COSTA MESA : City Council Forms Parks Commission

A commission has been formed to oversee city parks, recreation facilities and parkways.

The City Council created the seven-member commission to reduce the number of park issues being brought to the council and to give them more intensive consideration, said Councilwoman Sandra L. Genis. Genis initiated the drive to form a parkways commission.

“I felt that it was a good idea in that we have a lot of issues relating to parkways and trees coming to us, and they are important, but they don’t have a forum except for the City Council,” Genis said.

“Our parks are important enough to have a committee looking at the issues and the facilities, and to make sure we have parks that meet the needs of our citizens.”

The commission will consider such issues as how the city uses open space, how it can incorporate water-saving plants in its landscape and whether to remove or retain parkway trees.

Interested Costa Mesa residents may apply to the city for consideration. After final adoption of the commission at the council’s next meeting Sept. 3, the city will review the applications and select the volunteer commission members.

The commission will meet on the first Wednesday of each month and will have as much authority as the Planning Commission, which makes decisions that are final unless appealed to the City Council, Genis said.