Group wants a center vote

In about three weeks, a Newport Beach residents group will start

collecting signatures for a ballot initiative that would require a

public vote on a $46.3-million civic center and any future projects

that require the city to borrow more than $3 million.

But the sparse attendance at City Council meetings about the civic

center hasn’t reflected the dissent that some say is widespread.

The council is expected to vote in October on whether to build a

72,000-square-foot city hall, a fire station and a parking garage.

The residents group, Newporters for Responsible Government, has

said the city is trying to circumvent voters by paying for the city

hall complex with certificates of participation, which don’t need to

be voted on.

Supporters of the project argue that residents won’t see a tax

increase, and that the debt payments -- estimated between $3 million

and $4 million a year for 30 years -- are no more than the council

spends on regular budget items throughout the year.

John Buttolph, the spokesman for Newporters for Responsible

Government, said about 50 people have attended the group’s meetings.

He believes residents who want information about the city hall

project have been frustrated by “superficial answers” from city

officials.

“It’s disconcerting to see that there aren’t great numbers coming

out at this point in the process, but that does not give a clear

indication of the amount of support,” he said.

The group also has gained the backing of the Greenlight committee,

which has been influential in development issues.

But of the four people who talked about the civic center at

Tuesday’s City Council meeting, two said they support the project and

that they trust the council to vote on it.

“We believe that they will make reasonable, considered decisions,”

Alan Oleson said. “We support those decisions because by the time

they make them, they are the best informed to make them.”

John Nelson criticized the ballot proponents, calling them

“grievance mongers” and pointing out that Buttolph ran unsuccessfully

for City Council in 2004.

The council will discuss the project again Sept. 27, and

Newporters for Responsible Government will begin seeking signatures

for the initiative soon after.

If the initiative qualifies, it will likely appear on the ballot

in 2006. That’s after the council will vote on building a civic

center, but the initiative would be retroactive to include it.

And even before a vote takes place, the specter of the ballot

measure may prevent the city from going ahead with the project.

When asked by Mayor John Heffernan, attorney Dave McEwen told the

council the pending ballot issue would have to be disclosed to

potential investors in the project.

“Unless we can get very comfortable about moving forward with it

pending, then we won’t move forward,” he said.

QUESTION

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