CITY MANAGER'S DEPARTMENT
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
The Next General Municipal Election will be held on November 2, 2010
The City of Costa Mesa City Council is made up of five council members that are elected at large within the City. Council members serve a term of four years with a term limit that allows a council member to serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. Elections are held on the first Tuesday, following the first Monday, in November of the even numbered years.
The next General Municipal Election to be held on November 2, 2010 and there will be two (2) seats available on the City Council.
City Council Member Requirements
If you are interested in running for City Council, candidates must be:
- At least 18 years or older, and
- A resident and registered voter of the City of Costa Mesa.
For additional information regarding running for City Council please contact the City Clerk at (714) 754-5221.
| District Office | Capitol Office |
|---|---|
PRESIDENT
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CONGRESS
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331 Hart Senate Office Building
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Barbara Boxer
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112 Hart Senate Office Building
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Dana Rohrabacher
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2338 Rayburn House Office Building
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LEGISLATURE 950 South Coast Drive, Suite 240
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 957-4555
(714) 957-4560 (FAX)
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State Capitol, Room 2052
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Van Tran 1503 South Coast Drive, Ste. 205
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State Capitol, Room 4009
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| COUNTY John M. W. Moorlach Supervisor, 2nd District 10 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 (714) 834-3220 (714) 834-6109 fax |
The City Clerk and her staff welcomes the opportunity to assist community members with public information. Located in the lobby of City Hall, our office can provide assistance researching City Council meeting agendas, minutes, agenda reports and contracts, election information, the Costa Mesa Municipal Code or even help you with general information and/or in finding the appropriate department to assist you with your needs.
The City Clerk's Office is a division of the City Manager's Office. The responsibilities of the office include maintaining the city's legislative history, the Costa Mesa Municipal Code, preparation and distribution of the City Council agendas, managing of the city's documents such as contracts, deeds, leases, ordinances, resolutions and election information. The City Clerk, in coordination with the Orange County Registrar of Voters, is responsible for the conduct of the General Municipal Election held in November of every even numbered year, as well as, administers the provision of the Political Reform Act of 1974. The City Clerk is also the custodian of the City Seal and administers the oath of office for all City personnel and the local elected officials.
Please stop by the City Clerk's Office. We look forward to meeting you.
The Costa Mesa Municipal Code is a codified code book of those ordinances that have been adopted by the City Council. It is updated quarterly and you can find any number local regulations on topics from obtaining a business license in Costa Mesa to local zoning regulations.
The Costa Mesa Municipal Code is located on this website and is easy to use. However, if you have any difficulties or need help with finding a particular code section please feel free to contact the City Clerk's office at (714) 754-5225.
A suggestion to assist with your search is to utilize the search engine on the Municipal Code site. Enter one or two words for a word-string search. The results will bring forth those sections that address your interest.
The City of Costa Mesa City Council Agenda
You are cordially invited and encouraged to attend the City Council meetings and any meeting of their appointed Boards, Commissions and Committees, which includes: the Planning Commission, Redevelopment Agency, Parks and Recreation Commission, Child Care and Youth Services, Cultural Arts Committee, Fairview Friend/Fundraising Committee, Historical Preservation Committee, Investment Oversight Committee, Redevelopment and Residential Rehabilitation Committee, Access Building, Housing and Fire Code Board of Appeal. All meetings are public.
The CITY COUNCIL meets the first and third Tuesday of every month with the meetings beginning at 5:00 p.m., if there is a closed session scheduled, and 6:00 p.m. for the regular meeting. The council meetings are held in the Council Chamber. The City Council also conducts a study session on the second Tuesday of every month, beginning at 4:30 p.m. in Conference Room 1A, although please note that the location sometimes changes to accommodate anticipated interest. If a regular meeting date falls on a day that is a legal holiday, and City Hall is closed, the meeting is then held the following day.
At the Council Meetings the public may address the City Council on any item that is listed on the agenda at the time the item is presented. In addition, Public Comment, which is listed at the beginning of the agenda, provides an opportunity at the meetings to speak to the Council on items that are not listed on the agenda but fall within the Council's jurisdiction. In all instances the public is given three minutes to speak.
The bi-weekly City Council Agenda Packets, are available for review on the City's website, as well as, in binders located at both the Costa Mesa Branch Library (1855 Park Avenue, Costa Mesa) and the Mesa Verde Branch Library (2969 Mesa Verde East, Costa Mesa). The agenda is posted at City Hall, the Post Office, located at 1590 Adams Avenue, and the Orange County Mesa Verde Public Library. The City Council agenda and the reports are made public on the Tuesday prior to the Monday meeting.
After the meeting is held, you may view what action was taken on any particular item by reviewing the Action Agenda . It will notate the action, but not the discussion, and is typically available on the city's website the day after the meeting. The Minutes of the meeting, which includes a summary of what took place at the meeting and the action taken, are posted to the website after they have been approved by City Council.
Study Sessions, which are held on the second Tuesday of the month, are for information purposes. While no action may be taken it provides for additional study on items that will ultimately require the decision of the Council. The public is invited to attend and participate as public comment is permitted (two minutes per speaker).
If you have any questions or need more information regarding the City Council meetings, please contact the City Clerk's Office at (714) 754-5225.
Question: What is it?
Answer: The Political Reform Act of 1974, is a requirement that provides that local officials and certain designated employees are required to disclose certain personal economic interests. It states that "Public Officials whether elected or appointed should perform their duties in an impartial manner, free from bias caused by their own financial interests or the financial interests of persons who have supported them" (California Government Code Section 81001(b)).
The Conflict of Interest Forms (Form 700) are filed annually with the City Clerk's office by both the "Section 87200 filers," certain local officials, and the "Designated Employees" which are established in a resolution adopted by the City Council.
Another provision of the Political Reform Act requires campaign disclosure for candidates, elected officials and committees formed to support or oppose local ballot measures. The filing requirement of campaign disclosure is semi-annually and for those candidates for council during the election period must file two additional "pre-election" campaign statements.
All filings are public record and available for review in the City Clerk's office.