Costa Mesa is a ‘blessed community in many different ways,’ city manager says during State of the City event

Standing in front of a crowd of about 180 people in the Avenue of the Arts hotel, Costa Mesa Mayor Sandy Genis donned a pair of literal rose-colored glasses.

After all, she said, Thursday’s gathering was to discuss the state of the city, which is always an occasion to look on the bright side.

As far as she and City Manager Tom Hatch were concerned, there were plenty of good things to talk about.

Costa Mesa, Hatch said, is “a blessed community in many different ways.”

“What I’ve seen over the last many years is that Costa Mesa has relished in that identity: Being eclectic, being thoughtful, being a little interesting and creative and artistic, and being a great place to do business, as well,” he said during the luncheon, which was put on by the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce. “That’s who we are. We’ve embraced that vibe.”

Hatch walked the crowd through ongoing projects and efforts in the community and discussed top City Council priorities, such as the in-progress redevelopment of Lions Park, which includes building a new library, addressing issues related to sober-living homes, being fiscally responsible, improving public safety and tackling homelessness.

He particularly praised Costa Mesa’s Network for Homeless Solutions — a collaborative effort among city staff, local churches, nonprofits, private organizations and volunteers to identify and provide resources to the homeless — and pointed out that the city devotes more than $1 million each year to take on homelessness issues.

“This city is doing more to help homeless than any city in Orange County, bar none,” he said, prompting a round of applause from the audience.

Other focuses include investing in local infrastructure and ensuring the city provides quality services for residents, according to Hatch.

“We need to keep getting better and better,” he said.

While Thursday’s event struck a decidedly optimistic note, both Genis and Hatch acknowledged that Costa Mesa faces challenges.

Genis pointed to recent financial projections that show Costa Mesa could face mounting budget deficits in coming years.

“We’re going to have to do some belt-tightening,” she said.

During the luncheon, Genis assisted Chamber President Tom Johnson in honoring several businesses and organizations.

The “Innovative Small Business” award went to Mario Marovic: a restaurateur whose holdings include the Wild Goose Tavern and The Country Club on 17th Street.

Vans — the iconic action sportswear brand that opened its new corporate headquarters in Costa Mesa last summer — received the “Costa Mesa Cool” award, while the OC Fair & Event Center was named the “Pillar of Costa Mesa.”

The Los Angeles Chargers, who chose Costa Mesa as the home of their headquarters and practice facility after relocating from San Diego last year, received the “Community Partner” award.

luke.money@latimes.com

Twitter @LukeMMoney