2024 CMABS City Council Candidate Questionnaire - The Answers Are In!
For the third election in a row, the Costa Mesa Alliance for Better Streets distributed a questionnaire to candidates for Costa Mesa Mayor and City Council, with the goal of getting their views on how we can make our streets safe, pleasant and beautiful. As a 501(c)(3), we cannot endorse any candidates for public office. However, we can help educate residents on how each candidate might approach the issues we care about most. We have the candidates’ answers, so it’s time to dive in!
Each candidate was given two weeks to respond to the questionnaire, and questions and their answers are disclosed verbatim below. Incumbents are noted with asterisks (*), and the candidates are listed by prospective office and then alphabetically by last name. Note that there is no incumbent for the District 1 City Council race. Clicking on each candidate’s name will also take you to his official campaign website. Don’t know which district you are in? Enter your address in the City’s handy voting district mapping tool. And remember: everyone votes for the Mayor!
Answers were limited to 1,000 characters and any answer that went over that limit was cropped. Any response not received has been noted as well — in our view, not answering is answering.
1. Please describe the ways you typically get around the city (driving, walking, bicycling, public transit, etc.). If you primarily drive, please fill in the blank: I would enjoy walking, bicycling or using public transit more often if: ____________________.
Mayor
James Peters: “Drive and sometimes bike”
John Stephens*: “I live in on Capella Ct. off of Adams. Mostly I drive. I like to bike, e-bike and walk, but I generally do that for fun as opposed to getting around the city. I would bike or walk more if the destinations I want to visit were closer to my home. We are looking to downsize and may move to a smaller place closer to commercial uses in part for this reason.”
District 1
Mike Buley: (Did not respond)
Adam Ereth: “I typically walk to the park down the street from my house in the mornings and evenings to run my dog. I work from home, so there is little driving, but I typically drive since I bring my dog, Willie, with me just about everywhere. Other than that, I like to bike in the evenings about 1-2 times a week.”
District 2
Loren Gameros*: “Drive and Bike”
District 6
Jeff Harlan*: “I regularly drive in Costa Mesa, walk (often with my dog), and occasionally cycle for exercise and to run local errands. People should have genuine choices about how to get around the city safely and efficiently. On the Eastside, we’re fortunate to have a relatively flat grid pattern with moderately sized blocks–this is a good foundation to build upon and encourage active transportation. I plan to enjoy alternatives to driving as we expand this network throughout the city and connect our various neighborhoods.Improving street safety and increasing pedestrian mobility are priorities of mine, and shared by many District 6 residents. Reducing speeding from through-traffic in residential neighborhoods, improving pedestrian street crossings, and creating safe routes to our schools are critical to making our community safe and desirable. As your Councilmember, I’ve successfully delivered new, protected crosswalks near Kaiser and Woodland Elementary Schools, as well as new bike lanes on the”
Note: Response clipped due to 1,000 character limit.
Jeff Pettis: (Did not respond)
2. What is your vision for the streets of Costa Mesa in 2050? If elected, what will you do to prepare Costa Mesa for that future?
Mayor
James Peters: “Less Traffic for cars on the streets. I have a plan that will be disclosed later.”
John Stephens*: “I would like to see protected bike and pedestrian lanes in all major streets in Costa Mesa. We have made progress in this area along Placentia, 19th, Merrimac, and Bristol. The planed improvements on Adams will be a great addition. I'd like to see that on Harbor, Fairview, Newport, Sunflower, and all other major streets. Also, I'd like to see an electric trolley system that provides affordable public transit to everyone in the city. We have made some progress in this area with the Circuit program, but I'd like to see more of that by 2050.”
District 1
Mike Buley: (Did not respond)
Adam Ereth: “Supporting active transportation options, including protected bike lanes, completed sidewalks as directed by the general plan, new developments being planned with Smart Growth principals (including: compactness and mixed use retail and housing). I would also support more vegetated medians, slower traffic speeds (especially on stroads), no-right-on-red, widespread traffic circles, grid electrification, and encouraging a major transportation hub in the northeast corner of the City (South Coast area).”
District 2
Loren Gameros*: “Corridor management along the main thoroughfares.”
