Terry Shaw for City Council

Daily Pilot profile of Terry Shaw 10/28/04

2004-10-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

Counting on chance to serve the hometown
Alicia Robinson
Daily Pilot
October 28, 2004
After fighting to stay out of the shadow of the 1901 Newport condominium
complex, Terry Shaw wants to move from the audience at City Council meetings
to the dais.
A Newport Harbor High School graduate who grew up in Costa Mesa, Shaw is
running for the City Council. His professional experience is in accounting
and banking. He now works as an account manager for Orange County Business
Bank, and he's been an accountant for local computer manufacturers.
"I like working with the numbers, and I like the people that I've been
working with," he said. "It's been a good career overall."
Shaw said he's running for the council because he became interested in city
government a year and a half ago and wants to get more involved.
"It goes back to when I was opposing the 1901 Newport Plaza condominium
project," he said. "I started attending all the meetings after that, and
there were just a number of decisions that I didn't concur with, and so I
thought I'd give it a shot."
He lives across the street from 1901 Newport and encouraged the council to
limit the buildings to three stories, but he wasn't happy with what was
finally approved, he said.
If he is elected, one of his priorities will be "reasonable land
development," he said. The city needs some growth, but it doesn't have to be
high density, he said.
"I just don't buy into that philosophy [of high density]," Shaw said. "I
don't think we need to be another high-rise town."
He's also concerned about the city using its fiscal reserves and thinks
officials should cut costs, raise fees or a combination of both.
"If you have to draw from savings to meet your bills, and you're not getting
it from current income, that's not balancing your budget," he said.
In his free time, Shaw's pursuits tend toward the physically active. He
enjoys camping and has hiked Mount Whitney twice, he said. He's also a
graduate of the Newport Beach Citizens Police Academy.
Shaw said the ideal City Council member should be a person of integrity who
has an understanding of how city government works.
"I think they should be willing to listen to different points of view, and I
think they should be someone that's going to seek solutions that, while it
may not please everyone, it will answer most people's concerns," he said.
Solving problems and making things fit together is what Shaw likes about his
job. Someone once told him what accountants do is put numbers in little
boxes, and he said he applies that method to the city.
"I guess I look at the city as, the people are the numbers and the houses
are the boxes and it's a matter of making everyone fit in the city and
helping everyone find a spot where they feel comfortable," he said.
Copyright 2004 Los Angeles Times

Contact Information

2004-10-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

E-mail: tshaw@juno.com

Useful Links

2004-10-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

http://www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/ City of Costa Mesa website
http://www.ocgov.com/election/Registration/2a.htm County of Orange voter registration website
http://www.smartvoter.org/ League of Women Voters California website - candidates and
initiatives
http://www.ccca.org/ Christian Coalition of California voter information guide, select Orange County and see page 3 for local elections
http://www.responsiblechoices.org/candidates/candidates.asp?loc=30&office=285 I am pro life and was not ashamed to let Planned Parenthood know and have recieved their anti-choice label, see for your self
http://www.vgt2004.org/a-orangecounty04/ yet another voter guide
http://www.nmusd.k12.ca.us/ Newport-Mesa Unified School District
http://www.oc.ca.gov/ County of Orange website
http://www.octa.net/ Orange County Transit Authority (mass transit)
http://www.ocregister.com/ Orange County Register
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/pilot/ Daily Pilot
http://www.costamesahistory.org/ Costa Mesa Historical Society
http://www.weather.com/weather/local/USCA0256 Local Weather
http://www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/cgi-bin/htsearch.cgi Search for Terry Shaw

Answers to OC Register questions

2004-10-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

* Would you be willing to cut city services if it was necessary to
balance a budget? If so, which services would you cut first?
Yes, I would be willing to cut services. I don’t have specific cuts in mind at this point. I would need to review the budget with a fine-tooth comb and would consider across the board cuts, including hiring freezes, etc. We need to be cautious about going overboard with employee benefits, such as enhanced pensions that are now getting some cities into trouble. Also, we may need to raise fees. Some of ours, such as the business license fee, have not kept up with other cities. In short, we need to do something other than draw from reserves to balance the budget.

