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City Council Staff Report
March 14, 2017
Agenda Item No. 9
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Dave Kiff, City Manager - 949-644-3001,
dkiff@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Dave Kiff, City Manager
PHONE: 949-644-3001
TITLE: Supporting St James the Great Episcopal Church
ABSTRACT:
St James the Great Episcopal Church, located on 32nd Street on the Peninsula, has been a
local Episcopal church since the early 1940s. In recent years, local members of St James the
Great, have objected to Diocesan Bishop J. Jon Bruno's attempts to sell the church buildings.
Church members have been locked out of the parish since 2015, and continue to meet in other
locations. An ecclesiastical trial is coming up at the end of March, 2017, that could be a turning
point for the local church.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a) Determine this action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) because this action will not result in a
physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly; and
b) Support Council Member Dixon's request to send the attached letter in support of
St James the Great retaining their church property.
DISCUSSION:
A long-running saga between the local parishioners at St James the Great, an Episcopal
Church on 32nd Street in Newport Beach (addresses are 505 32nd Street and 3209 Via Lido),
comes to another possible decision point on March 28-30, 2017, when an ecclesiastical trial
will be held in Pasadena.
At the trial or hearing, the panel (made up of three bishops, a priest, and a layperson) may
render a decision as to LA Bishop J. Jon Bruno's previous determination to sell the St James
the Great church property and to shutter the church. The Episcopal Church itself will prosecute
the case against the Bishop's 2015 actions. More information about St James the Great and
these actions is here.
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Supporting St James the Great Episcopal Church
March 14, 2017
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As to the City's role, starting in mid -2015 when members of St James the Great spoke to a
Town Hall meeting sponsored by Council Member Dixon, Ms. Dixon and others have stated
that the Church is a fundamental part of the community, especially on the Balboa Peninsula.
At a June 23, 2015 City Council meeting, Church members and Council members supported
the continued church use at the St James the Great location.
This action would formalize that opinion via a letter from Council Member Dixon to Reverend
Canon Cindy Voorhees of St James the Great in advance of the March 28, 2017 ecclesiastical
trial.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or
reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the
activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code
of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change
to the environment, directly or indirectly.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the
meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENT:
Attachment A — Draft Letter for St James the Great Church
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Supporting St James the Great Episcopal Church
March 14, 2017
Page 3
DRAFT LETTER
March 15, 2017
The Reverend Canon Cindy Voorhees
St James the Great Church
3419 Via Lido #354
Newport Beach, CA 92663
RE: St James the Great Church
Dear Reverend Canon Voorhees:
As you are aware, I and other City Council members from Newport Beach have spoken out in
support of attempts to retain and reopen St James the Great Church at its preferred location at
the corner of 32nd Street and Via Lido on the Balboa Peninsula.
We also noted at that time that the City's General Plan and Zoning designates the St James
the Great property as "Private Institutions" (both in the GP and Zoning Code). From the City's
General Plan, the "PI" designation "is intended to provide for privately owned facilities that
serve the public, including places for religious assembly ... and comparable facilities."
Residential uses are not authorized within the PI designation(s). Therefore, the
reestablishment of St James the Great's operations on this property would be consistent with
the City's General Plan's long-term vision for this site.
At the City Council's meeting on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, the City Council voted _-_ to
authorize me to send this letter to you, on the City Council's behalf.
We offer our strong support for your congregation's efforts to reopen the sanctuary at 3209 Via
Lido and to again celebrate services and other church functions. We offer you every best wish
as you and your members work to secure the church's facilities for the long-term operation of
St James the Great at this location.
Please use this letter of support in any manner in which you see fit.
Sincerely,
Diane B. Dixon
Council Member, 11t District
City of Newport Beach, California
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