2021 – A Year in Review

John Headshot

Friends,

As we approach the New Year, I wish you and your families the best during the Holiday season and a safe and prosperous 2022.

It has been an honor to serve as Costa Mesa’s mayor over the past eight months. Our community is blessed with a very collaborative City Council as well as dedicated and talented City management and staff. Working as a team with the input and involvement of the community, we have accomplished so much in 2021.

As I stated in my State of the City address, Costa Mesa is “Better Than Ever” because of the contributions of so many this past year.

Below is a summary of some of the City’s accomplishments in 2021:

    • Developed Six Core Principles for the City (Integrity, Innovation, Inclusiveness, Compassion, Collaboration and Sustainability)

    • Established Five Three-Year Goals (Affordable Housing, Staff Recruiting and Retention, Environmental Resilience and Sustainability, Public Safety, and Fiscal Strength) and specific Six-Month Objectives under each goal

    • Dedicated and opened the Norma Hertzog Community Center

    • Opened “Airplane Park” playground with new equipment

    • Approved major improvements to Jack Hammett Sports Complex, including parking, lighting, walking paths and storage

    • Dedicated Neth Park, honoring former Police Chief Roger Neth

    • Installed protected bike lanes and safety improvements on Merrimac Way

    • Approved new position of Active Transportation Manager

    • Installed improvements on Fairview Road, including medians, a traffic light, and a crosswalk on Village Way

    • Hired a new Police Chief

    • Approved remodeling of Police Department training facility

    • Approved a roundabout, traffic signal and additional street parking on Randolph Ave.

    • Paved and repaired miles of roads and alleys

    • Installed stop signs and/or traffic calming throughout the City

    • Approved new playground equipment at Jordan and Tanager parks

    • Held Concert in the Park in July with three music acts and 4,000 attendees

    • Held Scarecrow Festival at Lion’s Park with over 3,000 attendees

    • Brought Snoopy House back to City Hall

    • Allocated portion of Measure Q revenue to public art projects

    • Approved our Public Art Master Plan

    • Contributed to Goat Hill Junction to repair damage from vandalization

    • Launched Costa Mesa Now Podcast

    • Extended Outdoor Use Permits to support restaurants and businesses

    • Partnered with Save Our Youth on staffing and resources

    • Passed resolution supporting Costa Mesa Early Childhood Coalition

    • Enacted Measure Q Ordinances, including allocating revenue to first-time home buyers’ program

    • Opened Permanent Bridge Shelter on Airway Ave. to combat homelessness

    • Approved two Project Homekey motel conversions to Permanent Supportive Housing, including 52 units of Senior housing

    • Submitted our Housing Element to the State

    • Worked on local hiring agreement for Council review in 2022

    • Studied Residential Permit Parking Program for implementation in 2022

    • Extended Moratorium on Short Term Rentals

As always you can contact me with your concerns and ideas at (714) 337-1872 or john.stephens@costamesaca.gov I look forward to hearing from you.

As proud as I am with the work we have done so far in Costa Mesa, I need to win re-election in 2022 to keep serving my community. We have a deadline approaching on December 31st and need to build momentum going into the new year. Can you help by clicking below to make a donation of any amount you can do today?

Or, join us as a monthly donor to help us win in 2022!!!

Sincerely,

John Stephens, Mayor
City of Costa Mesa