NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL WRAP-UP

Here are some of the actions taken at the Newport Beach City Council

meeting on Tuesday.

WEST NEWPORT UTILITIES WORK

WHAT HAPPENED:

The City Council approved a contract of up to $48,200 with the firm of

Harris and Associates of Irvine to provide assessment and engineering

services for underground utilities in part of West Newport. The contract

means that the area’s designation as an underground assessment district

for telephone and other utility services will be complete.

Vote: 7/0

RECYCLING GRANT REQUEST

WHAT HAPPENED:

Council members approved a motion to submit a grant request to the

federal Department of Conservation’s recycling division for $40,840.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The money, if awarded, would come from $10.5 million of federal funds

set aside for eligible cities to use for recycling beverage containers

and for cleaning up litter. The city would use the money to continue and

bolster its existing recycling programs.

Vote: 7/0

HARBOR COMMISSION TASKS

WHAT HAPPENED:

The city’s new Harbor Commission hasn’t even met yet, but it already

has its work cut out for it. In their meeting Tuesday, council members

approved a list of tasks the commission will take on.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Notable on the list is the question of residential pier rentals -- a

potentially controversial topic that questions whether the Tidelands Fund

should get a cut of the money that changes hands when the owner of a

private pier rents it out to another boat owner.

The committee will also tackle questions such as how the city can

better enforce parking rules associated with harbor uses and what mooring

rates should be.

Vote: 7/0

POLICY MANUAL

WHAT HAPPENED:

The manual that lays out city staff’s tasks on everything from airport

policies to annexations to voicemail and water service got its latest

update Tuesday. The changes included 18 new policies.

SOUNDING OFF

“If you don’t have e-mail, I want to urge you to join the new

millennium.” -- Mayor Tod Ridgeway, on a citywide effort to reduce paper

use, in part by sending out council agendas and other documents via

e-mail.

NEXT MEETING

WHEN: 7 p.m. May 14

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