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.

Capital Improvement Program

WHAT HAPPENED:

A somewhat routine matter of approving the city’s seven-year capital

improvement program got tricky after City Councilman Gary Adams looked at

the fine print. Council members were asked to approve the program as part

of the process for meeting Measure M guidelines. Measure M is the

half-cent sales tax increase approved by Orange County voters in 1990 to

pay for transportation improvements. But the city’s seven-year plan

includes an eventual widening of Jamboree Road at Ford Road -- a very

unpopular idea among residents in that area. After hearing from staff

that the general plan update process now underway could reverse plans to

widen the area, most of the council approved the item.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The Capital Improvement Program was accepted as-is, including a plan

to widen the Jamboree-Ford intersection area. Though this does not

obligate the city to eventually widen the roads, Adams worried its plan

nonetheless amounted to an endorsement of widening the roads.

VOTE: 6 to 1, Adams dissenting

WHAT WAS SAID:

“It makes me nervous that this project is on our seven-year Capital

Improvement Program. I’m not sure I can support this item while that

project is on there.” -- Councilman Gary Adams

Parkway Trees

WHAT HAPPENED:

New rules have been introduced to now allow city officials to ensure

that trees planted in public parkways by residents and developers will

help create a uniform look for the city. Council members approved the

first reading of an ordinance that will set guidelines for the trees that

are planted when certain construction projects are done. The ordinance

proposes a minimum size for the new trees -- saplings that come in

36-inch boxes.

WHAT IT MEANS:

Now that the council has approved the first reading of the ordinance,

the issue will be up for final approval at the next council meeting.

Vote: 7 to 0

Coin-operated telescopes

WHAT HAPPENED:

A plan to switch companies that operate the telescopes on the piers

and in other areas was stopped short by an emotional appeal from the

city’s longtime vendor. Carden’s Coin Telescopes operated in the city for

55 years until the city asked them to remove their telescopes to make way

for pier and peninsula renovations. While the renovations were underway,

staff took the opportunity to solicit bids from competing telescope

companies. Though Carden’s was still the best bid, staff suggested giving

the contract to Tower Optical, arguing that the latter company’s

equipment tended to be better maintained. But after hearing pleas from a

Carden representative who said his equipment throughout the county was in

good working order, council members were left scratching their heads

wondering why staff recommended a company that would give the city only

40% of revenues instead of Carden’s 50% deal. Council members agreed to

postpone the decision until they could get more information about why

staff is recommending the switch.

Vote: 7 to 0 to postpone consideration of the contract.

Waste discharge study

WHAT HAPPENED:

Are boaters illegally dumping waste from their vessels into the bay?

Newport Beach wants to know. To find out, council members approved a plan

to hire environmental researcher Stanley Grant of UC Irvine to conduct

water-quality tests at some areas suspiciously high in certain bacteria.

WHAT IT MEANS:

The $45,000 contract with the university will fund Grant’s research

into whether boaters are breaking the law in significant numbers.

Vote: 7 to 0

NEXT MEETING

WHEN: 7 p.m. July 23

WHERE: Newport Beach City Council chambers at City Hall, 3300 Newport

Blvd.

INFORMATION: (949) 644-3000