HomeMy WebLinkAbout00 - Insider's GuideJanuary 14, 2020
Insider's Guide
Insider's Guide for the Newport Beach City Council Meeting on January 14, 2020
Our next City Council meeting is Tuesday, January 14. Items that may be of interest are highlighted below.
The entire agenda, and all reports, can be viewed here.
Study session begins at 4 p.m. for this meeting to discuss the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)
and the City's Proposed Action Plan, as detailed earlier in this newsletter. The Southern California
Association of Governments (SCAG) has submitted an RHNA methodology that results in an allocation of
4,832 housing units for Newport Beach, accelerating four decades worth of planning and development
into the next decade. This methodology was developed without input from the City. Staff will provide an
update on this methodology, the next steps in the RHNA approval process, and proposed next step for
the City, including the establishment of a Housing Element Update Advisory Committee. The action plan
is also on the regular agenda for City Council action.
The regular session begins at 7 p.m. and the following are items of note:
• On the consent calendar is the submittal of a grant funding application to OCTA for the West Coast
Highway and Superior Ave/Balboa Blvd Intersection Improvement Project. The grant would provide funds
for the second pedestrian/bicycle bridge, over Coast Highway. The City received grant funds for the first
bridge over Superior Avenue, which is now under design. 3
• Also on the consent calendar is acceptance of a grant from Hoag for the Newport Beach — Surfer
Awareness in Lifesaving Techniques Program (NB -SALT), a new public education effort to teach
community members lifesaving skills to provide emergency care prior to the arrival of first responders.
This timely intervention can reduce the likelihood of death or disability from an ocean -related injury, a
real benefit for our community.
• The consent calendar also includes an update on the City's efforts in addressing homelessness. The City
Council and staff will continue our focused efforts in both regional and long-term solutions for housing
and shelter, as well as specific strategies to assist those in need in our community right now. This complex
issue will not be resolved quickly but we have made progress and will continue to build on that.
• In addition to the Housing Action Plan, current business includes adjustments to speed limits. As
required by state law, the City has reviewed posted speed limits as prescribed by the California vehicle
code and most are recommended to remain unchanged with the exception of six streets. Two street
sections are recommended for increase and four are recommended to be decreased. All six are detailed
in the staff report.