ON THE AGENDA Here are some items...

ON THE AGENDA

Here are some items to be considered tonight by the Newport Beach

City Council.

RECOVERY HOMES

In response to complaints from homeowners about a residential

drug- and alcohol-treatment center on the Balboa Peninsula, the City

Council tonight will examine the fine print of the law. In the study

session before their regular meeting, council members will hear

analysis of the federal laws governing such facilities that may limit

the city’s power to regulate them.

Federal laws that prohibit housing discrimination against the

handicapped define addicts and alcoholics as such and may trump local

ordinances.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Because this is a study session item, no formal action will take

place tonight, but council members could opt to consider some formal

action at a future council meeting.

DOVER DRIVE HOME

The owner of a house whose debris-strewn yard has upset neighbors

for more than 40 years is expected to appeal a city decision to

declare his home a nuisance. Dover Drive resident Elmer Thomassen has

requested the action in order to buy enough time to let a charity

group clean up his home.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Thomassen has a number of health problems he says have caused him

to fall behind schedule for cleaning the property. But these recent

problems may not carry much weight with council members because

complaints about dilapidated conditions at Thomassen’s home date back

40 years.

MARINAPARK RESORT

A lot of misconceptions and confusion about the proposed

Marinapark Resort will be cleared up tonight. In response to

Councilman John Heffernan’s request, staff will give a report on the

110-room resort project and the process for approving it. The project

is slated to go to a vote of Newport Beach residents, possibly in

November.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The resort plan has been controversial for years. So while some of

the information highlighted tonight will assuage people’s fears about

the project, other concerns and objections are likely to linger.

DREDGING MONEY

Newport leaders aren’t taking any chances when it comes to $24.5

million they say they need from the federal government to dredge the

bay. Council members tonight will vote on whether to pass a

resolution to ask the federal government to support funding for the

Newport Bay Ecosystem Restoration project.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Most city officials agree that dredging is a very high priority,

and they were startled to see that President George W. Bush’s

proposed budget did not include funding for the program. They’re

likely to again enlist the help of Congressman Chris Cox to obtain

the money. Through last year’s appropriations process, Cox helped the

city get the first $900,000 of the money. The Army Corps of

Engineers, which funded the first portion, usually continues to

finance programs that have won initial funding. For that reason, city

leaders had hoped they would not have to ask again. The total $24.5

million needed from the federal government for the dredging was to be

issued over several years.