NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

John Wayne Airport settlement agreement

Tonight’s council vote on extending the John Wayne Airport settlement

agreement, which will take place the same night as the Board of

Supervisors’ vote on the matter in Santa Ana, will mark a momentous

occasion for Newport Beach. City Council members have worked hard to

extend the agreement, which imposes limits on flights and expansion at

the airport. Without an extension, the limits will expire at the end of

2005.

What to expect:

Expect City Council members to be jubilant as they vote to approve the

agreement.

City budget

One of the biggest jobs facing the council tonight is the budget.

Today is the deadline for council members to approve the spending plan,

which they’re calling a status quo budget. Council members will give the

budget a last look in their study session, which will begin at 3:30 p.m.,

before taking on the matter as a formal council agenda item.

What to expect:

In Newport Beach, tough times do have one advantage. Because this is a

status quo budget, there’s less to fight about. No major spending

programs will be cut, but at the same time it means that there’s no money

in the coming fiscal year to approve new projects. Therefore, unlike in

boon years, no one is competing for available city funds.

Traffic signals

Jamboree Road, Newport Center Drive and Superior Avenue are just three

of the roadways that will get traffic signal improvements if council

members approve a $303,759 contract tonight. The work by contractor F.J.

Johnson would upgrade the traffic signals on Jamboree Road at Eastbluff

Drive-University Drive and also at Island Lagoon-Hyatt Newporter; on

Newport Center Drive at Santa Cruz Drive; and on Superior Avenue at

Ticonderoga Street. The contractor would also install battery backups in

traffic signals at six locations on Jamboree, six locations on Coast

Highway, and at the intersection of Newport Boulevard and Hospital Road,

as well as some other work.

What to expect: F.J. Johnson’s was not only the lowest bid for the

job, but it is also 18% lower than the city’s estimate for the work:

$370,000. Based on the cost savings and staff’s reference check of the

contractor, it’s expected that council members will approve the contract.

Coast Highway EZ Lube

A permit request to build an EZ Lube auto servicing business was shot

down by the Planning Commission, but the matter has now been appealed to

the council. Planning commissioners decided that, among other things, the

business would not fit in well with the surrounding Corona del Mar

neighborhood.

What to expect:

If the council chooses to support the commission’s decision, it will

mean an end to the project plans.

Buck Gully sewer pump

Council members will also consider whether to spend $762,511 to

rehabilitate the waste-water pump station near Little Corona Beach.

What to expect:

Because the station is now more than 50 years old, it’s expected

council members will agree that it’s time to invest some more in its

future.

FYI

* WHO: Newport Beach City Council meeting

* WHEN: 7 p.m. today; study session will start at 3:30 p.m.

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

* INFORMATION: (949) 644-3000

si --Compiled by June Casagrande