CITY COUNCIL WRAPUP

(Council members Tom Thomson and Jan Debay were absent)

WHAT HAPPENED: The City Council appointed the city’s administrative

services director, Dennis Danner, to represent the city in receiving

bankruptcy proceeds.

WHAT IT MEANS: The city will be able to collect on the 1994 Orange

County Bankruptcy proceeds starting Feb. 24.

Six years ago, the county and Orange County Investment Pools filed

Chapter 9 bankruptcy. At that time, Newport Beach had invested about

$17.3 million, primarily in bonds, in the pool.

Since then, the county has successfully litigated a number of cases

against brokers, accountants, lawyers and so on. The total recovered is

more than $850 million.

Vote: IN FAVOR: 5 AGAINST: 0

WHAT HAPPENED: The council voted to overturn a Feb. 1 Parks,

Beaches and Recreation Commission decision in order to remove two trees

at Eastbluff Drive and Vista del Oro.

WHAT IT MEANS: Staff objected to two ficus trees blocking the

Eastbluff Drive stop sign. The area is a residential neighborhood, where

children go to and from school.

WHAT THEY SAID: “We can’t compromise the safety of our school

children,” said Councilman Gary Adams.

Vote: IN FAVOR: 5 AGAINST: 0

WHAT HAPPENED: The city decided to withdraw as a member of the

Metro Cities Fire Authority. The city will study the possibility of

merging the Police Department and Fire and Marine Department Emergency

Dispatch, Technology and Management Information support systems.

WHAT IT MEANS: The city joined the Metro Cities Fire Authority in

1996 to obtain high-quality, reliable dispatch services at minimal cost.

The city’s experience, however, has been less than satisfactory. The

emergency response times have been unreliable and often too long.

A proposed plan would allow the Fire and Marine Department to take

advantage of the state-of-the-art computer system recently installed at

the Police Department. If this is feasible, the city will withdraw from

the Metro Cities Fire Authority.

Vote: IN FAVOR: 5 AGAINST: 0

SOUNDING OFF

“They don’t have palm trees with music coming out of them,” joked

Councilwoman Norma Glover.

Council members were listing reasons why Fashion Island is a unique

shopping experience compared to the Shops at Mission Viejo or South Coast

Plaza.

NEXT MEETING

The City Council will meet on Feb. 22 at 4 p.m. for the study session and

at 7 p.m. for the regular session at City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.