NEWPORT BEACH Mayor outlines city’s accomplishments, goals...

NEWPORT BEACH

Mayor outlines city’s accomplishments, goals

The annual Speak Up Newport Mayor’s Dinner was the event to be at

last week. As usual, the dinner attendees were a who’s who of Newport

Beach.

And as usual, the event’s speakers didn’t disappoint. Always

entertaining Daily Pilot columnist and former Costa Mesa Mayor Peter

Buffa was emcee. Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, the keynote

speaker, gave an informative talk on the state of terrorism

preparedness before Mayor Steve Bromberg delivered his

state-of-the-city speech.

Bromberg started by listing some of the city’s recent

accomplishments -- from securing an extended John Wayne Settlement

Agreement to signing a 50-year lease with the American Legion.

Shifting to the immediate future, Bromberg said that the general

plan update process is the most important business facing the city.

He also issued a challenge to residents who have alleged that the

general plan process is skewed in favor of development. Parties

concerned about the process should sit down with city leaders so

that, in the end, everyone can rest assured that the general plan

will get updated to everyone’s benefit, he said..

* 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.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Former Newport Harbor student’s remains identified

The skeletal remains found in Humboldt County on Feb. 8 belong to

former Newport Harbor High School student Matt Large, officials said

Wednesday.

Large, a Huntington Beach resident and former champion wrestler at

Newport Harbor High, disappeared on Dec. 6, 2001, days before he was

scheduled to debut in an “ultimate fighting” match. Humboldt County

officials used dental records to positively identify him, police

said.

About three weeks after Large disappeared, investigators found his

pickup truck in Humboldt County. On Feb. 8 of this year, they found

his remains close to where they had found the truck, police said.

Police are now looking for 53-year-old Tommy McGuire in connection

with Large’s murder. Detectives say Large was a friend of McGuire’s

son Travis. Police said Large was last seen at McGuire’s apartment

and that the man had connections in Humboldt County and even lived

there for a while.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.

ENVIRONMENT

State commission approves Crystal Cove plan

The state’s bid to turn over the historic cottages at Crystal

Cove, now more than two decades in the making, took a big step

Friday, when the state’s park and recreation commission unanimously

approved a plan crafted over the past two years.

As part of the plan, the state will spend $12.9 million to

renovate 40 of the 46 cottages in a historic district that was placed

on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The state bought the cottages and property that year for $32.9

million.

After repairing what are now dilapidating cottages, the state will

offer 29 for rent for about $100 per night to the public.

The Friday meeting was held at the Radisson Hotel Newport Beach.

Parks commissioners, including actor Clint Eastwood, said they were

happy to help provide more public access to what heiress and activist

Joan Irvine Smith has called “an island in time.”

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.

COSTA MESA

City Council chooses new Planning, Parks commissions

There will be some new faces on the Planning Commission in March.

The council used their new individual appointment process to chose

commissioners Tuesday. Among the newcomers are Joel Faris, Jim

Fisler, Wendy Leece and Byron de Arakal. Twenty-two-year Planning

Commissioner Walt Davenport was not reappointed.

The City Council again decided on two foundations to distribute

the $2-million Home Ranch educational grant, again deciding that they

don’t have to abide by the strict open meeting laws. Mayor Karen

Robinson had argued that the Brown Act requires open meetings for

these kinds of foundations.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

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