City to vote on project cuts

Newport Beach could cut more than $2 million in projects like landscaping at Corona del Mar State Beach and remodeling police and lifeguard facilities this year to keep its budget balanced.

The Newport Beach City Council will vote on Tuesday on whether to support City Manager Homer Bludau’s proposal to put 16 city projects in jeopardy this year.

Newport is facing a $3.5-million gap in sales tax revenue this year in a harsh economic climate.

Most of the proposed cuts are cosmetic in nature, Bludau said.

“I was looking at nice-to-haves as opposed to very-important-to-haves,” he said.

Times are tough and residents may have to wait another year for beatification projects like landscaping street medians, Bludau said.

The largest proposed cut would be $350,000 for the Semeniuk Slough dredging project. The slough is a remnant of the previous alignment of the Santa Ana River near Newport Shores. The slough fills with silt and needs to be dredged. Other proposed cuts include remodeling a garage at the lifeguard headquarters.

Some council members could oppose cutting funding for projects in their districts.

Councilwoman Nancy Gardner said she has already gotten several phone calls from constituents worried about cuts to landscaping street medians on Avocado Avenue and replacing crumbling masonry and landscaping at Corona del Mar State Beach.

“I know that looks like easy, low-lying fruit, but we’ll be looking for some things we can salvage,” Gardner said. “I also would like to discuss an overlying strategy of where do we looking to save money and what approach do we take. I think all of us fight for our neighborhoods.”

Aside from slumping sales tax revenues, the city is facing a 30% to 40% reduction on its investment income yield from the previous year and slowing revenue from the city building department.

“We don’t have the luxury of printing money like the federal government,” Councilman Steve Rosansky said. “I support (Bludau’s) efforts to bring our budget back into line with revenue. In general, I think the projects he picked could be put off without affecting key city services.”

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