To B or not to B, voters?

A group that opposes the February ballot initiative that would require the next Newport Beach city hall to be built next to the central library on Avocado Avenue raised about $200,000 less in campaign contributions than the opposing side last year.

Political organizers on both sides of the issue say they are working around the clock to get their messages out to voters in last few weeks before the election.

“We never thought we could compete on the money issue,” said Newporters Vote No on B organizer Karen Tringali. “We wonder what the motivation is behind these big donations.”

City Hall in the Park campaign organizers raised $334,701 in total donations in 2007, according to campaign financial statements — most of the funds came from retired Newport Beach businessman Jack Croul.

Croul gave the pro-Measure B campaign almost $300,000 last year, according to campaign records.

Meanwhile, Newporters Vote No on B managed to raise only $143,480 in total campaign contributions in 2007.

Architect and Lead City Hall in the Park proponent Bill Ficker says he resents what he calls the “cynical” critique of his campaign’s financial backers by Newporters Vote No. “We are all people who have lived here all our lives,” Ficker said. “The quality of the people we have is reflected in our efforts.”

Noted philanthropist and Steele family heir Audrey Steele Burnand has become the main benefactor of the Newporters Vote No — she gave the group $125,00 last year, campaign financial statements show.

What Newporters vote No on B lack in financial backing, they’re making up for in political clout. Four of the seven Newport Beach city council members have come out publicly against the plan — Councilman Keith Curry has been the most vocal against Measure B, but Councilwoman Nancy Gardner also wrote strong words against Measure B in her latest district newsletter. The group is publicly emphasizing their council members’ support as part of their campaign in the last few weeks before the election.

“I think it’s too bad that they have come out and support of this because we haven’t even approached the other three more seasoned council members that have the most experience,” said vocal City Hall in the Park supporter Ron Hendrickson.

Organizers on both sides of the issue say the opposing side is using faulty cost estimates and distorted numbers to further their messages.

Newporters Vote No on B has based all of its estimates on how much a city hall next to the library would cost on a city-commissioned analysis known as the DMJM study. The study based its pricing to build a city hall on two places — one on a site of an Orange County Transit Authority bus terminal in Newport Center and another next to the library.

City Hall in the Park supporters say the estimate is inaccurate and outdated.

“I think our biggest challenge is to get the truth out in the next few weeks,” Hendrickson said.

Newporters Vote No on B claims the document is the best — and only — estimate available. The group claims site preparation costs for the library site would be about $6.5 million before construction could begin.

“It’s the only tangible study out there,” said Scott Hart, a campaign consultant for Newporters Vote No on B. “We don’t know where they’re getting their numbers.”

City Hall in the Park claims that number is based on inaccurate information, building on the library site would cost at least $8 million less than building on property owned by the Irvine Co. the city could purchase, Ficker said.

“We have to protect ourselves from these spears that they throw,” Ficker said. “The biggest difference in cost would be the roughly $8 million it would take to purchase the land for the other site.”

Voters will head to the polls Feb. 5 to make a decision on Measure B.

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