Briefly in the news

A state bill that would pave the way for a park on a bluff above West

Coast Highway passed an important committee Thursday on its way to a vote

on the Senate floor.

The legislation, known as Senate Bill 124, would transfer 15

weed-infested acres of land from Caltrans to Newport Beach so the city

could build a $6-million park.

Attempts to build a park stalled long before the bill was introduced

Jan. 25. The California Department of Transportation demanded a market

rate, about $4 million, from the city as payment.

The city, via a loophole in state law, may buy the property at the

discounted rate of $1.3 million for the use.

The bill, by state Sen. Ross Johnson (R-Irvine), unanimously cleared

the 13-member Appropriations Committee -- a panel on which he sits. It

will go before the full Senate sometime next week.