More than just resolutions for ’05

STEVE BROMBERG

This year is going to be a pretty busy one for the City Council as

well as the entire city government. In looking back, I cannot recall

a time when there were so many high-profile and significant issues

facing the city that will most surely have an effect on residents’

quality of life.

I would like to take this opportunity to review a few of those

issues with you, and by no means will this be an all-inclusive list.

For starters, from my perspective, the most important topic we will

be facing relates to our sphere issues. There are a number of

facilities either in or near our city borders that are controlled and

managed by the county. The City Council formed a Sphere Issues

Committee in 2003 to explore the possibility of the city taking over

some or all of the responsibilities for these facilities.

Some key properties

One such area is the Coyote Canyon Landfill, which is about

260-plus acres and has been closed for a number of years. It is

within our borders, but control exists with the county. It just might

be a good location for a public golf course. Another facility is the

Newport Dunes, which is owned by the county and is on a ground lease

with about 35 years left on the term. There is West Santa Ana

Heights, an area that would very much like to be annexed to our city,

and which is presently an unincorporated area of the county.

Then, there is the issue of all issues -- John Wayne Airport. The

airport is not in the city of Newport Beach, but as everyone knows

who lives here, it may as well be. The airport is owned, managed and

operated by the County of Orange.

With respect to the airport, the city has no desire to own, manage

or operate it, nor do we want any of its money. Our request is not

complicated and relates to two issues. First, as a city we would like

to have, for lack of a better term, complete veto power over future

airport expansion. What this simply means is, we, the city of Newport

Beach, would like to have the say as to any future expansion,

including runways, additional runways or expanded runways, because

runways relate to additional flights. The second issue is, we would

like to have that same veto power on curfews. As a result of the last

amendment to the JWA settlement agreement, the existing curfew

remains intact until the year 2020. With little exception, the curfew

requires that planes do not take off before 7 a.m. (although that is

violated on occasion) and that landings cannot occur after 11 p.m.

Needless to say, although the sphere issues are, in a sense,

packaged, the John Wayne Airport issue is the one of most

significance to this city. No doubt, the need for future commercial

air traffic will exist, and unless there is a second airport in

Orange County, there is a strong likelihood that the federal

government, including the Federal Aviation Administration, will look

to expand John Wayne Airport. If that were to occur today, it would

be the County of Orange that would be representing the interests of

Newport Beach residents, as the owns the airport and is considered

the lead agency. Although the county is doing an extremely fine job

and was very helpful and cooperative in working with us with respect

to the last settlement agreement, we would like to control our

destiny, and to that end, it seems appropriate that this city should

be working directly with the federal government, and most probably,

the airlines, as future issues arise.

Planning for the long-term

The next issue of paramount importance to everyone who lives or

even visits the city is the general-plan update. A general plan is,

in a sense, a road map for the city through the year 2025. Every city

in this state is required to review their general plan every 10

years. We started the process about two years ago, and it is a long,

arduous process indeed. The General Plan Advisory Committee is made

up of 38 residents and business members from the city of Newport

Beach. These individuals come from virtually every area of the city,

and they are a very dedicated group. The committee will bring

recommendations to the City Council, and it will be the seven policy

makers on the City Council that will accept or reject recommendations

of the committee. From my personal sense, a vote of the people on the

general plan is likely and very appropriate.

Marinapark is another issue that will be coming up. The voters

defeated Measure L, and that vote was a mandate that there should not

be a hotel on public land. The vote by no means, however, was a

mandate that there should be a park at the site.

At today’s City Council meeting, we will discuss forming a

Marinapark Committee. The purpose of the committee will be discussed

at the City Council meeting, but it will most probably be charged

with bringing back alternative uses of the property to the council.

Most surely, this will include a topic as to whether the mobile homes

should stay or go. Should there be a park at the site? Should there

be a marina at the site? Should there be a park and a marina at the

site? Is a marina even permitted? No doubt there will be many uses

suggested. You can expect to see the committee consist of council

members, representatives from the Harbor Commission, Planning

Commission, Parks, Beaches and Recreation and members of the

community. The committee meetings will be public. If this committee

is to succeed, political rhetoric from the last campaign must be

checked at the door along with personal agendas and egos.

‘Magnificent Seven’

Without trying to sound too much like a cheerleader, I can

represent to you that the current City Council is one of the finest

councils I have ever seen. My colleagues are active within their own

communities as well as outside the borders of their districts, and

every one of them is approachable. In the last election, there were

three City Council seats up for grabs. Steve Rosansky, who represents

West Newport, not only won the election by a substantial margin, it

appears that he most probably broke a city record. His margin was so

great that the combination of the votes of his two opponents did not

exceed the number of votes he secured. My district, which includes

Balboa Island, a number of the surrounding islands, Irvine Terrace,

the Dunes area and Fashion Island area, is probably the most

politically active district in the city. I ran unopposed. John

Heffernan, whose district includes Harbor View and parts of the

Newport Coast did not campaign until days prior to the election and

won by a respectable margin.

What does all this mean? To me, it is a clear message that

although we may not always agree, the majority of the people in this

city are pleased with their representative government, including the

way we manage issues in this city. It doesn’t mean we are perfect,

but it sure does send a message that people are quite pleased with

the way things are going in paradise.

As I did when I was mayor in 2003, I intend to keep you posted

with city developments from time to time. Happy New Year!

* STEVE BROMBERG is mayor of Newport Beach.