OCC swap meet growth at issue

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- Orange Coast College officials analyzed the effects of a

drastically scaled-back campus swap meet Monday, weighing the loss of

revenue against a mandate for more space.

Jim McIlwain, vice president of administrative services at OCC, said

school officials are deciding whether to ask the city to allow for more

vendors and the return of a two-day weekend swap meet when the issue

comes before the Planning Commission for renewal in the next few weeks.

McIlwain said the college may ask for changes to the existing permit

-- which allows for 275 vendors on Sundays only -- but the campus has an

increasing number of Saturday classes and activities that compete for

space, parking and access.

“There is only so much room, and there are so many activities and all

are expanding,” McIlwain said. “It creates a natural conflict.”

Last month, city officials notified the college that the current

campus swap meet was violating the school’s 1984 agreement with the city.

A study -- prompted by Councilwoman Libby Cowan in November because of an

apparent increase in traffic along Fairview Road -- found the swap meet

was operating with an excess of about 200 vendors and an additional day

not authorized by the city.

City and college officials met to discuss the study, and the school

readily agreed to decrease the size to comply with the existing permit

starting the weekend of May 4. An announcement was sent to vendors,

explaining the cuts.

Slicing the swap meet in half may result in more than a decrease in

traffic, said George Blanc, the college’s administrative dean of economic

development and communication education who also oversees operation of

the swap meet. Reducing the shopping destination may also greatly reduce

the school’s revenue, he said.

The campus swap meet brings in at least $1.5 million every year, less

expenses for sweeping and staffing, Blanc said. The remainder of the

revenue is applied to funding myriad community programs, including a

small-business support center, summer college program for children and

performing arts.

“All these programs are in jeopardy,” Blanc said.

So are the livelihood of the vendors, he added.

Blanc said he was never aware of the terms of the 18-year-old permit

and had no idea the swap meet was violating them. He said the paperwork

was probably received and filed at the district offices in 1984 without

ever crossing his desk.

“I, for one, was not aware that we didn’t have a permit for

Saturdays,” Blanc said. “If I knew, we would have asked for one.”

Blanc added that the two-day operation was no secret. The school

advertised the swap meet on banners along Fairview Road and posted it on

the campus marquee, he said.

He is urging school officials to request permission for a larger venue

and said he would work with the city to eliminate its concerns.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .