UPDATE

NEWPORT BEACH — A city hall won’t go on the 12-acre property next to the city’s Central Library. The council voted late Tuesday to go ahead with plans for a $3.75-million park on the land.

More than 100 residents filled the council chambers and in about three hours of public comment were split on whether the council should stick by two earlier decisions to build the park or consider the site for a city hall.

Council members Leslie Daigle, Don Webb and Mayor Steve Rosansky voted no to finalizing the park plan. Ed Selich, Keith Curry, Nancy Gardner and Michael Henn voted to go ahead with the park.

“This was deeded in perpetuity as open space,” Gardner said. “That means forever.”

Residents wore their hearts on their lapels — some wearing buttons urging the council to “save the park” and others backing the plan that Rosansky called Park Plus.

Residents watched as the council wrestled for the third time with whether to put a city hall next to the central library. The council, which includes some new members since November, voted in 2005 and 2006 to preserve the land as a park.

But retired architect Bill Ficker has continued to propose that the property could include a city hall and a park, and some residents said it’s a logical plan that should be considered.

“It is our civic duty to be willing to explore new ideas to solve this ongoing dilemma sooner rather than later,” resident Wendy Brooks said.

The council ultimately approved, by the 4-3 vote, to go ahead with plans for the park, accept a $600,000 private donation and spend $400,000 of city money to build the first of three phases. The first phase includes a grassy field with paths, benches, shade shelters and parking.

Their other choice was to postpone movement on the park until a city hall location is chosen.

Other spots still in the running for a city hall are the existing Balboa Peninsula site, and an Orange County Transportation Authority park-and-ride site and the police station property, both in Newport Center.

Rosansky has asked that the council pick a new home for city hall by June 30.