Parks, planning picks the same
- Share via
Deirdre Newman
Although Mike Scheafer’s appointment to the City Council was laden
with tension and suspense, his decision on whom to appoint as
commissioners was stress-free.
Scheafer said he will keep both of former mayor Karen Robinson’s
picks -- Bruce Garlich on the Planning Commission and Mark Harris on
the Parks and Recreation Commission. Scheafer was appointed Monday to
replace Robinson, who resigned April 15 to become an Orange County
Superior Court judge.
Scheafer’s satisfaction with the status quo ensures consistency on
the commissions, which were shaken up after the November election
when the council changed the process of filling them to individual
appointments. Commissioners now serve at the will of their council
members and can be replaced at any time.
“I’m not going to change anything that’s in place,” Scheafer said.
“I think if they were good enough to be appointed in the first place
that they should get a chance to continue. I’ve spoken to both of
them and seen both of them in action and think they’re both doing a
fine job.”
Garlich said he was happy to hear he would be staying on the
commission he chairs.
“I like my job. I’m just in my third year, I’m far from tired and
I think I’m pretty good at it,” he said. “I’m looking forward to
continuing as chair and enjoying Costa Mesa’s 50th birthday and
staying involved with the city.”
Harris also expressed pleasure at the opportunity to continue
serving on the commission he has been involved with for nine years.
He and Scheafer served together on the Parks and Recreation
Commission in the late 1990s. Scheafer resigned in August 2000
because he felt he couldn’t express his views freely on a skateboard
park location.
“He saw how I worked on there, and we both have a good
understanding of each other and we think pretty similar,” Harris
said. “He’s really pro-kids programs and our youth sports ... and
he’s very much into the doing right thing for the city where
recreational needs are concerned.”
* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)
574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.