Council Nixes Merger With Water District

Merger talks between the city of Costa Mesa and the Mesa Consolidated Water District came to a quick end this week when the City Council voted unanimously against the proposal, saying it would be too costly.

City Manager Allan L. Roeder estimated that the council would have to allocate $100,000 for a consultant to study the feasibility of merging the two agencies.

Mayor Joe Erickson added that the city could also incur hefty legal bills if the water agency were to fight a consolidation effort by the city.

Directors of Mesa Consolidated had said in earlier meetings with council members that they opposed a takeover because they objected to the circumstances under which merger talks were initiated.

A citizen watchdog group asked the council to consider absorbing the district based on “numerous acts of impropriety,” including two sexual harassment claims that cost the district $170,000 to settle.