Newport Beach officials plan daylong meet and greet

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- When City Council members meet every couple of weeks

to vote on issues that affect the city, there’s usually little time to

think about the broader picture.

That’s why the city’s elected officials have decided to get together

for a daylong retreat Saturday.

“It’s going to give us an opportunity to feel each other out,” said

Mayor Gary Adams, who suggested the marathon meeting during his inaugural

speech in December.

“We’ll talk about how we’re going to do business over the next year,”

Adams added.

Topics at the meeting will include a discussion of the city’s

financial status, an update on annexation plans and debate about having

police presence at regular council meetings.

With three new members behind the dais after November’s election -- a

change that last occurred in 1980 -- city officials said it was important

for them to understand the views and priorities of Newport Beach’s

leaders.

“It’s really a meeting to see whether we’re all on the same page,”

said City Manager Homer Bludau, adding that he didn’t anticipate major

decisions during the meeting.

“It’s just an opportunity . . . to make sure that staff understands

the priorities of the City Council,” Bludau said.

While state law prohibits a majority of the seven council members from

discussing city business outside regularly scheduled meetings, Saturday’s

event will function as a regular City Council meeting, even though the

group will meet at a hotel instead of City Hall.

“The reason to have it off-site is that it brings a different feeling

and relaxation to the session,” said Bludau, adding that all of the

city’s department heads will attend the meeting.

“We’re going to be there for six or seven hours,” Bludau said. “It’s

nice to do that somewhere a little different.”

The city will cover the $900 cost of the meeting, which includes $200

for the room, $220 for breakfast and $480 for lunch.

Councilman Dennis O’Neil, who held a similar meeting during his tenure

as mayor in 1999, said the retreat would give the council members a

chance to think about their role in city government as well.

“We must understand that it’s not our role to take on assignments,

which are appropriately left to the city manager and the staff,” said

O’Neil, adding that the meeting would give council members a better

understanding of the relationships among elected officials, city

employees and the city’s residents.

Council newcomers said they are looking forward to getting to know

their colleagues.

“I want to find out who I’m sitting up there with,” Councilman John

Heffernan said. “I want to know how they think and react in a less formal

setting. I want to know more about who they are.”

Councilman Gary Proctor agreed, adding that he hoped to benefit from

the knowledge gained by more senior council members.

“It’s going to give me a chance to learn more about these issues from

members of the City Council that have been dealing with them for a number

of years,” Proctor said.

FYI

The City Council and staff retreat is open to the public and will

begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and end at 4 p.m. The meeting will take place

in the Pacific Ballroom 3 at the Radisson hotel, 4545 MacArthur Blvd.,

Newport Beach.