District 6
Jeff Harlan*: “My vision is for all Costa Mesans to have real mobility options–walking, biking, bus/shuttle, and rail–to traverse the city and also tie into our regional transportation network. At the street level, I’d like to improve the use of our public spaces and focus on retrofitting streets to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians with protected lanes (where appropriate) and sidewalks. Better designed streetscapes–with mature tree canopies, comfortable and protective street furniture, and visual interest--provide safer environments for both drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. At the citywide level, I envision Costa Mesa as a hub for activity in the heart of Orange County. While we have excellent freeway access (405, 55, 73), we are not adequately connected to our local rail network. I will advocate for creating these connections (e.g., shuttles, trolleys, protected bike paths) so we are not limited to using cars to get everywhere”
Jeff Pettis: (Did not respond)
3. Costa Mesa has many 4- to 6-lane arterial roads crisscrossing the city, such as Fairview, Victoria, Harbor, Baker, and 17th Street. These streets experience high vehicle speeds and they generate significant noise and odor. As a result, crossing them foot or on bicycle is very stressful, their sidewalks are uncomfortable places to be, and businesses and homes do not wish to front onto them. Do you see improving these arterials as an issue that the city should work to address? If so, what sort of action might you take?
Mayor
James Peters: “If we have less car lanes and more bike lanes we would have more traffic for cars like we have on West 19th Street. Do more bike lanes keep cyclists safe without a wall?”
John Stephens*: “Yes. We need more protected crosswalks with LPI throughout the city to slow down traffic and make crossing streets safer. I will continue to advocate for that. We've made progress on Wilson, Wallace, Village Way, etc, but more needs to be done. Better streetscapes, medians and setbacks with decorative vegetation would help as well. This would slow down cars and provide a better visual environment. We've done some of this on Placentia, Harbor and Bristol, but more can be done. I'm open to other suggestions.”
District 1
Mike Buley: (Did not respond)
Adam Ereth: “The low-hanging fruit is to narrow traffic lanes to the minimum width, earmark the sides of the road for protected bike lanes, vegetating the medians and sidewalks, among other options.”
District 2
Loren Gameros*: “Vehicular Traffic management control while taking careful consideration for pedestrian foot traffic.”
District 6
Jeff Harlan*: “Of paramount importance is ensuring safe travel on our arterials, whether by car, bike, bus, or on foot. With this focus, on several major streets we’ve improved sidewalks, expanded safe street crossings, and installed HAWK signals to ensure young children and seniors have ample time to cross major boulevards. And street renovation projects incorporate active transportation elements, including leading pedestrian intervals, refuge islands, and wayfinding signage. And while our major arterials provide an important role in moving traffic, they can serve other objectives. As directed by the City Council, city staff will be starting to develop new land use plans to reimagine our commercial corridors–such as Harbor and Newport Boulevards. Elements of these plans will include new housing and neighborhood-serving uses (e.g., shops, restaurants, grocery stores), as well as strategies to expand our public transit network.”
Jeff Pettis: (Did not respond)
4. Do you agree with the following statement?: “Newport Boulevard, between 16th Street and 19th Street, is Costa Mesa’s historic downtown, and we should work to revitalize it.” If you agree, what changes would you make to improve this area?
Mayor
James Peters: (Did not respond)
John Stephens*: “Yes, that is definitely our historic downtown. I support working with the merchants to create community events that bring people to the area and enhance foot traffic. There are some established businesses that are anchors of the area (El Matador, Goat Hill Tavern, Eat Chow, Mother's Market, etc.) that can collaborate with newer businesses such as Prince Street Pizza, Westwood Coast, Mr. Nice Guys to create a sense of place with the help of the city, including through events such as street fairs. I would also like to see a trolley serve that area as well as businesses on 17th and 19th to alleviate some of the parking concerns and allow people to shop in the area without driving from place to place.”
District 1
Mike Buley: (Did not respond)
Adam Ereth: “Yes, historically it is, though that time has passed. New downtowns are spread across the City, and sense of place is being created outside of this specific area, including off 19th between Harbor and Placentia. However, with the specific area you're referencing, many of the same principles may apply to slow traffic down and use beautification measures along the corridor to give the Triangle area a more community feel. It's absent of that given the concrete-ness of the area, and the limited services provided (e.g. drinking establishments).”
District 2
Loren Gameros*: “Provide traffic management to increase pedestrian interest in localized shoping, Dining, and recreating.”
District 6
Jeff Harlan*: “While Costa Mesa’s historic downtown remains a place of nostalgia for many, it does not function as originally intended. People no longer do their daily errands at the local shops, or congregate at a public open space. Newport and Harbor Boulevards essentially operate as rivers of traffic, leaving Triangle Square an isolated island. Nevertheless, this area is still an important location in the City. It’s adjacent to traditional neighborhoods; close to our revitalized Civic Center Park, Donald Dungan Library, Norma Hertzog Community Center, and Downtown Recreation Center; and provides direct access to the beach from the 55 freeway. It’s also the gateway to our 19th Street corridor. As part of my Sunday column in the Daily Pilot in 2012, I wrote about some long-term ideas to boldly reimagine this area. This includes creating a public plaza, expanding sidewalks, and incentivizing new investment: https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/opinion/tn-dpt-0708-harlan-20120707-story.html”
Jeff Pettis: (Did not respond)
5. There has been rising concern in the community about drivers not obeying traffic laws, such as not stopping for stop signs, ignoring marked crosswalks, or even running red lights. Do you share this concern and, if so, how should the city respond?
