INSIDE NEWPORT BEACH CITY HALL

Koll Center expansion

City Council members will discuss a proposed 250,000-square-foot

expansion project for Koll Center. The expansion, which includes a

10-story officer tower and two parking structures, will have to be

approved by the city’s voters if council members approve it. That’s

because the project triggers a Greenlight election, which requires an

election for general plan amendments that add more than 40,000 square

feet or 100 peak-hour car trips or dwelling units over what’s allowed.

Planning commissioners recommendedapproval of the project at their June 7

meeting.

What to expect: Council members can either approve or deny the project

or postpone a decision, pending more information.

No dogs in Carroll Beek Park

Council members will discuss a proposal to prohibit dogs at Carroll

Beek Park. The city’s municipal code already doesn’t allow dogs on piers

and on school property. Councilman Steve Bromberg suggested outlawing

dogs at the park, as well. Located on the west side of Agate Avenue just

north of South Bayfront, the park is mainly made up of a basketball court

and a community center with little grass or vegetation. Bromberg felt dog

feces presents a potential health and safety problem given the size and

nature of the park. Guide dogs would be exempted from the ban.

What to expect: Council members are likely to approve the proposal.

No motorized scooters on boardwalk

Council members will discuss banning motorized scooters from the

boardwalk on Balboa Peninsula. They already tentatively approved the ban

at their June 12 meeting and the new law would take effect in 30 days if

they approve it again.

What to expect: Council members are likely to approve the ban.

Scooter regulations on boardwalk

Council members will discuss scooter regulations on the boardwalk.

While bikers, skateboarders and roller skaters already have to follow

rules such as a maximum speed limit of eight miles per hour, scooters

have not been regulated so far. The proposed change would also require

scooters to no “engage in any activity on the Boardwalk that creates an

unreasonable risk of injury to any person.”

What to expect: Council members are likely to approve the regulations.

FYI

* WHO: Newport Beach City Council, Mayor Gary Adams, Steve Bromberg,

Norma Glover, John Heffernan, Dennis O’Neil, Gary Proctor, Tod Ridgeway.

* WHEN: 7 p.m. tonight

* WHERE: City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.