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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.