NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

Here are some items the council will consider tonight.

MARINAPARK DESIGNThe council will decide whether to spend $85,000 to hire Rabben/Herman Design to do more detailed drawings of plans for a public park and marina on city-owned property at Marinapark. The firm worked with Protect Our Parks, a citizens’ group and park advocate, and subsequently helped design the preliminary plan the city has backed.

The next phase of the project is expected to take six to eight months. It includes making sure the plan works on the site, detailed design work and public outreach about the project. No funding has yet been found for the Marinapark project.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council probably will agree to hire Rabben/Herman Design and move forward with the Marinapark concept. Construction could take two to three years.

OUR LADY QUEEN OF ANGELS APPEALOur Lady Queen of Angels church and school in Corona del Mar wants to expand into space formerly used by St. Mark Presbyterian Church, which is building a new facility at another site. The expansion was approved by the planning commission in September and wouldn’t have come to the council, but a representative of a nearby homeowners’ association appealed.

Paul Doremus, appealing on behalf of the Villa Granada Homeowners Assn., said the expansion would worsen existing traffic congestion because it holds more services than St. Mark, and neighbors already suffer from a surfeit of students at Corona del Mar High School, which is next door.

The expansion would add 10 classrooms, a gym and a new 1,170-seat sanctuary to the Roman Catholic church and school.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The council will hear public testimony today, but it’s unlikely to be a huge swell of opposition to the expansion as was seen with St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in 2005.

Compiled by Alicia Robinson

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Newport Beach City Council meeting

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

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

INFO: (949) 644-3005 or www.city.newport-beach.ca.us