HomeMy WebLinkAbout5c_Additional Materials Received_MosherNovember 4, 2020, HEUAC Agenda Comments
These comments on an item on the Newport Beach Housing Element Update Advisory Committee
agenda are submitted by: Jim Mosher ( jimmosher@yahoo.com ), 2210 Private Road, Newport Beach
92660 (949-548-6229)
Item V.c. SITE SUITABILITY INPUT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The agenda notice provides little clue as to what will be presented under this heading, including
whether it will be something new or more of the same.
As to which it is, it would be nice to be able observe that public engagement through the
Newport, Together website has exceeded expectations. But that would be possible only if one’s
expectations were very low.
Indeed, the level of engagement generated by the combination of the October 20, 2020,
Community Workshop and “Newport, Together” seems as low or lower than that generated
during the Listen & Phase of the General Plan Update Steering Committee effort.
As best I can tell, the results of that workshop (although presumably decipherable by watching
the one hour video) have not been summarized as I thought was promised. And the activities
which people “attending” the virtual workshop were asked to encourage friends to participate in
appear to have attracted zero takers.
There is a single “Creative Solutions” idea posted, and it looks like a single participant in the
mapping exercise, both dating from the night of the workshop.
The survey invites registered users to participate, but does not indicate how many have
participated or what their responses were. I expected several questions, but was kicked off after
answering a single one (“What are the challenges to meeting our future housing needs?”) and,
after receiving a thank you email, am now locked out from the survey link.
Elsewhere, on the Our General Plan page, the “quick poll” is at 20 votes, having picked up one
in two weeks.
In summary, we may hear there have been a huge number of site visits, but interaction with the
site seems minimal to non-existent.
As to providing information, its list of upcoming dates remains spotty and inconsistent. For
example, it does show the November 4 HEUAC meeting, but not the November 18 one listed at
the end of the agenda. And the Home page highlights the November 5 Planning Commission
meeting, the Circulation Element page doesn’t mention it.
I unable to tell from Newport, Together if any public activities are planned beyond those HEUAC
and PC meetings, and the site overall gives me little sense anybody is actively seeking my
input. In short, it is confusing and lacking in focus.
Housing Element Update Advisory Committee - November 4, 2020
Item V(c) - Additional Materials Received
Site Suitability Input and Community Engagement