Concert series may be saved

At least a few of Costa Mesa’s summer Concerts in the Park may be saved this year after they were canceled by the City Council to save money.

A 3-2 vote — with Mayor Pro Tem Wendy Leece and Councilwoman Katrina Foley voting against the cancellation — did away with the six annual concerts scheduled to run on Tuesday nights from the beginning of July through the middle of August.

The action was proposed by Councilman Gary Monahan, and city budget officials estimated it would save the city close to $30,000. Foley said that the concerts can be put on for much less, though.

The Costa Mesa Community Foundation pledged $4,300 in support. The police and fire unions pledged $2,500 each, according to Foley.

Representatives of the unions could not immediately be reached Friday afternoon to confirm.

Foley said the $9,300 is enough to save five of the six concerts, but the City Council will have to approve it first because it voted to cancel the series last week.

“My hope is that we can have the same concert series — it’s going to look the same, feel the same,� Foley said.

The Community Foundation already had more than $4,000 in past donations already set aside for Concerts in the Park, in case the funding might become necessary. When foundation officials heard the series had been canceled, they voted to offer that money to save the concerts.

“It seemed to us that no one realized that these funds were available,� said board member Bill Turpit.

Leece and Foley have requested that the council take the issue up at its July 7 meeting — the same day the concert series was scheduled to start.