ON THE AGENDA Here are some items...

ON THE AGENDA

Here are some items to be considered by the Newport Beach City

Council tonight.

CITY ATTORNEY’S ROLE

In the wake of City Atty. Bob Burnham’s announcement that he will

retire sometime in the spring, the council will take the opportunity

to review the city’s legal needs and consider what should happen when

he’s gone.

WHAT TO EXPECT

As with many things in city government, this process will begin

with the creation of a committee. Assuming the council approves the

agenda item before them tonight, an ad hoc group will be formed to

delve into these questions.

FOURTH OF JULY SAFETY

The council will hear a presentation from the Police Department

and watch a short video on this year’s Fourth of July celebration in

West Newport.

Though the tightened rules are opposed by some, officials say that

they’re making a difference. Total arrests were down to 103 this year

from 162 last year. Citations were down to 1,224 from 1,344. The

report will also include an analysis of the costs of the stepped-up

law enforcement and other elements of the city’s effort to reduce

crime and nuisance behaviors on the holiday.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Free Newport, a local group opposed to tightened restrictions on

Fourth of July, has broadcast the upcoming Fourth of July meeting on

its Web site, FreeNewport.com. So chances are that the council will

hear a spectrum of opinion.

OASIS COMMITTEE

An item that failed in a 3-1 vote at the last council meeting has

come for another round. The item is to create an ad hoc committee to

help clarify the role of the Friends of the Oasis fund-raising group

at the center, which the city largely runs.

Dick Nichols voted no on the item after requesting that he be put

on the committee. Nichols, whose Corona del Mar district includes the

Oasis Senior Center, voted against creating the committee after Mayor

Steve Bromberg told him that he would not change his appointments to

the committee.

WHAT TO EXPECT

This one’s too difficult to call. The item could pass with ease

and very little discussion, or it could open up a can of worms.

-- Compiled by June Casagrande