NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL PREVIEW

2.5% raises on tap for key city staff

The City Council will consider a 2.5% raise for key and management

positions, excluding the city attorney, city manager and city clerk.

Noting that, in the past, the city has had trouble recruiting for some

positions, the city manager has recommended the council enact this

across-the-board cost of living increase.

What to expect

If council approves the action, raises will take effect in July,

costing the city a total of $137,173 per year. Reclassifying some

positions into higher salary ranges may cost the city an additional

$56,271.

Urban runoff goes under the microscope

City officials who hoped the county water board would give them more

time to consider controversial rules on urban runoff got some bad news

this week when they learned the board wouldn’t postpone its vote. Now,

there is that much more pressure as council members consider at their

study session tonight where to stand on the rules that are part of a

five-year permit renewal.

The process tends to pit coastal cities against inland communities,

but the new rules may be tough on everyone -- likely requiring the city

to pay to clean some businesses’ sidewalks and come up with ways to make

sure gated communities sweep their streets weekly.

What to expect

Confusion and mild panic. The board will vote on the rules on Dec. 19.

In time for that deadline, council members must wade through details of

the complex 80-page document to take an official position on its

contents.

Presentation to state Sen. Ross Johnson (R-Irvine)

As a thank you for his work helping the city buy Sunset Ridge Park,

the City Council will present the senator with a plaque and its heartfelt

appreciation in a small ceremony before tonight’s meeting. Johnson plans

to attend the ceremony, which will thank him for sponsoring Senate Bill

124 to allow the city obtain from Caltrans the land near West Coast

Highway and Superior Avenue. Thanks to Johnson’s efforts, the city will

pay the 1966 price of $1.3 million for the appraised for $4.1 million in

1999.

What to expect

City staff is considering ways to develop the park. Its ideas, which

will likely include non-lighted playing fields, will eventually come

before the council for approval.

Newport Coast budgeting begins

On the news that Newport Coast will likely become part of the city,

council members will begin crunching numbers on costs and revenue from

the annexation. An initial $15-million payment to the city from the

Irvine Ranch Water District will eventually be part of a tax relief plan

for Coast residents. Including that sum, the city is increasing its

revenue projection for the current fiscal year by $18,579,720.

Expenditures for implementing annexation and providing services for the

remainder of the fiscal year are projected at $5,274,294.

What to expect

The city plans to be providing services to the 7,799-acre region on

Jan. 1. Barring any unforeseen snags, the city will take over jobs now

done by the county, which include police and fire service to the area.

Balboa Island Bridge beautification

An attractive stone veneer to cover the entry walls and the

replacement of five aluminum poles with black concrete ones on the Balboa

Island bridge may have to wait until a better bidder comes along. A

bridge beautification job estimated to cost $288,200 drew only three

bids, the lowest at $342,200. Public Works Department staff think the

city can do better for the job, which also includes a water supply line

that will automatically irrigate plant baskets and new railings with

flagpole holders.

What to expect: Staff has recommended that the City Council vote to

reject the bid and restart the process of accepting bids. If it does, it

would push back the bid award date to about Jan. 22, with construction

beginning in mid-February and continuing until about Memorial Day.