City committee diverse and working well

Roger Alford

Regarding the Pilot’s Aug. 28 story, “Controversy develops at

meeting,” the Newport Beach General Plan Advisory Committee was

formed by the city of Newport Beach shortly after a public-visioning

process was completed in 2002.

It is made up of 38 residents of Newport Beach, who represent a

cross-section of community and special interest groups. The committee

has representations from slow growth, environmentalists, arts,

business and other interests.

No one has complained about lack of representation on this

committee. The purpose of the committee is to assist, by representing

the community, in formulating a 25-year visioning plan around which

the city’s required updated general plan will be formulated. The

committee results are presented to the General Plan Update Committee,

which also has a cross section of members, including Allen Beek, who

is active in the Greenlight slow-growth interest group.

The results of the advisory committee’s reports will also be put

back before the community at large for additional input before

acceptance by the update committee. The results will then be given to

the city of Newport Beach staff for drafting of an updated Newport

Beach General Plan. This process will take until 2006. The process

will have Planning Commission and City Council input at all steps

along the way. Finally, the updated general plan will be formally

reviewed by the City Council for approval.

This is the background regarding the meeting on Aug. 23 at which

public comments were sought. The advisory committee had worked

diligently to prepare recommendations for specific areas within the

city. There are seven specific areas that were reviewed by the

committee’s member subcommittees. The recommendations were compiled

and will be reviewed by city-hired specialists, who will determine

the feasibility of the recommendations.

The Aug. 23 advisory committee meeting reviewed this compilation

of recommendations. The committee has been educated, members have

been cordial, views have been heard and compromised. This has taken 2

1/2 years. At all meetings, public views have been asked for.

Frequently, there have been none. Most public comment has related to

the open space of Banning Ranch area, including comments by two

individuals on Aug. 23.

Then comes Phil Arst, Greenlight leader. He complained that the

residents of Newport Beach didn’t want growth. He brought statistics

he admitted were 10 years old. He stated the city did not use enough

outsourcing. He stated office buildings did not generate income to

the city. He stated the city had too many employees. He said the

recommendations created too much density.

The fact is, he probably did not believe in a general plan

process, which was set up to respect the input of the city’s

citizens. This was implemented because of the limitation on general

plan amendments as voted on and passed by the city’s residents. His

comments were not on point. He continued his program of not

suggesting solutions, but attacking everything, relevant or not.

Nancy Gardner, the current chairwoman of the committee, ran a good

meeting. She asked several times for public comments. Mark Tabbert

did not noticeably object or come forward at any point. Arst had said

nothing on point or suggest anything specific about any

recommendation. Arst rambled, the committee became restless, and Arst

willingly sat down.

It is my personal belief the process of the general plan update is

on track. The committee has brought forward thoughtful

recommendations from a cross-section of the community in a democratic

process. I trust this letter will explain the city’s positive efforts

to comply with the sensitivities of the community, the democratic

process and a view that the update is still a community work in

progress.

* ROGER ALFORD is a member of the General Plan Advisory Committee.