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Newport’s proposed annexation at risk

The city of Newport Beach’s application to annex West Santa Ana Heights fulfills a commitment to Orange County’s Local Agency Formation Commission and the local community that East and West Santa Ana Heights will be rejoined. The Santa Ana Heights community was bifurcated by Newport Beach’s annexation of East Santa Ana Heights in 2003. The city did not attempt to annex West Santa Ana Heights at the time because it was not within Newport Beach’s sphere of influence. Following Costa Mesa’s unsuccessful attempt to annex West Santa Ana Heights, the formation commission asked Newport Beach if it would consider annexing West Santa Ana Heights.

Orange County’s formation commission has an unincorporated islands program that attempts to encourage cities to annex islands like West Santa Ana Heights. The program is consistent statewide. It is based partly on the premise that cities are better providers of traditional municipal services, such as park and road maintenance, and recreation programs. Counties provide broader programs such as health care for indigents, a district attorney and social services. Annexing West Santa Ana Heights is the “good government” thing to do, and I’m sure Costa Mesa agrees. Indeed, they have not opposed our annexation proposal.

I believe that the formation commission has put this important program at risk by taking the unprecedented step of asking that Newport Beach detach part of the Banning Ranch from Newport Beach in order to allow us to annex West Santa Ana Heights. What other city will want to process a “good government” annexation of an island if they risk having each formation commission direct them to detach part of their existing community?

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Newport Beach’s annexation application was not intended to place the city at odds with Costa Mesa. We share a long borderour two cities work together on transportation and public safety issues. We both “drop borders” and provide automatic aid on police and fire calls. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is in partnership with the Costa Mesa and Newport Beach communities to educate students. The two communities share a county supervisorial district. Newport Beach recently provided funding to the proposed athletic complex at Estancia High School.

Costa Mesa is a very desirable place to live. People take great pride in their homes and community. We are fortunate to have Costa Mesa as our neighbor.

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