* What will you do to retain existing businesses and attract new ones?
I think we need to look at mixed-use development, which is currently being studied, and overlay zoning, which has been talked about in the past. Infrastructure improvements need to continue. Some shopping centers could use a face-lift and perhaps low interest loans would be helpful but private investment should be encouraged first. Code enforcement may be necessary to make sure properties are clean and presentable. Finally, I think we do too much micromanaging of small business. At one planning commission meeting I attended, a small shop owner was put through the ringer so she could display a small amount of furniture outdoor in front of her store.

* How will you balance the needs of residents and business owners?
I think all parties need to be listened to and ideally compromises reached that are acceptable to everyone. This is isn’t always achievable in which case hard decisions need to be made as to what is best for the city as whole and for affected areas in particular. Factors such as noise, traffic and density all need to considered. Ideally, a level playing field needs to be created for everyone.

* What will you do to improve housing quality and opportunies in the city?
Part of the solution here lies with mixed use and overlay zoning as previously mentioned. A balance needs to be reached between quality and quantity. One of my main platforms is to focus on reasonable and responsible growth, that is less density. We need to be careful not to destroy the character of existing neighborhoods. Where the city has the authority and capacity, it should mandate and encourage senior and affordable housing. I would like to see mobile home parks retained if at all possible.

* How will you improve transportation in the city and regionally?
I support the widening of Newport Boulevard through downtown Costa Mesa as proposed by Cal Trans. Another idea mentioned is to underground this segment, but that may be too expensive. More commuter busses would help. Regionally, I have opposed Centerline as too little for too big a price tag. We need to see a bigger picture before embarking on this. I use this type of transportation on occasion so am not totally opposed to it. I think we need to look at less expensive methods of construction. These would be using existing freeways, a monorail or suspended rail system (i.e. cars hanging under a raised rail), and even, though granted farfetched, cable and gondola systems for shorter and less crowded segments. These would be more versatile and cheaper. Cities would have one or more hubs with these systems fanning out from them connecting with other cities using existing rights of way. And ideally I would like to see private investment involved.

Answers to Daily Pilot questions

2004-10-01T20:42:00.000-07:00

What's the most important issue facing the city?
I think the major issue at this point is land use/development/zoning. What we do concerning this has a trickle down effect. It affects the whole city and for a very long time. We ought not to allow over development. We should encourage, where and when possible, single family housing. When multi family housing is called for, we should require the maximum in parking spaces and likewise for commercial projects. Parking, as well as traffic, has become a major problem in this city. Also, many neighborhoods are losing their character due to “super sizing” of new housing and remodels. We should encourage and obtain open space when financially feasible. It may be time to review the general plan since we seem to be changing it piecemeal in it current form. All this affects the city financially too, which I think is a very close second issue.

What do you think of the city's joint-use agreement with the schools for use of playing fields?
I think, like most of the candidates, the agreement is good in principle. However, it is apparent that both parties need a clearer understanding, or at least a refreshing, of what is required of each. This will help alleviate over zealous enforcement and scapegoats. There are apparently some ad hoc meetings taking place, which should be open to the public. It will be informative to know what the recommendations and results are. Additionally it has been indicated that the fields at Costa Mesa’s high schools are in much poorer condition that the ones in Newport Beach. This is something that should be addressed.

What would be the most effective way to improve the Westside?
Probably the most effective immediate improvement would be infrastructure improvements. Many residents on the Westside complain their streets are terrible compared to other parts of the city. Granted, repairs and landscaping are taking place and more are planned for 19th Street, but more needs to be done in the neighborhoods. Sub par housing should be looked at for code violations and some of the shopping centers need face-lifts. Perhaps low interest loans would help but private investment should be encouraged first. A zoning overlay may be worth considering but any new development would have to recognize the pre existing rights of those already there. The industrial component is grand fathered in and while it might be nice to see it changed I would not force condemnation. Noxious fumes, which I’ve heard complaints about, should be investigated and controlled. Also half way houses should be monitored to make sure they are not overly congregated and are run in an orderly manner.

