Possible new pool and political rules to be considered by Newport Beach council

The prospect of building a public swimming pool at Lower Castaways Park will be a subject of discussion at the Newport Beach City Council meeting Tuesday.

If approved, the 25-yard lap pool would be the only public aquatics facility operated by Newport Beach outright. The pool would be used for swimming laps, year-round lessons, water fitness and therapy classes.

With the council’s initial support, the city Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission would take over, possibly launching a feasibility study.

The city currently gets pool time at Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor high schools, which also run student athletics programs.

Election reforms

Local election reforms may come closer to reality at the council meeting.

The City Council will consider introducing one ordinance to add a grace period for fixing violations of municipal campaign contribution limits and another to establish local lobbyist registration.

The key modification to contribution limits would adopt procedures for donors and recipients to clean up inadvertent or unintentional violations without penalty — if they catch the errors within two weeks.

The lobbyist registration rule would require an advocate who receives at least $500 a month to sign up with the Orange County Campaign Finance and Ethics Commission, assuming approval of the county Board of Supervisors.

If the supervisors don’t allow Newport to join the county system, the proposed local ordinance would be amended to require registration with the city clerk.

Lobbyists would need to disclose their occupations and clients. .

“Lobbying” would be defined as advocating for or against legislation, regulations, policies or litigation and the granting of permits, entitlements, contracts or grants.

The City Council this year assigned three of its members to a committee to study potential reforms of local election rules.

Tuesday’s regular council meeting will start at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Drive. It will be preceded by a study session at 5:30 p.m.

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