Newport council adopts budget, additional items

The Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a $208.9 million budget for 2007-08, and council members added $1.8 million worth of extras that included a disaster warning system and three new firefighters.

The new, balanced budget is a slight increase — just $3 million more — over the current year’s spending. It continues existing services and adds a few new items, such as the Santa Ana Heights Fire Station and Newport Coast Community Center.

Other extras on the council’s checklist included staff for Sunday hours at Mariners’ library, funding for the second-annual Newport Beach Restaurant Week and remodeling of the police station lobby.

Council members will get data later this year on residents’ satisfaction with city services as well as city cost comparisons.

— Alicia Robinson