BUSINESS Newport, Costa Mesa workers are working...

BUSINESS

Newport, Costa Mesa workers are working

The federal government reported Wednesday that Orange County has

the lowest unemployment rate among the nation’s metropolitan areas.

The county ended 2004 with only 2.7% of the workforce out of a

job, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Newport Beach and

Costa Mesa both had lower rates. State figures show Costa Mesa had a

2.3% unemployment rate and the Newport Beach figure was 1.7%.

Local business leaders cited Costa Mesa’s diverse economic profile

and Newport Beach’s largely educated population as factors behind

high employment.

ENVIRONMENT

Making a site always

right for dumping

The Environmental Protection Agency announced a plan to designate

an underwater area near Newport Harbor as a permanent dumping site

for dredging wastes.

Newport City officials favored the plan, which they believe will

save the city money on dumping projects, though environmental

activist Jan Vandersloot said the disposal area is too close to a

sewage plume generated by the Orange County Sanitation District.

The EPA will accept public comments on the draft environmental

impact report through March 7. Public hearings will be held from 2 to

4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Peter and Mary Muth

Interpretive Center, 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach.

EDUCATION

UCI wants to have courthouse of its own

UC Irvine made its pitch last week to have a $17 million state appellate courthouse built on campus. The university proposed a

2.5-acre site that fronts California Street and is adjacent to the

University Research Park as a location for the courthouse. The

Judicial Council of California is expected to evaluate the school’s

bid Monday.

The city of Santa Ana already has offered a 2-acre site next to

the city hall for the courthouse, and the city would build a parking

garage to serve court clients. Officials with the city and the

university declined to give other details about their proposals.

POLITICS

El Toro earns only

its minimum wage

Bidding in the online auction of the closed El Toro Marine Corps

Air Station will end at 3 p.m. Wednesday, the federal General

Services Administration announced last week. The auction opened Jan.

5, but the only bids received as of Friday were minimum bids on two

parcels. The four parcels up for sale range in price from $60 million

to $220 million.

* Things in the city of Newport Beach are looking good, but cities

need to try to think regionally, Mayor Steve Bromberg told 450 guests

Thursday night at the annual Speak Up Newport Mayor’s Dinner.

Bromberg’s speech touched on the progress the city has made on

various issues, including forming a committee to consider future uses

of the Marinapark site and the success of a group that formed to help

Marines and their families based at Camp Pendleton.