Mayor
James Peters: “We need more police on the street. Not only for unsafe driving but also for the drive by shootings that are more and more rampant in Costa Mesa.”
John Stephens*: “Yes. We need more police on patrol, and are working with Chief Lawrence to give him the tools he needs to boost recruitment. I have also discussed red light cameras with the Chief. Their implementation is under consideration. I would also support using our Flock cameras in intersections to create PSAs on the importance of stopping at stop signs and respecting intersections. I'd like to work on a culture shift in Costa Mesa through a campaign geared toward looking out for each other on the road and otherwise. The City of Davis, where I went to law school, has a model culture for bike and pedestrian safety. I would like to emulate that in Costa Mesa.”
District 1
Mike Buley: (Did not respond)
Adam Ereth: “Just as I have ongoing concerns about widespread use of electric bikes for kids disobeying traffic laws, I share in the concern for drivers disobeying traffic laws. Yes, I have seen widespread gassing to make yellow lights that turn red before crossing the intersection, and a couple months ago I saw Flo on the corner of Harbor and Fair with someone turning across traffic (and across the pedestrian walkway) when a pedestrian had the right-of-way. I think many of the aforementioned ideas I highlighted earlier will help with that, including: narrower lanes, lower traffic speed limits, more vegetated medians and sidewalks, bulb outs, and more.”
District 2
Loren Gameros*: “Yes, The police department has task force implemented programs in an attempt to curb this.”
District 6
Jeff Harlan*: “The City Council has taken a strong approach of enforcing all traffic violations, from speeding to distracted driving to DUIs. With the additional investments we’ve made in our Police Department, including personnel and equipment, we’ve focused enforcement in areas and intersections where speeding occurs and where pedestrians and cyclists are most vulnerable, such as near schools. CMPD also maintains a full-time DUI team that conducts regular checkpoints, and coordinates with our neighboring agencies and CHP. Our Police Department is committed to both enforcing the law and educating violators to deter repeat offenses. This also ensures our active transportation infrastructure–protected bike lanes, connections in our bike network, wayfinding signage to help cyclists navigate the city–functions well. And as biking and walking increases in popularity, it is important to continue educating people about the rules of the road and sharing our streets safely.”
Jeff Pettis: (Did not respond)
6. Imagine a constituent has brought to your attention that on-street parking on her residential street is so crowded she cannot always find a spot to park her car on her block. The constituent asserts that residents have a right to be able to park in front of their own houses. How do you respond to this constituent, and how would you address her concern?
Mayor
James Peters: “The City needs to go back to the old free parking permit program that any Costa Mesa police officer can enforce. It worked. Why did the current city council break it and change to the current program?”
John Stephens*: “We have the permit parking program in Costa Mesa, which is in the early stages of implementation and we are working out some bugs. It's common for people to ask why have to pay to park in front of their own house. While I understand that point of view, the permit parking program fee is only charged to residents who want to exclude others from parking on their street. That is done through a system of enforcement paid for by the nominal permit fees charged for those neighborhoods that voluntarily "opt in" to the program. It's akin to reserving space at the park for a birthday party. You can go to the park, but if you want to have exclusive use of a specific space, you need a permit, which costs a fee. That said, once the fee is paid, the city has the obligation to deliver the best enforcement services to neighborhoods that participate. We are striving to improve this service as the program rolls out.”
District 1
Mike Buley: (Did not respond)
Adam Ereth: “City streets are City owned property. Unless otherwise stated by a parking permit - and in consideration of the maximum parking time provision - anyone can park there if no laws are being broken. This is, unless, the City applies a new use to that space.”
District 2
Loren Gameros*: “This very thing happened to me In my neighborhood due to the over population of tenants in a nearby apartment complex. Signatures were gathered to implement a parking permit program and it has seemed to help.”
District 6
Jeff Harlan*: “I understand this frustration–parking on your own street should be convenient. Unfortunately, this issue is common in certain parts of the city due to factors like areas of overcrowded housing, garages used for storage, or spillover from nearby commercial areas. While on-street parking is public and available to everyone, the City Council has created a residential permit parking for neighborhoods facing these challenges. If your area meets the criteria, residents can vote to apply for permits to help prioritize parking for locals. While not perfect, it’s a step toward giving your community more control over parking.”
