CITY MANAGER'S DEPARTMENT

 

 

The City Manager's Department

 

The City Manager's Department is comprised of three divisions: the City Manager's Office, Housing and Community Development, and the City Clerk's Office.

 

City Manager's Office

 

As the Chief Administrative Officer of the City, the City Manager is responsible for the coordination and direction of all activities of the City within the framework of policies established by the City Council. The City Manager's Office is responsible for a wide array of duties, including:

 

  • Coordination of City Council activities;
  • Preparation and adherence to an annual budget;
  • Maximization of resources in the delivery of services;
  • Amplification of services through the efficient placement of personnel;
  • Development and implementation of all activities of the City organization;
  • Provision of Public Information to Costa Mesa citizens and local media outlets;
  • Tracking and responding to legislation affecting Costa Mesa;
  • Reviewing and responding to correspondence and complaints;
  • Providing staff support on special projects;
  • Coordination of film permits and special event street banners.

 

Housing and Community Development

 

The City of Costa Mesa receives annual allocations of funds from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These funds are authorized under HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which is administered by the City's Housing and Community Development Division.

 

The Housing and Community Development Division is responsible for developing a program for expenditure of CDBG funds, which fulfills the Federal agency's objectives. These objectives may benefit low and moderate-income families and aid in the rehabilitation and development of blighted areas within the territorial limits of the City. The following programs may be employed to implement the HOME Program:

 

  • To further fair housing by providing safe, decent, and sanitary housing for all segments of the community, specifically low and moderate-income families, the elderly, and the handicapped;
  • To prevent blight and deterioration of community neighborhoods and facilities;
  • To provide public services for the specialized needs of children, the elderly, the handicapped, and low and moderate-income families;
  • To investigate and develop new programs to assist the City in meeting its housing needs;
  • To provide technical and financial assistance to qualified homeowners to encourage the rehabilitation of existing single-family residences and mobile home units.

 

In addition to Block Grant funding, the Housing and Community Development Division implements the HOME Program. The HOME Program expands the supply of decent and affordable housing, particularly rental housing for low and very low-income residents. Additionally, the objectives include strengthening the abilities of the State and local governments to design and implement strategies for adequate supplies of decent and affordable housing. In Fiscal Year 2005-06, the City received $750,655 for the program, approximately 1% of the City's total resources. To meet the national objectives within the City of Costa Mesa, any of the following programs may be employed:

 

  • Tenant Based Rental Assistance;
  • First Time Homebuyers Assistance;
  • Homeowners Rehabilitation Assistance;
  • Property Acquisition;
  • New Construction;
  • Moderate Rehabilitation, Site Improvements, and Demolition.

 

City Clerk's Office

 

  • Preparation of the agendas and minutes of the study sessions, regular and special meetings of the City Council;
  • Maintenance and certification of records, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, business transactions, and final tract maps;
  • Publication of the City's legal notices;
  • Administration of oaths of office;
  • Supervision of all municipal and special elections.
  • Filing officer for the Political Reform Act filings.