SPECIAL UPDATE ON OCTOBER 15 FAIRVIEW PARK STEERING COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING.

A Special Meeting of the Fairview Park Steering Committee was held on October 15, 2025. All members of the Committee were present except Jose Toscano. The meeting focused solely on one agenda item, the Fairview Park Master Plan Update.

Public Comment Request. A request was made by Committee member Jay Humphrey to hear public comments prior to the presentation. Chair Kohl Crecelius denied the request.

Presentation Overview. Fairview Park Administrator Kelley Dalton gave a presentation that highlighted key findings and organizational structure. He also disclosed a letter from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), which was based on the technical reports submitted over a month earlier, but not on the draft Master Plan Update itself. You can read the entire letter here, but these are recommendations from the CDFW:

• Relocate the flying field (new location not specified) due to degradation of the vernal pools and avian harassment; relocation would likely require a take permit for impacts on the burrowing owls and Crotch’s bumblebees, along with monitoring.

• More enforcement and funding for such by the City.

• Ensure compliance with permitting obligations, as some vegetation clearing permits were incomplete; routine maintenance needs to follow proper procedures.

• Fulfill mitigation obligations, including restoration projects and a conservation easement; the restoration contract requires City Council approval.

Master Plan Update Highlights: Dalton explained that the update mirrors the structure of the previous Master Plan. Key findings include:

• Informed Planning: Technical investigations support decision-making.

• Regional Biodiversity Hotspot: Park contains critical habitat for protected wildlife.

• Tribal Cultural Stewardship: Entire park is a sensitive Native American cultural area with two nationally registered historic sites.

• Exceptional Public Access: Park offers rare access to passive recreation within sensitive ecological and cultural areas.

• Threat Mitigation: Human activities threaten biological and cultural resources.

• Regulatory Protections: Resources are protected under comprehensive regulatory framework at federal, state, and local levels.

  

  Fairview Park Species Location Map

Committee Discussion.

• Concerts in the Park: Daniel Baume asked about relocating the concerts. A woman (name not on the Agenda, but is apparently connected to the Costa Mesa Foundation, one of the sponsors of the concerts) stated they could be held elsewhere. Her name was not on the Agenda, so why was she sitting at the table with the Committee members?

• Emerging Recommendations: Members expressed concern that previously developed emerging recommendations were not clearly included in the update. Dalton said that they had been incorporated throughout the document.

  
  

  • Flying Field Relocation:

    
    

    • The Committee recommendation is to relocate the fly field outside of Fairview Park:  “6. Relocate the fly field activity currently located within the vernal pool watershed to outside Fairview Park, due to detrimental impacts to sensitive biological resources associated with the activity and required maintenance of the fly field.” Emphasis added by me.

      
      

    • The Biological Resources Technical Report prepared by Hamilton Biological supports relocation, and cites Barry Nerhus of Endemic Environmental Services: “As an airplane pilot, I have a passion for aviation and the continued growth of the aviation community (even as a tool for conservation). However, I do not think the recreational activities at the fly field is a part of the mission of managing Fairview Park for the natural resources and recovery of endangered species.”

      
      

    • However, the Master Plan Update suggests relocating the flying field to within the park (Page 69): “The Master Plan Update recommends moving the current site to another portion of the park to comply with resource agency recommendations. To avoid regular mowing and prevent colonization by ground-dwelling species, a compacted and stabilized decomposed granite paving area should be provided for the relocated launch site. Proposed improvements for the relocation site include an approximately 300-by-50-foot runway (partially surfaced with decomposed granite), pilot stations and pit area, a storage shed, an information kiosk, and installation of a low post-and-cable barrier.” This contradicts both the expert and Steering Committee recommendations.

• East Side Concerns:

  
  

  • Committee member Jennifer Thomas noted much of the east side is an archeological resource site, requiring careful grading.

    
    

  • Orange County Model Engineers Liaison Hank Castignetti recalled in 2018 the Harbor Soaring Society (HSS) had declined a location near the trains.

    
    

  • Questions arose about who would pay for the take permit and monitoring—no answer was provided. In my opinion, HSS should bear the cost, not the City. Also, the grading, compaction, and installation of DG, and the addition of buildings to the new location seem to require a vote under Measure AA. Who will pay for the election?

• Additional Topics.

  
  

  • Park Name Change: Several Committee members supported renaming the park Fairview Nature Park or Fairview Nature Preserve, which would require City Council approval.

    
    

  • Implementation Process: A suggestion was made to include the implementation process within the Master Plan Update.

Procedural Concerns. Mid-meeting, several Committee members expressed interest in forming a consensus and voting on recommendations to the City Council. However, this was not listed on the Agenda, and would have violated the Brown Act. This was pointed out by the woman associated with Costa Mesa Foundation and raises questions about whether this was a Staff oversight. Perhaps this was just another check-the-box-meeting, where the input by the Committee really wasn’t desired because the Master Plan Update is being rushed for presentation on November 18 to the City Council.

Public Comments.

• Andy Campbell (former Chair) requested inclusion of resource agency comments in the Master Plan update.

• Erik Roberts (former Chair) advocated for removal of the flying field and the discontinuation of amplified music.

• I opposed relocating the fly field to the east side due to historical burrowing owl sightings and objected to the City funding the take permit and monitoring.

• Betsy Dismore requested a timeline of projects, including deadlines. She is in favor of a flood control project at the park’s south end.

Final Remarks.

• Daniel Baume attempted to recommend that HSS be responsible for paying relocation costs, but he wasn’t allowed to call a vote.

• Committee member Bo Glover praised the document, but he wanted to remind everyone that they are stewards of the land. He quoted the Master Plan update in saying that the detailed design decisions that begin on Page 95 are “critical to implementing the Master Plan Objectives and assuring that the vision of Fairview Park is fully realized.”

• City Council member Arlis Reynolds acknowledged the hard work and confirmed the Plan will go to the City Council on November 18.

Next Steps.

• An environmental document will need to be prepared before final approval, which includes an environmental report on the flying field.

• The Master Plan Update is expected to be approved by the City Council in 2026.

• A Special Meeting of the Parks and Community Services Commission is scheduled for Thursday, October 30, at 6:00 p.m. on this same topic.