Costa Mesa officials consider $33.4M in proposed capital projects for 2026-27
- Share via
Costa Mesa City Council members, in a study session Tuesday, considered $33.4 million worth of improvements to parks, streets, infrastructure and facilities proposed by the city’s Public Works Department for the 2026-27 budget, which must be adopted this June.
The preliminary request of $33,400,920 sought to fund $16,359,000 of facility maintenance and upgrades, including a $12-million bond to help build Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue’s Station No. 2.
Other projects in that category include an $800,000 upgrade to Costa Mesa Police Department’s emergency communications call center and another $1.1 million for expansion and reconfiguration of the police station.
Among the roughly $8.8 million in street-related projects in the proposal are $5.4 million for improving local thoroughfares, $200,000 for parkway and median projects and a $2.8-million investment toward future street maintenance and rehabilitation.
Another $6.6 million is being proposed for transportation projects — such as multipurpose trails along Adams Avenue and $880,000 for better circulation on Fair Drive — while the city identified another $1.63 million for park improvements, including $500,000 to help fund expansion of the city’s Skate Park.
“The preliminary capital improvement project list is not final until we get the final numbers from our finance department,” Sethuraman told the council, indicating he would be back later in the budget cycle with a clearer picture.
The study session comes less than one month after city officials announced earlier this month the departure of Finance Director Carol Molina, who oversaw the annual budget and also served as Costa Mesa’s treasurer, a title recently transferred to City Manager Cecilia Gallardo Daly.
The public airing of the list gave council members and residents alike a chance to weigh in on projects suggested and what they’d like to see in the coming year ahead.
A handful of residents living in the “State Streets” area of Mesa Verde, for example, came out to speak in favor of a $50,000 proposal to seek public engagement for redesign of the neighborhood’s Moon Park, which commemorates the 1969 moon landing with a large, concrete lunar surface installation.
Several shared concerns about the proximity of the park to the Santa Ana River Trail, where electronic cyclists zoom by perilously close to playground kids, and said the giant, domed moonscape presented a visual obstruction to parents watching children at play.
“Due to neglect the park is underutilized,” said a speaker identifying himself as “Jason.” “The playground is unsafe and the proximity to the unfenced bike trail exposes children to unnecessary risk. Investing $50,000 will unlock community engagement, which we have started to generate, and will further the process.”
Members of Costa Mesa’s Parks and Community Services Commission came to the study session with a map of parks rated “C” or lower by an independent consultant that also identified what they called “park deserts,” or places where residents live more than 15 minutes’ walking distance from city open space.
Commission Chair Kelly Brown suggested the 12 underperforming parks should be prioritized by the city, while Vice Chair Shayanne Wright suggested officials consider pulling back on using $100,000 in park development fees to help implement the Fairview Park Master Plan or partnering with a private entity to get the Skate Park to its funding goal.
“We’re sort of [operating] under the theme of funding projects that are already getting a lot of money,” Wright said Tuesday. “We did not really support or see the need to put more money behind implementing a master plan that we’ve already spent a lot of money on.
“With the Skate Park, I personally was involved in conversations about bringing in industry stakeholders and the skate community. Rather than using general funds for projects that would bring a lot of PR and a lot of media attention, [let’s] attract brands like Volcom and RVCA, Hurley and Vans — brands that are from Costa Mesa.”
Councilmember Mike Buley favored the idea of collaborating with private partners as well as other jurisdictions, including the county.
“Let’s be intentional about this and actually generate a list, generate a way to move forward and let’s find some money,” he said. “We’ve got some great industry leaders and some great stakeholders in this city, and it would give them an opportunity to promote themselves, get some publicity and do something great for the community.”
Mayor John Stephens agreed, saying he’d gladly lend his mayoral presence in any meeting with interested parties.
“We have to move forward with the Skate Park,” he said. “Let’s get some private donors on that, and let me help you.”
No action was taken, as is typical for study sessions. Council members will take a look at the full proposed 2026-27 operating budget during a May 12 meeting, with a public hearing on that document and an updated capital improvement project list planned for Jun 9.
