News: Councilwoman Nancy Gardner

city council district 6 v corona del mar & newport coast

Nancy Gardner

councilwoman v newport beach, california

APRIL update

ECO-FASHION
I don’t know what you did for fun in high school, but any spare time I had was spent riding my horse or surfing. I certainly wasn’t trying to make the world a better place (according to my mother, I wasn’t even trying to make my room a little better), so I am always amazed at how many young people are doing such serious things today. Case in point: Several students from Sage Hill School are putting on the Eco-Fabulous Fashion Show and Lifestyle Event, May 9, 4:00-10:00pm at the Newport Coast Community Center. Their goal is to “increase awareness of the value and availability of eco-friendly fashion and lifestyle choices, empower consumers with style, fun and fashion to support a healthy environment, and raise funds for the Inside the Outdoor’s Foundation.” The schedule: 4:00-6:00pm – Eco-Extravaganza with exhibitors, music, raffle and silent auction; 6:00-6:30pm – presentation; 6:30-7:30pm – fashion show; 7:30-10:00pm, dinner, live auction and concert. Pretty impressive. For more information, email mbarron@acde.us.

ORANGE COUNTY MARATHON
Early warning, here. There are back-to-back events in CdM that will tie up the roads–the OC Marathon in May and the CdM 5K in June. We’re all used to the 5K, most of us participating as runners, walkers or enthusiastic onlookers. The marathon is the new kid on the block in terms of CdM. In the past the race stayed in Newport Beach just long enough to get past the starting line and quickly headed for the hills of Irvine, but apparently marathoners want beautiful scenery while they’re torturing themselves. Well, if you want scenery, I’ll put Ocean Boulevard and our view up against anything, so now they’ll come down PCH, take Narcissus to Ocean to Goldenrod, to Seaview to Marguerite to Bayside and out of the village–all this by about 7:30 am. I think it will be fun. We’ll get to see all those runners before the realization of what they’re doing has sunk in. Nobody hits the wall at the two-mile mark.

CdM ANNUAL MEETING
CdM residents will want to come out for the annual meeting put on by the CdM Residents Association and Business Improvement District. It’s April 22, 5:30pm, at Sherman Gardens with light refreshments and presentations from several council members, police and fire, and plenty of time for Q&A.

BANNING RANCH
The Notice of Preparation has been issued for the development of Banning Ranch. If you wish to comment (response deadline is April 17) or simply to see what’s being proposed in terms of housing, open space, streets, parks, etc., you can find it on the City’s web site in the Planning Department. As a reminder, the General Plan provides for two options, and this is the second option which allows for up to 1,375 residential units, 75,000 sf of commercial space and 75 hotel rooms. The preferred option is to purchase the property for open space, and the City has hired a consultant to seek funding.

COM CEN?
As ideas come up during the month for newsletter items I note them on my calendar. Unfortunately, my notes are so cryptic half the time I can’t figure out what they are. Com Cen? . . . community center! That’s right. The Community Youth Center (5th Ave., CdM) is undergoing renovations. The lobby will be enlarged so parents can watch their kids during the activities, and the parking lot will be redesigned for safer pick up and drop off for both the Center and Harbor View Elementary School. The Center will be open this summer for after school and camp programming, dance, fitness, karate, toddler and senior classes, and also for community rentals.

PROBLEM SOLVING
A house in foreclosure, an absentee landlord–these are only a couple of the reasons that can lead to neglect of a property. If you have such a property in your neighborhood, and you haven’t been able to get the responsible party to whack those weeds, drain the pool or whatever, contact Code Enforcement at 644-3215, and they will follow up. Also, dead trees on city property can be reported to General Services by calling 644-3055.

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FUTURE TOPIC SUGGESTIONS

This is a two-way process, so please don’t hesitate to contact me with your ideas and opinions.

Councilwoman Nancy Gardner

QUALITY OF LIFE Advocate FOR NEWPORT BEACH

City of Newport Beach - 3300 Newport Blvd - Newport Beach, CA 92663

Phone: 949.644.3004 - EMAIL: gardnerncy@aol.com