Newport survey reveals few surprises

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT BEACH -- Promoting the reuse of the military base at El Toro and

keeping limits on John Wayne Airport are residents’ biggest concerns,

according to a recent city survey.

The so-called “seven-minute” questionnaire, which has been in the works

for a year, was a preliminary effort to find out what community members

think about their city.

Mayor John Noyes, who spearheaded the project, wants to use it as a

springboard for a much larger phone survey that would include at least

600 residents.

Council members hope to use the results to more adequately fulfill their

constituents’ “vision” of Newport Beach’s future.

“People said they really appreciated being asked,” said Deputy City

Manager Dave Kiff, who drafted the questionnaire.

The survey had been available at City Hall for some time, but only 60

residents took the “seven minutes” to fill it out. And while a wider

survey might produce varying results, the 60 concerned citizens had some

rather surprising opinions.

Although the traffic-inspired Greenlight initiative has been a hot city

issue, survey results indicated that residents polled are more concerned

about promoting El Toro, protecting the Upper Newport Bay and stopping

overdevelopment. Traffic concerns ranked fourth out of 11 choices.

“Overdevelopment goes to what we’re pushing,” said Phil Arst, spokesman

for Greenlight, the group that drafted the measure. “I think the other

Greenlight members would agree that El Toro and John Wayne are No. 1 and

overdevelopment is No. 2. Overdevelopment is the cause of traffic.”

On how the council should spend money, residents again said promoting El

Toro, preventing the expansion of John Wayne Airport and cleaning the bay

were the highest priorities. Improving traffic flow ranked fifth out of

14 choices.

In addition, residents polled were split when it came to limited growth

or no growth in the city’s residential and business community. Most said

they would prefer housing development over more businesses.

Another surprising point was that community members would like the

council to spend less money on library resources, arts and cultural

activities and parking.

Noyes said the library received perfect 10 out of 10 in overall resident

satisfaction, indicating that perhaps community members are completely

satisfied with the resources at city’s four libraries.

As to cultural activities, proponents of the $12-million Arts and

Education Center said residents should not be concerned about city funds

going into the proposal.

“We agree with them,” said Don Gregory, co-chair of the committee leading

the effort. “We’re going to raise the money and ask the city for

maintenance. The burden is not on the city. Everyone that we’ve spoken

with has indicated that this city needs the center and that it should be

supported.”

These initial findings will be more widely explored once the council

decides on a telephone survey or mass mailing. The phone survey would

cost about $45,000 and would only be for a limited number of residents.

“I want to give everyone a chance to respond,” Noyes said, indicating his

support for mass mailing.

SURVEY SAYS ...

Here are some of the survey’s questions and the top three responses:

What’s good about Newport Beach?

28% Climate and weather

18% Access to the ocean and beach

14% Safe community

* What are the top issues facing Newport Beach?

25% Promoting El Toro & keeping John Wayne Airport small

16% Protecting the bay

16% Overdevelopment

* I would spend more money on:

21% Keeping passenger caps at John Wayne Airport

19% Promoting El Toro as an airport.

16% Keeping the bay clean

* I would spend less money on:

21% Buying more library resources

18% Adding parking capacity

14% Arts and cultural activities

* What three intersections or streets are the most congested?

19% East Coast Highway and Jamboree

15% Newport Boulevard and 17th Street (in Costa Mesa)

12% West Coast Highway and Dover

* What should be the city’s “vision” of the future concerning both

residential and business communities?

-- Residential communities:

36% A little growth is OK.

33% City is about the right size and should now focus on improving

quality of life.

30% There’s already been too much growth and it’s too crowded.

-- Business communities:

37% Good mix of businesses in the city.

37% Too much commercial development that is compromising neighborhoods

by adding traffic and tourists.

26% City needs to enhance its business base to keep up services.

* The city is considering adopting a “harbor element” to the city’s

General Plan. What are the most important alternatives the city should

explore in order to manage and balance the various uses of Newport

Harbor?

27% Increase activities that improve water quality and the

monitoring of illegal discharges.

23% Retain and maintain sand beaches around the harbor.

18% Protect existing historical buildings and features of the harbor.