Newport Beach City Council preview

AGENDA DOUBLED UP FOR HOLIDAY

The City Council will meet just once this month because of the coming

holidays. That means an extra heavy agenda will likely keep the meeting

going until late into the night.

CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Mayor Gary Adams will be mayor no more after an early council action

tonight. Council members will nominate and then vote on a new mayor, who

will take the gavel immediately and whose first order of business will be

a call for nominations for a new vice mayor.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Though any of the seven council members can be tapped for the job,

some insiders have speculated that Vice Mayor Tod Ridgeway is sitting

pretty for the mayor’s seat. The same insiders, however, have been

reluctant to speculate who could become second in command.

Because power will change hands tonight, a game of musical chairs

could also ensue. Council members will have a chance to change their

seats.

DUCK FEEDING ISSUE GETS HOT

A proposed ordinance to restrict feeding ducks and other waterfowl

could bring some big controversy. In response to complaints by residents

on Balboa Island’s Grand Canal, where one house is a haven for perhaps

hundreds of ducks, City Councilman Steve Bromberg has asked city staff to

come up with an ordinance to stop mass feeding of the birds.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Officials have had to walk a fine line in writing the proposed

ordinance. Their goal has been to stop problems such as water pollution

and odor caused when ducks are encouraged to set up camp in places like

Grand Canal. But the rules must be permissive enough to allow an

individual with a slice of bread to toss pieces to a duck or pigeon

without worrying about afine. To strike this compromise, the language of

the ordinance focuses on migration patterns that are thrown out of whack

when someone sets out troughs of food daily, encouraging them to stay and

breed. Though officials have worked hard to avoid conflict and

controversy, it’s possible that emotions on the subject could nonetheless

run high.

HARBOR COMMISSION COULD BE CREATED

A new commission to advise the council on matters such as water

quality could be created tonight when the council votes on whether to

create a harbor commission.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Council is expected to give the go-ahead to create the new commission.

LETTER TO RICHARD RIORDAN

Worrying that former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan’s loyalties may

be shifting as he runs for the governor’s seat, council members will

consider whether to send him a letter about creating an airport at the

closed El Toro Marine Air base.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

The letter, if sent, would explain the reasons Newport Beach has long

advocated an El Toro airport to absorb anticipated increases in flight

demands that could otherwise worsen traffic and pollution from John Wayne

Airport. City officials hope that their letter will bolster Riordan’s

seemingly softening stance on El Toro.

RELIEF FOR BALBOA VILLAGE BUSINESSES

In response to merchants’ complaints that Balboa Village improvements

are hurting their businesses, staff have been looking into ways to help

lessen their burden. Among the solutions they will offer tonight are some

flexible parking options to give shoppers easier access to stores,

temporary signs announcing the businesses are open and re-striping

westbound Balboa Boulevard at Main Street to provide a right-turn-only

lane onto Main. The latter move would give access to more parking and

loading areas. Perhaps the most radical suggestion is covering all of the

meters in the area and allowing free two-hour parking between 8 a.m. and

6 p.m. while work is underway.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

If the council accepts the ideas, they will be put into place as

quickly as possible to help businesses during the upcoming holiday

shopping season.

BALBOA PIER PARKING LOT RESURFACING

A contract for $195,135 to resurface the parking lot at Balboa Pier

could likely be approved tonight.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

The council is expected to approve a contract with GCI Construction

Inc. If council members do, the work will take place concurrently with

the $8 million in improvements now underway in Balboa Village.

* Compiled by June Casagrande

FYI

* WHAT: Newport Beach City Council meeting

* WHEN: 7 p.m. today, study session will begin at 3:30 p.m.

* WHERE: Newport Beach City Hall, 3300 Newport Blvd.

* INFORMATION: (949) 644-3309