POLITICS Newport-Mesa’s state legislators submit bills Newport-Mesa’s...

POLITICS

Newport-Mesa’s state legislators submit bills

Newport-Mesa’s three state legislators unveiled their slates of

legislation Monday.

Assemblyman John Campbell, who represents Newport Beach, has

floated a constitutional amendment that would fundamentally alter the

state budget process. If it passes, state funding could grow no

faster than population and inflation.

State Sen. Ross Johnson, who represents Newport-Mesa, has proposed

two bills that would have the state give schools one lump sum instead

of the categorical funding now in place.

None of the more than 20 bills floated by Assemblyman Ken Maddox

deal with the state’s No. 1 issue, the budget crisis.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

[email protected].

NEWPORT BEACH

Voters will have final

say on Marinapark

A 110-room luxury resort will have to win the favor of voters if

it is to be built at the Marinapark mobile home park on Balboa

Peninsula. The City Council decided Tuesday that the matter will go

on the November 2004 ballot and that an environmental report must be

prepared before the project is approved.

An affordable senior housing project has moved forward, though

some Villa Point residents worry that it will have inadequate parking

and will affect their views. The 150-unit senior apartment complex

will be built near the intersection of Jamboree Road and Coast

Highway.

City Councilman Dick Nichols found himself in a battle with

colleagues when he suggested that the city make sure the lineup of

speakers at the Distinguished Speaker Lecture Series is more

conservative. Mayor Steve Bromberg and Councilman Tod Ridgeway said

it was not the city’s place to censor the privately funded series.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

[email protected].

PUBLIC SAFETY

Arrests made in South Coast Plaza purse snatchings

Costa Mesa Police arrested two men and a woman from Santa Ana on

Tuesday in connection with two armed robberies in South Coast Plaza.

Christopher Shannon Martinez, 36, Adam Avical LeBlanc, 30 and

Robbyn Mae Rickard, 33, are suspected of snatching purses from two

victims in the South Coast Plaza parking lot in the 3300 block of

Bristol Street on Feb. 21 and 22, police said. In each incident, a

handgun was displayed.

All three suspects are being held in Orange County jail in lieu of

$50,000 bail.

In other news, Costa Mesa Fire Chief Jim Ellis announced that he

is forming a Citizens Corps Council to help the community prepare for

emergencies. Community leaders will take information about disaster

preparedness from the city and disseminate it in their areas. An open

house and community information meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. March

27 at the Neighborhood Community Center, 845 Park Ave., Costa Mesa.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at [email protected].

COSTA MESA

Commission revokes network’s taping permit

The Planning Commission cut Trinity Broadcast Network’s ability to

tape outdoor TV activities until it has more time to review the

Christian center’s original permit. The decision was based on

neighbors’ complaints that the noise and glare from the lights are a

nuisance.

Keep the bowling shirt or not? The fate of Kona Lanes bowling

alley is still in limbo after Mayor Karen Robinson appealed the

Planning Commission’s approval of a Kohl’s Department store, which

would replace the bowling alley and the defunct movie theater and ice

skating rink at the Mesa Verde Center. Robinson said she would like

to save recreational options for residents and doesn’t think the

Segerstroms, who will be building the department store, should be

allowed to provide 14 fewer parking spaces than the city requires.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].