HomeMy WebLinkAbout00 - Insider's GuideSeptember 24, 2019
Insider's Guide
From: Biddle, Jennifer
Sent: Friday, September 20, 2019 5:17 PM
Subject: Insider's Guide - September 20, 2019
Forwarded on behalf of City Manager Grace Leung...
Happy Friday! Our next City Council meeting is Tuesday, September 24. The following are items that may be
of interest. As always, this is not a summary of the entire agenda, which can be viewed here.
Study Session starts at 4 p.m. and includes three items: 1) a discussion on nonconforming signs to address
commercial signs that have not been brought up to new design standards set by the City Council ten years
ago. Staff will discuss a recent survey conducted of existing signs and recommendations on addressing
nonconforming signs. 2) through the success of the Balboa Peninsula Trolley and growth of on -demand micro -
transit options, there is community interest in additional neighborhood circulators, particularly for Balboa
Island and Corona del Mar. With an opportunity for potential grant funding, staff will discuss possible options
and potential funding sources. 3) representatives from SCE will make a presentation on SCE's Wildfire
Mitigation Plan and Public Safety Power Shutoff program as it related to wildfire prevention.
The Regular Session begins at 7 p.m. and the following are items of note:
• On the consent calendar is an agreement with Psomas for environmental consulting services for the
proposed Newport Village Mixed -Use Project, located in the Mariners' Mile corridor. The applicant,
MX3 Ventures — MSM Global, has submitted a project proposal, which requires an environmental
impact report. Through a request for proposal process, staff has selected environmental consulting
firm Psomas to prepare the EIR.
• For public hearing are next steps in the development of a temporary homeless shelter at the City
Corporation Yard. As directed by Council, staff is pursuing multiple strategies to obtain shelter beds:
exploring regional partnerships with neighboring cities, lease negotiations with private property and
develop of a temporary shelter on City property, specifically at the Corporation Yard at 592 Superior
Avenue. We are exploring a fully secured, reservation only facility with up to 40 beds. Although
shelter beds are just one part of the short-term strategy in addressing homelessness, it is a necessary
part and staff is placing the highest priority on this item. Council will also be considering a sign and
messaging program to discourage panhandling.
• As directed by Council, the formation of a Marine Avenue Preservation Committee will be
considered. As proposed, the committee, composed of representatives from three Balboa Island
associations, will review City projects on Marine Avenue and provide a recommendation to the City
Council regarding any project that would have a negative impact on the aesthetics of the
streetscape.
Following public outreach, general consensus for the design of Lido Fire Station No. 2 has been
reached. Council will be asked to approve the recommended floor plan and 'Lido' exterior
architectural style concept for this building. Once approved, design work begins and then construction
is estimated to start around Summer of 2021.
As you may recall, City Council and staff have been discussing water rates this past year and have
completed a Water Rate Study, which does a deep dive into the water system financials. It's been 10 -
years since the last water rate study and 5 -years since the last water rate increase. The cost of buying
and pumping water have gone up, along with maintenance and operational costs. Also, to maintain
our water system infrastructure, the City Council approved a new Water System Master Plan and the
Capital Improvement program that will implement the Master Plan is in need of additional funding. It's
important to remember that water is a 24/7 service to the community and vitally important to public
health and the environment. The Finance Committee has reviewed the information and recommends
that City Council consider the rate study and proposed rate adjustments. The proposed rate
adjustments equate to an increase of about $3.38 per month for the average household for the first
year. If approved, mailed notices be sent to the community for a Public Hearing on November 19,
2019.
As a reminder, public comment is welcome at the City Council meeting. The public can comment on any item
on the agenda. If you cannot attend the meeting and/or want to communicate with the City Council directly
on an item, the following e-mail address gets to all of them: City Council.
The Week in Review is also provided this week. It is posted on the City's website; the latest edition can be
found here.
Thank you for reading. Feedback is appreciated so please don't hesitate to ask a question or
o offer a comment.
C�G�xORN�P Grace K. Leung
City Manager
City of Newport Beach
100 Civic Center Drive, Bay 2E
Newport Beach, CA 92660
gleung@newportbeachca.gov
P: 949-644-3001 F: 949-644-3020