Inside City Hall

-- Compiled by June Casagrande

Here are some of the decisions made at the City Council meeting

Tuesday.

STORM DRAIN WATER TESTING

WHAT HAPPENED: On the heels of last year’s disturbing discovery

that an illness-causing virus in storm drains was emptying into Newport

Harbor, the council approved a $36,179 contract with the UC Regents for

water testing.

WHAT IT MEANS: If the UC study again turns up evidence of the

virus, the city will have to consider ways to identify the source of the

contamination. It’s possible that a sewer leak somewhere in the county is

to blame. It’s also possible that waste from homeless populations could

be the cause.

VOTE: 7-0 to approve the contract to test the storm drain water

CITYWIDE MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR FIREFIGHTERS

WHAT HAPPENED: Mayor Gary Adams delivered a proclamation declaring

Oct. 7 to be an official day of remembrance for the firefighters who died

in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the East Coast. Unable to choke back

tears, Adams asked that a moment of silence be observed at noon Oct. 7

throughout the city. The remembrance is part of Fire Safety Day, which

will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the city’s Fashion Island Fire

Station.

NEWPORT COAST CITIZEN COMMITTEE

WHAT HAPPENED: A citizen committee was formed to help hammer out

the details of the Newport Coast annexation.

WHAT IT MEANS: A seven-member committee will be appointed to advise

the city on whether to build a community center in Newport Coast, how to

distribute the $18-million tax reimbursements part of the annexation

agreement and other issues.

VOTE: 7-0

SENIOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING

WHAT HAPPENED: The issue of how, when and where to provide

affordable housing in the city for seniors has been sent back to a task

force.

WHAT IT MEANS: The task force will try to identify places where the

housing might be provided and consider how to provide it as cost

effectively as possible.

NEXT MEETING

* WHAT: Newport Beach City Council meeting

* WHERE: Newport Beach City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.

* WHEN: 7 p.m. Oct. 9