HomeMy WebLinkAbout00 - Insider's GuideFebruary 9, 2016
Insider's Guide
From: Kiff, Dave
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2016 11:02 AM
Subject: Insider's Guide - Tuesday, February 9, 2016
A happy Super Bowl Friday to you.
Here is what may be of interest to you on the Newport Beach City Council meeting of Tuesday, February 91h,
2016. Meeting information and a weblink to the full Council agenda is at the end of this e-mail.
The study session starts at 5:00 p.m., still a little later than usual.
Breaking News: I have moved something from the Study Session — all my fault. The subject is the Off -Leash Dog Beach
at the Santa Ana River mouth. In light of the extensive correspondence on this one (mostly in support of leaving it all
alone), I think the better place for that discussion is at the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission (thus the term
"beaches" within their title). As the Commission members read this right now, they are thinking "bang, Dave! What are
you doing to us?!!" Um, and I agree with that sentiment. But the Commission has dealt with dog and beach issues
before, and done so pretty well. And Laird Hayes himself has a new Doodle puppy. Makes total sense, no? So for those
of you following that issue, keep your thoughts and opinions coming (yes, you can send those to me or, better yet, to
Assistant City Manager Carol Jacobs— ciacobs@newportbeachca.gov —you're welcome, Carol!) and stay tuned for a
meeting notification for an upcoming PB&R Commission meeting.
That means that Tuesday's Study Session will cover something a little more quiet, but still important — OCTA's proposed
changes in some of its bus routes affecting Newport Beach. We will admit to being of two minds on this (what's new
there?). One says that it's always important that various areas of town have good, regular transit service — not everyone
has or wants a car. The other says that OCTA is completely correct in always reviewing routes for ridership and for
making the bus service efficient. In fact, our staff has advocated for the latter in a general sense, noting that revenues
for low -use bus lines could be used instead for more road programs, or for more targeted transit such as "local
connectors" like a proposed trolley in and around the Peninsula. So, like many issues, this one isn't black and
white. Anyway, join us right after 5:00 p.m. if you feel strongly about this one.
The regular session starts at 7:00 p.m., and there are some significant items on there, including:
Sewer rates come back for second reading. At the last meeting, protest was measured, and it was very small. As a
reminder, if this is approved, most folks' bills will increase about $2.14/month in 2016, then by about $1.27/month
in 2017. It's stepped up annually with more increases at about the $1.50/month range to 2020. The protest period
has now closed. But any person can still comment on second reading at this meeting. As an additional FYI, at the
last meeting, the Council approved an offset for residential customers that would, in effect, compensate them back
for about three years of the rate increase if the rate increase occurs. As planned, that rebate would come back to
you in a single month as a credit on your Municipal Services Statement.
Another labor agreement is up for ratification that affects our field personnel —the men and women who work in
our parks, the water and wastewater divisions, our beaches, on our tide -valves, and similar.
We're asking for City Council approval to submit an application to the Coastal Commission for a shortcoming at
Sunset Ridge Park. That's the parking lot and its access. Many still ask "why did you build a park without
parking?" Fair question. We designed it with parking, we did our environmental review (CEQA) with parking, and
parking is very much needed there. But the proposed road to the proposed parking lot goes through the Banning
Ranch property. At the time of the Park's approval, some opponents to the Banning Ranch project criticized the
City's entire plan for Sunset Ridge Park in part because of the proposed parking lot, saying that our parking lot's road
opened the door to Banning Ranch's development. In the end, the Coastal Commission approved Sunset Ridge Park
but not the parking lot or its access road. But the park still needs it. We hate asking ask moms and dads and
grandparents and kids to trek all the way across busy Superior Avenue to get to soccer or baseball. The Banning
Ranch development itself is up for Coastal Commission consideration in March 2016, and we'd like to be able to ask
the Commission to approve our parking lot and road at the same time, assuming that they approve the scaled-down
Banning Ranch proposal. If you're in Newport Crest or if you're a frequent visitor to Sunset Ridge, you'll want to
follow this issue.
