Annexation back on track

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- Annexation of east Santa Ana Heights and Bay Knolls

is moving forward, despite a snag hit recently when some city officials

and residents questioned whether the process should be stopped.

A workshop on May 16 will be the first public forum on annexation for

residents of Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and the unincorporated areas

slated to be annexed to these cities. And it’s likely the workshop will

show support remains strong for annexing east Santa Ana Heights to

Newport Beach.

A Newport Beach City Council study session on Tuesday left the matter

in serious doubt after City Councilwoman Norma Glover said the city

should reconsider its annexation plans. Some residents followed suit,

wondering if the city’s plans for building a fire station without first

consulting them foreshadowed a troubled relationship with residents of

the unincorporated area.

But among many, support for annexation remains strong.

“I’ve always wanted annexation,” said Marlene Hester, a resident of

east Santa Ana Heights. “Since we moved here, we’ve been told that this

would be in Newport someday. We want that.”

In the days after the study session, calls and e-mails flooded into

City Hall from residents who, like Hester, worried that east Santa Ana

Heights’ annexation had gotten off track. Assistant City Manager Dave

Kiff said Monday that the turbulence hasn’t stopped the process.

“The council put us on this train, and the train is still moving

forward,” Kiff said.

Some Santa Ana Heights residents, such as Treb Heining, also disagree

with plans to build a community center there and hope it doesn’t become a

hindrance to annexation.

“We love Newport Beach,” Heining said. “We’re an island, completely

surrounded by Newport Beach. . . . And I think the city would be honored

to have the quality of people in this community.”

FYI

WHAT: Workshop on annexation of unincorporated county areas to Newport

Beach and Costa Mesa, presented by the Orange County Local Agency

Formation Commission

WHEN: 7 p.m. May 16

WHERE: Costa Mesa High School, 2650 Fairview Drive, Costa Mesa