ON THE AGENDA

Buzz appeal

Council members will review a Nov. 9 decision by the city’s planning

commissioners to revoke a permit for the Buzz restaurant. Commissioners

had found that the restaurant’s managers violated the terms of the use

permit by removing arcade-type video games from the premises. In 1998,

commissioners approved the restaurant on Via Oporto by granting a waiver

for 41 parking spaces. Arcade-type businesses require fewer parking

spaces than regular restaurants and dance clubs.

Representatives for Buzz appealed the commissioners’ decision to the

City Council, which will have the final say.

What to expect: Council members will either uphold the commission’s

decision or grant the appeal after holding a public hearing to discuss

the revocation.

Public information officer position

Council members will discuss hiring a public information officer for

the city. In his report, City Manager Homer Bludau wrote, “to date, the

city’s dissemination of public information has not been well organized.”

He added that while individual departments, such as the fire, police and

community services divisions, already had similar positions, the city as

a whole does not.

Bludau recommends that the new spokesman or spokeswoman mainly focus

on involving residents in the general plan update, which is expected to

take place over the next few years. Bludau proposes spending between

$81,495 and $110,604 on the new position, which includes salary, benefits

and a working budget.

What to expect: Council members may either approve or reject Bludau’s

proposal.

Temporary fire station

Council members will discuss setting up a temporary fire station to

serve the city’s airport area and Santa Ana Heights.

A team of Newport Beach firefighters has been patrolling the area from

two hotel rooms since Jan. 29. Previously served by the Orange County

Fire Authority, emergency response times had dropped below acceptable

standards after the county fire station was damaged in a fire in

December. City officials propose setting up a trailer at a parking lot on

Dove Street. The estimated cost is $608,860 for the 2000-01 fiscal year.

Part of the cost could be recuperated from the county, which still

oversees Santa Ana Heights. Newport Beach is expected to annex that

neighborhood by next year.

What to expect: Council members may either approve or reject the plan.

Starbucks expansion

Council members will consider an appeal by Starbucks of a Planning

Commission decision that more than five additional parking spots should

be required for expansion of the chain’s coffeehouse in Corona del Mar.

The commission, however, did not specify how many additional spaces

should be required. The project includes adding nine seats to 12 existing

ones indoors and four to the existing eight outdoors. By renting vacant

store next door, the coffeehouse also would add separate bathrooms for

men and women.

What to expect: City staff members have recommended that the council

deny the appeal and uphold the commission’s decision.

FYI

* WHO: Mayor Gary Adams, Steve Bromberg, Norma Glover, John Heffernan,

Dennis O’Neil, Gary Proctor and Tod Ridgeway

* WHEN: 7 p.m. today. The study session will begin at 4 p.m.

* WHERE: Newport Beach City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.