NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

WHAT HAPPENED:

Newport Beach City Council members on Tuesday asked city staff to come

up with guidelines for enacting Measure S, a.k.a. the Greenlight

initiative, which was approved by voters Nov. 7.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Council members will discuss guidelines for the slow-growth measure at

their Nov. 28 meeting and will probably set up an ad hoc committee to

discuss the issues involved. Possible committee members include Measure S

supporters, council members, Planning Commission members as well as

representatives from other city committees and the Newport Harbor Area

Chamber of Commerce. A final decision on the committee will not be made

until the newly elected council members take office Dec. 12. The

committee would then begin its work early next year.

NO VOTE

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council members approved plans to replace the transparent panels along

Coast Highway in West Newport Beach.

WHAT IT MEANS:

City officials will ask a contractor to replace the panels, which

after 11 years have become opaque because of ultraviolet degradation. The

cost to replace two-thirds of the panels is estimated at $126,768. City

officials will try to figure out a way to replace the remaining panels at

the same time.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“It’s kind of a house that you move out of and you only clean

two-thirds of the house,” said outgoing Councilwoman Jan Debay, on why

she hoped all of the panels could be replaced before she leaves office

Dec. 12.

VOTE: 7 IN FAVOR / 0 AGAINST

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council members approved a $37,760 budget amendment to hire an

additional assistant planner.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Due to an increase in building activity in recent years, the city’s

planning department has fallen behind in reviewing applications for new

construction. Adding another planner will help to reduce the time

developers have to wait for their projects to be approved, city officials

said.

VOTE: 7 IN FAVOR / 0 AGAINST

SOUNDING OFF

“Make Dec. 12 Mayor John Noyes Day.” -- Allan Beek, Measure S

supporter, after commending Noyes on his accomplishments in conducting

City Council meetings. Noyes, who did not seek reelection, will leave

office Dec. 12.

NEXT MEETING

7 p.m. Nov. 28, City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.