NEWPORT BEACH City Council to choose its...

NEWPORT BEACH

City Council to choose its

newest colleague on Tuesday

City Council members will hold a special meeting Tuesday to

interview the six council applicants and select one that same night.

The field of candidates vying to serve out the end of Gary Proctor’s

term was pared down after Gerald Scarboro withdrew his name from

consideration.

* A widespread problem with fire code violations in Newport Harbor

could be in line for some corrective action. Boats at commercial

marinas and yacht brokerages are customarily berthed in violation of

city fire codes. The codes require boats to be docked in a way that,

in case of a fire or other emergency, they can be moved without

having to move any other boats out of the way. Right now, about 150

boats are in violation of that rule. City leaders will consider

gradual measures to make it easier for the businesses to comply.

* Peninsula businesses are reporting good sales this summer, and

business continues to look up. Renovations, new businesses and a

general economic upturn bode well for the area.

* 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

Westside redevelopment

won’t expand, Council votes

Anxiety among industrial property owners was deflated Monday when

the City Council -- acting as the Redevelopment Agency -- decided not

to add any more property to its downtown redevelopment zone. The

agency contemplated adding about 440 Westside acres, after a

six-month postponement.

While industrial property owners cheered, those that hoped

redevelopment would be used judiciously to clean up the Westside said

they will remain vigilant that the city will follow through on its

commitment to improve the area through other means.

* A bishop of the Diocese of Orange came to St. Joachim’s Church

Thursday to try and resolve a conflict between the Rev. Joseph

Robillard and the Latino parishioners. The parishioners have accused

Robillard of mistreating them during church services and not

communicating well with them.

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

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

EDUCATION

Three schools fail to meet

federally-mandated goals

Three Newport-Mesa schools did not meet federal performance

standards, according to reports presented to district officials this

week.

For the past two school years, both Whittier and Pomona elementary

schools fell short of English proficiency standards set by the

Federal No Child Left Behind Act. The Latino student population of

Wilson Elementary also tested substandard in English proficiency for

the second year.

All three schools will have to undergo program improvements,

including revising academic plans and allowing parents to move

students to higher-performing district schools, or risk losing

federal funding.

* Trustees for the Coast Community College District announced

Wednesday that they would pursue the KOCE-TV foundation’s bid to

purchase the station’s license.

The trustees took the recommendation of a district subcommittee to

take the $32-million bid after two religious stations withdrew their

offers and they decided Almavision Hispanic Network could not prove

they had the $35 million they offered.

The district decided to sell the station rather than continue to

pay for its operation. The KOCE-TV foundation was the only bidder who

promised to keep the station as a PBS affiliate.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at [email protected].