BUSINESS Newport companies seek El Toro base...

BUSINESS

Newport companies seek

El Toro base land

In what could be one of the biggest real estate bonanzas in the

history of Orange County, a cluster of Newport Beach companies are in

the mix for the Navy’s disposition of the El Toro land.

Executives with the Koll Co., which Don Koll founded here in 1962,

said they are most interested in 204 acres -- the Navy has divided

the approximately 3,400 square feet of land into four parcels -- of

the former base.

Koll officials said they are considering bidding on the parcel,

during the online EBay-style auction scheduled to go off in the fall.

Koll and other Newport Beach brokers, developers and other real

estate companies attended an informational meeting on the process.

Those included CB Richard Ellis, Davis Partners, Grubb & Ellis,

Insignia/ESG, Makar Properties and PM Realty Group.

One Newport Beach company not in the picture -- The Irvine Co. The

company says it has its hands full with its own property.

Later in the week, the Hyatt Newporter, the first hotel built in

the city in 1962, announced it has launched a $14 million renovation

of the lodging. Work will begin on the hotel in September, officials

said. They hope to have it done by summer of 2004.

The hotel’s new management, Sunstone Hotel Investors, said it

doesn’t need to seek a Greenlight vote since it is not expanding the

hotel. The hotel was sold in December.

* 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

Greenlight wants campaign reform on ballot

A ballot initiative now in its infancould rival the 2000 Measure S

campaign in scope and importance to the city. Greenlight leaders have

announced that they will begin gathering signatures to put a campaign

reform measure on the ballot. The initiative would establish changes

to municipal election rules, including creating candidate pages on

the city’s Web site.

A floating dock in the Rhine Channel suffered a setback after city

officials learned that Americans With Disabilities Act requirements

would double the cost, to about $200,000. Proponents of the dock,

which is intended to improve passenger loading and unloading in the

area, hope the city council will approve the additional costs in the

next city budget.

Campaign consultant Dave Ellis, long a target of Greenlight

leaders, has returned fire. Ellis said that because Greenlight

spokesman Phil Arst approved of a spending plan for an airport grant

of which Ellis was paid about $320,000, Arst’s questioning of the

expenditure is opportunistic politicking. Arst countered that this

evidence doesn’t affect his position that the relationship between

Ellis and some City Council members might create the appearance of a

conflict of interest.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

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

[email protected].

COSTA MESA

City Council denies rehearing group home case

A lack of evidence prevented the granting of a rehearing requested

by the owner of a sober-living group home. Eleanor Manion, who owns

“Dove Cottage” in the 3100 block of Cork Lane, had asked the City

Council to rehear her request to increase her clients from six to

eight.

The City Council voted 4-0, with Gary Monahan absent, to deny the

hearing based on acting City Atty. Tom Wood’s analysis that there was

no new evidence to support it and that the City Council did comply

with the law. The city is embroiled in a lawsuit against Manion for

already exceeding the number of clients she is allowed to have.

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

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

PUBLIC SAFETY

Police agencies say they’re ready for anything

Local public safety agencies said they are well prepared for any

emergency or disaster situations that may arise from the war against

Iraq.

Harbor Patrol deputies are in full strength monitoring the harbor

entrance and the boats that go in and out, Lt. Gregg Russell said. He

said his department also shares intelligence with the FBI and

cross-trains with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Newport Beach Police

Department.

The local police departments and fire departments also said they

are prepared. Costa Mesa police and fire officials will unveil their

Citizens Corps Committee on March 27. Officials say that the

committee, made up of community members, will help disseminate

information about disaster preparedness.

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

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