NEWPORT BEACH Airlines may support new...

NEWPORT BEACH

Airlines may support new JWA settlement agreement

Foes of John Wayne Airport expansion rejoiced this week at news

that a compromise appears to have won the airlines’ support for the

settlement agreement extension.

In closed meetings, parties to the settlement agreement decided to

allow two more gates and 1 million more passengers a year in return

for assurances that the airlines won’t sue to overturn the agreement.

Sage Hill School students will face safer road conditions next

year once the city has installed a traffic signal in front of the

school. The signal will allow drivers leaving the school to turn left

onto fast-moving Newport Coast Drive.

A joint-use Mariners Library will become a reality, city officials

learned this week. The state agreed to give $3.2 million in matching

funds to build the library, which will serve as the school library

for Mariners Elementary and as the new Mariners branch of the Newport

Beach Public Library.

East Santa Ana Heights residents welcomed news that their

neighborhood will become part of Newport Beach next summer. A county

agency approved the long-awaited annexation of the unincorporated

county area on Monday.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.

COSTA MESA

City Council makes Robinson its new mayor

Jaws dropped in City Hall last week when Councilwoman Karen

Robinson was elected mayor, astounding political insiders and the

assumed mayoral favorite.

Councilman Chris Steel nominated Robinson for the leadership

position at Monday’s council meeting, as he had last year, though he

previously received no support from his council colleagues. This

time, Councilwoman Libby Cowan immediately seconded the motion,

making it clear that Robinson carried the majority.

Councilman Gary Monahan’s eyes were wide with disbelief, as he had

been considered by most to be the obvious choice for the position,

given his standing as mayor pro tem -- which is usually a stepping

stone to mayor -- and his extensive council experience.

A hush fell over the council chambers, and then whispers

circulated.

Robinson, whose eyes also got bigger during the nomination, humbly

accepted the nomination. She was elected unanimously.

* LOLITA HARPER covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.

EDUCATION

UCI leases hybrid SUV

from Toyota for study

UC Irvine is leasing a hydrogen-powered SUV from Toyota to help

revolutionize the automotive industry. UCI will monitor the vehicle’s

daily use and decide where the best locations for hydrogen-refueling

stations are.

Local education officials can’t say yet how $3.2 billion in cuts

from this year’s state education budget would affect Newport-Mesa

schools. They weren’t surprised by Gov. Gray Davis’ Friday

announcement of the proposed cuts, which are part of a larger effort

to shore up a state budget deficit of more than $21 billion.

“It’s about what we expected,” said Paul Reed, assistant

superintendent for the district. “It’s pretty big. It’s ugly.”

The legislature will begin debating the proposal Monday.

Two Corona del Mar High School students opened a college center on

the Westside of Costa Mesa to help other students with college

applications and tutoring.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.