Are city leaders doing a good job handling the budget and pressures on it from the state?
The city administrators have done a good job with what they have to work with. However, the city council has some tough decisions ahead. The state’s playing with the revenue stream has certainly muddied the waters, however our spending has outpaced revenue. We have drawn from reserves for the last three years to meet budget. Obviously this cannot go on forever. The only time it might be warranted is when major capital projects are involved. Orange County just approved an enhanced retirement plan for its employees. This puts pressure on cities to adopt similar plans. We need to be very cautious in our negotiations with the Costa Mesa employees’ union. We do not want to join a growing list of bankrupt or near bankrupt cities, including San Diego. Would I raise taxes or fees? Yes, but only after careful consideration. Some of them, such as the business license fees, have not kept with the times. So, I would say they’ve done a fair job based on reacting to changing state circumstances but tougher times may be ahead.

Where I Stand

2004-09-12T23:38:00.000-07:00

Why I am a candidate:
Like most residents of Costa Mesa I thought our local government was in good hands. That is until a couple of projects were approved across the street from me. Both involved 1901 Newport Plaza. The first was approval for a nightclub, which I protested to no avail although a wall was ultimately installed for residents’ privacy. The second approval was for a four-story 161-unit condominium project. Again I, and many others, protested to no avail. To make a long story short, Costa Mesa Citizens for Responsible Growth appealed and after a long fight won a reduction to 145 units with enhanced parking, for which I am grateful. Unfortunately Costa Mesa then had to kick in $1.5 million to help fund the affordable housing component of the project. When the project was first considered for approval, I asked them to adopt, if anything, alternate plan A. The final project was very close to this with the exception of additional parking and a minor reducton in units. So, you see, early on there was an opportunity to save everyone involved, including the city, a lot of time, trouble and money, including attorney’s fees.
It was after the initial approval of this project that I started attending most city council meetings, numerous planning commission meetings and some study sessions. I observed many decisions that I did not agree with and that is why I seek your vote for city council.

Current issues:
Responsible growth: We ought not to allow over development. We should encourage, where and when possible, single family housing. When multi family housing is called for, we should require the maximum in parking spaces and likewise for commercial projects. Parking, as well as traffic, has become a major problem in this city. Also, many neighborhoods are losing their character due to “super sizing” of new housing and remodels. We should encourage and obtain open space when financially feasible. It may be time to review the general plan since we seem to be changing it piecemeal in it current form.

Fiscal responsibility: We have drawn from reserves for the last three years to meet budget. Obviously this cannot go on forever. The only time it might be warranted is when major capital projects are involved. Also, Orange County just approved an enhanced retirement plan for its employees. This puts pressure on cities to adopt similar plans. We need to be very cautious in our negotiations with the Costa Mesa employees’ union. We do not want to join a growing list of bankrupt or near bankrupt cities, including San Diego. Would I raise taxes or fees? Yes, but only after careful consideration. Some of them, such as the business license fees, have not kept up with the times.

Infrastructure: We are making progress with street improvements and other enhancements, but there are still too many that need attention. We must insure repairs continue and at a fair cost.

Senior housing: Where the city has the authority and capacity, it should mandate and encourage such development. After all, we’re all going to be old some day if we live long enough.

Mixed use: I find this an interesting concept and am open to further study. While this may not be everyone’s idea of mixed use, I have always been intrigued with the Old World shopping center in Huntington Beach.

Centerline: I have spoken out against this. Even though Costa Mesa currently has little at stake financially we should oppose it. This will cost untold millions (billions?) in the future and that money will ultimately come from you, the taxpayer. This project is not viable in its current form and the only way I could entertain it is if private money were invested, i.e. from the businesses that will benefit from it.

Fairview Park: While I realize there are some ecologically sensitive areas, I would like to see it developed beyond a mostly dirt lot with weeds. However, this can be accomplished only as the budget allows.

