NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

-- Compiled by June Casagrande

Here are some of the decisions coming out of the Newport Beach City

Council meeting on Tuesday.

WHAT HAPPENED:

City Atty. Bob Burnham won council approval for a $9,000-a-year salary

increase. As a result, Burnham’s salary will go from $156,000 to

$165,000. Unlike other upper-level city staff, Burnham’s compensation

does not include a car allowance.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Burnham’s pay will now be on par with city attorneys in Costa Mesa,

Orange, Santa Ana and Anaheim.

Vote: 7/0

WHAT HAPPENED:

Members of the city’s new Harbor Commission were named by council

members on Tuesday. The seven members, selected from alist of 14, are

Timothy Collins, John Corrough, Marshall Duffield, Donald Lawrenz, Ralph

Rodheim, Paulette Pappas and Seymour Beek.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Commissioners will begin their terms immediately. At their first

meeting, they will draw straws to decide which three members will serve

only two-year terms and which remaining fourmembers will serve four-year

terms.

WHAT HAPPENED:

Plans for a new library to serve Mariners Elementary School and to

replace the existing Mariners Branch public library drew concerned

comments from one resident. During the public comment period of Tuesday’s

meeting, Linda Duffy pointed out that the joint-use project could pose a

danger to children by putting them too close to the general public.

Mayor Tod Ridgeway noted that the planned library includes separate

entrances for the children and that the school portion of the library

would be segregated from the public portion as a safety measure.

The proposed library, which is now in a race to raise $1 million,

could get $2 million of state money. The state funds are designated for

joint-use projects.

WHAT THEY SAID:

“There is some risk inherent in putting a public library within a

stone’s throw of an elementary school,” Duffy said.

SOUNDING OFF

“This is an opportunity to do something really, really good.” --

Councilman Steve Bromberg, urging residents to get involved in the

upcoming Relay for Life event to raise funds and awareness for cancer.

NEXT MEETING

WHAT: Newport Beach City Council

WHEN: 7 p.m. April 23

WHERE: Newport Beach City Hall Council Chambers, 3300 Newport Blvd.