by Bear Street, Sunflower Avenue, South Coast Drive, and Fairview Road as single-family residential.
Following the death of Vice Mayor Smallwood on October 7, 1978,[57] Planning Commission Chairman Donn Hall was unanimously appointed to fill the vacancy and was an incumbent in the 1980 election.
The Measure J Election, held on June 3, was an initiative to approve rental housing developments for elderly, handicapped, and low or moderate income persons.
The Segerstrom Home Ranch site is a parcel of land located between Harbor Boulevard, Sunflower Avenue, Fairview Road, and the 405 freeway.
Following a court ruling in Costa Mesa Residents for Responsible Growth v. City of Costa Mesa, the city was required to amend two elements of its general plan, which was previously amended to allow for increased development at the Home Ranch property.
[74] The city first passed Resolution 88-11 in response to the case, which would allow 3.1 million square feet of development and certain building limit heights.
Following controversial actions by the City Council, led by Councilmember Amburgey, a number of social issues were placed in the campaign spotlight.
Namely, anti-illegal immigrant actions taken by the council and the censoring of public art that would receive grant funding.
[77] With Peter Buffa being seen as a swing vote on these issues, an anti-Amburgey slate was formed by Jay Humphrey and Karen McGlinn, with Arlene Schafer seen as an ally of Amburgey.
Title the "Ethics in Costa Mesa Government Initiative," the ordinance would prohibit a councilmember from voting on projects involving any contributor of more than $500 to the council member’s campaign funds.
[79][77] The measure was seen as a response to incumbent councilmember Amburgey's lack of an abstention vote following projects by campaign contributors being brought before the council.
[115] Following another set of failed motions to select either of the nominees and a proposal to hold a special election, Bever withdrew his nomination and Scheafer was appointed by a 3-1 vote to the unexpired term.
[130] The city council then amended its general plan land use designation for the site to ensure that the OC Fair would remain as an annual event if sold to a private developer.
[138][139] After Katrina Foley was elected to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board, she resigned from her position on the City Council effective December 31, 2010.
By a 4-1 vote on March 6, 2012, the council approved placing the issue of a city charter on the June 5 primary ballot.
Following the rejection of Measure V in 2012, a citizen advisory committee was created in May 2013 by the Council to explore the possibility of a future charter.
[160] Specifically, the measure asked "Do you agree with the Costa Mesa City Council, which unanimously opposes the establishment of toll lanes on the I-405 Freeway in Orange County?
[185] The measure passed, but as an advisory vote, no legal action was taken and the two special districts remain distinct entities.
The councilmembers elected in 2016, Sandra Genis, John Stephens, and Allan Mansoor, would continue to serve until 2020 in an at-large capacity.
[186][187] The decision was met with much controversy, with 49 public commenters attending the meeting and vows to remember this action in the 2018 mayoral election.
