NEWPORT BEACH No easy retirement for city...

NEWPORT BEACH

No easy retirement

for city employees

The retirement plan for city employees is rising at an alarming

rate. The program that costs $9.25 million to run this year will

skyrocket to $16.25 million in just three years. City officials are

covering the costly contributions by cutting back on nonessential

spending in the city budget as well as setting funds aside for when

times get tough.

* The Corona del Mar Vision Plan moved one step forward when the

City Council agreed to take control of a portion of Coast Highway.

Now planners of the beautification and safety project must begin

looking for money to pay for it. For the $12-million project, only

$600,000 is set aside so far.

* Homes near two city parks have that have encroached on city land

could soon be in for a rude awakening. City Council members are

planning talks on what to do about private homes whose properties

overlap onto Kings Road Park and Irvine Terrace Park.

-- June Casagrande

COSTA MESA

Council doesn’t go too far forward with mobile homes

After a year of wrestling with the issue, the City Council decided

not to pursue a proposed law regulating the conversions and closures

of mobile home parks. The council was spurred to consider the law

based on the frustrating experiences of some mobile home owners of

the El Nido and Snug Harbor trailer parks, which will close by June.

But the majority of council members felt that state regulations were

enough.

* The council also was not yet ready to take decide whether to

change the way it regulates the display of sponsorship banners for

youth sports. It directed Councilmember Libby Cowan to work with

staff members to refine the proposed regulations so they fall under

the city’s existing sign ordinance. Neighbors had complained that the

banners cause blight. The council did say the banners could stay up

for the rest of the Little League season.

* Orange County runners have another marathon to train for with

the announcement that the Orange County Marathon will debut this

December. The marathon route mainly covers Newport Beach and Irvine.

-- Deirdre Newman

EDUCATION

A fine film festival for student moviemaking

Student filmmakers from Orange Coast College will have five films

screened at this year’s Newport Beach Film Festival.

The festival is devoting the afternoon of April 18 in the Lido

Theater to films produced by OCC students. That screening will give

extra exposure to the community college’s film program.

* A student group protested high textbook prices at a Wednesday

news conference at UC Irvine.

Members of the California Student Public Interest Research Group

accused publishers of overcharging, adding unnecessary supplements

and releasing new editions too frequently. The group is sending a

letter of complaint signed by 500 math professors at 100 colleges to

one textbook publisher.

-- Marisa O’Neil

PUBLIC SAFETY

Police arrest Corona del Mar woman after investigation

Newport Beach police arrested a 40-year-old Coronal del Mar woman

Thursday on suspicion of inappropriately touching a teenage girl,

officials said.

Victoria Hawlish, a.k.a. Victoria Burton, was charged with four

counts of committing lewd acts with a minor. The victim was not

identified because she is under 18.

Detectives investigated the victim’s complaint and obtained a

warrant for Hawlish’s arrest based on their investigation, police

said. Officers arrested Hawlish in her home in the 300 block of

Orchid Avenue.

Detectives also believe there may be more victims and are asking

victims or witnesses to come forward with information. Police would

not comment about the relationship between Hawlish and the victim or

the circumstances of the alleged crimes.

-- Deepa Bharath