ON THE AGENDA HOTTIES PIZZA A...

ON THE AGENDA

HOTTIES PIZZA

A new pizza parlor to open on Newport Boulevard has asked the city

for the right to, among other things, provide home delivery of beer

and wine with food. Though the Planning Commission granted the

request, Councilman Gary Proctor asked that the matter be brought up

for City Council consideration. A public hearing tonight will give

council members and residents a chance to speak about the request.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Councilman John Heffernan has also said that this request could be

a matter for concern. It comes at a time when the city is actively

looking for ways to reinvent the peninsula and West Newport areas

from their current “party central” image to that of an upscale,

beachfront community. Further, as Heffernan pointed out, beer and

wine deliveries could contribute to underage drinking.

BACK BAY BOARDWALK

A habitat restoration plan for the Back Bay could get funding

tonight if council members vote to enter into an agreement with the

county of Orange. The county has about $800,000 set aside from its

share of the American Trader oil spill settlement to fund the

environmental project. If approved, the work could include building

new trails and a boardwalk through the Back Bay to discourage nature

lovers from trampling delicate wildlife habitats.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The plan seems popular at City Hall because it seeks to protect

wildlife habitats from human encroachment while at the same time

providing humans a way to enjoy the nature area. And because the

money comes from the county, many like the plan. However, the

$800,000 won’t be enough to fund the full project. Planners will have

to find other funding sources, possibly including federal grants.

NEWPORT COAST TAX MONEY

A long-awaited move to help Newport Coast residents solve the

mystery of some missing money is on the agenda tonight. As part of

the city’s Pre-annexation Agreement with Coast residents, council

members will vote on hiring two attorneys to begin an inquiry into up

to $50 million that the county has failed to account for. The money

is part of more than $170 million in assessment district taxes that

paid for infrastructure to the area and that Coast residents will

continue to pay off for years.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The two attorneys who could get hired tonight, Robert F. Messinger

of Burke Williams & Sorenson LLP and William R. Mitchell of Cummins

and White LLP are among the very few that the city could find that

wouldn’t have a potential conflict of interest. Many in the area have

professional relationships with the Irvine Co., the county or other

Newport Coast interests. For that reason, the council is likely to

approve hiring the two attorneys and setting aside up to $93,750 to

pay them.

-- Compiled by

June Casagrande