BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

In lieu of today’s meeting, the Municipal Water District of Orange

County will gather Jan. 17 to swear in its new board.

The board will swear in seven new members, who joined the board after

a consolidation with Coastal Municipal Water District. The coastal board,

formed in 1940, ceased to exist Monday. The agency had sold water to

Costa Mesa and Newport Beach.

In November, Wayne Clark won a seat representing Newport Beach and

Joan Finnegan joined the board overseeing Costa Mesa.

The agencies began merging in 1996. The merger will have little effect

on Newport Beach, which buys approximately 25% of its water from the

water agency, officials said.

The board will meet at 9 a.m. on Jan. 17 at the district’s offices,

10500 Ellis Ave., Fountain Valley.