HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-15-1929 - Special Meeting96
City Hall, Newport Beach, April 15, 1929.
Pursuant to call thereof by the Mayor of the City of Newport
Beach and notice delivered to each member at least three hours before
the time specified for the meeting, the City Council met at the place
and on the date above mentioned at 7:30 o'clock P. M. The meeting
was called to order by Mayor Johnson.
The roll was called showing all members present except
Councilman Claire.
The call was read and the Council proceeded to consider the
matter for which the meeting was called, namely, the introduction of
a bill in the State Legislature providing ways and means for improving
and maintaining Newport Harbor.
A lengthy discussion was had on the matter and as Attorney
John J. Wilson was not present as yet, on motion of Councilman Ellsworth
seconded by Councilman Hilmer and carried, the matter was turned over
to the Legislative Committee of theChamber of Commerce with City
Attorney Thompson and Harry Welch to take up with Attorney J. J.
Wilson and report back to this Board as soon as possible.
Attorney Wilson having arrived Mayor Johnson declared a
short recess for the Committee to meet and prepare a report.
After the recess Mayor Johnson again called the meeting to
order and the Committees report was read and considered. On motion of
Councilman Williamson seconded by Councilman Hilmer and carried, the
following letter was ordered spread upon the minutes of this meeting,
and the original to be signed by the members of the Council present
and delivered to Attorney Wilson for presentation to Senator Geo. B.
Rochester at Sacramento if he so desires.
April 15, 1929.
Hon. George W. Rochester,
SACRAMENTO, California.
Honorable Sir:
The City of Newport Beach, in Orange County, Cali-
fornia, faces a problem concerning the preservation and
improvement of its harbor, commonly known as Newport Bay,
which requires the assistance of State legislation, pro-
viding the machinery necessary to accomplish its purposes.
The entrance to Newport Bay is in imminent danger of
being diminished by heavy sand deposits caused by current
action of the sea creating a sandbar, the effect of which
is likewise very dangerous to boat passage, and the
improvements at the entrance are in danger of being
destroyed. During the last year there were in excess of
40,000 passengers carried by commercial boats in and out
of the entrance to this harbor. In addition thereto there
was over 2,000,000 pounds of edible fish landed on the
wharves of Newport Bay by deep sea fishermen.
Large quantities of building materials, gasoline and
fuel oil have also been landed in the Bay.
In addition to the foregoing Newport Bay affords
facilities for a very large number of pleasure craft and
is the center of yachting sports in Southern California.
The International Star boat Association held its annual
championship regatta here in 1928, and the biennial
California -to- Hawaii yacht race started from here the same
year.
It is contemplated that in 1932 yachts from all over
the world will anchor in this bay during the period of the
Olympic Games.
Much money has been expended by the City of Newport
Beach in enlarging and preserving the harbor by local
bond issues and public subscriptions. If it is to preserve
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this asset of untold worth and to enlarge the facilities,
demands for which are becoming constantly greater, by
improving and making available large areas of publicly
owned water - frontage, it is essential that this session
of the Legislature grant us the opportunity of obtaining
relief:
We as a city and as the representatives of a large
number of people and property owners, therefore, feel called
upon to approach you with the request that you present the
matter of the difficulty facing this community by the intro-
duction of proper legislation to bring relief to it - this in
view of the refusal on the part of the duly elected repre-
sentatives of this district to express our wants and needs.
For the favor done us in this respect the City of Newport
Beach and its citizens and taxpayers will remain ever indebted.
Yours very truly,
C I T Y O F N E W P O R T
Marcus J. Johnson, Mayor
B E A C H
Harry H. Williamson, Councilman
Paul B. Ellsworth, Councilman
M -H Hermann Hilmer, Councilman
On motion of Councilman Williamson seconded by Councilman
Ellsworth and carried, Attorney John J. Wilson was given authority to
present to the proper authorities at Sacramento, our course relating to
our harbor cause and that a copy of this resolution
signed by the Mayor and Clerk.
There being no further business on motion
worth seconded by Councilman Hilmer and carried, the
Approved April 22, 1929
be given to him
of Councilman Ells -
, e ing adjourned.
City Clerk
All that this city asks is a square deal. The
Honorable Nelson T. Edwards, a member of the State Senate,
and the Honorable Edward J. Craig, Assemblyman from this
district, have been asked to present for the consideration
'
of the respective legislative bodies of this State legisla-
tion which this city believes fiar and equitable and necessary
for the purposes sought. Both of these gentlemen have
indicated that it did not meet with their approval, as their
constituency in the back country would not support it, this
position being taken notwithstanding the fact that at an
election held within two years last past for the purpose of
creating a bond issue for the improvement of Newport Bay by
the County of Orange as a whole, the election was lost by a
lack of the small number of 263 votes less than the necessary
two- thirds majority.
We as a city and as the representatives of a large
number of people and property owners, therefore, feel called
upon to approach you with the request that you present the
matter of the difficulty facing this community by the intro-
duction of proper legislation to bring relief to it - this in
view of the refusal on the part of the duly elected repre-
sentatives of this district to express our wants and needs.
For the favor done us in this respect the City of Newport
Beach and its citizens and taxpayers will remain ever indebted.
Yours very truly,
C I T Y O F N E W P O R T
Marcus J. Johnson, Mayor
B E A C H
Harry H. Williamson, Councilman
Paul B. Ellsworth, Councilman
M -H Hermann Hilmer, Councilman
On motion of Councilman Williamson seconded by Councilman
Ellsworth and carried, Attorney John J. Wilson was given authority to
present to the proper authorities at Sacramento, our course relating to
our harbor cause and that a copy of this resolution
signed by the Mayor and Clerk.
There being no further business on motion
worth seconded by Councilman Hilmer and carried, the
Approved April 22, 1929
be given to him
of Councilman Ells -
, e ing adjourned.
City Clerk