INSIDE SCOOP
-- Compiled by the Daily Pilot staff
We’ve been quite impressed by Newport Beach City Council underdog John
Heffernan and his willingness to swim against the stream. Most recently,
he voted against the controversial Koll Center expansion project, which
will likely go before voters in the fall since it triggers a Greenlight
election.
Heffernan, the only Greenlight supporter on the council, seems to be
extremely concerned about preserving Newport Beach’s character. But a
Costa Mesa project he’s involved with has some in that city worried.
Costa Mesa Councilwoman Linda Dixon appealed a decision by planning
commissioners to approve a 3,995-square-foot oil change business on
Bristol Street. Dixon told us that her decision to try and get rid of the
plan has nothing to do with Heffernan. She simply doesn’t want to have an
oil change placed in an area that could use a coffee shop. Or a clothing
store. Or something else that’s a little nicer.
Looks like Heffernan, who is listed as “Trustee” for the project, will
need to work hard to convince Dixon that the business will fit in with
the character of the area. We couldn’t reach him on Friday to ask him
what he’s going to do. But we’ll definitely let you know what happens
tonight, when Costa Mesa council members will discuss Dixon’s appeal.
City Hall’s latest tourist destination
When former Newport Beach Public Works Director and City Council
hopeful Don Webb showed us around City Hall on his last day at work to
talk about space problems, we bumped into Assistant City Manager Sharon
Wood in the hallway. She urged us to check out the women’s restrooms in
the City Attorney’s office.
Kind of an odd suggestion, we thought, especially since both Piloteers
in attendance were of the male persuasion.
But Assistant City Attorney Robin Clauson was more than happy to give
us a tour. As soon as we stepped inside the forbidden territory, we
realized why Wood had pressured us to take a look.
Instead of doors, the stalls have cute, colorful curtains with flowers
on them. Clauson explained that the 30-year-old doors had fallen off a
while ago and replacements for such antiques were nowhere to be found.
That’s why she and others came up with the curtain idea. There’s
bureaucrats thinking outside the box for you.
Oh, and by the way, Clauson did want to point out that the office’s
men’s restroom was the larger one. But that’s not because City Attorney
Bob Burnham’s particularly vain or anything. The police department used
to work there years ago and we guess they had more guys than gals taking
care of business.
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