COSTA MESA : Residents to Decide Sister-City Issue

It’s not exactly unrequited love, but Costa Mesa has left Werribee, Australia, in something of a lurch.

In 1988, Costa Mesa officials invited residents of this suburb of Melbourne to form a sister-city relationship. After some initial concerns were worked out, the city down under agreed, and thus began the process of forging the link. Schoolchildren started writing letters, a Werribee Sister Cities Committee was formed, and Werribee dignitaries visited Costa Mesa.

“I am pleased to advise that this council has now agreed to accept the invitation extended by your city to establish a sister-city link,” wrote Werribee Town Clerk J.T. Kerr to then-Costa Mesa Mayor Donn Hall in a February, 1989, letter. “We look forward to a long and fruitful association with your area.”

But there was just one problem--Costa Mesa officials never finalized the relationship. Two years after Hall invited Werribee to form the cultural exchange, the Costa Mesa Sister City Committee fell apart and so did the link.

Now, Parks Commissioner John De Witt has asked the City Council to pick up the pieces of their broken relationship and rekindle the bond. “I would like to see it given a chance,” said De Witt, who has visited the Australian city. “It not only spreads goodwill, but I also see it as sharing information.”

During a recent meeting, De Witt asked the council to once again form a committee devoted to the sister-city program. He suggested getting representatives from throughout the community to participate, including business and civic leaders and interested citizens.

Despite past experience, Werribee officials are still optimistic that things can be worked out, De Witt told the council.

With the current budget crisis, however, Costa Mesa officials seemed less than excited. Councilman Joe Erickson warned the board about giving more work to an already overworked staff. The budget just doesn’t have any more room, he said.

City Manager Allan Roeder agreed. “We are into year three of a hiring freeze, and we are hard-pressed to keep up with current demands,” Roeder said. “I would caution you about adding more obligations.”

Still, council members didn’t want to completely cut off a sister-city bond. So they came up with a compromise. At the suggestion of Councilwoman Mary Hornbuckle, members agreed to ask residents if they are interested in their Australian counterparts. If residents say yes, then a committee will be formed. However, city funds and staff probably would not be used, officials said.

In a unanimous decision, the council agreed with Hornbuckle’s suggestion to ask residents whether they would be willing to participate in the committee and other sister-city functions. Residents’ opinions are expected to be gathered over the next few months.