HomeMy WebLinkAbout00 - Insider's GuideInsider's Guide for the Newport Beach City Council Meeting on October 26, 2021
Our next City Council meeting is Tuesday, October 26. Items that may be of interest are
highlighted below. The entire agenda, and all reports, can be viewed here.
A study session will begin at 4 p.m. Agenda items include:
• A progress report on the draft Housing Element update to the City's General Plan,
following comments received from the state Dept. of Housing and Community
Development (HCD). Staff will discuss the HCD comments and efforts to revise
the draft Housing Element based on that feedback. Staff will also provide an
update on the environmental review and next steps. The City is updating the
Housing Element in response to state mandates calling for Newport Beach to plan
for the development of more than 4,800 housing units in the next eight years.
The regular session begins at 6 p.m., with the following items of note:
Current Business:
• A resolution to form an ad-hoc committee on residential care facilities. The
resolution stems from an October 11 community meeting, hosted by the City, on
sober living homes, group homes, and state -licensed residential care facilities,
where residents expressed concerns about the number of facilities and the way in
which certain facilities are being operated. The meeting brought together residents
and elected officials from the City, County and State to discuss current laws and
regulations pertaining to the different types of group residential facilities. The ad-
hoc committee, comprised of Council members supported by City staff, will
examine code enforcement, regulatory and legislative needs and other proposals
designed to help address the community's concerns.
Public Hearings:
• Direct election of City mayor. The Council will consider a resolution calling for an
election that would amend the City Charter to provide for the direct election of the
mayor of the City of Newport Beach. If approved, the resolution would authorize a
June 7, 2022 or November 8, 2022 special municipal election and order that a
proposed amendment to the City Charter be submitted to voters. The proposal
under consideration would authorize the direct, at -large election of a City mayor,
who could serve up to two, four-year terms, and eliminate one council district.
Under the current system, the mayor is elected annually for a one-year term, to
serve as the presiding officer of the City Council, from among seven Council
members by vote of the members.
• Fiscal Year 2020-21 year-end budget review. Council members will review the
City's year-end budget report and consider staff recommendations for the use of
surplus funds and federal relief funds. Revenues were higher than anticipated and
expenditures were lower than expected during the2020-21fiscal year, thanks to the
City's conservative budgeting approach and a more rapid improvement in the
economy than anticipated. The City's General Fund now has a surplus of $31
million, accumulated during the past three fiscal years. Council members will
consider a staff recommendation to allocate $5 million from the surplus toward the
City's annual unfunded liability contribution to CalPERS, $10.5 million to fund long-
term infrastructure projects and $15.5 million to the capital improvement program
and neighborhood enhancement projects. Staff is also recommending that $10.1
million of American Rescue Plan Act funds be allocated to the capital improvement
program.
• Hoag Hospital development agreement extension. A 10 -year extension is
proposed to an agreement between the City and Hoag Hospital, which was first
signed in 1994 to ensure the orderly development of the hospital over time. This
would be the fifth amendment since 1994. Hoag has requested a 10 -year
extension to the current term of the agreement to provide greater flexibility in
responding to the rapidly changing health care industry and needs of the
community.