Bridges: Let’s say no to the 19th St. and Gisler bridges as put forth. A city wide referendum may be needed to decide their fate.

Fairgrounds: None of us want to see the fairgrounds sold. Again, just say no.

Small business: I think we do too much micromanaging of small business. At one of the early planning commission meetings I attended, a small shop owner was put through the ringer so she could display a small amount of furniture outdoors in front of her store.

City Attorney office: I requested that the city council keep it in house when it was put a vote.
Past issues:
Traffic impact fee: In April, the city council approved waiving $660,000.00 in fees related to the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall construction. I opposed this at the meeting. This money came from you the taxpayer. All you will get for it is a bigger budget deficit and the city’s name on a wall.

Mobile home park closure ordinance: This was one of my bigger disappointments this past year. This ordinance evolved over many months of study and input and would have provided protection to those living in Costa Mesa's 21 mobile home parks when a park owner wants to close it and use it for another purpose. Although it was watered down toward the end I supported it from start to finish. Ultimately it didn’t matter, for the city council merely voted to “receive and file” which meant it was all for naught. This ordinance was instigated due to the agonizing closure of two mobile home parks with many senior citizens for a future development. Mobile home parks are a great example of affordable housing.

Fireworks: I supported the changes passed this year to our current ordinances, although I would ultimately like to see fireworks banned altogether. It is impossible to control the illegal ones while we have “safe and sane” ones. I am not so much concerned with the irresponsible person who injures him/herself as I am with the one who injures an innocent party or burns down someone’s house. Additionally, there are concerns with the pollution they create. I recognize that many organizations rely on fireworks sales to fund their activities and would encourage the city to help them explore other opportunities.

Hamilton St. community garden: I supported this. Yes it cost about 66 thousand dollars when finished, but of the options put forth this was the best use at the least cost, other than to continue letting it sit vacant and be an eyesore.

Philosophy:
I believe in limited government. But I also believe that the primary purpose of government, after providing basic necessary services, is to provide balance in everything that occurs within its sphere of influence. Balance between business and residents, between developers and homeowners, between big and small business, those with and without influence and finally between the city and other government entities. To put it another way, government needs to create a level playing field where everyone is heard and laws are applied evenly. Every story has two sides and I will listen to each side and then make a decision. I will use common sense and if necessary, I will suggest compromise, but not on matters of principle.

Thank you for reading through. I look forward to your vote.

The Personal Stuff

2004-08-30T17:56:00.000-07:00

My Costa Mesa roots:
I lived in Costa Mesa from birth in1953 to1984 when I married my wife, Marilyn. We purchased a mobile home in Newport Beach and lived there until February 2002 when we bought a house in Costa Mesa. Consequently, I have lived in Costa Mesa a total of 34 years. We have two children, Christina and Thomas, both of whom attend Costa Mesa (Jr.) High School.
My parents moved to Costa Mesa in 1949 from Santa Ana to “live in the country”. My mother still lives in the house that my father built with help from friends. Both of my parents’ families have a long history in Orange County, with my father’s side having bought three lots in Santa Ana about a hundred years ago, one lot of which is still in the family.
My great aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Chamness, on my father’s side, were co owners of the Costa Mesa Bird and Game Farm in the early 1920’s.
On my wife’s side, her great grand parents, Mr. and Mrs. August Bendlin, came to Costa Mesa in the mid 1920’s having bought some land, which August both built on and subdivided. Marilyn’s grandmother still lives on one of the lots.

School and Work:
I attended schools in both Costa Mesa and Newport Beach graduating from Newport Harbor High School in 1971. I attended Orange Coast College and transferred to California State University, Fullerton, graduating in 1976 with a B.A. in Business Administration.
After graduating, I worked several years for computer manufacturers in various accounting capacities. While doing temp work in 1983, I fell into banking and have been in the accounting end of that field since, currently holding the position of AVP/Accounting Manager at a local bank.

Community:
Member of Costa Mesa Investment Oversight Committee
Member of Costa Mesa Historical Society
Member of local church
Member of PTA
Graduate of Newport Beach Citizens Police Academy