COSTA MESA : City Calls for County Fund Disclosure

Everything should be out in the open.

That was the message from the City Council on Monday after it unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the county Board of Supervisors to fully disclose all information concerning the investment pool and the county’s bankruptcy.

The only exception, when information would not have to be released, would be issues facing litigation.

The thrust of the resolution, according to City Manager Allan L. Roeder, is for supervisors to open the lines of communication with the agencies that have money invested in the pool.

The idea for the resolution came two weeks ago, after Mayor Joe Erickson met with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Mesa Consolidated Water District and the Coastline Community College District to discuss the financial impact of the bankruptcy filing.

However, the resolution, which passed by a 5-0 vote, has no legal or fiscal authority. Rather, it is a policy statement by the council urging that all facts relating to the bankruptcy filing be revealed.

Councilwoman Sandra L. Genis said she thought Costa Mesa residents should be updated daily on what is going on in the city because of the county’s financial crisis.

“We should have as many press releases as possible,” she said. “Most of what we’re doing is going to be public information in a matter of hours anyway, and it’s not like we’re revealing a big secret strategy that is going to affect litigation.”