A high-pressured City Hall

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- Rain probably wasn’t the only reason why City Hall

employees brought umbrellas to work last week.

As part of renovation efforts that included new plumbing, windows, air

conditioning and electrical wires, workers pointed their

pressurized-water guns at the walls of the city’s center of government

and washed away lose paint flakes and dirt to prepare the building for

its new look.

“Other than carpets and things like that, [City Hall’s] in the best

shape it’s been in since 1949, I would say,” said Dave Niederhaus, the

city’s general services manager.

He added that renovations began about seven years ago.

Niederhaus proudly explained that with the $18,100 in painting costs,

he’d remained well below his original estimate of $30,000 to $40,000.

“It’s about 50% less than what we should be paying,” he said, adding

that the council chambers building had already been painted.

The building’s new look should hold up for about 10 to 15 years,

Niederhaus said. The landscaping around the main building will also be

upgraded, he added.

When the pressurized washing is completed, the paint job should be

done within three days.

“Just in time for the new City Council,” said City Manager Homer

Bludau, referring to Tuesday’s election. “We’ll clean up our act here.”