MAILBAG:City Hall should remain in historical center of city

When the City Council and city staff first brought the need for more space before the public, the cost to build a new City Hall, a new fire station (because the current one was and is seismically unsafe), and a multi-story parking structure, was estimated to be $50 million.

Since then the debate has devolved into where to build a “City Hall only” on either General Plan designated park land or on land the city does not own for $50 million. In either case the fire station on the existing City Hall site would have to be replaced — a cost which no one seems to be addressing.

I prefer the City Hall being replaced on its present site. I also prefer a classical design rather than the unfurled sails design first proposed.

A multi-storied building would not affect views in the area. A multi-storied parking structure would alleviate the current parking crunch. The City Hall would remain in the historic center of the city.

And weekend traffic in the area would not increase as would occur should the property be sold to a developer.

Let’s get back to the original thoughts and start moving ahead.

A City Hall should stand proudly, not be buried under a hill or built in a shopping mall.

CHUCK REMLEY

Balboa

City needs to take action on JWA expansion

When residents of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa believe there are more flights over their heads this year from John Wayne Airport, they are not mistaken.

The number of commercial jets increased 5.7%, and the number of passengers was up 6% when you compare JWA’s statistics for the first seven months of 2007 and 2006.

It is a mistake to report that that the total number of aircraft operations has decreased 6.6% compared to July 2006.

Only private aircraft has decreased by that number, and that is because of ongoing construction and the rising number of commercial jets.

JWA not only affects Costa Mesa and Newport Beach, but also all of the cities lying under the arrival flight path: Anaheim, Orange, Tustin, Santa Ana and Villa Park.

That is why when AirFair organized five years ago at the time the last Settlement Agreement was enacted, we decided to be a grassroots and a regional organization.

Perhaps it is human nature to think that the government or someone will come along to keep JWA from destroying parts of the cities that lie under the flight path.

True, the current city councils and some of the supervisors are supportive of limiting a further expansion of JWA.

However, unless an agreement is adjudicated, it may only last as long as that council or supervisor is in office. Elected officials cannot make promises for future officials.

That leaves it to us. Unless we work hard with residents of other cities to contain growth of the airport, forces calling for another expansion of JWA will succeed, and the planes will not affect just those residents in a narrow flight path, but a much wider area.

That is why I am a member of AirFair.

NANCY AlSTON

Newport Beach

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