Groups debate city hall location

The terms of a proposed development agreement between Newport Beach and the Irvine Co. on a possible site for the next city hall will be made public Tuesday, Councilman Keith Curry revealed Wednesday night in a public forum on the issue.

Curry said he believes the proposition will show the Irvine Co.-owned site to be more economical than a site next to the library.

Architect Bill Ficker, however, maintains that constructing on the city’s 12.8-acre site next to the central library would save about $10 million.

The showdown over a February ballot measure that would require Newport Beach’s city hall to be built next to the city’s central library began Wednesday night with a debate sponsored by the West Newport Beach Assn.

The measure will appear on presidential primary ballots Feb. 5.

Ficker and architect Ron Hendrickson spoke on behalf of the group City Hall in the Park.

Curry spoke for the opposition group Parks are Priceless.

While the two sides agree on little, both sides think they know what’s best for Newport Beach, Curry said.

Ficker, a lead proponent of the ballot measure, argued his plan would be the most economical option, since the park site is already owned by the city.

An estimate from a city consultant reports that building on the site would cost about $10 million less than with another location.

Ficker said plans for the city hall in the park site would include attractive landscaping and park-like features, such as a sculpture garden.

“Newport Beach is a special place,” Ficker said. “There would be great identity there with access to this special place.”

Building next to the library also would boost the facility’s meager parking, Ficker said.

The plan to build city hall in the park site would include about 400 extra parking spaces.

Curry argued that building on the site next to the library would deprive Newport Beach residents’ of their promised park, and that such open spaces are what make the city a desirable place to live.

“I am very troubled when people raise the argument that we have too many parks,” Curry said.

Curry said that because much of the 12.8 acre site next to the library was on a drainage arroyo, building city hall there would prevent the possibility of using it as a park or anything else.

Curry and Ficker will go head-to-head again at a public debate sponsored by the nonpartisan citizen group Speak Up Newport 5 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Newport Beach Yacht Club, 1099 Bayside Drive.

More details are available at www.speakupnewport.org.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com.