o7Here are some items the council will...

o7Here are some items the council will consider tonight.

f7

CIVIC CENTER FINANCING

Tonight will be the council’s third and final discussion of the

new civic center before the council votes on the project Oct. 11. The

council will hear about how to pay for the roughly $46-million

project, which will include a new city hall, fire station and parking

garage.

City officials have proposed using certificates of participation,

which are similar to bonds but would be repaid from the city’s

general fund, so homeowners wouldn’t get a fatter tax bill. On a

30-year payback schedule, the financing with interest will cost about

as much as the facilities package, putting the civic center’s total

cost at $80 million or more.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council may have questions on the financing but is not likely

to act tonight. Public comment can be expected, especially since a

citizens group is now pushing a ballot initiative that would make the

civic center project subject to a citywide vote.

EMPLOYEE CONTRACTS

Contracts with several city employee unions are up for renewal,

including the lifeguards, police and non-safety workers. The city has

negotiated new two-year contracts with each union that are expected

to cost about $4.8 million. Officials included the cost of contract

changes in this year’s budget.

The proposed new contracts give raises between 3% and 5% each year

to the employee groups, and some are retroactive to cover contracts

that already have expired.

Other changes include a boost to employee health benefits, a new

retiree medical program for police employees, and an additional 50

cents an hour in pay for lifeguards who are bilingual.

City officials said the salary and benefit hikes, at least for

police and lifeguards, are needed to stay competitive with the

market.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council likely will approve the new contracts.

SEGWAY BAN

A number of residents want the council to ban the Segway, a

two-wheeled electric scooter, from city sidewalks and beachfront

boardwalks because they say it’s a danger to pedestrians and

bicyclists. After first studying the issue in April, the council will

take it up again at a study session today.

Other types of motorized vehicles aren’t allowed on the city’s

boardwalks and piers, but in state law, the Segway is considered the

same as a pedestrian.

The city attorney’s office has proposed banning Segways on the

Oceanfront boardwalk, Bay Front sidewalks, Edgewater Plaza and on the

city’s beaches and piers.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The issue is only up for discussion today. If the council wants to

go ahead with a ban, a vote would happen at a later meeting.

HURRICANE RELIEF

Several council members have asked if the city will chip in to

Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and tonight they will formally

discuss it. Nothing specific has been proposed.

The city already has sent four fire department employees to work

for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It will cost the city

about $15,000 to replace those workers for the 30 days they’re

expected to be gone.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Council members seem interested in offering some sort of help, but

it’s unclear what form it may take.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Newport Beach City Council meeting

WHEN: 7 p.m. today, with a study session at 4 p.m.

WHERE: City Council chambers, City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.

FYI: Call (949)644-3005 or visit

o7www.city.newport-beach.ca.usf7 online for agendas and staff

reports

-- Compiled by Alicia Robinson