ON THE AGENDA CAMPAIGN REFORM Of the...

ON THE AGENDA

CAMPAIGN REFORM

Of the issues that will come before the council tonight, none are

likely to be more contentious than a study session on campaign reform

in the city. Amid a bitter battle between two factions in the city,

the council will discuss whether changes to city campaign rules can

lead to cleaner elections.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Once the discussion is done, the council may decide not to make

any changes. If so, that will be the end of the matter. If the

council decides the matter is worth some formal action, they may ask

to have the matter come up at a regular session of a council meeting,

perhaps with proposed changes to the campaign ordinance that they

could vote on.

LANDMARK THEATERS POSTPONED

City leaders have once again postponed consideration of a landmark

theaters ordinance. The matter has been bumped to the March 25

agenda, when the council is expected to vote on loosening rules for

three city theaters and the Balboa Pavilion. Though the online agenda

for the council meeting showed that the matter would be heard today,

the city clerk’s office confirmed Monday that the item had been

postponed.

ANNEXATION

A much-awaited vote tonight could set in motion the city’s

annexation of West Santa Ana Heights, the Santa Ana Country Club and

an unincorporated area south of Mesa Drive. The council will vote

whether to send a letter to the Local Agency Formation Commission

that the city plans to apply to annex the areas.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Staff have already provided detailed analyses to the council on

the possible effects of annexation. They project that, while it won’t

bring in much tax revenue, annexation won’t cost the city any money,

either. Considering the very vocal support for the plan residents and

the country club, the council may vote yes.

TREE POLICY

The city’s policies on trees could get updated. The issue stems

from a lawsuit last fall filed against the city by the Balboa Arbor

Society. Arbor society members agreed to release their legal

stranglehold on 23 tree stumps and two trees in Balboa Village if the

city agreed to review its tree policies.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Staff have suggested that the council consolidate city tree rules,

so there’s a good chance some changes will be made. But whether

council members decide to make some farther-reaching changes remains

to be seen.

MARINAPARK HOTEL

If past meetings are any guide, tonight’s discussion on a proposed

resort at Marinapark will be contentious, even though the matter

before the council is fairly routine. The council will vote whether

to accept changes to the Marinapark plans, formalizing developer

Sutherland Talla’s modifications that, among other things, reduced

the number of rooms to 110.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Too many wildcards to call this vote.

-- Compiled by June Casagrande