NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

The last Newport Beach City Council meeting of the year stretched

almost to 11:30 p.m. Tuesday as members wrangled with a long agenda that

packed in two meetings’ worth of business because of the coming holidays.

A few items were bumped until next year, but others couldn’t wait.

WHAT HAPPENED: Drivers passing the intersection of Ford Road and

Newport Hills Drive East will soon see some tangible results of Tuesday’s

meeting. The council approved a motion to install stop signs there.

VOTE: 7-0

WHAT IT MEANS: All traffic on Ford Road will have to stop at

Newport Hills Drive East once the stop signs have been installed.

WHAT HAPPENED: An amendment to the city’s general plan will pave

the way for an extension of a settlement agreement governing John Wayne

Airport.

VOTE: 7-0

WHAT IT MEANS: The city has been working for the extension of some

flight restrictions at the airport that will otherwise expire in 2005.

Changing some language in the general plan will allow the city to

accommodate the extension.

WHAT HAPPENED: Balboa Village businesses will get some relief from

the problems caused by construction there. The area is undergoing a

multimillion-dollar renovation -- a potential boon to businesses when

it’s finished that nonetheless is causing some serious pains now. Parking

is so limited in some areas while work is underway that some merchants

say it’s killing their business. To help, the council approved a plan to

provide more parking and direct more shoppers to the stores.

VOTE: 7-0

WHAT IT MEANS: The city will provide some flexible parking options

to give shoppers easier access to stores, temporary signs announcing the

businesses are open and re-striping westbound Balboa Boulevard at Main

Street to provide a right-turn-only lane onto Main. The latter move is

designed to give access to more parking and loading areas. The city will

cover all of the meters in the area and allow free two-hour parking

between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. while work is underway.

WHAT HAPPENED: An innovative plan to create a Mariners Branch

Library for both Mariners Elementary School and the public is on a fast

track as officials scramble to take advantage of state Proposition 14

funds. On Tuesday, council members approved a $94,700 contract with

Thirtieth Street Architects Inc. of Newport Beach to design the library.

VOTE: 7-0

WHAT IT MEANS: Plans for the library will be used to apply for the

state grant, but officials still face an uphill battle to make the

library happen. The grant would cover only 65% of the project’s nearly

$3-million estimated cost, or just less than $2 million. The remaining

money will have to come from fund-raisers and donations.

WHAT HAPPENED: Weeks of poring over details and worrying about

results ended quietly Tuesday when the council agreed to send a letter to

the state water-quality board supporting some stringent new rules on

urban runoff.

VOTE: 7-0

WHAT IT MEANS: The California Water Quality Control Board’s Santa

Ana Region agreed to accept the letter from the city late -- barely in

time for a Dec. 19 vote by the board. The extent to which they will

consider Newport Beach’s opinion, however, is entirely up to the board.

Assuming the permit passes as written, it will mean merchants hosing down

their sidewalks throughout the county will have to keep that water out of

the storm drains, construction sites will be under strict rules, and

street sweeping throughout the county will have to be stepped up. Even

while fearing their effects, Newport Beach officials, in their letter,

have dubiously supported most of these rules.

NEXT MEETING

* WHAT: Newport Beach City Council meeting

* WHEN: 7 p.m. Jan. 8

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