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.