Mariners library decisions to come tonight

Deirdre Newman

NEWPORT BEACH -- The next chapter in the Mariners school-public

library proposal will be written tonight when the school board and City

Council decide whether to approve the plan.

The votes will culminate the frenetic pace of fund-raising over the

past three months by supporters who managed to raise more than the

required $1 million to qualify for $2 million in state funds.

While proponents have proved their support with their wallets,

opponents have brought up safety concerns about schoolchildren mixing

with the public.

The new state-of-the-art library would be a one-story,

14,000-square-foot building that would replace the aging Mariners Branch

Library on Irvine Avenue. It would be used as the sole school library for

Mariners students, although the students would be separated from the

public during school hours with a roll-down door.

If approved by both the board and council, the application will need

to get to Sacramento by Friday. Then the proposal will compete for a

portion of $350 million in state funds.

A majority of the City Council supports the library plan, though

last-minute discussion with the community could steer the outcome.

The school board tonight also will consider a resolution to approve

access for park and recreation uses between the Mesa Consolidated Water

District, the city of Costa Mesa and the Newport-Mesa Unified School

District.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 . Daily Pilot

reporter June Casagrande contributed to this report.

FYI

The school board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. today at district

headquarters, 2985-A Bear St., Costa Mesa. (714) 424-5000.

For more on the Newport Beach City Council meeting, see Page 5.