Councilman plans to keep on walking

June Casagrande

Even after he takes his seat, Don Webb is going to keep walking.

The councilman-elect, “Walkin’ Don,” made footwork a central theme of

his campaign, touting the extensive knowledge of the city he earned,

in part, by walking every one of its street.

It’s a habit he plans to keep up.

“I want to be accessible to the community as much as possible,”

Webb said. “Walking is my mode of exercise, and I enjoy walking with

my wife, and we’ll be walking all over the city. That’s the way I’m

going to continue to keep my finger on what’s going on and learn

about the needs of the community.”

The former longtime city staffer will be sworn in as a councilman

on Tuesday, but he has already gotten to work.

Last week, Webb was in Sacramento to lobby on behalf of a request

for state funds for the proposed Mariners Joint Use Library. Now that

the $3.2 million from the state has been won, Webb said that making

the library a reality will be foremost in his mind as he begins his

service on the council.

“Planning the details, we’ll need broad input from the community

-- sports groups, neighbors, parents groups, the school,” he said.

“There were some objections to the project in the past, and we need

to work with those people to make sure those concerns are handled.”

Webb begins his term at a time when the John Wayne settlement

agreement extension, park space, the general plan update and the

future of Mariners Mile all hang in the balance. In many such areas,

the former public works director hopes his knowledge of government

can help get things done.

For example, landscaping improvements on Coast Highway between

Riverside and Tustin avenues have been approved in the city budget.

But the project is at a standstill because the city needs Caltrans’

approval to make changes to the roadway.

“I’m hoping that my knowledge of the inner workings of these

things will let that get moving,” Webb said.

Park space will also be in high on his agenda. Bayview Landing,

the undeveloped parcel at Jamboree and Coast Highway, is slated to

become a passive park as soon as details such as elevation and a

proposed senior housing complex on the adjacent lot are addressed.

Webb also wants to get to work creating more playing fields in a city

where teams must first compete for fields before they can compete on

fields.

“We’re just tremendously short of space,” Webb said. “Hopefully,

by the time my four years are up, we’ll have some more playing

fields.”

Webb said he probably won’t be one of the most vocal council

members on the dais; one-on-one dialogue with residents will still be

his preferred form of communication.

* 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.