I have something on the agenda that I wrote myself in my muddled way about John Wayne Airport, Next Gen, and
Departure profiles. The staff report is too long and wordy (are you shocked?!) but basically the discussion is
whether the City should formally advocate for a departure pattern that is more curvy than straight in the Upper Bay
(there is technology out there to do this) AND whether to take a new look at departure altitudes. After reviewing
departure altitudes, it might be important to see if the current noise -abatement departure procedure ("NADP")
should be revised. Fun Fact: The current procedure is NOT required at JWA — even though every pilot seems to tell
us that when we're on an outbound plane. What's required is that departing planes meet noise thresholds at 7
monitoring stations. If a plane can fly out on a straight climb without hitting the caps at the 7 stations, it doesn't
have to use the roller -coaster ride takeoff called the "Close -in" NADP. The Aviation Committee heard and
discussed this same item in December 2015, and it's coming to Council for consideration.
• There is a public hearing on the Balboa Marina West proposed restaurant (201 East Coast Highway, near Linda Isle
and PCH). Area residents appealed the Planning Commission's approval of this new restaurant's Use Permit (and
other conditions) to the City Council.
• A relatively minor item is set to continue to align the Lido House Hotel's entitlement with what was approved by
Coastal Commission. Hey—you could see some dust flying in April on this terrific project. In March, the Fire
Department may be using the about -to -be -demolished site to do some practice work. It may involve smoke and fire,
if know them.
• Another item would modify permit parking hours in Margaret Drive, near Newport Harbor HS.
• And finally, the OCTA item Council will have heard in the afternoon is back for formal action (whatever that might
be) regarding a City position on bus route changes.
Some notes:
Mayor Dixon and others have developed a new forum called Women in Newport Networking, or WiNN. WiNIN is
designed to help encourage Newport Beach women to become engaged in local community and civic
organizations. The WiNN committee isn't sure why Newport Beach women aren't applying for various appointed
positions at the same level as the gentlemen in our community. WiNN members believe more communication and
education will help to raise awareness about these and other volunteer opportunities, leading to more gender
balance. About 15 community groups will participate in the February 25 event. Attendees will include current and
former community leaders. The forum is free and open to anyone interested in learning more about how they can
serve their community. For more information, the link is here: http://newportbeachca.gov/government/open-
transparent/citizen-participation/winn
The Mayor's next Town Hall is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Center (in the Community
Room).
As always, thanks for reading and enjoy your weekend. Feel free to forward this e-mail to family, friends and members
of your HOA if you represent one. I always like hearing from you, too, so please don't hesitate to ask a question or
offer a comment.
Sincerely,
Dave Kiff
City Manager
dkiff@newportbeachca.gov
949-644-3001
City Council Meeting Information: The Newport Beach City Council meets on the 2"d and 4t" Tuesdays of most months
(the exceptions are August and December). Typically, there is a Study Session that starts at 4:00 p.m. Study sessions
are times for the Council to take a deeper look at a specific issue, or hear a presentation, that might eventually lead to a
specific and more formal action. A closed session often follows the Study Session. Closed sessions are typically to
address legal, personnel, and other matters where additional confidentiality is important. The Regular (evening)
Session typically starts at 7:00 p.m., and often has a specific listing of 20-40 different items ready for formal
votes. Items on the "Consent Calendar" are heard all at once, unless a Council member has removed (aka "pulled") an
item from the Consent Calendar for specific discussion and separate vote. If an item on the agenda is recommended to
be "continued", it means that the item won't be heard nor voted on that evening, but will be pushed forward to another
noticed meeting.
Public Comment is welcomed at both the Study Session and the Regular Session. The public can comment on any item
on the agenda. If you want to comment on a Consent Calendar item that was not pulled from the Consent Calendar by a
Council Member, you will want to do so at the time listed on the agenda — right before the Council votes on the entire
Consent Calendar (it's Roman Numeral XIII on the posted agenda). If an item is pulled, the Mayor will offer that
members of the public can comment as that specific item is heard separately. Additionally, there is a specific section of
Public Comment for items not on the agenda, but on a subject of some relationship to the city government.
The Council meets in the Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center Drive, off of Avocado between San Miguel and East Coast
Highway. There is plenty of parking in the parking structure behind City Hall. You are always welcome to attend in
person, but you can also watch on TV (Channels 3/31) or on your computer.
This Insider's Guide is not an attempt to summarize every item on the Agenda —just the ones that seem of specific
interest to Dave. You are encouraged to read the full agenda if you'd like — to do so, click here:
https://newportbeach.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx