NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

-- Compiled by June Casagrande

Here are some of the decisions made at Tuesday’s Newport Beach City

Council meeting. Councilman Dennis O’Neil was absent.

DON’T FEED THE DUCKS

WHAT HAPPENED: The squawking is over. A prohibition on large-scale

feeding and breeding of ducks is now law. The City Council passed an

ordinance, which takes effect in 30 days, to forbid setting out large

troughs of food and other actions that discourage the birds’ natural

migration patterns.

WHAT IT MEANS: Residents on Balboa Island’s Grand Canal and in several

other places in the city should soon get some long-awaited relief from

the unpleasant effects of large numbers of ducks.

VOTE: 6-0

HARBOR COMMISSION TO BE FORMED

WHAT HAPPENED: The council agreed to create a Harbor Commission to

help steer the city on such issues as issuing harbor permits and

overseeing harbor regulations.

WHAT IT MEANS: With the ordinance to create the commission now

official, the next step is to decide who will serve on it. The board will

have seven members appointed by the council. Commissioners will serve

four-year terms, with a limit of two terms. The deadline to apply for the

commission is 4 p.m. Jan. 17. Applicants must be residents of Newport

Beach and registered to vote. Application forms and additional

information can be obtained from the city clerk’s office in City Hall,

3300 Newport Blvd. (949) 644-3005.

VOTE: 6-0

BALBOA ISLAND REPAVING CAN WAIT

WHAT HAPPENED: A project to repave some streets on Balboa Island and

Little Balboa Island has been set back after officials agreed that better

bids could be had. The low bid for the project, by Damon Construction

Co., was $580,440 -- about $100,000 more than staff estimated the project

should cost. The job also includes replacing a water main on Little

Balboa Island.

WHAT IT MEANS: Officials believe that by attracting more bidders who

specialize in water main replacement, they can secure a better deal for

the city on the whole job. They plan to revise the project and,

ultimately, to reopen bidding.

VOTE: 6-0

COMMITTEES MADE CURRENT

WHAT HAPPENED: An Airport Area Development Committee is no more, but

the John Wayne Airport Settlement Agreement Extension Committee will live

a little longer. Council members voted to nix the airport development

committee because no major development is scheduled to take place there.

The John Wayne Airport committee, though, has more work to do, council

members agreed.

WHAT IT MEANS: Council members have extended the airport committee’s

life until March 30 to continue its work helping the city extend

restrictions at John Wayne Airport.

VOTE: 6-0

LOCAL COASTAL PROGRAM CERTIFICATION

WHAT HAPPENED: The council created a steering committee to help staff

during the Local Coastal Program certification process. The committee

will consist of three council members and three planning commissioners

whose terms on the committee will end by July 1, 2003.

VOTE: 6-0

NEXT MEETING

* WHAT: Newport Beach City Council meeting

* WHEN: 7 p.m. Jan. 22

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