Corona del Mar Today: Officials conclude investigation on balcony collapse

Newport Beach officials have concluded their investigation of a balcony that collapsed last month on Goldenrod Avenue, turning over any follow-up inspections to the homeowner’s insurance company, city officials have confirmed.

The second-story balcony collapsed at the home at 422 Goldenrod Ave. on Oct. 23, sending two people to the hospital. Neighbors from blocks away heard the collapse, and the first 911 calls erroneously reported nine people trapped.

City inspectors investigated the collapse, putting a red tag near the balcony and using yellow tape to cordon the yard. The building itself was deemed safe.

Because the home is private and not a public space, city officials said that the homeowner’s insurance company could take over the follow-up reports.

City officials will work with the homeowner and any architect or contractor to make sure repairs are made to code, and in a reasonable time frame, said Daniel Kennedy, a principal engineer with the city.

The collapse appeared to be accidental and not because of any code violations, he said.

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Reagan discussion will wait

Tuesday’s meeting of the Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission has been canceled.

The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Council Chambers at City Hall at 3300 Newport Blvd.

Meanwhile, Mayor Keith Curry said that he had not made any definitive plans in going forward with a proposal to name a local sports park after late President Ronald Reagan. At the last City Council meeting, two proposals failed to pass, including a proposal to send the topic to the parks commission for consideration as well as a proposal to create a committee to explore ways to honor Reagan on his 100th birthday next year.

Curry has not had time to plan what action he may take, he said.

He added that he soon would be canvassing a few people to see if he could develop an appropriate plan.

At last week’s meeting after the second failed vote, Curry vowed the topic was not dead and would return “in some form or fashion.”

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Home Tour raises $130,000 for PTA

The 37th annual Corona del Mar Home Tour raised about $130,000 for the Corona del Mar Middle and High School’s PTA — $10,000 more than expected, organizers said.

The event was held Oct. 26 and featured seven homes, plus breakfast, lunch and a post-tour party.

A total of 1,400 tickets were sold, including 50 the day of the tour, said co-chairwoman Jane Owen.

Thirty volunteers worked for six months to organize the event, which is the PTA’s only fundraiser each year.

“I’m so appreciative,” said CdMHS Principal Tim Bryant at a recent PTA meeting. “It was an amazing day.”

Money raised this year will pay for teachers to attend training classes and programs, and to help fund the Naviance program that helps students plan for college.

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Two vehicles damaged in Fashion Island fire

Eleven firefighters quickly extinguished a fire in the engine compartment of a minivan Wednesday in a parking structure in the 600 block of Newport Center Drive, officials said.

The fire was reported at about 1:26 p.m. The minivan sustained damage, as well as slight damage to a neighboring car, but there was no parking structure damage, said Jennifer Schulz, a spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Fire Department.

There were no injuries, and no one was inside either of the cars during the incident, she said.

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Gardner nominated as Cycle Safety Committee chairwoman

Corona del Mar’s City Councilwoman Nancy Gardner has been recommended to become the chairwoman of the newly formed Citizens Bicycle Safety Committee, according to a staff report included in the agenda for the Nov. 9 City Council meeting. In October, the City Council appointed seven citizens to the committee.

The committee was created as part of a report created last spring by a temporary cycling safety task force, which was created in late 2009 at Gardner’s suggestion.

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Woman arrested on DUI charge after crashing into tree

Newport Beach police on Tuesday followed a trail of leaking automobile fluid from a crash scene to an alley, where they arrested a driver on suspicion of DUI, police said.

A Corona del Mar woman is accused of crashing into a tree at 10:22 p.m., then driving away from the scene, said Sgt. Steve Burdette. The crash occurred at Goldenrod and Seaview avenues.

“The officers followed the trail of fluid and contacted the individual in an alley near the collision site,” he said. After an investigation, police arrested the woman on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI, he said.

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Leashed dog bites woman; minor injuries reported

A terrier dog on a leash jumped out and bit a woman on the knee Monday morning, according to police.

A man was walking the dog about 10:38 a.m. in the 500 block of Larkspur Avenue when a woman passed them walking the other direction, police said. When the woman was within the dog’s reach, the dog jumped up and bit her. The woman sustained minor injuries, and police were called to the scene to take a report.