Jeff Pettis: (Did not respond)
7. A neighbor has approached you for advice: he is going to allow his 10 year old child to use a (non-electric) bicycle to commute to and from school, which is half a mile from home. Would you support this decision? Why or why not? Does your answer bring any changes to city policy to mind?
Mayor
James Peters: (Did not respond)
John Stephens*: “Yes. When I grew up in the 70s, every 10-year-old student rode his or her bike to school or walked. Of course, back then, we did not have helmets, bike lanes, safe routes to school and the other safety measures. Riding and walking to school is good exercise, it fosters independence and connection between the students. As a matter of policy, the city is supportive of biking and walking to school. We need to continue to improve the safety of the routes to school in partnership with the NMUSD. For instance, on the Eastside, MPT Jeff Harlan was very vigilant in getting a bike lane on Santa Ana recently. I supported him in this. We need to identify other specific areas where we could improve bike safety infrastructure on routes to school. We also need to patrol routes to school to make sure there is no activity that compromises student safety.”
District 1
Mike Buley: (Did not respond)
Adam Ereth: “Yes. Biking is a great form of transportation, provided that the route to school is safe. The word "safe" is somewhat subjective, but I believe it's a cause worth pursuing, and in so doing we have the ability to ameliorate risk through some of the provisions I listed earlier in this questionnaire.”
District 2
Loren Gameros*: “Yes I would support this decision and I would suggest going over the route with my child prior to them riding it on their own and to have their head on a swivel and constantly watch out for traffic. My son rode his bike from my house from the 405 and Harbor boulevard to CDM HS for 2 years.”
District 6
Jeff Harlan*: “I understand this dilemma from firsthand experience. Both of my daughters (now 17 and 21 years old) rode their bikes to our local Eastside public schools, and to the beach in the summer for Junior Guards. As a parent, I was certainly anxious about their safety; my wife and I helped them map out protected routes. I support our kids biking to school–it’s healthy not just for the physical benefits, but also teaches kids independence and an appreciation for their surroundings. And when kids travel in groups (like a walking or biking “schoolbus”), they increase their safety because they are more visible to drivers. The City Council should continue investing in our active transportation infrastructure. At my urging, the City recently installed new bike lanes on the block in front of Kaiser Elementary to fill in a missing gap on Santa Ana Avenue. Now, students have a continuous path to travel to/from school, resulting in more kids biking and fewer cars on the road during drop-off and pick-u”
Note:Response clipped due to 1,000 character limit.
Jeff Pettis: (Did not respond)
8. Many Costa Mesa residents depend on some form of public transportation. While the city does not provide public transportation directly, is there anything the city can or should do to support these residents regarding their mobility needs?
Mayor
James Peters: (Did not respond)
John Stephens*: “I'm very involved in this as a Director of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA). It's very helpful to the city to have Costa Mesa's Mayor on the OCTA board so we can have a seat at the table regarding transportation opportunities and funding. I won a contested election for that board seat and was elected by the other mayors in County District 5. Our Public Works department has a great reputation at OCTA, by the way. The main thing we need to do as a city is to improve the quality of our bus stops. We are in the process of improving the bus stops. The city has to be vigilant about maintaining the bus stops as well. I'm in discussion with city management about putting big belly trash cans at all the bus stops to reduce litter. As with routes to school, bus stops should be patrolled to make sure there is no activity that would create an actual or perceived safety threat to riders.”
District 1
Mike Buley: (Did not respond)
Adam Ereth: “I am a fan of micro bus services, much like those seen in Dana Point, Laguna Beach and especially San Clemente. Micro bus services may be used to connect folks to more well-trodden public transportation services. Otherwise, I think a City bus route system is justified and will help with ongoing transportation needs, particularly in Westside.”
District 2
Loren Gameros*: “Yes, We have talked about adding more public transportation options provided by the city In addition to some that we already have at the community senior center.”
District 6
Jeff Harlan*: “The City supports riders of public transportation in a variety of ways. First, we have an agreement with Clear Channel Outdoor to provide and maintain our bus shelters. People who rely on public transportation deserve clean, safe, and comfortable infrastructure, and the City enforces this contract for the benefit of our residents. In fact, this year our Public Works Department coordinated repainting of all the bus shelters in the city. Second, we are in the unique position of having two local representatives–OC Supervisor Katrina Foley and Mayor John Stephens–on the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board. This enables Costa Mesa to directly influence the agency’s transportation projects and initiatives, including new infrastructure, bus routes, and senior mobility programs. And we’ve already seen the benefits of working closely with OCTA, as the city received almost $8 million in grants for three, protected bike lane projects.”
Jeff Pettis: (Did not respond)
