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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/2008 - Study SessionCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH City Council Minutes City Council Study Session November 12, 2008 — 4:00 p.m. I. ROLL CALL Present: Council Member Henn, Mayor Pro Tem Daigle, Mayor Selich, Council Member Webb, Council Member Curry, Council Member Gardner Excused: Council Member Rosansky H. CURRENT ,BU_.SINE 1. CLARIFICATION OF ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. Regarding Item 5 (Eliminating and Sunsetting Nine Committees), Council Member Gardner received confirmation that the Newport Coast Advisory Committee can meet informally. City Manager Bludau clarified for Council Member Webb that Item 4 (OASIS Senior Center and Sunset Ridge Park Reimbursement Authorization) does not commit the City to borrow money for the projects, but only keeps options available. Mayor Pro Tem Daigle announced that she will be pulling this item to clarify the purpose of the staff report for the public. In response to Council Member Henn's questions regarding Item 18 (Confined Aquatic Disposal Site in Newport Harbor), Harbor Resources Director Miller explained what a Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) site is and that it could be designed to accommodate disposal of contaminated sediment from the Rhine Channel, as well as other areas of the Lower Bay, Mayor Pro Tem Daigle believed that this can be an option since Orange County landfills do not accept sediment. Council Member Henn indicated that he will be pulling Item 12 (Council Policy F -2) tonight for further discussion. 2. BALBOA THEATRE STATUS REPORT. Mary Lonich, Executive Director of the Balboa Performing Arts Theatre, utilized a PowerPoint presentation to discuss project phases, what has happened since they met with the Coastal Commission, discussed the leadership summit, and displayed the flexible interior for theater performances, meetings, or banquets. She emphasized their desire to be sustainable and reported on the Season Without Walls (SWOW) program. Council Member Rosansky joined the meeting at 4:24 p.m. Council Member Henn noted that the new Balboa Theater will be more efficient than old theater models. He stated that the City is attempting to identify fundamental parking solutions for Balboa Village, and that he wants to form a citizen advisory committee that will revise the Vision Plan for Balboa Village in a complimentary manner to the two anchors, the Nautical Museum and Balboa Theater. Volume 69 - Page 13 City of Newport Beach City Council Study Session November 12, 2008 In response to City Manager Bludau's question, Ms. Lonich indicated that after the Coastal Commission meeting, the belief that the Balboa Theater could happen increased so fundraising efforts moved forward rapidly. 3. REVIEW OF BUSINESS LICENSE PROCEDURE. Revenue Manager Everroad utilized a PowerPoint presentation to indicate that City staff is responsible for the collection of the business license tax, review the Newport Beach Municipal Code, discuss business turnover, and display a business tax revenue graph. He reported that there are 32 business indicators that determine if someone is conducting business in the City, and discussed the noticing process and how the public can appeal a business license citation. In response to Council questions, Business License Inspector Navarrette discussed how refunds are processed and that some businesses receive notices because they filed their business incorrectly with the State or the City. Revenue Manager Everroad reported that, out of 6,000 notices that were sent during the 2007 -2008 fiscal year, 450 appeals were filed, five of those appeals went before a hearing officer, one appeal was dismissed by the hearing officer, and one went to court. He noted that a family trust may receive a notice, depending on the nature of the trust and its purpose. Council Member Curry complimented Revenue staff and believed that the process needs to be customer- friendly, with a quicker and more understandable process. III. PUBLIC COMMENTS Edwin Cowan discussed a freeway traffic solution concept his non -profit organization is working on and requested that the City allow him to store his prototype at the City's Yard. IV. ADJOURNMENT - 5:10 p.m. The agenda for the Study Session was posted on November 5, 2008, at 1:55 p.m. on the City Hall Bulletin Board located outside of the City of Newport Beach Administration Building. o��.P. City Clerk Volume 59 - Page 14