EDITORIAL:A good year, but a warning for the future

What a year Newport Beach has had. It all started in January with a Rose Parade float, ridden by none other than then Mayor Don Webb, that commemorated the city’s 100-year anniversary.

That event was soon followed by a multitude of centennial events that kept the city partying for the better part of 2006.

And there was political news as well. The voters, for the first time ever, were asked to elect six out of seven council seats in November. That number was inflated because of the unusual number of council seats that had been filled by appointees after elected council members had resigned.

In addition, a massive general plan amendment was approved, and Greenlight suffered its worst ballot box defeat ever as the Son of Greenlight was turned away by voters.

Then, of course, there was the ongoing debate over where to build the new city hall, which continues today.

Enter new Mayor Steve Rosansky. Webb handed the gavel over to him last week and we wish him all the best as he steers the ship in 2007. He’ll have plenty of issues to contend with as well, and we have one bit of advice for him on the latest city hall question.

Stay clear of the Newport Beach tennis club.

Thankfully, Rosansky’s recent public comments seem to indicate that he will indeed stay clear. And that’s a good thing.

Going after the tennis club, which is part of the Newport Beach Country Club and golf course, would be a knock-down, drag-out battle that the city hasn’t seen in years.

Robert O Hill, the managing partner of the group that owns the parcel, has vowed that he isn’t selling, which means the city would need to take an eminent domain path if it wanted the property.

That would be ill-fated for a number of reasons. Coupled with all the legal battles and legal bills that would follow, the council needs to remember one thing. The reason Greenlight and its supporters were able to flourish for so long was because they were able to successfully tap into the public’s distrust of previous councils and the perception that council members just didn’t listen to their constituents. Pursuing eminent domain on the tennis club would just inflict an unnecessary black eye on the council at a time when it’s enjoying a modicum of goodwill with the voters.

So happy holidays to all in Newport Beach. We believe the city is in good hands with Steve Rosansky and the rest of the council — new and old alike.