NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

Here are some of the decisions that came out of Tuesday’s meeting of

the Newport Beach City Council.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council canceled the study session before its meeting because

not enough members could attend to create a quorum. The question of

whether to purchase a building for Balboa Theater revitalization and

whether to appoint a contractor to design city signs will be revisited at

a future study session.

WHAT HAPPENED:

The public comment period of the meeting drew some passionate words on

the upcoming Measure W ballot initiative. Community members and council

members alike expressed their opposition to the measure, nicknamed the

Great Park Initiative, which asks voters whether the closed El Toro

Marine Air base should be designated as open space.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Airport Working Group Chairwoman Barbara Lichman and City Councilman

John Heffernan agreed that the city should take a formal, public stance

on the matter. The measure is important, they said, because it would

preclude the creation of a commercial airport at El Toro. That means

Newport Beach residents would feel the brunt of eventual increased air

traffic at John Wayne Airport.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“We in Newport Beach have an awful lot at stake with the Great Park

Initiative. I encourage all of you to get out and vote on March 5,”

Councilman Steve Bromberg said.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Newly annexed Newport Coast will get official city speed limits soon,

the council decided. Though there were a few laments that some speed

limits can’t be made even lower -- they are determined by state and

federal laws -- the council approved the measure.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Newport Ridge Drive will have a 40-mph limit; Ridge Park Road and

Vista Ridge Road, 45 mph; Pelican Hill Road and on San Joaquin Hills Road

from Spyglass Hill Road to Newport Coast Drive will be 55; and on Newport

Coast Drive from East Coast Highway to the toll road, 60 mph.

VOTE: 5 to 0, with Councilwoman Norma Glover and Councilman Gary

Proctor absent

WHAT HAPPENED:

A somewhat controversial agenda items on trash collection nonetheless

won council approval. The council agreed to waive franchise fees for some

trash haulers. But, on a similar subject, they postponed an item to

approve a contract with Waste Management Services of Orange County to

provide trash pickup for Newport Coast.

VOTE: 5 to 0

NEXT MEETING

* WHAT: Newport Beach City Council meeting

* WHEN: 7 p.m. Feb. 26

* WHERE: Newport Beach City Hall City Council Chambers, 3300 Newport

Blvd.