Court rejects local activist’s request

A California court of appeals this week turned away activist Allan Beek’s request to rehear his challenge to Measure B, the 2008 ballot measure that requires the next Newport Beach city hall to be built on a piece of city-owned land in Newport Center.

Newport Beach voters passed Measure B in February 2008 by a 53% margin.

Beek first sued Newport and City Clerk LaVonne Harkless over the legality of Measure B. The City Council later voted unanimously to support the measure after voters passed the initiative. The City Council vote reconciled its earlier 3-4 split on the issue.

Beek then filed a second lawsuit claiming the council’s vote violated the California Environmental Quality Act and the city’s general plan. He alleged that the council’s vote to support Measure B was illegal because the city already dedicated the land as open space.

In June, the California Fourth Appellate District Court upheld the voters’ right to decide where to put the city hall.

The panel of three judges unanimously upheld Measure B and rejected all of Beek’s claims.

— Brianna Bailey