HomeMy WebLinkAbout21 - General Plan Augmented Public OutreachCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 21
December 13, 2005
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Office of the City Manager
Homer L. Bludau, City Manager
949- 644 -3000, hbludau city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: DEVELOPMENT OF AN AUGMENTED PUBLIC OUTREACH
PROGRAM FOR THE PROPOSED GENERAL PLAN
ISSUE:
The proposed development of a public outreach program for the General Plan update
document is currently undergoing revision.
RECOMMENDATION:
Information only. No action required
DISCUSSION:
The City began its General Plan update process in 2000. The process has been
centered around providing Newport Beach residents the opportunity to determine the
guiding land use and other policies which will serve as the policy framework for City
Council and Planning Commission decisions for the next 20 years.
Numerous community meetings have been held, a community survey was conducted to
determine residents' thinking on numerous community issues, the resident -based
General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) has been meeting for the past four years to
help guide the process, and six newsletters over the course of the process have been
mailed to residents to keep them informed and involved during the General Plan
process.
The GPAC, Planning Commission and City Council have developed a General Plan
"project" for an EIR assessment, and are in the process of having more public meetings
to review the policies in all of the proposed General Plan elements. An EIR is being
prepared to determine the impacts of the "project" selected for in -depth study and based
on those EIR results, Council will make a determination on the contents of the General
Public Outreach Program for the Proposed General Plan
December 13, 2005
Page 2
Plan document. Since the land use plan will be submitted to the voters under Charter
Section 423, it is important that our residents be informed about this important long
range planning document.
The City's current contract with EIP Associates calls for one more newsletter to be
mailed to residents and property owners, but the City Manager believes the City should
continue in its efforts of providing continuing information regarding the General Plan's
contents. Mailings to individual homes and businesses are a good way to disperse
factual information regarding the General Plan document.
The City Manager is in the process of developing a resident public information mail
program relating to the proposed update of the General Plan. The purpose of this
program is to provide residents with information pertaining to contents of the proposed
General Plan, how it was developed, and how it differs from the General Plan that has
guided development in our community for the past 20 years. A specific proposal and
budget will be presented to the City Council for consideration in January.
Submitted by
i
Homer L. Bludau
City Manager