By Jonathan Goetz

August 1, 2017 (La Mesa) – This year’s Oktoberfest will be September 28-Ocober 1 and run by the La Mesa Village Association.  The La Mesa City Council approved the action at last week’s meeting. A proposal to change all City Council meetings to 6 p.m. was continued to a future meeting to allow more community feedback.  The City’s traffic calming program will use more than just speed humps to slow down traffic. Additionally, private fundraising efforts will be launched to raise money for a large gateway sign for downtown La Mesa.

By Miriam Raftery

May 22, 2017 (La Mesa) – La Mesa’s City Council will consider a proposal at its Tuesday meeting to issue a special permit to expand the La Mesa Classic Car Show from eight weeks to 14 weeks.  The shows would be held Thursday nights from June 7 through August 25 and would be run by the newly formed La Mesa Village Association (LMVA).

East County News Service

January 24, 2017 (La Mesa) – La Mesa’s City Council will hear an Affordable homes Bonus Program proposed by Councilmembers Kristine Alessio and Colin Parent at tonight’s  meeting at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers (8130 Allison Ave., La Mesa.) View details: http://ca-lamesa3.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/1472?fileID=2801

Update with comments from the Lincoln Club President and links to prior concerns raised about the PAC by the FPPC.

By Miriam Raftery

November 3, 2016 (La Mesa) — A hit piece mailer on La Mesa City Council Colin Parent has been sent by a shadowy political action group tied to his opponent.

The mailer deceptively states Parent moved to La Mesa only to run for Council and mentions he’s lived in Sacramento and San Diego.  It fails to mention his long and deep ties to East County.  Parent went to Fuerte Elementary School near Mt. Helix, had his first job on La Mesa Blvd. with the East County Development Council, grew up going to local La Mesa hang-outs such as the Aquarius roller rink, was active in Boy Scots and graduated from Valhalla High School in the Grossmont Union High School District before attending UC San Diego and later, getting a law degree in New York.

East County News Service

October 15, 2016 (La Mesa)—Three candidates vying for two seats on the  La Mesa City Council are slated to appear in a forum  on Tuesday, October 18 at 6 p.m.in the La Mesa Police Department’s community room.

This forum will be sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the  American Association of University Women.

Candidates are incumbents Ruth Sterling and Kristine Alessio,  as well as challenger Colin Parent.

By  Miriam Raftery

East County Magazine sat down with Councilwoman Kristine Alessio, who is seeking reelection to the La Mesa City Council.  Alessio, an attorney specializing in land use issues, was born and raised in La Mesa and previously served on the  Planning Commission.  “I have a very good understanding of the city,” she says. 

You can hear her interview, originally aired on KNSJ radio,  by clicking the audio link: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au..., or click “read more” and scroll down to read highlights.

By Tasha Matthews

ECM Editor Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

August 4, 2016 (La Mesa)--Councilmember Guy McWhirter opened the La Mesa City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 26^th by expressing concern for our country in the wake of recent shootings of police officers. He thanked police for their brave work helping to protect citizens—two days before two San Diego Police officers were shot, one fatally.

But the Council rejected a Grand Jury recommendation to create a police oversight board aimed at assuring that citizens’ rights are protected if officer misconduct is alleged. The Grand Jury made its recommendations to La Mesa and other local cities in a report on Citizens Oversight Boards of Police Behavior.

East County News Service

May 13, 2016 (La Mesa) -- Applications are now being accepted for volunteer positions on the City’s boards and commissions. The deadline for submission of applications is 5:30 p.m., Thursday, June 2, 2016, in the City Clerk’s office at La Mesa City Hall, 8130 Allison Avenue. Applications may be obtained at City Hall or from the City of La Mesa website, www.cityoflamesa.us.

By Leon Thompson

February 18, 20016 (La Mesa) -- The first La Mesa Town Hall event of 2016 exposed tensions brewing in the relationship between citizens of La Mesa and the City Council.  These open forum sessions aim to give citizens a forum to share “ideas, comments and opinions on issues in their neighborhood and throughout the City,” according to the City’s website.

Story and photos by Janis Russell

Photo, left: Don Parent, SDG&E, presents update on gas pipeline upgrades planned on Fletcher Parkway, Amaya and Jackson Drive

October 18, 2015 (La Mesa)—At Tuesday’s La Mesa City Council meeting, Council members heard from San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) about pipeline upgrades planned in La Mesa, received an update on downtown streetscape improvements nearing completion, and presented a commendation to a La Mesa resident who won the Fox TV Masterchef competition.

Concerns raised over merchants group's solvency and credibility during heated hearing

By Kristin Kjaero

August 3, 2015 (La Mesa) – Whether or not there will be an Oktoberfest 2015 is in the hands of the La Mesa Village Merchants Association (LMVMA).

On Tuesday, the Council voted 4-1 to grant conditional approval for this year’s Oktoberfest, with Council member Ruth Sterling voting against. The deal requires the LMVMA to pay all outstanding debt plus a 25% security deposit and meet a scheduled list of new requirements giving the City oversight of LMVMA’s outside contracts for the event, before an Oktoberfest permit will be issued.

If all deadlines are met, Oktoberfest 2015 will be smaller and shorter: two days instead of three, closing an hour earlier, and held only in the downtown area east side of Spring Street. However, if any deadline is not met, Oktoberfest will be automatically cancelled with no further Council action required--and no refunds.

No permit, no debt repayment plan yet, but the clock is ticking

By Kristin Kjaero

June 9, 2015 (La Mesa) – Although the City Council sent them back to the drawing board with a requirement that means they must come up with a repayment plan for $37,229 they owe the City before any new special event applications from them will be processed, the La Mesa Village Merchants Association yesterday evening sent e-mails to all 2014 Oktoberfest vendors soliciting applications and payments for booth rentals for a 2015 Oktoberfest.

The e-mail states, “Even though it was very hot during the day, the event was a great success. We hope that you feel the same way and will consider joining us again this year.”

The Merchants group owes the City $33,996 for Police, Fire and other support services provided for the 2014 Oktoberfest, and said at the last City Council meeting that they’d spent the revenue from it on Christmas in the Village instead of paying back the City’s General Fund.

The e-mail gives the vendors a date, time, fees for booth rental (ranging from $500 for crafters up to $2,100 for food vendors plus $100 cleaning deposit), and where to send their checks, but does not mention the debt issue or problems with their previous application which triggered a City Council policy change regarding special event applications and permits.

April 23, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Here are the highlights of what the La Mesa City Council will consider on its upcoming agenda for Tuesday, April 28:

East County News Service

March 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--The Crest/Dehesa/Granite Hills/Harbison Canyon planning group meets Monday, March 9^th at 7 p.m. The community of Crest currently has only one way in and one way out, a serious danger during a major wildfire.  This week, the planning group will consider a proposal to create an emergency egress route from Crest through an avocado grove north to Interstate 8.