Proposed Costa Mesa charter heading for defeat; toll road measure gaining speed

Costa Mesa’s second attempt in two years to establish home rule appeared to be on the brink of failure Tuesday night, with early returns on the city charter proposal indicating a strong lack of voter approval.

Measure O was being denied by a margin of around 25%, according to county registrar returns as of 10:30 p.m.

The charter was written by a 13-member committee of council appointees who met about 15 times over the course of 10 months to draft the constitution-like document. After two public hearings were held, in April and June, the council approved it for the ballot in July.

Proponents — including most of the charter committee, 10 of whom signed off on the document in March — said the charter would help give Costa Mesa more control over its municipal affairs, particularly in the areas of outsourcing city services and conducting labor negotiations. They also contended that City Hall would save money by not having to pay the prevailing wage — a minimum rate established by unions and other parties — on city-funded projects.

Dissenters argued that the charter was a power grab by the Mayor Jim Righeimer-led council majority, created by a committee stacked with Righeimer’s supporters. They were also critical of the second charter attempt after the sound defeat of an earlier proposal, Measure V, on the November 2012 ballot.

Tuesday’s returns echoed the lack of success of Measure V, led and written by then-Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer. As with Measure O, community activists and organized labor raised money and campaigned heavily against the proposal.

That charter failed, with nearly 60% voting no.

Toll Road Vote

The San Diego (405) Freeway toll road advisory measure, Measure P, appeared to be gaining traction with voters.

The measure would not have a legislative effect, but instead is meant to gauge public sentiment on a state proposal to add toll roads on a portion of the 405 between Costa Mesa and Rossmoor.

As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, the measure was favored by about 9%.

The Costa Mesa City Council unanimously rejected the toll road idea, but the two councilwomen, Sandy Genis and Wendy Leece, dissented during a vote on whether to put Measure P on the general election ballot.