El Toro back on council agenda

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Judging by tonight’s packed agenda, the City

Council plans to end the year with a bang.

The revived Newport Beach Film Festival is requesting the council endorse

them and allocate up to $10,000 for start-up costs. The festival board is

also requesting the city support the screening costs for next year, which

are not expected to exceed $40,000.

This new festival follows the demise of the Newport Beach International

Film Festival, which shocked the community when organizer Jeffrey S.

Conner filed for bankruptcy this fall.

The new film festival has announced plans to start screening between

March 30 and April 6, 2000. In contrast to previous years, the

scaled-down festival board plans to hold all the screenings and seminars

in Newport Beach. The budget for the revived festival is estimated at

$90,400.

“I will definitely get behind that one,” said Mayor John Noyes.

The council also will debate whether to give more money -- $1.25 million

-- to the fight for an airport at the former El Toro Marine Corps base.

Mayor John Noyes, vice Mayor Gary Adams and councilwoman Norma Glover are

recommending the staff give the Citizens for Jobs and the Economy

$750,000 and the Airport Working Group $500,000.

The groups plan to use the money to fund their ongoing efforts to inform

the public about the benefits of reusing El Toro.

Staff has submitted a list of sources where the money could come from,

including: new revenue, a hiring freeze, capital project postponements

and so on.

“I believe the rest of the City Council will spend whatever it takes to

present our case and to ensure that John Wayne is not expanding,” said

Councilman Dennis O’Neil. “I certainly believe it’s money that will be

well spent.”

The council also will consider the proposal for an Arts and Education

Center next to the Newport Library.

The ad hoc committee supporting the project made a presentation at the

last study session, which got a lukewarm reception from community

members.

The committee has been meeting since last summer to explore the idea of

building a $12 million arts and education center for the community. The

center would use 3.5 acres of land behind the library, between MacArthur

Boulevard and Avocado Avenue. Supporters said the center would provide a

reception hall, public art gallery, three classrooms and offices for

public use.

However, among other things, some council members were concerned the ad

hoc committee wanted the center publicly owned and operated. Councilwoman

Glover, having served on a number of artistic committees, said this could

compromise the artistic freedom of potential displays.