Newport will measure self against other U.S. cities

The Newport Beach City Council pitted itself against some stiff competition this year when it asked a private firm to gauge its performance over the next year against some of the most highly regarded city municipalities.

Residents and business leaders will be polled in the coming year about how they feel city leaders are using their money, working for them, and improving or hurting their quality of life.

In a list finalized during Tuesday’s meeting, council members approved being measured against such cities as Bellevue, Wash., the No. 1 place to live and launch, according to CNN Money, Coral Springs, Fla., a two-time Florida Sterling Council Award for Performance Excellence, and Fishers, Ind., three times recognized as one of Money Magazine’s Top 100 Places to Live.

There were nearly 20 on the list, several from California such as Huntington Beach, Santa Barbara and Carlsbad.

The council members will get feedback from the survey in about a year, officials said.

— Joseph Serna