Setting record straight in Corona del Mar

Dennis O’Neil

Dick Nichols, candidate for Newport Beach City Council, made

statements on the election page of candidate profiles in the Daily

Pilot on Oct. 21, 2002, that are not accurate. The article, entitled

“Dick Nichols: Fighting giveaways for development” contains gross

distortions of the true facts. I would like to set the record

straight.

Nichols, together with the other Greenlight slate of candidates,

want you to believe that the City Council has approved large

development projects that have impacted the quality of life for our

residents. Nichols lists the Newport Dunes Resort Hotel, Newport

Center and the Koll project as examples. The fact is neither the

Newport Dunes Hotel nor any expanded development projects in Newport

Center ever came before the City Council for a decision. The Koll

office building project near the airport was approved after the

Greenlight ordinance was adopted, thus carrying out the very intent

of Greenlight to allow the voters the opportunity to make the final

decision on that project. The development projects approved by the

City Council have in fact been required to construct public roadway

improvements resulting in overall reduced traffic impacts.

Nichols states his concern for the potential expansion of John

Wayne Airport. Had he followed this issue more closely, he would know

that the City Council, the county of Orange, the Airport Working

Group and Stop Polluting Our Newport have successfully negotiated and

executed an agreement to continue all of the John Wayne noise

abatement restrictions and flight limitations through the year 2016.

The curfew on flight departures over Newport Beach has been extended

until the year 2020. That stipulation between the parties will be

filed with the court very soon.

Even though we believe the air carriers and the Federal Aviation

Administration will not file a legal challenge to the extension of

the settlement agreement, the city has retained the best legal

experts, who have concluded the city would prevail in any such

litigation.

Nichols expresses concern over the $1 million the city will be

spending to demolish and rebuild new concession buildings and

restrooms at Corona del Mar main beach. This money could better be

spent for the public benefit, he said. These buildings at Corona del

Mar beach are 42 years old, and the cement ceilings are caving in.

What Nichols doesn’t know is these new structures will be paid for

from the city’s portion of the award in the American Trader oil spill

case. The court has placed restrictions on how these funds can be

spent limited to beach recreation purposes.

Finally, Nichols suggests placing a higher priority on creating

more playing fields for kids. Again, he needed to check the records

to find out that the city has in the last several years approved and

constructed the 4.5-acre Bob Henry Park, the 4.5-acre Arroyo Park and

just dedicated the 35-acre Bonita Canyon Sports Park. These are all

active parks. In addition, the city has cooperative agreements with

the school district to use many of their fields for youth sports.

Over the last eight years, I have conscientiously made it a

practice to answer questions about the city of Newport Beach asked by

residents. That opportunity is available to Nichols and I strongly

recommend he take advantage of it.

* DENNIS O’NEIL is a Newport Beach councilman representing the

6th District. Nichols, Bernie Svalstad and Laura Dietz are running to

replace O’Neil.