Newport Beach City Council

Koll Center expansion

City Council members will vote on the 250,000-square-foot project one

more time. Koll officials hope to build a 10-story officer tower and two

parking garages at Koll Center’s southern tip, near the intersection of

Jamboree Road and MacArthur Boulevard. Leading supporters of Greenlight,

the city’s new slow-growth law, have already said they’ll oppose the

plan. If council members approve the expansion, residents will have to

vote on it because it triggers a Greenlight election.

What to expect: While Councilmen John Heffernan and Gary Proctor

have voted against the project, the remaining five council members are

likely to secure approval for the expansion. If that happens, council

members will set the election date for Nov. 20. Koll officials have

agreed to shoulder the costs of holding a special election.

Arroyo Park dedication

Council members will acknowledge the grand opening of the city’s

newest park, Arroyo Park. At 1411 Bayswater Drive off Bison Avenue, the

9-acre park includes a lighted softball-soccer field, a basketball court,

picnic areas, walking trails and a state-of-the-art playground.

What to expect: Council members won’t have to vote on the item. The

dedication is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday.

Cultural Arts grants

Council members will review the recipients of cultural arts grants for

the fiscal year 2001-02. The city’s arts commissioners have recommended

recipients, which include the Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation

($1,700), the Newport Beach Film Festival ($3,000) and the Newport Harbor

Nautical Museum ($1,125). The arts commission also hopes to get $6,000

for teacher and parent training sessions, art-related lectures, and

hands-on art workshops for children. While a total of $55,000 is

available for local, regional and state arts groups that offer programs

to Newport Beach residents, the recommended grants come to $40,000.

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

City Hall expansion

After council members recently turned down suggestions to bring

trailers to City Hall to deal with space problems, city officials are now

recommending a more long-term approach. Council members will discuss

fundamental questions such as keeping the city’s headquarters in its

current location or moving elsewhere. They will also review several

previous plans, including a 12-year-old study that proposed connecting

the existing four buildings with a central lobby to create more space.

What to expect: Council members will discuss the issue during their

study session and won’t take any action. They could ask city staff to

hire a consultant that would assess short-term and long-term space needs

at City Hall.

FYI

What: Newport Beach City Council meeting

When: 7 p.m. today; a study session will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Where: Newport Beach City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.